Mag Scan: Beast From The East - VW Power, Fall 1997

[Krazee]

I'd like to thank -skidmarks- for hooking me up with a copy the Fall 1997 issue of VW Power. I was finally able to read about "The Beast From The East," a car from which I drew a lot of inspiration despite never have read the article. So much was left to speculation and folk lore. Here are the scans for public consumption:

[-skidmarks-]

[GT TDI Golf]

Finally can read the article!

[DUBZAK]

I have that mag too!

Notice the G60 Intercooler pic?!?!?! LOL

[RedYellowWhite]

...Notice the G60 Intercooler pic?!?!?! LOL

WTF

[ein]

I saw this sled this weekend, looked great.

[LBSOHK]

classic

[CorradoSLC]

That VW Power article was a reprint of the 2/96 issue of EC. That was my first issue of EC, and started my interest in modified Corrados and 3.1 stroker kits.

That g60 intercooler pic is from a Eurotech g60 GTI article.

[ajhvw93]

OHHHH SHIIIIT.....I have yet to send my copy to Mike. Sorry Mike I spaced it!! I think I still have your address??

[DUBZAK]

I spoke to Corey @ Euro Auto Source in York PA, apparently he has an ABT Crank but wont sell it to just anyone. Being that Das Beast owns the "Beast from the East" I think that might be enough incentive if someone wants to buy that car from him and restore it to its 3.1 greatness.

The 3.1L was made with this crank, and OEM 2.9L Pistons that were machined down about 2.5mm for the added stroke. A few people built motors without doing this important step and those 3.1L motors self destructed.

[ajhvw93]

I spoke to Corey @ Euro Auto Source in York PA, apparently he has an ABT Crank but wont sell it to just anyone. Being that Das Beast owns the "Beast from the East" I think that might be enough incentive if someone wants to buy that car from him and restore it to its 3.1 greatness.

The 3.1L was made with this crank, and OEM 2.9L Pistons that were machined down about 2.5mm for the added stroke. A few people built motors without doing this important step and those 3.1L motors self destructed.

AHHH so thats what happend. I heard 3.1's were blowing up. But, I thought it was due to piston wall thickness?

[JamesS]

150 mpg

[CorradoSLC]

I spoke to Corey @ Euro Auto Source in York PA, apparently he has an ABT Crank but wont sell it to just anyone. Being that Das Beast owns the "Beast from the East" I think that might be enough incentive if someone wants to buy that car from him and restore it to its 3.1 greatness.

The 3.1L was made with this crank, and OEM 2.9L Pistons that were machined down about 2.5mm for the added stroke. A few people built motors without doing this important step and those 3.1L motors self destructed.

I think the 3.1 kits came with "Abt" pistons, which were just modified 2.9 units. If I were to do it over again, I'd use an OEM VW 3.2 crank, which I think is what is in the Eurospec short blocks.

Stroker kits are my remaining VW fascination after 16 years. There's really no reason to do one, but there's also no reason to own an obscure, problematic, 20 year old VW.

If you think about it, there has been so much that has been proven or developed as it relates to VR6 technology since this car was built. Wouldn't it be interesting to see this redone with:

Turn2 intake
Thermal coated Schrick manifold
Schrick 268's
TT 2.5 or 3" exhaust
eStyles header
Pick a modern BVH
Modern chip tuning
Velocity T-body

Or something like that. Maybe someday.

[CorradoSLC]

The Abt kit included the 95.5mm crank and 82mm pistons. There was also a 3.0 kit that used the crank and 81mm pistons.

[Krazee]

OK here is the skinny on the ABT crank.

This is what ABT told me when we used to import from them. ABT gets the crank from the oem foundry that does them for VW. They are raw un cut casting and that is why both ABT and VW markings appear on them They are ground with the same crank journals, and same rod journals as a stock 90.3mm VR6 crank but at 95.6mm.

Yes, oem rods would work provided that you offset the stroke by lowering the pin height of the pistons by 2.65mm. What ABT did was shave oem cast pistons and remachine them to adjust for the increased stroke, we did overbore (83mm) forged parts instead.
BTW, the only way you could regrind the oem 90.3mm crank would be to weld it then re-grind it. In fact, in 1996 we sent a VR6 crank to a well known US crank and rod manufacturer (I won't mention any names but it sounds a lot like...Power). Our hope was to have the oem crank welded and reground to be able to offer this reground version at a far lower cost than the ABT part. We heard nothing for almost 2 years and then one day we got it back in 1998 with a note telling us they couldn't help us that it was too complex. (Jeez, thanks)

-Rich

Apparently, there is still information in our archives: http://forums.fourtitude.com/showthr...-ABT-VR6-Crank

[Krazee]

AHHH so thats what happend. I heard 3.1's were blowing up. But, I thought it was due to piston wall thickness?

That probably happened to anyone trusting 3.1L or 3.2L setup done exclusively with bore.
As a race motor, this is fine, but the pistons walls are ridiculously close on a 3.2L, meaning your virtually swapping blocks every 5,000-10,000 miles...if that.

3.1L isn't as bad, but the difference between 3.0L is negligible. While there really is no need to build such a wild NA motor, a true 3,000cc/3.0L (versus a "two-step" 2,9xxcc bored - similar to VW's 2,7xxcc "2.8L" VR6 and 2,8xx "2.9L" VR6) would be the smartest move if going NA. In some ways, I regret not doing that - I went 2,9xxcc - but I was never interested in peak power.

[dasbeast3.0]

Buy it.

[HavokRuels]

Buy it.

You are killing me

[CorradoSLC]

If you are really an old school VR6 guy, you may find this entertaining. I know that every year or two I enjoy cracking open a cold one or three and dreaming back to the days when a p-flo was still a mythical power adder, ecu chips were state of the art, and the world of VR6 tuning was basically a new land, yet to be explored.

http://www.icelord.net/vw/upgrades/V..._Upgrades.html

[chillzombies]

that setup sounds awesome, something i could definitely enjoy

[DUBZAK]

You are killing me

Do it. If you buy all the parts, I will do the block assembly for you. I have a great machine shop here. If you are not willing to go 3.1 N/A, this offer is no good. :

[dasbeast3.0]

3.1 n/a vr is a really expensive, slow setup so I'm sure he wouldn't bother.

[HavokRuels]

3.1 vrt holstet hx40

[ein]

3.1 n/a vr is a really expensive, slow setup.

Besides you could get pretty close to a 3.6 for that kind of $$$ .

[dasbeast3.0]

2.8 vrt holset hx40 pro

.

[HavokRuels]

.

That's more like it lol

[hubbell]

what would you wind up with on a bored 3.0L block and a 3.2 crank? i believe the answer is a 3.2 but some of you know this better than i do. how do they get to a 3.6? crank and bore or mainly bore with a 3.2 crank? im assuming a 3.2 would be maxing out our 12v blacks safely for NA or FI. I could def see doing a 3.2 over a 3.0 if youre going to bother, a 3.2 is almost a 15% increase over a 2.8. screw it, just turn up the boost.

[ein]

screw it, just turn up the boost.

There it is. VRT ftw.

(3.6 is from the Passat.)

[sdezego]

You are killing me

If you are even remotely considering it, you really need to jump on it. The fact that it has lasted this long is unbelievable and I am sure just timing or lack of exposure. I am sure you know the expense and effort to try and bring a project anywhere even close to where this one is (regardless of stroker or no stroker).

Definitely a nice piece of history to boot

[DUBZAK]

what would you wind up with on a bored 3.0L block and a 3.2 crank? i believe the answer is a 3.2 but some of you know this better than i do. Should technically be a 3.2 But because the .:R32 has different wrist pin heights with the same length rods as a 12v, so I would assume custom pistons would be required. how do they get to a 3.6? crank and bore or mainly bore with a 3.2 crank? Taller motor with more stroke, they also slimmed down the degree to 10.6 from 15. So each bank is offset by 5.3 degrees. Having the taller motor allows for more displacement under the stroke length. Crank is a completely new "Cast" part. Eurospec has a foundry so only a matter of time before a Forged Version and Possibly 3.8-4.0 versions of the 3.6 will be possible with bore and stroke changes. im assuming a 3.2 would be maxing out our 12v blacks safely for NA or FI. I could def see doing a 3.2 over a 3.0 if youre going to bother, a 3.2 is almost a 15% increase over a 2.8. screw it, just turn up the boost.

If I were to do a N/A only motor..(I know I am N/A now, boost is inevitable) I would do a stroker of some kind, with Eurospec Solid Lifters and Cams in the 300's.....BVH, S2 Header, Megasquirt, MBS and a sick gearbox.

Would be a tough little car for sure.

[taymk2]

If you are really an old school VR6 guy, you may find this entertaining. I know that every year or two I enjoy cracking open a cold one or three and dreaming back to the days when a p-flo was still a mythical power adder, ecu chips were state of the art, and the world of VR6 tuning was basically a new land, yet to be explored.

http://www.icelord.net/vw/upgrades/V..._Upgrades.html

im speechless.....

[HavokRuels]

Do it. If you buy all the parts, I will do the block assembly for you. I have a great machine shop here. If you are not willing to go 3.1 N/A, this offer is no good. :

lol it's tempting but I am a boost junkie!

[dasbeast3.0]

If you are even remotely considering it, you really need to jump on it. The fact that it has lasted this long is unbelievable and I am sure just timing or lack of exposure. I am sure you know the expense and effort to try and bring a project anywhere even close to where this one is (regardless of stroker or no stroker).

Definitely a nice piece of history to boot

Thanks Shaun The car isnt perfect, and does need attention in a few areas.. but in all honesty its 100x better than the pieces of **** a lot of other people are selling here. I try to be honest with whats wrong with the car, it's cost me a few potential buyers, but **** em.

It'll sell, more-so now since im at the "aggravated/dont want to look at it sit there anymore" stage. hence my reason for dropping the price considerably. Id rather let it go cheaper to a good owner, than get more $ from some random jackass who will ruin it further.

[HavokRuels]

Thanks Shaun The car isnt perfect, and does need attention in a few areas.. but in all honesty its 100x better than the pieces of **** a lot of other people are selling here. I try to be honest with whats wrong with the car, it's cost me a few potential buyers, but **** em.

It'll sell, more-so now since im at the "aggravated/dont want to look at it sit there anymore" stage. hence my reason for dropping the price considerably. Id rather let it go cheaper to a good owner, than get more $ from some random jackass who will ruin it further.

you should be getting a text from me on Saturday

[dasbeast3.0]

sounds good