TDI RatRod (full thread)

[Mcstiff]

NICE!

[audidrums]

That's SO awesome! Consider me inspired!

[PRA4WX]

Glad there was some inspiration in here. I'm stupid excited about what this vehicle means. My buddy got 64mpg over this last tank. He's averaging in the 60's and his best tank was 78mpg in the pictured GTI. I won't likely get that kinda mileage out of mine for a number of reasons but am excited to see what i do get. Let me also say, even at just 20psi, this setup boogies. It's already faster than the Lysholmed setup it replaced-and that equals success to me. I wanted a minimum 30mpg commuter that i could still have fun autoXing as well as occasional tracking. With the GTB2260VK, R520's, big cam, porting, long runner intake, lift pump, it runs full on all the way through 5500rpm. Doesn't appear to have the common drop off at 4-5k rpm that VE tdi's suffer. I'm diggin that.

[Mcstiff]

That MPG is niice. Now you need to go WVO and really save some cash (in the summer). If I ever have a longer commute I'll have to build a diesel.

[JunkcollectorJ]

Nice, I like it. Can't believe I missed this before. The cam set up is pretty interesting, I've wondered how well they work. How are the smoke levels with this set up and tune? I have a malone tune in my 1Z powered rabbit and like it a lot.

[PRA4WX]

That MPG is niice. Now you need to go WVO and really save some cash (in the summer). If I ever have a longer commute I'll have to build a diesel.

I've been studying a little on making bio diesel. I don't have the time right now to invest in learning and getting setup to make bio reliably, but am looking forward to dabbling in the future.

To JunkcollectorJ-

Gotta get some pictures and documentation of your tdi on here!

Tune/setup and smoke- Not sure yet, as i'm still not running as much boost as i'm setup to run. With as much ambiguity about what my setup would end up being, Mark said there may well be some tweaks that need to happen. We'll see. I've gotta get the map sensor in to exploit my tune/nozzle setup.

[PRA4WX]

http://youtu.be/GBbNBnn2zxg

[80qtdi]

With the map sensor, are you going to stick with the internal sensor or wire a connector in it's place to allow an external sensor?

[glibobbo21]

saweeet

[PRA4WX]

With the map sensor, are you going to stick with the internal sensor or wire a connector in it's place to allow an external sensor?

Internal. I think both routes have there benefits, but the internal is the most cost effective for me.
As you can see in the above video, it's ready for the sensor!

[PRA4WX]

First the only pictures i took from Pikes Peak:



Moving forward to this past week......Got the exhaust gasket(s) replaced. Reset my EGT probe depth (too shallow). Cleaned up the turbo/adapter mating surfaces (it was leaking there). Of course keep in mind this requires unbolting the engine and rotating forward to get the exhaust mani of the studs...so intake mani has to come off, turbo unbolt from adapter, unbolt engine from mounts and rotate engine forward, then barely, and just barely, squeeze the EM off the studs. In the big scheme of things (other motors) its not bad, but on an engine and platform i find mostly VERY easy to work on, EM gaskets aren't. Also, went with an 20vt MC1 intake gasket that matches ports better on my IM. I had to trim, and slot bolt holes but it's much better than the old one.

New passat radio added too.


Replaced shot strut tower bearings. Adjusted ride hight for the higher rolling diameter (see poor mans R&P) of the new summer shoes:


New reports after tune up and adjusting manual boost controller.....no more choo-choo train smoking. Boost builds much more quickly. Oh and its much quieter under the hood w/o horrible exhaust leaks! ;-)

Had a minor incursion with a no crank circumstance after driving across town and parking. Usual suspects suspected.....but no answers yet. Tapped on the starter solenoid...checked the plug and the wire and the solenoid looks fatigued and some bare wire where insulation is missing shows at the plug there. Anyway, it started cranking and has since.

[pkw]

love the car. must be a real sweetie to drive. i can not believe the mpg figures though.

[a_CQ]

Awesome...car looks real good, and I love what you did with it. That GTD is super nice as well. Great pics on the mountain!

[PRA4WX]

Thanks guys. I'm very excited about having it on the road. Makes more time for the "other car" in the garage. ;-)
Petar- Gonna have to make a HPDE event with ya.

[a_CQ]

It would be fun to have a large MG contingent GTG at an event, but we're too far spread apart...couple guys here couple there, and then a bunch of those who spend so much time and effort on a car to only drive it on the street and race some poor souls light to light. Some day...

[mr_aj_johnson]

I've been studying a little on making bio diesel. I don't have the time right now to invest in learning and getting setup to make bio reliably, but am looking forward to dabbling in the future.

Keep an eye on craigslist. I see stuff like this pop up all the time

http://boise.craigslist.org/pts/3173210005.html

[PRA4WX]

I've been studying a little on making bio diesel. I don't have the time right now to invest in learning and getting setup to make bio reliably, but am looking forward to dabbling in the future.

Keep an eye on craigslist. I see stuff like this pop up all the time

http://boise.craigslist.org/pts/3173210005.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oow nice! Good word on that. Didn't even think about CL for bio making stuffs.

[PRA4WX]

Replaced the failing battery which caused my no start issue. Cranks much better now. Last night a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 played games at a stop light and accidentally got into it in second and third. Both gears i had to back off to keep wheel spin. Really need LSD. Also, full throttle yielding no smoke. :cool:

[PRA4WX]

Project fuel economy improvement. Also have a 195 thermostat to install.

[PRA4WX]

From road trip to Ozarks this week:

Best tank over the trip 58mpg, averaged 55mpg for the trip. VR6/G60 clutch slips in 3/4/5 when getting anywhere near 19lbs of boost...... So guess i need more clutch.
New front strut tower mounts are already sloppy. (boo) Guess i need some Ground Control units.
Let's see....GC strut mounts, more clutch, LSD, taller 5th gear......i NEED to win the lottery.

[PRA4WX]

New old seats.

[a_CQ]

Nice. What was your average speed with that mileage? On a recent trip I tried driving "for mileage". I was seeing about 32mpg in my GTi, but I quit after an hour or so and went back to my normal cruising at 80-100. Still got back 26mpg over 700 miles and averaged 76 mph. Certain C6 Chevrolet was surprised the little Golf can go 140 throgh a relatively wide turn, while the sports car had to back out =)

Can't believe I haven't noticed that bumper cutout. Not liking that too much, but I guess it works for performance, but must kill your aero. Maybe add some black wire mesh in there? Have you tried playing with different size opening and ducting? May work better both ways.

[PRA4WX]

Nice. What was your average speed with that mileage? On a recent trip I tried driving "for mileage". I was seeing about 32mpg in my GTi, but I quit after an hour or so and went back to my normal cruising at 80-100. Still got back 26mpg over 700 miles and averaged 76 mph. Certain C6 Chevrolet was surprised the little Golf can go 140 throgh a relatively wide turn, while the sports car had to back out =)

Can't believe I haven't noticed that bumper cutout. Not liking that too much, but I guess it works for performance, but must kill your aero. Maybe add some black wire mesh in there? Have you tried playing with different size opening and ducting? May work better both ways.

140mph in a turn to beat up on corvettes? You had your GTI on the track?! ;-) I talked my sister into a MK5 GTI and she consistently pulls 30mpg plus. It really is a great car.

On my trip the best tank saw average speed in the 60's. Worst tank average speed was significantly lower, but due to lots of Ozarks stop and go and steep hill driving. But the entire return trip saw average speed just about 75 and fuel for those tanks was consistent at the 52-55mpg range.

Peter, i don't aesthetically like the cutout in the front bumper either. Functionally i do, even though it most certainly cost aero. This bumper is destined to be replaced. It was partially hacked by the previous owner and as such i went for full opening for intercooling. I don't know how long it'll be before i replace it and if it goes very long i FOR SURE plan on mesh in the bumper opening, again mostly for function rather than appearance. My current plan is for the "RS" bumper with slightly more subtle venting much like Betz's car:

[a_CQ]

I didn't mention the units on speed! =)

Got ya on the bumper...that^^ one is a good looking car.

[PRA4WX]

I've adjusted to the steering effort. The biggest factor is that i autoX'ed this past weekend at Front Range Airport (Quite an awesome venue but i'll confess part of my enthusiasm for the location was the air traffic and the steering was perfect! I was afraid it would cost me in having the more weighted steering but nothing could be further from true. The course was really a series of slaloms tied together by varying radiused turns. The slaloms are what i have feared to be problematic and they were not.

Other notes, the power delivery was excellent. My initial vision for this car was a car i could commute in and do weekend autoX events and track events when the track car wasn't available. After getting into the build, i was concerned i had over sized the turbo for the quick throttle response and beneficial torque of the the tdi for autoX driving. I was VERY happy to find that not to be the case.

All the above being said i drove very conservatively to prevent both wheel and clutch slip. The tires are greasy. The suspension cheap, under dampened, the rear is under sprung. Still had a riot driving, however. I got setup to film my last run and had a camera fail. Booo. Maybe i can get some boring pulls on the street at some point.