New to VR6: 2.9L Build

[L. Fopps]

My buddy went out to school in Colorado and gave me his car before he left since my brother totaled my old mk3
This is gonna be a long ongoing one. Im trying to correct any DTL's and get the car back to functional before i start getting into serious mods.
Its a 97 GLX with 180,000 on the clock.

Updated Edit: ENGINE TEAR DOWN BEGINS ON PAGE 11. Prior to that I was just getting it reliable for daily driving at the time and doing little things here and there.

The new plan is going 2.9l some mild head work to flow more air, dRC 268 Cams, United Motorsports chip, HD valve springs, Titanium Retainers, Lightweight Lifters, and many more.

This is what it looked like when i picked it up.


The mk4 wheels look like sh!t but i was willing to deal with them for the time being until i found the belts were out on the tires cause it never got an alignment after the fk streetlines were put in....

so I picked up these with good tires for $105 and flipped the old ones for $50... Bugatti's and good tires for $55 ain't too shabby..




I very soon realized the problems with the car as expected with a free car but who could complain

The car was screaming and realized it was a combination of things
1) the power steering pump was screaming. Took it off and found the PO broke the screw that held the bracket and fitting in place and apoxied the fitting into the pump.. The apoxy cracked and the pump was aerating, screaming, and spitting fluid out the resovior and all over my engine bay.
2) The secondary air pump was making that horrible noise so i just pulled the plug for now...

Also my battery is draining constantly and found out the aux water pump is running constantly so most likely ill be pulling the plug on that also for now.

other than that just clean up for now

And here's some shots of my old one back when I first had gotten my license 7 years ago.
Don't mind the monster truck wheel multi lugs

[skidplate]

I have a sai pump and an auxiliary coolant pump if you want to replace either of them. It looks like a clean start.

[scrambledeggs]

.....where's ur yamaka?

whacha getting at..?

[BonusParts]

first of all, fck replacing the SAI pump, get the C2 chip and delete that b!tch.

and for the aux pump, you can just unplug and bypass it without any adverse effects (from my personal experience - engineers will beg to differ)

as well as you may wanna look at your FCM being faulty causing the pump to run/

[skidplate]

for a VR? and how much for each? both in perfect working order?

Yes it came off my 99 gti. I'd do $70 shipped for both

[L. Fopps]

gave it a wash and wax today came alot cleaner than id ever expect.. corrected my blinker electrical issue, and cleaned the maf and throttle body

[MYGTI_MA]

bummer bout your old car but good luck with the new one. any major plans or just kinda get it back to stable and then go from there?

[L. Fopps]

for now just gettin it back to stable but once i get involved well see where it goes

[L. Fopps]

got it on the road today registered insured, fresh tires and a well needed alignment.

[L. Fopps]

Some time has passed and fixed some mechanical and cosmetic issues.
decided im keeping it and its time to start doing some modding.
Got my Joey Mod on yesterday Headlights are done fogs in progress.

[my dixierect]

[Fyler1]

Pics of Joey mod?

[Fyler1]

I'd never do a Joey mod, but they've always interested me in the fact of how much work goes into them.

[L. Fopps]

just finished up heres the end result



Before/After


gonna go slap em back on the car and ill get a picture on the car tomorwo

[Fyler1]

Good lookin Fogs there sir.

[87veedub]

Did you use black or clear silicone to seal the fogs back up?

[MYGTI_MA]

looks good keep up the work!

[L. Fopps]

Its been a while since ive updated anything at all. I never had a check engine light due to the P/O pulling the bulb out of the cluster. I replaced the bulb and it instantly came on. VagCom'ed and numerous codes. Incorrect secondary air flow mass air flow. system too rich.. evap... and main catalyst.

To solve the secondary air issue:


Sorry for the cr@ppy quality.

Changed all my vac lines and had to pull the front end off to get to the one that gets pinched between the intake manifold and the air pump. All the vac lines were literally falling apart in my hand. The fitting coming off of the combi valve was completly broken and scored one from the local junkyard. Almost got a practically new combi valve as well but they were closing so ill have to go back this weekend. went home put it all back together as it is my daily and need to get to work.

as for MAF:
Changed my filters as the P/O seems to never have and they were beyond clogged and hoped that would solve my mass air flow code as i just cleaned the sensor.

Air pumps still loud but working hopefully just works long enough to get through inspection and then ill unplug that tear sucker.

Cleared the codes and drove it all weekend. Holy **** its running like a brand new motor and the power that it was lacking beforehand was insane.

This morning on the way to work my CEL came back so well see if i solved any of these issues tonight when i get outta work and scan it. Im trying to narrow sh!t down one problem at a time.

[L. Fopps]

My horn was always screwey. I had to turn the wheel to honk. If it was straight it wouldnt work most of the time and then yesterday on my way to work it honked on its own every time I made a left turn. I figured my clock spring was shot which it was and literally fell apart when i pulled it off. I picked up 3.5 cabby wheel last night on the way home from work fro ma local guy and im in . Just gotta get my hands on black interior

[emg60vw]

the mk4 avus wheels look better than those bugattis IMO... build is going well though.

[L. Fopps]

the mk4 avus wheels look better than those bugattis IMO... build is going well though.

everyones entitled to there opinion.. but im not an avus fan

[polofreaks]

Ive got mk3.5 cabrio black leather front seats and a black leather rear jetta bench for sale. . . . . .

[L. Fopps]

picking up a black dash, glove knee panel and console today for hella cheap and 2 free beers along with purchase pictures once installed

[1.AteTee MkIV]

Ive got mk3.5 cabrio black leather front seats and a black leather rear jetta bench for sale. . . . . .

How much?

[L. Fopps]

How much?

I love your sig

[1.AteTee MkIV]

I love your sig

Haha. Your the first to comment on it

[L. Fopps]

Picked all of this and a passenger airbag up today in mint condition for 40 bucks. Gonna finally fix my heater core now that its summer while the dash is out. woulda been nice to find this deal in the winter

[jazzcat2001]

good job

[GTIDamien_407]

[L. Fopps]

Finally got some clean pictures with the Joey modded headlights and fogs



Cleaned and degreased the engine bay. .


and found some more problems

the running hot is due to the fact that the belt driven fan isnt working due to the belt being non existent. my battery cables are cut and frayed. And my coolant tank is leaking on the center seem. I got my engine codes down from 5 to 1. Now i only have a main catalyst below threshold? What are some possibilites for this issue? my buddy said the cat was done with the exhaust lesss than a year ago. Could o2 sensors be my issue?

[FRESH WHITE TEE]

great turnaround for this car. looks great now. very clean. though i have no input for you cel issues.

[L. Fopps]

so the car got towed by a crazy shady company and now its f@cked up. I went to pick it up they charged me an insane amount of money, cash only and my car was hidden behind a tractor trailer in front of a gti they had in pieces that needed a motor and right next to my car same story with two eclipses.

Anyway since i got it back it doesn't want to start right and is now when i let off the gass it wont idle it revs at like 1800 rpms. i disconnected and reconnected the throttle body and did a throttle body alignment in Vagcom and still have the same issue. I also now have a coolant temp sensor code that i never had prior as well as an evap leak. Can these be my issues and if not what are some things to consider?

Thanks in advance

[MYGTI_MA]

check the hoses going to the throttle body cause those were causing an EVAP code for me. I had the reving issue when my throttle body plug wires got melted so check those.

good luck man, good thing you were able to save the dub from the shady ' we hope you never come to claim your car' tow company

[L. Fopps]

all vaccuum lines as well as sai and kombi valve lines have been replaced just before towing. That was what i would have originally thought if they hadnt just been done

[CrazyMikeJr14]

subscribed!
Hope all is well!