Track cupra mk3

[Trist]

I'm am new to the 1.8 20v scene so I am learning as I go.
I have had cosworths and Rs turbos before so was used to them.

I got involved in the vag side of things when I bought a golf VR6 to run as a track car.
That was bought as a cheap project to just use on track days. Then it ended being bright orange, poly carb windows, flocked dash, cage, slick tyres, coilovers, engine rebuild with baffled sump lightened flywheel etc.

I started to look for more power for the golf and changing engines or super charging.
In the search I found this ibiza cupra.
Imperial blue. Had a damaged front wing and no interior. Ideal for turning to a track car.
The car is comely unknown to me. It had a larger front mount intercooler fitted be bore it had the Knock to the front which got damaged so it had a forge side mount fitted.
All I have for it is a rolling road graph from JKM with the front mount for 252bhp
I know it's got K03s turbo. Not sure what else is needed for the graph of 252?
When I tried to fit the new downpipe and decat I found that the last owner had snapped a stud from the exhaust housing do I had to remove the turbo and drill and tap that out.
A fun task!


Old intercooler

Down pipe

Work in progress to remove damaged wing and fit new intercooler. Didn't go with a very large one to still get cold air to it rather than behind inner wing but still let air get to the rad.

Turbo out and repaired.

Back together trying to fit intercooler behind bumper

 

[Trist]

I then set about looking for better stopping power so looked into brembos.

Intercooler on

Opened the bumper up.

Wing on

Downpipe and de-cat wrapped

Brembo's fitted

 

[Trist]

Once it was all done I booked a track day as a bit of a tester as I had not properly driven the car after buying it. So I was hopeful all would be ok.
As it was looking wet I looked at another set of wheels so I could run Michelin wets. I had slicks fitted to the OZs
Wets trial fitted on new wheels

 

[Trist]

Loaded up ready for brands.



On track. First time driving the car.

 

[Trist]

Brands hatch indy 19th November.

This was the first time I had even driven the car.

The morning of the track day was sunny bright but cold.
Track was very wet and greasy. But it was drying by the time we had done the briefing so I stuck to slicks.

The first few laps of driving slow listening for any noises. I say first few laps but a good in and out sessions for about 2 hours to be honest. I was nervousness of the new car.

There was a nice drying line so for the first time on cooper straight I nailed it in 3rd gear. Picked up to just over 20psi on the gauge and pop. Cough splutter and crept back to the garage.
Popped a hose off the inlet pipe. Popped it back on and went out again. Slicks cold again so a few warm up laps. I was out with a friend in the passenger seat.
Coming on to the main straight I planted the throttle again. 3rd into 4th. **** me!! It was off passing the Subaru 2 minis and a 4x4 Sierra. Huge giggle and swearing from the passenger.
Certainly fun and sounds great on boost from in and outside the car.
Popped another boost off later in the day and had to get towed in and go searching for a new hose clip at lunch time then after that nothing but fun.

 

[rae1001]

Looks good that. What other plans you got? Would love to get my mk3 onto track but its just not reliable enough as is.
Hope to see some videos of any future track days and look forward to more progress. Any problems at all, then you are in the right place, plenty people here to help out including myself

 

[Trist]

I had a go pro on the dash but apparently screwed to the dash was not secure enough. Even though that's how it was in my old VR6 and was always fine.
I'm not sure on what way to go.
I want a stronger engine but looking for pointers in the right way.
I have got another engine ready to strip and do work to. It's a golf AGU so I was hoping to put different rods in and arp bolts. I also have sat doing nothing a K04-001 turbo. So unsure weather to build that all up and swap if the other lets go.
Maybe some harder springs. Currently eibach springs on bilsteins.

 

[Tucker157]

I had a go pro on the dash but apparently screwed to the dash was not secure enough. Even though that's how it was in my old VR6 and was always fine.
I'm not sure on what way to go.
I want a stronger engine but looking for pointers in the right way.
I have got another engine ready to strip and do work to. It's a golf AGU so I was hoping to put different rods in and arp bolts. I also have sat doing nothing a K04-001 turbo. So unsure weather to build that all up and swap if the other lets go.
Maybe some harder springs. Currently eibach springs on bilsteins.

Forge the agu engine, it's large port.

Depending on depth of your pockets and level of mechanical knowledge :

Get a hybrid done on your spare k04 001 ( basically a k03s with lots of mixed reviews.) and laugh at nearly 300 hp and 300ftlbs on tap from like 3 k onward!

Hybrid an actual k04, 350 hp? ish?

Or get a gt30 and hybrid that and aim for 550 plus..

Many many options.... But the first question is always how deep are your pockets! Haha

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[Trist]

My problem with my pockets on a track car is I have short arms. The car only gets used for 3-4 days a year so don't want to spend a fortune. Plus I don't want to go silly power and risk wasting those days on breakdowns and over heat issues.
300bhp would be nice.
How far would you go with an engine for 300.
Just rods? Looked at speed factory H section rods that are on eBay.

 

[Chambers_CUPRA]

My advice would be to spend ya money on the handling side if it's a track toy. Mine was aimed at being used on track and abused on the road.

I had forged rods, SMF clutch setup and a 225Bhp K04 (with a few other goodies) map to just shy of 290bhp. The power was enough but there's no point if the chassis can't put it down. The standard Ibiza ain't great tbh and I wasn't even happy with poly bushes.

Lots a solid bushes/mounts arbs and a diff, and your be laughing all the way round any track passing a lot.

Maybe even manual steering rack conversion if ya brave enough

The K04-001 isn't the a k03s basically? 4bolt down pipe?

 

[Trist]

Nice one thanks. What rods?
To be honest that's my thoughts. Handling and 250-300bhp

What arbs and bushes did you have. And where from.

 

[rae1001]

Most popular rod are integrated engineering rods. Thats what i have and seem to be doing the job very well.
If you have that good power for now then just settle for that until you have done the rest of the work. What torque figure roughly?
My advice personally would be...
Leave the spare engine for now, look after the one thats in the car.
Neuspeed rear arb, front one aswell if you got the cash
Poly rear bushes
Poly wishbone bushes (chambers used vibratechnics rear wishbone bushes)
Maybe strutt braces to keep the struts solid

Maybe some good sugestions, maybe crap just my 2p worth

 

[Chambers_CUPRA]

I ran VIbre technics rear wishbone bushes welded in place as Rae said, with black series power flex front bush. I went from standard bushes to purple powerflex to the Vibra bushes in about a week as I wasn't happy with the powerflex setup at all.

Front and rear arbs make a massive difference. Also does the engine mounts, I ran a solid front mount and fast road rear and gearbox mounts (had planned to change them to the race versions)

The other thing I was mad for was weight. wanted mine as close to 900kg as poss. Power to weight ratio with next to no lag always a winner

Could try some camber like mine had

 

[Trist]

Where is a goo place to buy and look for ARBs and mounts etc?

 

[ibizacupra]

chambers camber is excessive however...
want improved handling change front end for vr6 setup.. much better geometry, but some work req'd to do properly
aka like badgerwagen

 

[Trist]

IV still got my VR6 sat in the workshop. What's needed off it?

 

[Chambers_CUPRA]

Yeah mine was really excessive. Really needed adjustable top mounts fitted but the compbrake top mounts are to much work lol

VR setup will be way better. Iirc you need arms and the hubs, the Ibiza 4x100 pressed into the bearing and custom brakes.

 

[Tucker157]

Yeah mine was really excessive. Really needed adjustable top mounts fitted but the compbrake top mounts are to much work lol

VR setup will be way better. Iirc you need arms and the hubs, the Ibiza 4x100 pressed into the bearing and custom brakes.

Subframe and ARB also


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[Chambers_CUPRA]

Arb is a good shout. Think subframe is the same tho. Just wishbones differ

 

[Tucker157]

Arb is a good shout. Think subframe is the same tho. Just wishbones differ

Unsure tbh, I know the way the ARB connects at the wheel end is different but I've not a clue if the actual bare subframe is the same, I think it is from what if found in the past now you mention it.

You could also convert to 5x100 and just use existing vr6 brake set ups

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