VW / Audi 1.8t 20v 5-600HP Engine build On a Budget

References -

Engines -
Early vs Late -
058 - Early
20mm wrist pins on pistons,
Large port head/intake manifold - Good for big turbos and 500+HP setups
Has Oil pump shaft

06A - Late
19MM wrist pins
Small port head/intake -

BLOCK
closed deck vs
1000-1200chp

Rods -
Factory rods - 350-400ctq
torque spike dependent
Small spikey turbo vs large turbo
NOTE: If you have 058 engine with the oil pump shaft gear will interfere with H beam rods.
Need clearancing on gear balance shaft.

Maxspeedingrods $275

Eagle rods - $375
Scat rods $395
IE Rods - $475
700HP
IE Tuscan Rods - $685
+1000hp

Bearings
OE bearings are good for about 8200rpm and 600chp.
Coated bearings can help premature wear if the car sees a lot of track use with sustained G loads.

Standard OE Style - $110
034 coated $85+$135
IE "Race" style (I suspect these are 034's with markup)- $95+$175

Valves
Intake valves - Stainless from factory
Upgrade only when increasing valve size.
1000hp
Exhaust valves -
Sodium filled - Heat and miles
Replace when you can
400CHP if you have to put a number at it.

Ferrea Iconel valves - $265
Supertech nitrite coated Stainless - $165

Valvesprings and retainers
Not a HP issue, rather a RPM issue.
Stock springs will float ~ 7800
Dont go over 7500 for safety.
Supertech - $505

IE Springs - $650
Ferrea - $900

Lifters

Float mid 9k's so not an issue for us mere mortals
Flat tappet - Replace when replacing cams with OEM new as the cams need to wear in with the lifters

Headgasket
OE -style Good for 600hp
$25 Elring brand is a good gasket.
$95 Or Audi branded.

Headbolts
OE bolts are one time stretch bolts. Good for 5-600HP.
OE Bolts - $20 Febi
ARP - $145 - Threaded nut is considerably more

Pistons
OE 19MM - 550HP under low heat loads.
Longevity is concern.
OE 20mm ~600hp
Change pistons if block issues causing overbore. Or if power is over 500HP on regular/sustained use.

Wiseco stroker/big bore 83mm - $650
IE Race spec w/ coated pistons - $1200

Crank
OE crank good for 1000hp
Use stroker 2.0 FSI or AEG crank w/ 20mm rods

Crank Pulley dampner

8k RPMS and 500hp
Excess vibrations cause premature wear.
FLuidamper
Balance engine

Fluidamper - $385
Balance engine - $200

Timing equipment
Over 8k or high loads, change to manual tensioner
Factory tensioner not great.
Manual kit from IE - $150

Pistons
Rods

Bearings
Valvesprings

Valves

Timing Belt Tensioner - Manual 058
Timing Belt Tensioner - 06A

Fluidamper - 06A

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:26 Blocks
2:08 Rods
5:57 Bearings
7:27 Crankshaft
8:55 Pistons
11:36 Valves
13:27 Valvesprings
14:16 Lifters
15:04 Headgasket
15:31 Headbolts
16:42 Timing Tensioner
17:12 HP Gains
23:12 Final Thoughts

[budgetoutlaws]

CLARIFICATIONS!! READ THIS AFTER WATCHING!
First off thanks for watching guys! With something like this its easy to overgeneralize, forget something, or get details wrong.
1. First part of the video about 06A vs 058 being large/small port with 19/20mm pins was a massive over-generalization. Link below for actual facts on the 43 different engine codes for the 1.8T. Please do your research on what your engine is.
2. The crank gear needs to be dealt with at these power levels. Best option is a billet crank gear ($200)that is press fit on. Dowel Pinning is another but it has been known to fail.
3. ?? Please comment and let me know what I missed! Lets keep this up to date!!
Thanks guys!

[Nothy]

I heard that the 1.8T is a very strong engine for tuning from the factory, but I never really realized how over-engineered it is. It's bonkers and makes me respect my 1.8T so much more.

[PressureEd]

Big love man, thanks for making this. There's is not enough 1.8t content on YouTube

[tommylyeah]

I don't even work with VWs, I just like listening to tech talk like this- might learn something applicable to any other setup.

[josephdillinger]

I have watched this video probably 10 times it’s a great explanation for anyone who wants to build a 1.8t

[dariusgriffin]

I just got a MK4 1.8t. I’m so excited about tuning it . Going to start from foundation

[J.B_Slow]

I’m making 475+ wheel at the moment (62/66 big turbo car) and my max rods have given me ZERO complaints, definitely would by again

[afuelpump]

Wiseco also has Boostline rods available for the 1.8t rated for 1000hp

[swype.media-]

This is the most informational video about an engine with numbers to back it that I’ve ever seen. Great video man!

[deanbrevis]

This is about the 4th time I've watched this.
Need some vr6 and r32 content now if you haven't already.

[TheAngelaxelbmx]

This has to be the best video explanation for the 1.8T who wants more horsepower, I'm tired of asking and asking for info but here I'm clear, thank you so much!!!

[Oskariii]

Watching this video about a year ago made me want a 1.8t. Now I'm rewatching with plans to upgrade my a4b5. Thanks!

[yaboi]

Finally the video I was looking for thank you!

[sonoutlawuk]

This vid comes at the right time, now i have a guideline to mod my 1.8t. thanks!!

[bryantstock]

Finally someone who speaks the truth about 1.8ts on the internet again. I would recommend some cat cams for your setup. I'm running the supertech valvetrain with the cat cams and it was the best mod ever. Paired it up with a M factory LSD at the same time and the car completely changed! Keep up the great vids my dude! -A fellow 1.8t loving ginger

[doubledook]

just picked up a Passat and learning all the fun i can have

[matiasrosell]

Just want to say thank you!! And I’ve been working on a few motors for about 2 years on my Audi TT Quattro 2001. I’ve went insanely in-depth with everything I learned and seeing this now I’m happy that someone is clarifying this all now. I bored and stroked my motor to roughly a 2.1/2 L and I make 700hp reliably with everything else. I want to try everything you have said on my next motor and see how they compare and I can improve on all your information. I hope you wouldn’t be troubled if there was a way I could contact you for more in-depth information. I’d love to push these motors to there limits. They have been a blast working on!!

[olibrewster]

Also billet crank gear and kevlar timing belt. Its not part of the motors but if you want to reach the 500 mark on a budget then run water methanol.

[ziddywerks]

Great video!! I am in the process of a similar build using a 06A block with a AEB head and lots of other goodies. I think the video is very informative but a press for crank gear is a must, also using ekagrip diamond shims and arp bolts throughout is a must also ARP bolts for the mains is a good idea. Adjustable cam gear is a good idea as well as swapping AMB cam chain tensioner and trigger wheel to use in a AEB head will help with boost and NA cams with some overlap will help as well. Lots of NA 1.8 cams available out there ADR has 2 different versions. ADR are known to have the most lift. I personally got APT cams as I couldn’t find ADRs with the lift I wanted. Ceramic coated AEB pistons will do the job.

[honoraxis]

Somewhat recently bought a B5 A4 1.8t and theres a couple of things ive been wanting to do but wasnt able to find any good forum posts explaining which was best for my application. This definitely helped. I have a Garret GT2871 turbo and the car revs to 8100 RPM so I was trying to find a good set of valve springs but was having trouble finding reviews. Appreciate the video im probably gonna come back to it many many times to see what I want next