Reached out to a local AIM dealer to ask whether AIM would build plug and play drivers for a CAN connection for their data logger. I find it hard to believe that the MK7-7.5 GTi/R didn’t make the list. Found drivers for the Mk6 and Seat.
Finally gathered the pieces together for my oil cooler install.
Decided to go with an old school thermostat to swop out the racingline sandwich plate. Went with the Improved Racing 90-degree port 185F version. Should make packaging a little easier. It’s rebuildable. I purchased a 212F rebuild kit in case I have issues with oil coming up to temp in winter on the street.
Looking forward to seeing how the oil cooler set up works for you. I decided to go with the R aux radiator first since my oil temps have stayed in the 260s, but coolant temps spike down the straights. Ordered the parts, so hopefully they get here and I have a chance to put the thing in before I hit Mid Ohio in mid July.
My original plan was to remote mount the oil filter and thermostat in the passenger area where the auxiliary radiator mounts. Went this route to keep that space free. Just in case.
Pulled my bumper to test fit my 19-row Setrab. It will fit with the lower profile 90-degree banjo. However the lower 3-rows are covered by the lower bumper skin. The alternative is to mount it upside down so the whole cooler is in the airstream.
I decided to move the cooler to the right so I can leave the radiator ducting in place. I need to redrill the mounting holes as the one bracket doesn’t clear the center latch support. I may just center the cooler and be done. I need to make up new hoses anyway as the racingline ones will be too short.
Tomorrow I will test the upside down fitment. I think there are some brackets for the Audi that has the cooler mounted upside down. No point in having a larger cooler if the additional rows are partially blocked.
My front bumper ate a delaminated tire on the highway that I couldn’t avoid which broke the lower grill trim. You cannot buy the trim separately. So I plan on doing a R-bumper conversion Which has a larger grill opening.
Edit: I see the broken part in the picture. So, never mind.
I might be going to an R bumper to make the aux radiator work correctly. I don't have fog lights, so I'm just going to use a grille for a fog light car (without the light in it, so it's a hole) to start, and then I'll either decide whether I want to cut out the bumper on that side or just get a whole new thing. Car has 100k on it, and the bumper has stone chips and some scratches from city parking, so it's not like it's in the best shape anyway. (Also, to that point, having a scratched bumper that I don't have to worry about people backing into is kind of nice).
I've been tossing up getting these vs a vented carbon bonnet. Though I'm struggling to find which bonnets actually have function vents vs cosmetic.
Looks great. Keen on feedback.
Spent the morning taping the rest of the hood to lay some primer down on the inside of the hood and on the outside. I put some weather stripping under one vent. It didn’t look good so I removed it and installed the vents per Verus instructions.
I used this to tighten the nuts with a 11/32” socket. Instructions cautioned against over torquing the the nuts.
One tip, use string or some long zip ties tied to the washer fluid tube and electrical plugs When you remove the from the hood. Makes for an easy install.
The finished job. It turned out really good and I’m happy with the result.
Some of the reinforcing under the hood needs to be trimmed. This is what mine looked like.
I've been tossing up getting these vs a vented carbon bonnet. Though I'm struggling to find which bonnets actually have function vents vs cosmetic.
Looks great. Keen on feedback.
I looked at some carbon hoods. There is one out of Japan that has functional vents but is $2k.
This took me a day and a half to install and I consider myself a novice sheet-metal worker/fabricator. Took my time.
Will post the results. Held off on the oil cooler install to see the results of the hood vents (Still doing an oil cooler) Planning on placing a temp strip on my ABS pump to gauge under hood temps. Should have done so before the install to get a before and after.
This should help vent under bonnet heat and drop temps a little. Still need to complete my oil cooler install. Got the mounting bracket holes drilled. Just need to measure the oil line run length and make up some oil lines.