does anyone know any cheap ways to improve low end torque on a 1.8l engine?

i was thinking about doing this, any drawbacks other then smog (like i care)?

got a vw motorsport hg already. i don't understand exactly how the head gasket works, if you got time can u explain it to me?

new pistons are out of my reach for now price wise.

<center><img src="http://www.tttuning.com/images/enginepics/!109060&.jpg"></center><p>Allows one to "tune" the power band higher or lower (up or down) the rpm range. Especially useful with aftermarket cams.

$90 from Techtonic Tuning.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tttuning.com/camparts.html">http://www.tttuning.com/camparts.html</a</li></ul>

You can't advance it more than a couple of degrees, and you'll have to start using primo gas, or else it will start knocking under load. Other than that, I haven't noticed any problems with mine, and the higher octane cleared that up.

As for the motorsport headgasket, it works because it's thinner than a standard gasket, which means the combustion chamber is closer to the piston, which in turn increases compression by I believe .8(a Rabbit GTI or Scirocco motor goes from 8.5:1 to 9.3:1 with it, I'm not sure about the Audi variant). So, the increase in compression boosts low-end torque and response a little bit.

The JT motor is very different than the 4 cyl.

and no turbo I don't think the 5 cylinder engines are capable of "pinging". You can crank the timing advance all you want, but I think there is a point of diminishing gains.