decisions, decisions...

[mat3833]

aright, i think ill go with an intake first, work on the brakes/tires, do some suspension stuff(help me on this one. i want adjustability from a tad higher than stock to idk, 3 inches lower?)get a chip, get an exhaust(sugest a company if oyu would) do a turbo upgrade, and so on.

let me explain a few things about the 70. the motor in the pictures was a 1600. the pics were for the insurance agent(some crap about antiques need photographic documentation). that was 70 HP. the motor that was actualy in it while iwas driving was about 180HP and close to 210 ft/lbs, this is in a 1900 lb car mind you. it was a 2170 stroker that made more power at 2000 rpm than the 1600 made at full tilt. that car was funner than hell to drive. oversteer could be invoked with a jab of the throttle. therin lies my problem, im used to a car that oversteers, not understeers. in the 70 i could come out of a corner at full tilt with the tires smoking. not once did i put the car in a ditch, loop it around, or anything.

i am still getting used to the Turbo S but i am finding it hard to adapt to the "more throttle = more push" factor. one of the first things i want to do is get rid of the understeer. will a simple swaybar upgrade fix this or is it a major suspension upgrade thing?

thank you guys for helping me, and i hope that some 1.8T owners live near me. now, back to the discussion at hand: what would need to be done to get more low-end grunt? i kno i could probobly do a cam swap, but i dont want to screw my top end... *sigh* i see this going the same route as the beast... putting about $30,000 into a $500 car...

Matt

[mat3833]

oh, and is there a brake company that sells both front and rear big brake kits? id like to keep the braking balance the same on the car as well as the stock rims for the time being.

Matt

[NYBugman]

A rear swaybar will cure most of the understeer.

ECS Tuning sells a rear brake upgrade that uses a custom 2-piece 12" rotor and the stock caliper. However, I recommend the OEM R32/GTI 20thAE rear upgrade, which gives you a new caliper and a 10.1" vented rotor.

These brakes are already biased to the rear, so a BBK in the front will actually help to even out the bias. I have Boxster calipers on TT rotors and they have done a lot for pedal feel, consistency, and yes, brake bias.

However, don't think you need a BBK. For spirited street driving and even track work, the GTI 20thAE brakes at all 4 corners with a good pad are more than enough. In fact, in one of my conversations with Mike P., the owner of Tyrolsport, I asked what he uses for brakes on the track. He told me he used GTI 20thAE brakes all around with a dedicated track pad.

[mat3833]

what size sway bar should i put on?

Matt

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by mat3833

what size sway bar should i put on?

Matt

28mm.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

Originally Posted by mat3833

aright, i think ill go with an intake first, work on the brakes/tires, do some suspension stuff(help me on this one. i want adjustability from a tad higher than stock to idk, 3 inches lower?)get a chip, get an exhaust(sugest a company if oyu would) do a turbo upgrade, and so on.

let me explain a few things about the 70. the motor in the pictures was a 1600. the pics were for the insurance agent(some crap about antiques need photographic documentation). that was 70 HP. the motor that was actualy in it while iwas driving was about 180HP and close to 210 ft/lbs, this is in a 1900 lb car mind you. it was a 2170 stroker that made more power at 2000 rpm than the 1600 made at full tilt. that car was funner than hell to drive. oversteer could be invoked with a jab of the throttle. therin lies my problem, im used to a car that oversteers, not understeers. in the 70 i could come out of a corner at full tilt with the tires smoking. not once did i put the car in a ditch, loop it around, or anything.

i am still getting used to the Turbo S but i am finding it hard to adapt to the "more throttle = more push" factor. one of the first things i want to do is get rid of the understeer. will a simple swaybar upgrade fix this or is it a major suspension upgrade thing?

thank you guys for helping me, and i hope that some 1.8T owners live near me. now, back to the discussion at hand: what would need to be done to get more low-end grunt? i kno i could probobly do a cam swap, but i dont want to screw my top end... *sigh* i see this going the same route as the beast... putting about $30,000 into a $500 car...

Matt

You must realize that a 70's Beetle is not even close to the same engineering as a New Beetle 1.8t, they are horses of different colors, the 1.8t engine is a five valve per cylinder turbo charged power plant, further, the weight, the entire body, the drivetrain/driveline and chassis make up are all different, different, different.

Upgrading cams on a two or four valve per cylinder engine is childs play but not so with these engines, this can be a very complicated area that could easily term problematic and yield negative results, suggestion: walk away, at least for now.

Adjustable performance coilovers don't typically allow raising the vehicle above stock height, even when adjusted to full out they still normally place the vehicle a little below stock height, that is part of their purpose.

More "frunt" as you say below 2000RPM, hmmm, what is it that you are trying to accomplish with this car?, what are your ultimate intentions for the car?

Are you building a quarter mile trailor car?, is this to be a daily driver?, what is the plan?

I do have to agree with Billsbug's #12 post, I would suggest that you slow your role a bit, you are trying to do too much at one time, baby steps, just section off smaller projects at a time, slow down/calm down and I think you'll be far better off.

[mat3833]

i do understand the MAJOR engineering diferences in the 70 and the Turbo S. trust me, thats why im on here instead of just throwing parts at the car and hoping they all work together.

this will be a daily driver with a bit of track time(circuit and drag) and spirited driving. i like to get a goal set, as in the complete car. then get an estimated total cost. thats when i section off projects. i like to look at the whole picture before i do details. once i get my plan of action done i do slow down and check parts compatability and such. that is the problem i ran into on the 70. some of the parts i bought didnt work with others so i had to buy now stuff.

i dont really want to lower the car alot, maby an inch. i want the adjustability to be on-the-fly. preferably ride height, compression, and rebound.

so far my list is as follows:
intake
chip
exhaust(3 inch downpipe and back)
rear sway-bar(should i add a front bar too?)
full suspension kit
brakes(thinking BBK, might as well get the best i can throw on it. i plan to keep this car for a looooong time!)
turbo upgrade

Matt

[zeusenergy]

Originally Posted by mat3833

oh, and that should be a headline on this site. i had to learn that the hard way with my old car:







take a guess on the $ i had into it!

Matt

I knew I had seen your bug somewhere b4. I lived in DeBary for a year and those pix led me to look at your location. Do you go to Blue Springs during the summer? It's the BEST swimming hole EVER! BTW, watch out down there in sunny FL. Drivers can't figure out what a hill is, so they slow down at every crest. Bunch of crap IMO, here in NH there are mountains and we just accelerate over the crests!

[mat3833]

Originally Posted by zeusenergy

I knew I had seen your bug somewhere b4. I lived in DeBary for a year and those pix led me to look at your location. Do you go to Blue Springs during the summer? It's the BEST swimming hole EVER! BTW, watch out down there in sunny FL. Drivers can't figure out what a hill is, so they slow down at every crest. Bunch of crap IMO, here in NH there are mountains and we just accelerate over the crests!

blue springs isnt the greatest spot anymore. too many hicks with beer... i do go there occasionally tho. yea, driving around here with all the old pple is hell sometimes....

Matt

[zeusenergy]

Originally Posted by mat3833

blue springs isnt the greatest spot anymore. too many hicks with beer... i do go there occasionally tho. yea, driving around here with all the old pple is hell sometimes....

Matt

Hey soak up some sun down there for me, bro. I got it bad in New England. And there's no such thing as Golden Corral up here (!) and the place in Orange City near the Big Lots with the buffet was awesome too... Dayum, I miss florida
Dude, I used to swim at blue springs in the winter. The water level goes way up and the current is insane! Takes all you can give to get to the hole that way. But well worth it, and no one else is around (november/december)

[mat3833]

Originally Posted by zeusenergy

Hey soak up some sun down there for me, bro. I got it bad in New England. And there's no such thing as Golden Corral up here (!) and the place in Orange City near the Big Lots with the buffet was awesome too... Dayum, I miss florida
Dude, I used to swim at blue springs in the winter. The water level goes way up and the current is insane! Takes all you can give to get to the hole that way. But well worth it, and no one else is around (november/december)

lol, i used to live there man! every day of summer was a blue springs day.

Matt

[zeusenergy]

Originally Posted by mat3833

lol, i used to live there man! every day of summer was a blue springs day.

Matt

Hey, check out the forums on VwVortex. There is a cheap, easy upgrade you can do with a simple MBC and a diode. It's not for the faint of heart and it REQUIRES a boost guage, but it's pretty easy and a quick way to gain some horses- if you are very careful
And for all you nay-sayers, back off! He's not an idiot and he can make his own decision if it's for him...