^^^AGREED
delpradddoo why waste 3500 on a kit that barely makes 200hp? I know your not looking for high HP#'s but you can build a kit for less than half that cost. As for the 8v not being a ‘fun turbo’d motor’, thats a lie. It makes for a fun daily, yet still reliable if done right. Only weak point is the tranny, as im sure you know. Kevin has been sc’d for over 30k miles now, going up in power every year and his only issue has been the trans (which i think he finally got the right combo down pat and no more issues). Anyhow like i said instead of spending 3500 on a kit, spend 1500 MAYBE 2k and then get a diff/bolt kit and STILL be under the price you would have spent on just the kit. Think about it broham 
EDIT: and yes you should replace the headgasket, aswell as headstuds with ARP but thats all id do ‘internally’ besides maybe a cam while your in there since there cheap.
KIT: 3500
Custom Kit: 2k max + 1k trans work + 250 cam/studs = 3250… hmmmm
Yea i hear you. My mind is going 1,000,000 different ways as to what i wanna do to the car.
Legit suspension and baller wheels, respray flat, 268 cam and chip and be done, start saving for a house!<----looks like it might be this one.
thats what id do. Legit wheels and nice suspension is the biggest thing you can do to make these cars nice. Dont go blowing money into a motor that will be lucky to push 200hp safely. do work
mTDI swap??