What Mk3 parts are common with Mk2?

[rs899]

Since the supply of Mk2s is on the wane in boneyards and I would like to run my Jetta until I am too old to work on her I was wondering what Mk3 parts are common to the late Mk2?  Anything?  Any transmissions?

Rick

[Rabbit on Roids]

all transmissions interchange, but you gotta change the VSS to a speedo cable. and the reverse light switch may be different as well. the front suspension is the same, but around 4 inches wider if i remember right. axles, same deal, gotta use the whole suspension. the struts/shocks/springs are the same. the master cylinders are NOT the same, but they interchange, and do their job just fine. i have a 98 golf master in my 85 gti. works just fine.

i dunno how much interchanges beyond that. i know lots of parts are specific to their car.

[theman53]

I think that the rear wheel bearing is interchangable. VW used that bearing in the first bug and I think all watercooled rear. They also use that exact bearing in the 020 trans.

[burn_your_money]

If you want to use axles off a mk3 you need to swap to 100mm flanges on your tranny (or 90mm cvs on the axle) and use the mk3 control arms because the axles are longer.

[bajacalal]

I would be very hesitant to buy a commonly available replacement part like a wheel bearing from the junkyard (then again this is a community of notoriously cheap VW diesel owners and I have seen guys buying head gaskets and timing belts at the local yard).

What other, bigger stuff swaps?

Seats? I actually think mk2 seats are better. Head liners?

[rs899]

Used head gaskets?  I suppose there's a market for used condoms as well?

I wouldn't bother with wheel bearings per se, but if what you are saying is that MK3 front wheel hubs are the same as Mk2s, I would like to grab some,  German wheel bearings included.  I have a set of SKF ready to press in for next time, and I would like to have a set off the car already.....

Can someone expand/translate on the transmission changes possible?

[Rabbit on Roids]

if your car has 90mm flanges, and you want to keep the mk2 suspension, you either swap the 100mm cv onto your existing axles, or swap the flanges off the mk3 trans for the ones in your car now. unless your car is already 100mm cv equipped. then the axles hook up. but if you use the mk3 axles also, you also gotta use the control arms and some other suspension component up on top of the strut, otherwise you get some gnarly camber.

as for the VSS, take it out, throw it away or sell it, then install speedo cable.

you may have to do something about the reverse switch. early mk1's, late mk2's, and mk3's all had the same style reverse switch. small round switch with a 2 wire plug coming off it. so if you wanna put a MK3 trans in a late mk1 or an early mk2, you gotta do something about that switch. there is nowhere to mount the big 5 and 6 pin switches.

and as for used head gaskets, if i took the engine apart, the head gasket was fine, and i was putting it back in that same engine, why not? but i wouldnt take a used HG from one engine, and use it on another.

[theman53]

No idea on the front wheel bearings, but the rears on all MKI and MKII are the same...it is also the same bearing in the front wheel of the old aircooled bug IIRC.

[sawedoffgolf]

What are you looking for that is interchangeable? upgrade stuff?
front sway bar from a mk3 is larger and an upgrade for mk2's
the weighted shifter rod is an upgrade for mk2's
The sub frame/engine mounts are an upgrade - never done myself just heard about it.
the front brakes/knuckles are an upgrade for mk2's

Thats all i can recall for now. I have a .doc file of a list of almost every interchangeable piece for mk1-mk4 and what is an "upgrade" for certain gen's, Ill find it and post it up.

[VWCaddy]

all transmissions interchange

At least if they are the 020/linkage shifted variety.  In the A3s, you also had some vehicles with the VR6 engine have the cable-shifted 02A transaxle, so that is not directly swappable.

[Rabbit on Roids]

good call, i forgot about that.