The Red Thread

[abreut]

How user-friendly is it to drive in traffic?

The stories I've been hearing is the ABF needs lots of revs and doesn't have much torque down low which has pushed me towards fitting a 9a into mine (with ABF head). I've got an ABF as well so it would be good to get your opinion.

Cheers

Paul

I really think you have been misadvised about the ABF. I recall you mentioning this before.

I too drove my ABF in the Toledo it came from and it was a really solid motor with plenty of torque in that heavy car. I was quite impressed. Actually the owner of that totally stock Toledo on street tyres did a high 1:18 around wakefield! I really doubt that a 9a can outperform the ABF stock vs stock in virtually any way. Why would VW go backwards? Besides, the tall block config is superior – better rod ratio, and less chance of piston slap.

Saying that I have been in a few cupras where the ABF was definitely not running right, and seemed to be all sound no go. Maybe that is where these stories come from.

[sports racer]

Thanks guys for that info. One of the guys here in Canberra had one in his MK1 and swears he'd never do it again because it was a pig in traffic.

I'll take a 2nd look at the ABF block I've got and see if I can get away with honing or if it needs a rebore.

[Peter Jones]

Made a heat shield to go over the exhaust manifold today.



I had tried to use the cast ABF one but couldn't stop it from rattling. It kept setting up a weird harmonic and would buzz away at certain RPM.

We'll see how this one goes.