My commuting bug (Golf GT TDI PD 130) has grown some pubic hair around its German balls and been given a remap, £45 cost and uploaded directly from my Netbook via Blacksmoke.co.uk. Up to 180hp, 300lbft, and boy that mid range doesn't half surge. Relentless and it's an excellent map IMO (many that have used the map have praised it due to its smoothness), good job i'd shod the fronts with Goodyear F1 Eagle Assymetric 2's to shove that torque onto the tarmac. It is like the map has woken the car up from a zombiefied life, of scuttling down the M6 / M56 not exceeding much more than 50 most mornings. The clutch doesn't know what's hit it!
Work in progress though my little Golf. MK4 Golfs are pretty crap as general cars go (I have to say, except the interesting R32). Comfy, fairly roomy and that infamous notchy gearchange that gets notchier as the car ages. They long to be tuned and they really are a modders dream. I was going to leave the Derv alone and let it dwindle its life away on its measily narrow power band, but you know, its a healthy car at 155,000 miles so what the hell! Its had some hedge action at some point during its ownership, and the last owner started to get a bit careless with its condition.
So far, I've Powerflex'ed the gearbox dogbone mount (yes vibration was bad, but now settled down a bit) for a better gearchange. It was one of the first things I did. Also I swapped all the leaking boost pipes and knackered Intercooler (leaking oil vapour) to new plumbing. I fitted a bigger Side Mount Intercooler, although they get heat soak really I should have re-plumbed one across the radiator. Its all come together nicely though, so the temptation to get this thing handling better (christ that'll be a job) and being able to lean on the rubber better is next on the list. The EGR has been blanked off, sod economy. I hate the way EGR's tar up everywhere..
You know, I told the wife 6 months ago when I bought this Golf that i'd leave it alone. Goddam it! I want to track the thing next year.
Here's hoping that the Turbo / clutch and tranny manages to keep alive.

 

sounds fairly good all round, dont think i could deal with the poly bush in the dogbone mount though, did you go to the red (for diesels) i assume?

and blocking off the egr should help economy, mine certainly went up after i had mine mapped out and blanked off!

 

Hi mate, dont know if you seen i bought a fabia VRS.

Used blacksmoke too, however the map is good they have decalibrated the injectors and not up'd the timing like i think it should be still a good map for the price.

I've fitted an EGR delete and will be making an enlarged intake and thats all i'm doing engine wise, i have some coilovers to fit and a whiteline RARB, may upgrade to the gold 312 brakes but not sure, they are shite on the fabia.

My engine is basically a 130PD too.

What is the dog bone mount can you do that on my fabia?

Cheers

 

Hiya...
Yeah I saw your Fabia, great cars and I've seen an increase of these on the road lately. The elastic pd130 application works well in the skoda even better, due to it being a little lighter. Mine has been lowered too, but the suspension does need an overhaul next year, top mounts and shocks are getting tired.
Pretty sure you can also get the firmer mount for the vrs too. The Powerflex red one is extremely firm that I use, but I like its responsiveness and ignore the coarse nature of the car on tickover. I can get the R32 one, which is slightly more supple and not like the plasticine OEM one. THS sell OEM style mounts but with a firmer feel, not as extreme as Powerflex. If I'm honest, I wouldn't recommend the Powerflex and at some point next year, I'm sure the vibrations will start to get on my nerves!
Your VRS on a 175 map should be good for 0-60 in 6.9, but its 30-80 that is jaw dropping...
By the way, the dogbone mount sits between the transmission and front of the engine at the bottom. It's a critical component that reduces wheel hop, when doing its job as a complete bush part it ensures power gets to the road. If you stay OEM when your old one wears out then you'll keep your cars refinement level. Going stiff causes high vibration, but it gives the car an added eagerness. The gear change will feel swift, cleaner and it will mean the engine is supported and not bouncing around in the engine bay (which loses horsepower). Go stiffer, but not too stiff!

 

I have bought JOM coilovers, whiteline ARB and new bearings top mounts and shorted drop links. Yeah i think they weight just under 1300KG. I think 0-60 in 6.9 is a little optimistic more like mid 7's.

Still on stock clutch so dont want to butch it LOL.

Pretty impressed with it TBH.

My plans are what i have done are

remap - done
Coilover and RARB - to fit
Plastidip stock wheels and colour calipers - done
Fit 312 brakes - undecided on this.
Fit new headunit - done
Tart up interior just carbon fibre vents etc - done.
Fit HID's - done
Make a larger intake - to fit
Fit EGR delete - done
Spray door handles body colour - to do.

I got my mate to take out his hybrid Leon Curpa TDI (IIRC 240BHP) and i drove the S, the S absolutely destroyed in all scenarios apart from when he was in 2nd in the power band and i was being lazy in a higher gear at lowrevs, however you cant beat the S to drive as a package.

Very happy with the Fabia.

 

 

Fitted some Bora Sport clocks today, look much better than OEM boring black ones. These have a silver band and nicer dials with little mirror inserts in the power markers. Pretty much what you see on the Anniversary / R32. Best thing was, I used my own clock because its just a template you fit. So no coding of keys etc. Bargain for £25.
The modding continues. Forgot to mention, that 2 weeks ago I slapped on some 18" Team Dynamics Imolas, as they look pretty darn near to BBS Anniversary style and they are lovely lovely things.

 

Sounds good mate, parts are more reasonably priced and you can fit most other items off cars from the VAG group.

I need to cease with much more modifying as its not meant to be that type of car.

 

True, they aren't super rapid or anything. But if you mod tastlefully then they can appear a bit more pleasing to the eye/ownership. Getting VAG diesels to handle properly requires lots of money, my biggest gripe with VAG cars like these is that you just cannot feel the road through that chunky steering wheel. It's like computer game steering, makes you particularly nervous is you start to push limits... If you can feel where those tyre slip limits are. It's over damped and crucially lacks feel the TDI Golf. This I believe is what they worked on with the Mk4 R32. I admire the '32, I can see myself scratching that itch one day

 

I'm actually surprised at the handling on the fabia its good its the brakes that are shit, it does a roll a bit but hopefully should have these handling bits installed in the next couple of days.