Hi all,

Can someone explain (in simple terms) what the options are and how I get get round the vacuum pipe issue.

I have 1.3 spi and I want to clean my engine bay up so I thought I'll get rid of the pancake air box. I read that you can replace it with passat (which model) inlet pipe and then stick an aftermarket air filter on. But do I need a new Air Flow Meter, if so does this take all the vaccum pipes and other breathers or do I just plug everthing up and stick a small air filter on the crank case breather.

As you can guess I don't really know where to start, but looking in the members pictures area there are a few cars that have this sort of mod but I really could do with a detailed explaination.

So if someone is willing to take the time to explain it all I would be most greatful...

This is the sort of thing i'm on about, look at the engine bay shot:-

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=31016

Nice rocker cover aswell...

Many Thanks

Karl

even more confused now...

here is the same but different...

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=34544

Right this is the same car/engine as mine and has the look i'm after...

I have read the details posted, mk3 golf elbow... but can some one please explain what replaces what.

I really love the look of the mk4 cover but which mark 4 and does it all just bolt on?

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=30056

Thanks for looking...

first off your car doesnt have an airflow meter so you dont have to worry bout that. the golf elbow is pretty much a straight swap. you need to remove the studs that are used to bolt on the oe air filter box, but thats about it. you can cap off the vacuum pipe used to control the hot air feed and yes it would be best to fit crankcase breathers as it stop the throttle body getting covered in oily shit. the mk4 rocker will bolt straight on (you have to use mk4 bolts though!) so i would imagine the cover would be fairly easy to swap onto a mk3

The SPi cars just use throttle position to meter the fuel. It will look better but adding the aftermarket filter will probably have no affect on performance as the ECU doesn't know it's supposed to chuck more fuel in.

unless you buy a chip ^^^

Thanks guys for the info...

@ G40Jon - cheers for the detailed run down of whats what.

@ G40Supercharged - if I do this mod (golf elbow and airbox/cone filter) will the cars performance suffer or just the cold starting/running due to the lack of vacuum controlled hot air feed.

I know theres no point trying to get any performance out of the car but it would be nice to make the engine bay a little tidier, but not at the expense of an unreliable car!

Cheers guys.

Thanks guys for the info...

@ G40Supercharged - if I do this mod (golf elbow and airbox/cone filter) will the cars performance suffer or just the cold starting/running due to the lack of vacuum controlled hot air feed.

It might affect it during warm up but shouldn't affect the performance once it's up to temperature.

Thats good to hear.

Cheers

i have a golf3 elbow and a cone filter.. works great, my car allways starts :)

Hi Ballemann,

Thanks for the info, What filter have you fitted?

Any chance of a photo?

Cheers

Karl

Thanks guys for all the info, I have got myself a golf elbow and even managed to pick up a mk4 polo rocker cover, I have done a trial fit with the new rocker cover and it doesn't fit right with the standard mk3 gasket, it fits the head ok without the gasket, I guess I need a mk4 rocker gasket?

I got the rocker cover on it's own, i didn't get to take it off the engine myself so i don't know which engine it came from, I'm guessing a 1.4 so I thought for the money i'll try a 1.4 mk4 rocker gasket???

Can anyone confirm?

Cheers

Karl

yep you do nee the mk4 gasket! all mk4 8v have the same rocker cover

Cheers g40jon, thanks for that.

Xlnt info!