Painfully Slow Build Thread

[GVZBORA]

Well guys. I know its probably not the best time to start a build thread but I've wanted to do one since before I had my jetta. I now own a 2002 Beetle turbo s and I have to say... As a vr6 guy I'm sure enjoying the little 1.8T. I have owned the bug for about 4 months now and it is just a blast to drive. I ran into some issues about 2 months ago where my turbo actually fell off. I took it to the dealer and they turned the work away. Granted I know noone wants to do warranty work but still. So I fixed it myself. The dealer claimed that it was the downpipe that had split at the flex pipe. I asked them to please look at the turbo bolts and the manifold gasket but apparently the word if the customer doesn't mean much. I took a picture of the manifold in the dealer lot after getting my car back. I will post that and pictures of the car shortly.

As she sits right now it is mostly oem minus the 3" catless downpipe. My plans are basic. Nothing completelycrazy and very doable. I haven't been to too many track days in my life but I enjoy them. I want this to be a fun car that handles well and is still pretty quick but can still be taken to shows and draw a little attention. Diet I want to focus on the handling aspect. I know it needs to lose a bit if weight. So some interior will more than likely be removed. Rear seat eventually as well as most if not all if the sound deadedening anything to lose weight but not looks it too much comfort.I am on a bit of a budget so I was thinking about just getting a nice cup kit or a decent set of inexpensive coilovers. I had a set if FK streetlines on my jetta and loved them but if I can find a decent set of bilsteins or h&rs used I'll go that route. After the suspension is sorted I am gonna get started on the brakes. Maybe go with an R32 front setup and see if I can't figure out a way to get the stock fronts fitted to the rear. I don't know. Might be a bit too much for the rear. Either way they will be upgraded. After I get used to the suspension and brakes at the track and take it as far as I can with just that I want to start on the motor/ trans.

I'm looking for around 250-300 whp when I'm all said and done. Don't know what to do for programming but I either want to go k04 or frankenturbo. Don't know what else to do yet. I'm open to any and all advice from you guys. Pics will be posted tomorrow. Nothing special to look at but it will be one day.

I have one question though. What is the widest tire I can fit under the fenders without too much interference if bodywork?

[VWBugman00]

Well guys. I know its probably not the best time to start a build thread but I've wanted to do one since before I had my jetta. I now own a 2002 Beetle turbo s and I have to say... As a vr6 guy I'm sure enjoying the little 1.8T. I have owned the bug for about 4 months now and it is just a blast to drive. I ran into some issues about 2 months ago where my turbo actually fell off. I took it to the dealer and they turned the work away. Granted I know noone wants to do warranty work but still. So I fixed it myself. The dealer claimed that it was the downpipe that had split at the flex pipe. I asked them to please look at the turbo bolts and the manifold gasket but apparently the word if the customer doesn't mean much. I took a picture of the manifold in the dealer lot after getting my car back. I will post that and pictures of the car shortly.

As she sits right now it is mostly oem minus the 3" catless downpipe. My plans are basic. Nothing completelycrazy and very doable. I haven't been to too many track days in my life but I enjoy them. I want this to be a fun car that handles well and is still pretty quick but can still be taken to shows and draw a little attention. Diet I want to focus on the handling aspect. I know it needs to lose a bit if weight. So some interior will more than likely be removed. Rear seat eventually as well as most if not all if the sound deadedening anything to lose weight but not looks it too much comfort.I am on a bit of a budget so I was thinking about just getting a nice cup kit or a decent set of inexpensive coilovers. I had a set if FK streetlines on my jetta and loved them but if I can find a decent set of bilsteins or h&rs used I'll go that route. After the suspension is sorted I am gonna get started on the brakes. Maybe go with an R32 front setup and see if I can't figure out a way to get the stock fronts fitted to the rear. I don't know. Might be a bit too much for the rear. Either way they will be upgraded. After I get used to the suspension and brakes at the track and take it as far as I can with just that I want to start on the motor/ trans.

I'm looking for around 250-300 whp when I'm all said and done. Don't know what to do for programming but I either want to go k04 or frankenturbo. Don't know what else to do yet. I'm open to any and all advice from you guys. Pics will be posted tomorrow. Nothing special to look at but it will be one day.

I have one question though. What is the widest tire I can fit under the fenders without too much interference if bodywork?

Sounds like you've got work ahead of you! That's good though. I'd go with the Frankenturbo over the K04. You'll be able to reach your power goals very easily, and you'll still have lots of options for the software. If you plan on tracking the car, I'd suggest an LSD as well. Some good brakes would be a good idea too.

[GVZBORA]

Alright so I haven't been able to make it home in about 3 days. The car is absolutely filthy at this point in time. Lots of construction going on. And we had a good amount of flurries last night. So winter is almost here. Guess its a good time to start saving for the suspension goodies. So my first question is I want the car to handle properly but I want to go lower than an inch and a half. I remember I found them on here a little while ago but can't remember where but there were hubs that kept the control arms more parallel at lower ride height. I'm gonna have to go searching the suspension forum again. Can't remember what they are called. Also I'm gonna try and get some more camber into the front. Not too much but just enough. Can't really do much about the rear. Do centering plates have any improved effect on handling? I'm also looking at getting a set of 18x8.5 wheels for a square set up. But from what I hear the widest tire I can fit under the stock fenders is a 235. Can anyone confirm that? If I can go wider I will. Don't really want to spend money on an RSi kit. Don't like the look of the front bumper. If I could get my S bumper widened to fit the fenders I might consider it. Anyway... Just trying to draw up a list/plan of what I can and can't do. All in great fun. Well I'm gonna take my ass to bed. Been up for way too long.

[redmk2bunny]

What's with us MN boys starting all late on these builds? Yeah I wouldn't go much wider than 235's on the bug plus you will need spacers, well depending on offset, but I have 225's and I have just a couple of mm clearance between my front tire and coilover. I you have any questions or need some help lemme know.

Oh and what dealer did you go to and they told you to go away?

[Good Old Car]

235 is the widest you can go on 18x8.5. That's what I have the rear of my bug.

[GVZBORA]

What's with us MN boys starting all late on these builds? Yeah I wouldn't go much wider than 235's on the bug plus you will need spacers, well depending on offset, but I have 225's and I have just a couple of mm clearance between my front tire and coilover. I you have any questions or need some help lemme know.

Oh and what dealer did you go to and they told you to go away?

I went to luther Westside. its where I bought the car. Well I did an oil change last night. 3K miles and it was basically jet black. can anyone recommend something that would clean the motor out somewhat? Used seafoam before but haven't ever used it on a turbo car. Oh and I'm nt starting too late I just basically got the car

[VWBugman00]

Seafoam is equal opportunity motor (turbo, na, diesel). It'll clean out the gunk very well. I would use it in your oil just before you do your next oil change. Be sure you're using synthetic oil, and a good filter.

[GVZBORA]

Ok so many of you won't approve of my latest purchase for the bug but I got myself an HID kit from DDM. I know I don't have HID projectors but from what I have seen the cutoff is pretty good. And where I live I need decent light output. Deer are not my friend and neither are racoons, beavers or dogs in the road. My lenses are fine aswell so there is nothing more I can do. I hope to have it here by the beginning of next week so hopefully it warms up by then. I also need to find a new/used passenger fog light. The mount for it is broken and its just hanging onto the grill. It has now broken 2 tabs on the grill itself. Otherwise the car hasn't really changed. Still need to get pics up. But its a mess right now. Girfriend loves to throw her trash on my floor and not pick it up as well as my lsundry basket of a rear seat. And it needs a wash. Anyways that's all I've got for the moment. Does anybody have any small cheap/free ideas that I could do to this thing?

[GVZBORA]

Ok I am in need of 2 new tires. I have looked everywhere for a decent set but the best I could find are 245/45r17 which I know are wider than I am able to run but hey for $75 a tire I'm not complaining for brand new tires and I ran the 225/40/18 on a set of 18x8 wheels on my jetta and loved them. So I'm gonna get 2 for the time being but I still want a square setup in the future so fender flares are probably gonna be my friend. Anybody know of a cheap stick on solution? I would hate to drill holes in my S bumpers..