Philip J. Fry's Planet Express Ship

[Philip J. Fry]

The Story:

My 2004.5 Jetta GLI in Black Magic Pearl was purchased CPO from Young VW-Mazda-Dodge in the summer of 2006. The original MSRP was $24,080. It came with the only option offered for this trim level - ESP. I am the second owner. My salesperson was the original owner of the vehicle and a friend of a friend, so that helped a lot in learning specifically about the vehicle's previous history from a reliable source.

At the time, I was deciding between this car and a 2003 Imola Yellow 20AE GTI. The 20th was a non-CPO car at a dealership in NJ. It had lower mileage than the GLI, but was a little rough around the edges. I picked the one I saw myself being happiest with long-term.

Progress to the car was slow... it came with a lot of the simple/bolt-on modifications that I would have wanted to do anyway: EIP 2.5" turbo-back exhaust, EIP ECU flash, and Forge 007P DV.

My first "big purchase" for the car was FK Silverline coilovers in 2008. I installed them literally right after the car was out of CPO warranty, with one of my best friends, Steve.

I got the Hartmann three-piece Porsche Turbo Twists, after two long years of searching - toward the end of 2010. I have been running them in the fair-weather months since the 2011 show season.

2012 brought on a really big set of decisions. I was getting really bored with the car, and didn't know what to try to tackle next, if anything. For the most part, I had covered all of the basic bolt-on modifications that I wanted to pursue, and I knew that if I wanted more, it was going to cost a whole lot.

For the first time ever during my ownership of the vehicle, I actually considered selling it and moving on to another platform. I did eventually come to my senses, and I decided that I either wanted to go air or BT; and that either would be worth the investment.

I chose to pursue the BT build, and couldn't be happier with my choice, despite it being about four times as expensive, and one-hundred times more time consuming than the air project I would have done as the alternative project. Air will have to wait for another day.

Any real car enthusiast knows what I mean when I say this will forever be an on-going project. I hope to keep learning and doing all I can on this platform, and the fact that it will never be "finished" is the biggest blessing of being into cars.

BT build started 05.17.2012
BT build "completed" 07.20.2012
Car completely back together in its current stage 08.11.2012

Modifications:

Engine/Drivetrain:
-Garrett GT3071r T3 flanged .63AR
-CTS turbo kit: Kinetic exhaust manifold, Precision 39mm EWG, other various hardware
-Unitronic 630cc BT MAFless retune with all deletes
-Unitronic 3" turbo-back exhaust (full V-band)
-Eurojet Race FMIC, Forge TB pipe, Kinetic 90-degree transition charge-side coupler
-Seimens 630cc injectors and spacers
-Kinetic fuel pump kit using a Walbro GLS-392 255 LPH inline fuel pump
-Integrated Engineering forged connecting rods
-Goetze piston rings (gapped for future W/M)
-Calico coated rod bearings
-ARP head bolts
-SAI/EVAP/N249/PCV delete
-Forge Type RS DV (running as a BOV)
-AEM wideband
-Saikou Michi oil catch can setup, recirculated; all custom hard-fittings and braided lines
-Victor Reinz head gasket kit
-Stant gas cap (vented due to EVAP system being deleted)
-Gruvenparts billet dipstick/funnel
-PTP turbo blanket
-BFI Stage 1 motor mounts/dogbone (65a)
-42DD solid shifter bushing set

Wheels/Suspension/Brakes:
-Hartmann three-piece Porsche Turbo Twists 18x8.5" et46ish, sandwich-mounted (Pearlescent White centers, BMP barrels, Gold Powder bolts, polished lips)
-H&R 20mm 5x100 to 5x130 adapters front & back
-FK Silverline coilovers (stainless non-adjustable dampening)
-Adam's Rotors 312mm/256mm (black hubs, slotted/dimpled), OEM calipers/pads

Interior:
-CiM vent pod package
-42DD A-pod pillar for AEM wideband
-42DD full-interior LED kit
-OEM euroswitch

Exterior/Appearance:
-In.Pro "chrome" mirror caps
-Forge strut mount caps
-Wolfsburg fender markers
-ECS stubby antenna
-Smooth smoked side markers
-BBS red/gold centercaps for the RCs
-Laminex (clear) for the headlights
-42DD LED license plate bulbs
-Rolled front fenders

Prior Stage(s)/Parts:
-EIP ECU flash
-Unitronic Stage 2
-EIP 2.5" turbo-back exhaust
-ESEtuning 2 Stage color-matched (BMP) CAI
-Eurojet TIP
-JVC KW-AVX706 with DVD in-motion
-ABDracing dual-tube front stress bar

Maintenance (>$100 in cost):
-Timing belt job and metal-impeller water pump @ 70k
-Dunlop SP Sport 01s 225/40/18 for the RCs
-Kumho Ecsta ASXs 225/40/18 for the Twists
-Nankang NS-IIs 215/40/18 for the Twists
-Duralast Gold battery

To-Do List:
-Clutch Masters FX400 clutch kit with 6-puck disc and aluminum flywheel
-Smaller adapters (from 20mm to 15mm) and tires (from 215/40 to 205/40) in the front
-H2Sport Spindles and LCAs
-New headunit
-Clean up odds and ends under the hood

Progressive Photos (prior to current stage):

2007:


2009:


2011:


Wheel shot prior to refinish (Cult Classic 2011):


Thanks:
-Coons, Artie (helped with most of the BT build), and Kevin @ FCVW
-Steve E. (helped with most of the teardown during the BT build), Chad, and Derek from back home
-Christof (KIDVersion 1... endless projects and a great friend)
-Chris Birgl @ CBtuning
-Jason Diem @ 4EverKustoms
-Alex Bilinski (Parts Manager @FCVW): check out cioccaparts.com for any OEM parts needs
-Lars, Steve W., and Connor, and Clay for continued support and good laughs
-Andrew (PSU), Zane (Chaoz), Dan (972SLOW), Eric (e.shell) and the other members of the Blue Balls, PA and Volkspringa, PA regional threads
-Other members of VWvortex, StanceWorks, and other forums that I've met or interacted with in a positive way

People who know me would hopefully say that I go out of my way to help people. If you have any questions about any of the work/modifications I've done, just ask/PM me. My advice from having been a posting member here for eight short years... don't take the internet so seriously.

Index:

Page 1: Introduction (you are here)
Page 2: Starting engine tear down
Page 3: Tear down (cont.)
Page 4: Cylinder hone, IE rods, GT3071R and turbo kit getting bolted up
Page 5: 3" TB exhaust, more build progress, refinished 3-piece twists, start-up
Page 6: Final stages of the build, START UP VIDEO!
Page 7: BFI Stage 1 mounts, front bumper back on
Page 8: Post-VAGfair, middle to end of break-in cycle
Page 9: H2Oi2012
Page 10: Clutch discussion, 42DD shift bushings, 2013 plans

Page 11: Lack of progress due to lack of funding, Jordan Unternaher's shots from H2Oi2012
Page 12: Exhaust tip shipped and mounted
Page 13: ?

[HideYoKids]

I got a shout out! Haha looks good

[x_GTI_x]

looks dope.


I like those wheels alot

[afd03]

mmm thunderbunny

[mk4boost]

hahahaha... I like your future plans, but getting an rs4 is so tacky anyway haha

looks good man

[KIDVersion 1]

Ew, I'm commenting in an emkayfour thread.



As long as you own this car and I have mine, the "one upping" will live on.

[iTz JERSEY]

[rayskor]

Car looks good! In for a lot of progress.

That was an awesome stage of KIDVersion 1's GLI, by the way.

[xjoex]

looks dope.


I like those wheels alot

What he said.

[TurboWolfVdub]

Futurama

Your car

[cruizer34]

Good progress can't wait to get my car to that stage some day maintenance sucks but it is paramount

[mtlve]

looks good man

[mkIIIdub90]

Love the title
Love the.car

[Philip J. Fry]

Good progress can't wait to get my car to that stage some day maintenance sucks but it is paramount

good point about maintenance. it is indeed paramount. maintenance section added, and i hope to keep that list as short as possible.

[Jetta603]

nice improvement


to (last year):


only one big change coming for Spring 2012 to these:

very nice car. love the rims. future projects should be awesome to. keep up the good work!

[.:13]

i can dig it

[Jake2k]

You need one of my keychains

[vento86]

Futurama

Your car

[Philip J. Fry]

Jake2K, you're wrong. i absolutely need two of your keychains.

[jolf43]

i like

[furr]

a knew clicking this thread wasn't going to be a let down.. love the car, but the wheels more!!!

[-EuroDub-]

Lol it's the truth we spend so much money over the years we could of bought a diff car but I guess that's why we love our cars so much. Btw I your 3piece twists.

[DuB-4-LiFe]

[Philip J. Fry]

Car's getting picked up from CBtuning today.

[cruizer34]

can't wait for pics

[rawkusmode32]

very nice

[Ryro]

I love it

[vdubkid4life]

Very nice

Futurama

[Philip J. Fry]

can't wait for pics

It doesn't look any different, was there for an electrical issue I couldn't figure out.



Talked to 4EverKustoms earlier in the winter, and they'll be refinishing the Twists. Still up in the air with what I want to do, but it's down to only 2-3 options.

[phik]

Looks good!

[Philip J. Fry]

dropping the wheels off @ 4EverKustoms tomorrow.

[KIDVersion 1]

dropping the wheels off @ 4EverKustoms tomorrow.

[Philip J. Fry]

i've abandoned the want for air suspension.

waiting on the wheels, as 4EverKustoms is still swamped with work. made a final decision on the finish though, which is good. hopefully they'll be done by June 1 at the latest.

eyeing up mild/BT upgrade possibilities, but if it happens, it will be de-tuned to around the 300whp, 300ft. lbs. area, until i'm ready to upgrade the clutch and rods.

[jolf43]

lookin good

[.Ant]

Looking great dude!

Futurama content


Please tell me this was one of the saddest moments of your life too.