By the sounds of things iv'e got two options here, scrap the IHI idea and go for a different turbo which will allow me to acheive my goal of 400lbft or keep the boost turned down on the IHI. What turbo would you recomend to give me a good all round package, drivability etc.
At the moment Bill i am only going to uprate my internals, rods valves etc to keep the costs down for now, but certainly later the option is there for the 2.0ltr conversion.
Another option and what is reputed to be very reliable is APR's stage 3 kit which has been marketed in the US for some years.
I have a a MKIV Golf which is about to have this kit fitted. It has now been developed for RHD in Australia. The first kit for the TT is already here and my kit was dispatched on Tuesday.
I don't know if APR are going to use this kit for LCR I expect they can.
In a relatively low state of tune on standard internals the kit produces 345hp. I have been informed it will go to 500hp with uprated internals. The kit in Oz on stock internals on the TT comfortably made 400hp.
I too are considering uprated rods and pistons for reliabilty rather than big power. I agree that to much TORQUE in FWD will limit satisfaction even with a diff. I have built my car up over a number of years concentrating on everything bar BT conversion until now. I do a fair few trackdays each year and on it's current set up utilising APR Stage 2 mapping Neuspeed FMIC big brakes, diff suspension etc etc I have ran out of options. Even a little KO3s it's pretty respectable on track and I have learnt to maximise it's power and torque currently at approx 225-230hp and 262lb of pull.
Trouble is I am now bored..been there bought the t-shirt .
So I have held off until now waiting for something that was going to suit me as an everyday car...I commute 25 miles a day and 5 hard track days a year.
My car was owned by us from nearly new...it's now done nearly 102k and drives like the day we bought it...no oil consumption still very smooth. Trouble is it's AUM engine uses weaker rods than LCR or AGU units which use stronger rods.
Peace of mind says spend another 1k plus fitting for some Scat/JE/Ross rods and perhaps some S3 pistons.
I toiled with the idea of getting rid of the car...but to get what??
Evo MR340 was the only contender has a good track car. Other cars I considered was a 968 Porker but with both cars servicing was an issue plus resale value of my car measured against investment loss. I need space and family practicality. The are other cars out there but what I put into my car is difficult to find on other cars. I even looked at E46 M3 but again too heavy and expensive to service/insure.
I will keep you posted on the APR kit on my car due to be fitted once here and I return from US.
Ian
