DOLBY's LCR...AKS Tuning Forged 14/07/2013.

DOLBY

Active Member
Jun 24, 2006
2,934
98
North of London
www.facebook.com
Thanks Tyrer and wild willy, just need rods and Timing belt kit next. Wont bother with the exhaust valves as i wont be seeing big power. Just reliable power.

Might be in the market for a catch can and oil cooler that is getting sold too.

Cheers t0m will ask Alex tomo if that is playing up. Love the 1.5 power but not high spikes.
 

t0m

LCR 225
Apr 29, 2007
8,133
7
Kent
FYI there is a newer version of your N75 if you've never replaced yours. The one on the car now will have a part number ending in an F. The newer updated one ends in an E.

My car feels awesome now with the E version, smoother and holds bar very strong just where it should. Let us know how you get on. I got mine off ebay off a Skoda parts outlet, very reputable and all VAG parts sold at good prices.

Good work on the refurb and I want that jack.... lol.
 
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DOLBY

Active Member
Jun 24, 2006
2,934
98
North of London
www.facebook.com
REVO STAGE 2 LINEAR REVIEW (MINI).

Ok, so i have had the map on the car now around 10 days or so now and what can i say? It brought a massive smile to my face as soon as it was done and even now. I have to admit i have never driven ANY stage 2 LCR, just been behind them in a convoy or going to a meet. So i had no idea what to expect.

Just to clear a few things up, i had been running stage 1 Custom Code for around 5 years, and the car was never a torquey devil. Always seemingly getting 250 ft/lbs regular, but always high bhp. Think this may be why the clutch had lasted so long (coming up to 7 years). Since Christmas i have been trying to get the car to a level where i could say 'right im glad the car is the best it can ever be, in every single way'. So modifications have been coming thick and fast.

This is a mini Revo 2+ review as if im completely honest i havent been flooring it at all since the file has been put on....well i lie. I have a few times. Reason being? Well i want the cars internals to be bombproof. I went from a stage 1 car that boosted at 1.4 bar and held 1.2 (and this was no slouch) to a car that peaked regularly at 1.8 or 1.9 bar and holding just over 1.5 bar to the red line (this on a 'tame' Boost 6 and Timing 4). It was on Boost 8 but Alex turned it down as it was a bit high.

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The car is booked in on the 15th August to have new rods, piston rings, honing the bores,bolts, phenolic gasket, head gasket and anything else that Alex recommends. Initially was going to order the rod kit from INA and manual timing belt kit too, but as some things on the car are quite new, they will be staying. Alex is going to write me out a list of what i may need and they will be getting fitted. Obviously because the car is soooo aggressive (i love it) i will be taking it easy with the way i come on to boost.

The day i got the car remapped.
Of all things it had to be raining the day i got this done 16/7/12 and i was a bit nervous to floor the car in freaking monsoon weather, but secretly i just HAD to. We went out onto the dual carrageway to do some data logging etc and Alex asked me to put the car in 4th and floor it from 2500 rpm to around 6500rpm then change gear. I did and it was FREAKING fast, obviously i was a bit worried as the spray from other vehicles was impeeding our view of the road but we perservered. In the end as it was so wet it was wise to leave the Boost on 6 and Timing on 4, and i was told that if it was boring then in a week or so i could come back and whack it up to 8 Boost.

Driving around town for a week, i could tell the car was getting better all the time. It wa a strange feeling. 1st and 2nd were similar to stage 1 until you got near the end of pedal travel on gear 2 and BANG another kick of power. Now, i must admit on my stage 1 CC i got the guys to take off the throttle plate thing too (so my foot to the ground was full throttle) but as it wasnt very torquey anyway the harder i pressed the pedal (stage 1) i never really noticed much. With stage 2 Revo you really have to think twice about putting foot to the floor as when the first inital 'pull' hits you assume this is it....well you will be wrong. The amount of times i floored second and as soon as the needle was flying up the rpm counter the intense pull saw me gaining on the car ahead VERY quickly. Many times saw 1.8 peak boost spike here.

3rd gear, i think, was absolutely savage. Many times when i was driving around getting used to the power delivery i floored it in 3rd and was thrown across the road almost with foot to the floor. Absolutely hysterically laugh out loud moment. 4th gear much the same, and 5th and 6th regulary held boost over 1.5 bar.

So as you can see the car will be transformed. I also got massive 'bangs' from my exhaust at various points of driving too, but amazingly because most of the time you are driving normal, fuel economy seems BETTER than stage 1. Driving off of boost still gives you a very nippy car, but my god put your foot down in 3rd or 4th and i dare you to not laugh out loud.

Had the boost turned down today.
Well as the above line says really, i had the boost turned down today because im getting my rods and other gubbins done in a couple of weeks and so, this is more for reliability. Im thinking maybe its not wise to put the car on the RR on the 19th because the rods will be 4 days old lol.

We done some more data logging today as it was by all accounts HOT AS HELL. On my dash was 32.5 degrees and tbh the car (well any car) wouldnt like that. We drove up the dual carriageway to try and cool the engine a bit, then i was told to floor it in 3rd from 2500rpm to 6500rpm and change up. As soon as i done this i hear a POP. Me crapping myself that i had broke my car, had a quick look and it was the DV popped a jubilee.
Straight back out and now the car peaks at 1.6 bar and holds just under 1.5 which is fine until rods are done. Alex put Boost on 5 and kept Timing on 4. What can i say? Its a safe way of travelling......but by no means slow. The car is still a ton faster than my stage 1, and its not really trying tbh. 3 weeks of driving like this then hopefully Boost goes up to 9.

Also worth noting. I asked Alex if the intercooler was doing its job. Yes it is.....outside temperature was 30-32 degrees, and the laptop was reading temps of 38 degrees. Which is around 10 degrees more than outside temps which i was told today is "very very good".
So very very happy with the car atm.

Conclusion.
Well tbh there is none atm as when the car is running the full jobby i will update this review. But in the meantime if you are considering this upgrade please do it. You cant grumble with slightly better economy (should you pootle about more than have quick blats) or the utter ferocity of 3rd and 4th gear. Especially on Boost 8. A worthy map, and to top it all off the car drives so smooth its unreal.

Will update the thread when the rods are in, the engine has been run in...and the Boost is cranked up.

Thanks again to Alex as his advice on the rods was very very helpful.
 
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Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
Brilliant review and read mate! Sounds fantastic and this has pretty much swayed me towards making the stage 2 step :D Is the budget reasonable for the work that you're having done? Alex seems to have a very good rep ATM.

In other news, I know you've been looking for a catch tank; not sure if you've actually bought one yet, but I run the 034 Motorsport baffled catch tank. It's fitted with 12AN fixings feeding into 19 mm hoses. Nice small shiney unit that fits very well in my bay. Had it for 18 months or so, and wouldn't have any other, IMO.

Here's a link to the webpage.

http://www.034motorsport.com/engine-components-catch-can-breather-can-band-p-613.html

My thread has some instructional pictures of fitting. Rather than having a breather filter, a 90 degree 12 AN fitting was connected, which serves as the outlet. Sorry if you already have purchased one :)
 
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wild willy

Full Member
Aug 4, 2003
2,323
0
Wales
Criminal not to fit an xsmanifold at the same time as the gains are very good. get some of the welds reinforced and your good to go.
 

DOLBY

Active Member
Jun 24, 2006
2,934
98
North of London
www.facebook.com
James does this tank come with everything I need? I'm on my phone atm. So can't view the webpage properly. Alex's labour rate is very reasonable 10 hours ish. He explained to me exactly what was needed, what wasn't, and what can still be used. :)

Wild willy yeh I'm very tempted actually. ;)


Sent from my iPhone when I should be working....
 
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Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
It doesn't come with the fixings. But i bought the 12 AN (with 1/2 male connections) fixings for a few pounds off eBay, and a length of oil hose from from eBay too. The tank is the expensice bit, but I love mine and think it's worth every penny.

TBH Bret, it depends how much you can afford to spend, but a worthy alternative to a custom made one IMO. Hope this helps?
 

DOLBY

Active Member
Jun 24, 2006
2,934
98
North of London
www.facebook.com
BRAKE REFURB PT2 (THE REARS).

As it was another storming hot day, decided that i really had to get my finger out and tidy these brakes up. I must of spoke too soon with regards to the fronts. I was bragging that i had no overspray and the finish was fantastic etc etc (a recipe for tempting fate), and yeh the finish on the rears WAS very good.....was duly ruined on both sides when it came time to refit the wheels. The spacer kept shifting a quarter of a centimetre every single time. Put spacer on back of wheel, then on the hub. Was getting a bit angry then the wheel fell off the hub as i was reaching for the bolts to put the wheel on...caught the caliper!:censored:

Well no way on earth was i going to redo them, may try and find a touch up red (But you and i know i will never colour match this perfect. Did similar on the nearside rear too. Put the wheel on (and for some unknown reason everything lined up first time, until i see a nice finger print in the finish FFS!

So there you go, fronts and rears all done. Fronts look ok, but the rears truly naff......and to top it all off i had overspray on the offside rear pad!

The car just wont be perfect thats all, although i was hoping for a great finish front and rear.


How it looked after wet & dry flatting.

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2 or 3 coats.

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The last coat before removing paper.

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ALL DONE....Looks ok i spose.

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Other side, pretty much the same thing, but shitey finish...oh well.

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J@mes W

Stage 1 Revo'd LCR
Jun 28, 2009
985
1
Colchester
Fantastic write once again, loving your new found enthusiasm. The mods are coming thick and fast, big ones too. Love it! :)

Going to do my brakes before AmD RR day. Top job on yours pal!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

J@mes W

Stage 1 Revo'd LCR
Jun 28, 2009
985
1
Colchester
Still come down though, it will be good to catch up. Plus I want to hear the exhaust in person. ;)


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DOLBY

Active Member
Jun 24, 2006
2,934
98
North of London
www.facebook.com
Yeh should be fun although 2-3000rpm max rev-age for a couple weeks :(

On another note maybe interested in an exhaust manifold (whilst head is off etc), doing ALOT of reading up on this.

The Relentless seems good for power, but cracks and longevity is suspect. JBS is stronger but no proven gains. That just leaves TSR but theirs is £900!! Hmm decisions decisions.


Sent from my iPhone when I should be working....
 

J@mes W

Stage 1 Revo'd LCR
Jun 28, 2009
985
1
Colchester
If you dont mind me asking how much is the Rods and bit going to cost (fitted)? No worries if you'd rather keep that to your self.
 
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