Searched: MKII TD in MKI Downpipe issues

[88jetta350]

I've been reading up on the differences between the MKI & MKII Downpipes. I know that the MKII will not work on my MKI.

I have also read that there are fitment issues using a MKI TD downpipe on a MKII Engine, in regards to the downpipe interfering with the shift linkage, and that there's grinding involved to make it fit.

That's all I've been able to find so far on the subject. No DIY's, now How-to's, and no pictures.

The Passenger Performance and Techtonics downpipes are out of the question, due to price. (I'm not paying $300+)

I was cruising around on ebay.de and I came across this...
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=200308225942#ebayphotohosting


According to the ad, this is a MKI downpipe designed for swapping in a MKII 1.6TD....

Personally, I wouldn't know what an original MKI TD downpipe looks like as opposed to this one, but for that price, I decided to give it a shot. (Approx. $50 US)

Does anyone have experience w/ this swap, that used stock parts?

Also, if anyone has pics of the stock MKI downpipe, please post it.

Thanks

[Rabbit TD]

I guess you are refering to a MK-1 Jetta aren't you?  I don't know the differences there but I can tell you that a MK-1 Jetta T/D pipe fits a 81 Rabbit T/D perfect, I just put the one from a 83 Jetta on my 81 Rabbit.  Look in the Parts Place  catalogue on line and it will show what years fit what vehicles as far as interchangeability.  Fifty dollars is a good price though if you can make it fit.  If its not quite right a pipe bending shop can probably tweak it a little to make it usable or put a piece in or take some out if needed.  That's a hell of a lot cheaper than one of those exotic ones that I know I'll never need either for the motors I use.

[fatmobile]

Yeah, the Mk1 turbo outpipe and downpipe fits any MK1.

 The downpipes from A1 to A2 are completely different. Here's a pic of the ones I swapped on the Golf:

 Compare them to the auction pic you posted.

 The turbo outpipes are different too.
 I have a pic here of the two side-by-side:



 I got the Rabbit outpipe from an '85 TD Jetta,..
 so the A1 outpipe will work on an A2.

 But the A2 will set the downpipe too close to the Rabbit shifter arm. I've heard you can bend the shifter arm upward and it will miss.

 Not sure how much this helped,..
 and now I'm going to use the remaining space to showoff my custom MK2 turbo outpipe:

[88jetta350]

Very nice work on the outpipe. I wish I had the welding skill to fab up something like that.

Looking at the two pictures, the downpipe that I posted appears to go down further than the stock downpipe, and instead of going towards the rear at an angle, it goes straight back.

Maybe this is to solve the shifter linkage issues??

[burn_your_money]

It was always my understanding that the MK1 TD downpipes are interchangeable with both NA and TD MK2 exhaust downpipes. Only the mk1 NA lower downpipe is not compatible because it sits in the center of the block instead of between cylinders #3 and #4.

I just installed a mk2 NA exhaust manifold into mk1 TD exhaust manifold. It went together alright, not perfect though.

[Dr. Diesel]

I've used Mk3 downpipes on A1 before. I cut them just above their flex joints, added a 2.5" mandrel 90-ish, and finished it off with a flex section.
No shift linkage clearance issues at all.

[88jetta350]

Thank you for the replies. I'm sure I will be able to make this new DP work, I will keep you guys posted, when I get the engine fitted in the Golf I, I will post pics and info of the fitment.

[burn_your_money]

Please do

[RabbitJockey]

i used a mk3 top down pipe with a custom lower one that my dad made, it required alot of clearancing on the bow part and if i pull the shift back really fast and hard i can still hit the pipe but it worked fine.