I know that the general idea is to use the mounts from the origional motor when doing a install, but do you think if I did away with the front mount (grill side) of the gti motor, and made a plate that picked up bell housing bolts i could use the standard mini mounts (the ones that pick up the thermostat housing?
that way the motor is not cantilevered on the towers alone.

Most of the frames that I have seen do not use the gti mounts. Are you using a mk 1 or 2/3? The motor shouldn't be cantilevered of the towers alone. My thoughts are that most of the weight is held by the rear mount and that they fronts merely stop it from rolling forward.

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

the torque of the motor will push down on the front mount tho...
just thought that I could use more room for the exhaust

You've lost me....Where are you trying to run the exhaust?

The motor will only go in one spot. It can only go as far back as the water pump pulley will allow. You could do what I have done and run a leccy w/p but it really won't give you anymore room to move it back. You really don't want it going back much further, the driveshaft angle is pretty good when w/p pulley in on.

Personally having looked at mine in the bay I seriously think the best solution to the lack of room to get a decent set of exctractors in there is to turbo it**. I think I'm just going to make up (or get made) a log style manfold and sit the turbo over the g/box. The dump pipe will then have to exit in the direction of the firewall. I've found a bit more room up front for a small intercooler and I will probably run the radiator in the passenger side wheel well. Also allows some more room for an oil cooler.

**I can't even get the standard headers in there with the motor insitu!

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

I was thinking about
the mount which will be located at the front (just behind grill) for the gti motor may be deleted if you brace from the bell housing to the stock upper mini mount......

that top mount wouldn't support much force though, it's common for clubman engine steady mounts (above the firewall bulkhead) to break. They're only steadies, not a load bearing mount - but if done properly, it's not a bad idea

mt 850 has two? is that normal?