My Cupra Mk1 daily to track project

[boneybradley]

I have owned this Cupra for a couple of years (I bought it from my brother who got it from Manheim) and it has gone from a daily to drag strip car and now is under transformation to a track day car.

Day car was bought by my brother 100% standard. He added a milltek, decat and had it mapped (where it blew the coil packs within a mile, so all new o.e coil packs were fitted)
1_zpsitp6rk36 by boneybradley, on Flickr

I then bought it from him to use as a daily driver and was invited to York dragway to see a friends car do some 1/4 mile runs and decided to try the Leon out (with a 15.8 seconds 1/4 but with big wheel spin)
WP_20160829_12_06_16_Pro 1 by boneybradley, on Flickr

I sort of got hooked so decided to try to beat my times, so worked on the wheel spin and also deal with a collapsing TIP, I bought new wheels with new Rainsport tyres, an sfs tip and replaced the S2000 filter with a ramair kit. I also added Black Diamond discs as slowing from 100mph several times a day cooked the ones fitted!
20180407_093539 by boneybradley, on Flickr

This got my times to 14.26 seconds (with similar times all day) not too bad for a daily?
21232097_10155666705584520_686104639331640674_n by boneybradley, on Flickr

Sadly York raceway is no more, so I'm now taking this is a new direction. It's no longer a daily and worth so little I am now going to track day the car.
New Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs, new arms and associated suspension components fitted with Superpro bushes have transformed the handling.
The biggest job is losing weight so I've started stripping
20190206_134943 by boneybradley, on Flickr
20190127_150713 by boneybradley, on Flickr

Next on the list are new callipers all round, braided hoses and track-spec pads are going on, I have ordered a BAF motorsport rear brace on order and a whiteline anti-roll bar for the rear (The front is poly bushed so I'm keeping that set up)

 

[Jimbobcook]

Loving the MK1 showing its head more and more in the readers rides! It's a great car and from what I've seen in th track day section the MK1 drivers seem to have lots of fun! Good luck!

 

[boneybradley]

I keep adding to my collection of parts, sadly apart from stripping the full interior out no further progress on the car currently.

But my new coilovers have now arrived
20190216_144145 by boneybradley
My brakes are now ready for fitting
20190213_105948 by boneybradley
and whilst I have been free, my wheels have had some paint (rather old 17" BBS)
20190215_114548 by boneybradley

 

[boneybradley]

Finally an update, the car is now in the garage having its brakes and suspension fitted and I now have most of my other required parts.
Rear brace ready for fitting

Seat and harness

Intercooler now has silicon hoses and is free from it's liner (I am working on getting it a new cover for more airflow)
20190305_111122 by boneybradley, on Flickr

 

[boneybradley]

It's getting close to being back on its wheels, new suspension and brakes are all fitted (along with both front wheel bearings and a steering rack as all were past it!)

and my tyres are finally here, I've gone for Yokohama AD08R after they were highly recommended

Next is MOT and then to finish the interior work!!

 

[boneybradley]

Just realised I've not updated this, well car is built enough for my first track day. Taking it easy and doing Blyton Park later this month and then Cadwell in early May
Seated nice and tight.

novice sticker required! (more of that later!)

The AD08r's are certainly sticky!

oh and the 2 switches are tcs and water mist directed at the intercooler

Next is mapping, it already has a map but reading some values it's not very good so time for custom!!

 

[tombo1984]

Car looks nice

 

[boneybradley]

Well, I finally got some time on track at Blyton Park last Saturday, sadly the weather wasn't good with rain showers and a wet track. It made certain corners a little more fun!! I did have the car properly 4 wheel aligned and got some feedback from the owner (who tracks a BMW) and I am now looking at Cupra R arms etc due to the classic mk1 bump steer when lowered issue! He also advised I buy some adjustable top mounts and run more camber so I am now shopping for those too.

The main idea was to get some feedback on the car and tbh it really surprised me how well it went until I had brake fade! So that's my next job, luckily I'm a dealer for Tarox, Mintex and Black Diamond so have some good choices (although I do like the look of dba brakes)

 

[Fozzy84]

look at Projekt Silver top mounts from Europe. Might think they are pricey but they transformed my cars handling on track! definitely recommend them

 

[Yellow fr]

If you move over to cupra r arms you will also have to change your front anti roll bar and may be your coil overs on the front as you will need fix the drop link to the coil over as the cupra r arm has no where to fix the drop link too
Have you got the adjustable drop links on your car now with it been lowered


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[boneybradley]

look at Projekt Silver top mounts from Europe. Might think they are pricey but they transformed my cars handling on track! definitely recommend them

I will look into those, seem quite well priced tbh (compared to others I've seen) and I work in the parts trade so maybe they need a UK dealer?

 

[boneybradley]

If you move over to cupra r arms you will also have to change your front anti roll bar and may be your coil overs on the front as you will need fix the drop link to the coil over as the cupra r arm has no where to fix the drop link too
Have you got the adjustable drop links on your car now with it been lowered

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I am looking at using the earlier TT arms which you can mod to fit the normal anti-roll bar, my coilovers don't have the drop link tab plus I run a whiteline front anti-roll bar which wasn't cheap so ideally will keep that.
oh I'm on standard but polybushed drop links and suffer no driveshaft rubbing, The Bilstein B14 coilovers I run only lower 45mm which helps as it's not overly low

 

[boneybradley]

Only a small update this time, well I broke it! Ok it was only the clutch master cylinder but that gave me chance to switch to ATE Type 200 fluid and also fit new "medium to hard" compound pads by Cosworth as I had another day at Blyton booked.

Sadly my brakes are still not quite up to the job and fade started after 6 hard laps on the outer (faster) circuit. At least the handling was still 100%

So plans are to sort the brakes, I'm still unsure whether to go for a 4 pot set up (V-Maxx or Forge as I'm a dealer for both brands) or try to keep at 312mm 2 pot but use better discs, ducting for cooling and harder pads??