Nikolai who now owns Chuck's car has had a few of the 1.8 engines apart. He said the rods and pistons are forged. I believe it is in VW specs that way as well. He said there wasn't too much difference between the 1.8 and 2.0 gti pistons and rods when side by side other than the little bit of length difference. The crank on the other hand has smaller journals and counterweights. It weighed 7lbs less. That is huge. The lighter weight, smaller counter weights and shorter stroke all mean that it will endure less stress on it. It is still weaker being nodular, but I ran over 500lbs of torque on a nodular crank before in a V8. Never had issues.