The under dog Leon cupra 1p

[380bhpdaily]

Hi here is my 2008 Leon cupra 1p 2.0tfsi I got it from my mate who’s had it for over 5 years as his daily. My friend was ready to scrap this car due to it needing so much work and he’s upgraded it for a 4X4 when I got it the Leon was tapping which I called the death rattle it was leaking oil from everywhere and was the worth example of what I’d class as my dream daily driver. I know it’s not flash and anything to shout about it but it was mine and paid for.
So the first week of owning it I had
4 new tyres
Cam belt and tensioner
Water pump
Chain and tensioner
Cam lobe
4 new plugs
4 new coil packs
Fresh coolant
Thermostat
Ac service
Engine mount Polybush insert too
Gearbox mount poly bush insert too
New rocker cover gasket
New pvc gasket
New vacuum pump gasket
And many more gaskets
New wipers front and rear
New pollen filter
K&n panel filter
And probably a lot more I can’t remember now. All parts were genuine VW apart from the air filter and bushes.

This lot took me over a week to do after work bit by bit. Once done the car was back to it former glory and now a good solid car for me to modify into my dream daily.

I drove the car like this for afew weeks and then did little things to it like clean up the inside making sure everything’s worked like door looks etc as they didn’t work at all.

then I decided to chop the middle box out as I couldn’t justify buying a miltek right before Xmas it actually sounded quite good with the middle box out. The following day I had a revo stage1 dome which transformed the car made it a lot more fun to drive to work. My plan with this car is to go stage2+ and replace my track car with it after a few years.
I’m going to get a decent 3 way adjustable coil over setup on it like my track car and get the usual miltek turbo back etc. It shoulda make a decent track car also I plan on replacing the diff with a wavtrac torque biasing item again like my current track car.
There is a lot of things I’m planning on doing to it but this has turned into a essay so I’ll leave it there for now. I have ALOT of photos of things I’ve done it won’t let me upload more then 10.

 

[380bhpdaily]

Here some more photos

 

[Legojon]

Looking good. About time it got some TLC. You sound like you know what your doing... but check out our Leon MK2 guide sections for loads of useful things you can do. This might help if your looking to go 2+. I highly recommend the Wavetrac on the Cupra. Expensive but well worth it.

https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/stage-2-performance-upgrade-guide-mk2-cupra-r.446059/

 

[380bhpdaily]

Looking good. About time it got some TLC. You sound like you know what your doing... but check out our Leon MK2 guide sections for loads of useful things you can do. This might help if your looking to go 2+. I highly recommend the Wavetrac on the Cupra. Expensive but well worth it.

https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/stage-2-performance-upgrade-guide-mk2-cupra-r.446059/

Yea I agree the wavtrac on my Ibiza was one of the best things I’ve done to it for track worth every penny.

 

[380bhpdaily]

I’m having trouble uploading the photos it keeps saying file too big I’ll try to find another way later.

 

[380bhpdaily]

More

 

[MATT RILEY]

On your very first pic of the chain\tensioner you know there should be a chain slider on top of the plunger? I'm sure you did? Just checking!

Looking like a labor of love there.

 

[380bhpdaily]

On your very first pic of the chain\tensioner you know there should be a chain slider on top of the plunger? I'm sure you did? Just checking!

Looking like a labor of love there.

Hi Matt that’s the old failed tensioner just to show the death rattle I had. Lol the top had broken off and fallen to the side. Definitely doesn’t look like that after I’d finished haha.

 

[MATT RILEY]

Cool, bet that sounded great running!
Glad your sorted out

 

[380bhpdaily]

Yea it was scary. My mrs asked me what that sound was when I picked her up the first day I tools her that my dear is what you’d call a DEATH rattle I took the car off the road in day 2 Incase it jumped a tooth. The under dog seat has to be hands down the worst example of a Leon cupra I have every seen that’s the only way I can afford to buy it too lol. Hence the underdog name I gave it.

 

[380bhpdaily]

Update wavtrac fitted and black anti lift with front arm bushes done. The car is coming along nicely now and getting ready to go to the ring next year. Gonna do as many track days as possible to do a shake down before hand.

 

[Legojon]

Update wavtrac fitted and black anti lift with front arm bushes done. The car is coming along nicely now and getting ready to go to the ring next year. Gonna do as many track days as possible to do a shake down before hand.

Ace. Let us know what you think of the Wavetrac.

 

[380bhpdaily]

Ace. Let us know what you think of the Wavetrac.

Hi mate I used it abit on the road the cars so much better now I’ve got a wavtrac track on my Ibiza cupra too it made a big difference on that car but it does have r888rs on it. I’m happy tho money well spent on the Leon I’ve got some ad048rs tyres to fit when I need to replace the budget tyres I’ve got fitted which don’t seem to ever die and I think the advans with the diff and both whiteline anti roll bars will make a good fast Road setup for this and something I can abuse on track. I’m dreaming about buying a CAE shifter next but I really need to start saving up again and buy my stage2+ hardware.

 

[Legojon]

Yeah, Stage 2+ is definately worth it. Although I'm currently miffed cause my Helix clutch has died after 15k miles. Had it just over 18 months. Slipping badly in all gears.

 

[ash_89]

@300bhpdaily Stage 2+ power is awesome and worth saving for, @Legojon don't say that about the helix mines on 6k now haha

 

[Legojon]

@300bhpdaily Stage 2+ power is awesome and worth saving for, @Legojon don't say that about the helix mines on 6k now haha

I'll let you know what the verdict is when the gearbox is out tomorrow. But at the moment, accelerating consists of resting my foot on the accelerator slightly and waiting for it to get up to speed. Even the slightest prod causes slip (in all gears). The garage weren't very reassuring... they said they've had loads of Helix and RTS returns (all under 10k). Apparently worse they've seen is a CDL S3 on 3K with the friction plate worn to the rivets.

I'm not sure this was the best option... but apparently it's what a lot of others are doing at the mo. I'm having the clutch and pressure plate off a diesel TTRS. I'll report back how that holds up with 430lbs of torque.

 

[ash_89]

@Legojon 3k that would be crazy ! Being the best part of £1200+ I would expect it to last much much longer, I've never been over the moon with mine anyway.
I find it snatchy and very on/off when changing gear, it also still judders a bit when pulling away.

@300bhpdaily check your rear suspension bushes too, there's tones of them back there that most likely will be shagged
All available from Powerflex/Superpro etc.

 

[380bhpdaily]

@Legojon 3k that would be crazy ! Being the best part of £1200+ I would expect it to last much much longer, I've never been over the moon with mine anyway.
I find it snatchy and very on/off when changing gear, it also still judders a bit when pulling away.

@300bhpdaily check your rear suspension bushes too, there's tones of them back there that most likely will be shagged
All available from Powerflex/Superpro etc.

Yea good shout I am planning a full rear end powerflex bush change it is definitely in my list of things to do. I know I’ll probably get carried away tho and start having the arms powder coated etc. I’m gonna try not too but I am very over the top with cars for some reason I’m trying not to with this car.

 

[380bhpdaily]

Also have alloy front lower arms and new ball joints to go on when I have time. I’m gonna wait tho as I’ve seen the whiteline roll centre ball joints and want to order those in the new year and do it all at the same time.

 

[380bhpdaily]

Little update I fitted a GFB lightened crank accessory pulley and fitted my new Yokohama tyres. I’m chuffed with the pulley as it made a nice little upgrade the cars a lot more smoother and responsive revs up nicely. Haven’t driven the car in anger yet tho due to the roads being so slippery and bad right now. Will be good to check how the wavtrac and tyres lay the lower down in the summer.