Nine81's Silver Wiener Build

[Nineeightyone]

Welp, crisis of conscience or whatever. I dunno what to call it. But I'm wondering if maybe I stop looking to add power on the GTI. Guys who have gone beyond stock turbo, what are your thoughts for FWD street car? I'm really torn on if it's worth opening up the fueling system, money itself isn't the biggest issue BUT I don't want to ruin the semi-reliability of this car OR the general fun of driving it on road trips and whatnot. I wasn't planning on going any bigger than Vortex/2867, but those seem to require an upgraded HPFP which I hear is just a headache and a half. IS38 is a lot of work, but could give me that improved top end I'm after, but I don't want to give up the 400+ ft-lbs of torque it makes right now that's just so much fun and comes on so readily.

I think it was @Acadia18 who said it all started to go downhill when he started screwing with fueling. I think before I start buying any more MPI/bigger turbo stuff I need to do the front sway bar and put some loving seat time in to see what the car actually needs.

I think I'm starting to care less about the car being the fastest thing on the road. Am I old?

 

[Ezekiel81923]

I had the same apprehensions the entire time I was modding the car. Although I was always concerned with general reliability, for some reason just kept going without a second thought. I can recall several times while I was working on the car upgrading something thinking "Sure would suck if it blew up."

More directly to your point, I've had no issues with my car since upgrading the turbo and fueling. With the exception of the fiasco that was dialing in the wastegate on the turbo. I'm also running an upgraded HPFP/LPFP/MPI combo that most say would cause headaches (due to the HPFP being unnecessary and potentially not playing nice) but so far so good.

I did the LPFP myself, easy peasy.

I installed the HPFP myself, also easy peasy, but I bought the pump pre-assembled. I think swapping the internals is the part everyone fucks up.

MPI and intake manifold were installed professionally.

I know my limits. I stayed within them and the car has been trouble free for the almost 2 years since I took the leap. Would definitely do it again. That said, it's not often I get to use the power, and there will probably be a day where the motor finally gives up the ghost. 500hp and 450lbft of torque on these motors can be done but they won't last forever.

 

[swcrow]

Understandable apprehension.

If I could do it all over again, I would not have gone the upgraded HPFP route. When I put on my MPI kit, I will be going back to an OEM hpfp to remove any possible variable issue of the upgraded internals causing an issue in my logging. I can’t ever seem to smooth out the curve, no matter what the tuner does and the only thing I had really changed was the upgraded internals. Stay oem, add MPI and then see what you need to do.

You can always stay on 93 octane with MPI and be fine

 

[Ezekiel81923]

I will say that being able to run higher mixes of E was the biggest benefit of going LPFP/MPI for me. Knock makes me nauseous (the winter blends around here are killing me) so being able to fill up on E and not see any for an entire tank is a dream. Oh, so is all of the extra power.

To be clear, I only really see knock during partial throttle cruising situations or at tip in sometimes. Cylinder 3 every time. Damn you cylinder 3.

 

[MrTSI]

Welp, crisis of conscience or whatever. I dunno what to call it. But I'm wondering if maybe I stop looking to add power on the GTI. Guys who have gone beyond stock turbo, what are your thoughts for FWD street car? I'm really torn on if it's worth opening up the fueling system, money itself isn't the biggest issue BUT I don't want to ruin the semi-reliability of this car OR the general fun of driving it on road trips and whatnot. I wasn't planning on going any bigger than Vortex/2867, but those seem to require an upgraded HPFP which I hear is just a headache and a half. IS38 is a lot of work, but could give me that improved top end I'm after, but I don't want to give up the 400+ ft-lbs of torque it makes right now that's just so much fun and comes on so readily.

I think it was @Acadia18 who said it all started to go downhill when he started screwing with fueling. I think before I start buying any more MPI/bigger turbo stuff I need to do the front sway bar and put some loving seat time in to see what the car actually needs.

I think I'm starting to care less about the car being the fastest thing on the road. Am I old?

Check out StealthGTI's build on his website/YouTube channel. He also posts on here occasionally. He's racked up over 200k miles on his GTI and a good chunk of that was on an IS38 swap running an off-the-shelf APR Stage 3 and some common bolt-ons. He has a video with his initial impressions of the bigger turbo and he mentions it in his later updates too. He takes road trips with his car which also has a bunch of audio and radio equipment in it as well as towing a small trailer. Key takeaways are that you can have a reliable daily with a bigger turbo and a good tune, but the usual trade offs apply - loss of some low-end in exchange for waking up the middle to higher range.

 

[messrock]

Welp, crisis of conscience or whatever. I dunno what to call it. But I'm wondering if maybe I stop looking to add power on the GTI. Guys who have gone beyond stock turbo, what are your thoughts for FWD street car? I'm really torn on if it's worth opening up the fueling system, money itself isn't the biggest issue BUT I don't want to ruin the semi-reliability of this car OR the general fun of driving it on road trips and whatnot. I wasn't planning on going any bigger than Vortex/2867, but those seem to require an upgraded HPFP which I hear is just a headache and a half. IS38 is a lot of work, but could give me that improved top end I'm after, but I don't want to give up the 400+ ft-lbs of torque it makes right now that's just so much fun and comes on so readily.

I think it was @Acadia18 who said it all started to go downhill when he started screwing with fueling. I think before I start buying any more MPI/bigger turbo stuff I need to do the front sway bar and put some loving seat time in to see what the car actually needs.

I think I'm starting to care less about the car being the fastest thing on the road. Am I old?

If I’m being honest, I consider going back to stock DP and canned APR tune for my DTR occasionally. I also consider parting it out and getting a new R b/c intake, intercooler, flash tune 400+.both things went through my mind as recently as today.

At the end of the day, fuck it. I just make sure to keep my tune dialed in where things are safe right now. Once I do the fueling, can push it higher And still keep it in a safe range without needing to build it. I don’t have anywhere I can really
use THAT much power here anyways. There are a couple local guys pushing huge MK7 builds nearby, but they’re A LOT younger and are out running their cars all the time. I just want to tinker on my car with friends and learn new shit.

 

[Nineeightyone]

Unrelated but here's a fresh pic of some racetracks we've been to. Long live grassroots motorsports in all it's forms

 

[Diggs24]

Welp, crisis of conscience or whatever. I dunno what to call it. But I'm wondering if maybe I stop looking to add power on the GTI. Guys who have gone beyond stock turbo, what are your thoughts for FWD street car? I'm really torn on if it's worth opening up the fueling system, money itself isn't the biggest issue BUT I don't want to ruin the semi-reliability of this car OR the general fun of driving it on road trips and whatnot. I wasn't planning on going any bigger than Vortex/2867, but those seem to require an upgraded HPFP which I hear is just a headache and a half. IS38 is a lot of work, but could give me that improved top end I'm after, but I don't want to give up the 400+ ft-lbs of torque it makes right now that's just so much fun and comes on so readily.

I think it was @Acadia18 who said it all started to go downhill when he started screwing with fueling. I think before I start buying any more MPI/bigger turbo stuff I need to do the front sway bar and put some loving seat time in to see what the car actually needs.

I think I'm starting to care less about the car being the fastest thing on the road. Am I old?

An IS38 on pump not spun to the moon isn't a bad place to be reliability and $ wise IMO. Easier to DIY tune too. The issue is always getting used to the power and wanting more. It's inevitable.

 

[19birel]

Granted I'm still stock fueling for the time being, but I've never regretted going big turbo on my car. It's great on roadtrips, PGH->Pottstown it averaged 39mpg in Eco, on the way back, it outran a modded B8.5 S4 multiple times on the highway and still got 32mpg (after screwing with the S4 I gave up on fuel economy and brought my avg speed up a little bit lol). Passing on the hwy in 6th is quick and effortless with minimal pedal input too

Sure I don't get to use the power 24/7, but even with my laggy turbo it's a blast on backroads, and when I do get the chance to open it up, it feels pretty darn special.

In short, no regrets here!

 

[Nineeightyone]

Apparently I let the battery on the GTI go too long without being on the charger and the battery died, and inspection is up in March. So those are on the radar, but so is starting on an E30 map. Slowly getting MPI bits together and then we'll see where we're at once I have everything in hand. In the meantime, front sway bar and subframe collars are going to (finally) get installed, make some adjustments to the knock sensors, and see if I can get a sheet with 350hp on the IS20. I have no idea what the day-to-day map does offhand but I know it's safe fun, but I really want to get myself a scooty puff sr map together.

oh and I need to install the super pin my wife got me for xmas and hopefully get shifter alignment nailed down, but I'm afraid of touching plastics when it's cold and they're (likely) brittle. BUT level 2 AX school in April, and possibly a TNiA at VIR in the GTI at some point soon so I can at least check that box off the list. I miss tinkering with this car so much, winter has not been easy.

 

[swcrow]

Granted I'm still stock fueling for the time being, but I've never regretted going big turbo on my car. It's great on roadtrips, PGH->Pottstown it averaged 39mpg in Eco, on the way back, it outran a modded B8.5 S4 multiple times on the highway and still got 32mpg (after screwing with the S4 I gave up on fuel economy and brought my avg speed up a little bit lol). Passing on the hwy in 6th is quick and effortless with minimal pedal input too

Sure I don't get to use the power 24/7, but even with my laggy turbo it's a blast on backroads, and when I do get the chance to open it up, it feels pretty darn special.

In short, no regrets here!

same for me....still getting 31.8 mpg easily with multiple 60-90 WOT runs to/from work lol

 

[swcrow]

BUT level 2 AX school in April, and possibly a TNiA at VIR in the GTI at some point soon so I can at least check that box off the list. I miss tinkering with this car so much, winter has not been easy.

you roll to VIR, you better hit us up on the way into VA!!

 

[Nineeightyone]

you roll to VIR, you better hit us up on the way into VA!!

meetup thread is in my sig, hoping to get the Central PA SCCA schedule soon™ (i.e. this weekend) and then I think we're all set -- life is tough, competing in three AX regions and one RX. BUT yeah, I really want to try a TNiA at VIR because #1 I want to drive it (it looks pretty rad in videos) and #2 it's another one to add to the tattoo, and tbh it seems like a good opportunity to have some fun with the GTI. Definitely going to get the track insurance though, and I'm hoping to get the FSB installed beforehand because I'd like the car to drive well

 

[Nineeightyone]

you

vs the guy she tells you not to worry about

more MPI bits on the way. RS3 fuel pump, then I just need injectors and wiring, and then it should be golden. Working on my to-do list as this week is supposed to be really nice:

• Front sway bar/locking subframe collars
• battery (didn't leave it on the charger and voltage over the winter dropped to ~4v, whoops -- not sure if the camera was related to this or not, I do have a module installed to hopefully keep it from draining completely)
• VAQ fluid (did not opt for the new screen and seals this time, but I think maybe at 60k I'll do it? Currently 42k)
• alignment/inspection
• adjust knock sensor gain a bit to better align with reality
• turn up boost on 'aggressive' map
• redo timing curve after ^
• play with e30 map even though math is already annoying and I don't want to do it at the fuel pump
• dominate skreets and make papa Diggs proud

and some non-VW stuff just because

• second o2 sensor on the racecar is reading 0v, so ordered a new sensor and will investigate but that might be why it's unhappy. It's intermittent so either the mounts have caused it to rattle loose, or the sensor's toast
• mount and balance RE-71RS for AX
• Summit Point level 2 school in April
• git gud

 

[Diggs24]