83 westy rabbit stock motor with a newer jetta valve swap?

[potterzilla]

I was delivering a pizza to the army base in my town when a soldier saw my 83 rabbit and started talking to me about it. I said I had wanted more performance out of it, not to race but just be comfortable not having to push the engine on the highway and what not. He said he had done a swap once that involved the stock 1.8 and a newer (I'm guessing maybe 2000s) jetta valve, he was saying they have the same bolt pattern and I should be able to get "30 horsepower" from swapping that. I'm not a car genius, I only know enough to get by here and there, but that sounded a little farfetch'd. Is this possible? If so what would I need to do, and what else would I need to change.

I have an '83 rabbit 1.8 mechanical fuel injection, 99000 miles.

[tgibson]

[shwak23]

Switching your blinker fluid to synthetic will gain you @ least 30 hp.

Sent from my DROID X2

[mauzer76]

OP, I hope you've got you're fire retardant "drag rags" on because here comes the flamage...

[potterzilla]

I don't see why people have to be so dumb, I was legitimately asking because as I said I'm not really knowledgeable on cars, but I guess I can't rely on people who only know how to act down on someone who is just looking for answers, as a means to fuel their egos.

[Minty_Fresh]

I'm pretty sure he is talking about a ABA bottom end swap. your best bet would do do a hole ABA swap it will improve performance and reliability across the board. a quick search will show you the ABA swap thread that will have all the information you could need.

[potterzilla]

Yeah he didnt say much and I was asking him more about it and he just told me to come here, want to restore the engine completely but I want to put a different one in and keep the motor till I save up enough money to restore it. Tahnks for the tip! Ill look into it more.