If your thinking 20VT you'll pick up an equivalent mileage mk3 for what you going to spend on the extra bits, why mess with a decent MK2 when you can just buy it all in one package?
 
If your thinking 20VT you'll pick up an equivalent mileage mk3 for what you going to spend on the extra bits, why mess with a decent MK2 when you can just buy it all in one package?

Nah you can't beat the enjoyment of a tuned n/a engine.... specially when it's screaming like crazy!
 
Think about a 20vT, look at Roly... I think after he brought the car and took the bits he wanted then sold the bits he didn't need he broke even, so didn't really pay anything for the swap just hard work himself!

Having the facilities to do it was what helped me, no labour costs, 37k doner car for £1500 and approx £200 on service parts and odds and sods (unknown to me it already had stage one remap so was circa 190ish bhp already)

After selling all valver and uneeded 20vt parts i made back approx 2k so conversion cost nothing and meant i had some money back for more mods.

It's since become a bottomless pit and owes me bucket loads but that's because im always going to crave more power reliablity wise it's a mk3 in a mk2 shell so just the usuall mk3 probs.

Martin's was the same, donor car was a bit cheaper but sold all parts on, i think he's made back more than the car cost him and again labour was free.

If you've got the time, knowledge and space to do it i'd say it's worthwile but i certainly wouldn't be paying someone to do it as that's way to much ££
 
Don't forget that spending £700 on handling might be more effective then spending £700 on the engine. Get the car handling like its on rails and then concentrate on the engine. Unless you are all about straight line speed, the handling can make the car a good weapon on the twisties ;)