It Begins: The S3 1.8T into my '85 Mk2 GTI

[GOLFBALLS]

...a courtesty pic of the Haltech PS-500 in:



And i havent really talked much about this, but me and Grant put the battery in the boot ages ago, but after months of putting up with it sliding around unbolstered back there and one night tipped over leaking acid thru the carpets, I finally finished it off with a hinged 'seat' setup for access to the spare wheel.Basically its just a generic metal base from auto1 and we welded a door hinge to it, and bolted it to the body. Then sat the battery in a plastic box, cut some notch holes in it and hooked it all down with the battery bracket...















I also had a funny moment last night with a dude in pretty sorted looking R33 Skyline 4-door GT-Ts sedan thingy. The thing was pretty fast and had the 6cyl turbo whatever in it (i know nothing about these cars!!).

We were 'duelling' for a bit and when he started in front he couldnt get away, and when I started in front he couldnt catch me!! AND I was getting a little bit of overboost cutout at times!!!
If it wasnt for all the wheelspin I would have left him behind.

We gave each other a thumbs-up and at the next lights he wound down the window, looked at my car and said "F*#k that thing's fast!!!". "thats the biggest sleeper i've ever seen"!
MWAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAA

*steps of ego tripping box*

[roccodingo]

looking at the battery cables, we should really re do those end terminals, I have the hydraulic crimper now .

[Golf Loon]

....i have very good news

I cut my losses, had the Haltech platinum 500 wired in and fully tuned for $2200 within a day and a half!

I have not heard a peep from QPEng about some kind of compensation on return of their ECU.

I now have a much smoother running engine thats soooo much nicer to drive, and 243hp at the wheels!

We are running full sequential injector and ignition timing, and VVT using the QPEng loom, just with the Haltech brain wired to it! David at RPW said it was easy to do as haltech have ready made systems for 1.8t in the US and he has wiring diagrams for anyone who needs it.

So, anyone in Oz wanting to do the 1.8t swap in Australia that is reluctant to use the QPENG system for the problems with tuning and support, our prayers have been answered!

It's making more power on less boost, and the injectors are at full capacity so there's room for more revs and power if i get bigger injectors.

For now though, its wheelspin city so its enough power at the moment. I'm thinking after 18 months or 2 yrs, I'll convert to full syncro hahahaaa!

A few little jobs still to do tomorrow.

Pics soon

Me very happy

Did the thing plug in and work? Or did you have to rewire the connector to different points??
Can I have the details mate. My Qpeng ****s me hard. Its a powerful system, with a well designed concept and a computer program written by chimps.

Sounds like your tuning guy knows his stuff.

[GOLFBALLS]

Hi Loon.
The the qpeng mbe computer harness connector only plugs into the old haltech E6X unit, which is a bit outdated now.

Dave at RPW said to fit the haltech platinum 500 he had to wire up a new plug, but it only took him an hour or so! And he wired back in the variable valve timing thing.

To get the new ECU, wire it up and tune it on the dyno cost me $2200 all up, but its so much smoother and nicer to drive now, and even after i had some overboost cut-out all I had to do was go back and get him to plug in the laptop and ease up the boost control. It was tweaked and sorted in literally 3 minutes and I was back on the road!
Doing that with the qpeng ECU would've taken half a bloody day!

Dave got the base map from some haltech dealer in the States who uses the PS 500 on 1.8t engines over there.

PS: I should mention that Jon from QPEng agreed to refund me some money for the ECU. I sent it back a week ago. Not too bad considering i'd had it almost 4 yrs and had no receipt or anything.


PM me if you want Dave's details.

[roccodingo]

Wade dropped by the workshop late this arvo, took the Mk2 for a quick spin around the long block....what can I say, almost impossible to wipe the grin of my chops...

Great effort all round and a real hoot to drive !!

[dubmc]

...a courtesty pic of the Haltech PS-500 in:

["F*#k that thing's fast!!!". "thats the biggest sleeper i've ever seen"!

seriously love sleepers, great work with it all...a turbo mk1 will do it for me some stage down the track, sure to use this for inspiration

[mk2er]

hey mate i really need a way to contact through via facebook or something cause i just sourced out a 2000 model audi a4 motor and whole wiring loom and he said 700 but ill ask 500 for the motor he said the car was running fine until someone hit him and wrote the car off...i have a mk2 golf gti im in brisbane the motor is a APU 1.8t 20v...but apprentely there identical to the audi a3 but just north to south layout...the mk2 box should bolt upto it but apparentley ill have to change sump and exhaust manifold =S to fit the motor but motor should bolt straight in with the gearbox right? and for cv joints can i use the stock mk2?
and i was reading your thread and is there a plug and play kit for the wiring harness is there a chance i can get some info on that does that come with an ecu to use?

[h100vw]

Be easier to spend your money buying a transverse motor, rather than converting an in line one.The Turbo is differently positioned and all wrong for fitting in a MK2.

You can use the original ECU and wiring loom if you have the immobiliser defeated. That would be less expensive than fitting standalone and having it tuned up.

Gavin

[86gti]

You have done a bloody awesome job with this car! Great work!
I've been away for a while and only just been through this whole thread ...

[GOLFBALLS]

Sorry for the lack of activity guys, life is busy and i havent checked lately.

Yea what Gav said re the APU motor. Too much work when you can just get a tranverse one. There's plenty around.
You can use the standard mk2 box and it will save you needing to source Ibiza Cupra/Passat mount brackets (for the later 02A/J 'box), the only thing to consider is if you go beyond 200bhp the standard 02O mk2 'box will most likely die an untimely death!
I also am running stock mk2 cv's and they are holding up fine.

Had to curl back some boost on friday due to the colder winter air causing more cut out during spool up. Its down on power a bit, but not too bad. I will be investing in some bigger injectors soon to cure it and then i'll have the power/boost back.... Not that i can put it down!!!

I've also been sticking on the small bumper trim as my haul of parts trickle in from the UK.

...today i went out and gave it its first SERIOUS thrashing at an RAC performance track day. There was an array of v8's, a honda s2000, two WRX STi's, and a very nice new Renault Sport Clio. It was the quickest car out (with proper tyres), followed by yours truly, and then the Sti's.

The car was a real hit with everyone and the wrex guys couldn't believe how quick i was in it!!!

Even the instructor wanted a lap behind the wheel!!

Great fun...

LOts of pics/ vids coming soon.

[GOLFBALLS]

Probably should mention that there was the odd mechanical scare. It got a bit hot at times and the turbo got pretty noisy. I also had a brief knock in the engine but it disappeared before i could check it out properly. I carried on!

The motor occasionally sounds a little rough so I'll keep an eye on it, but thats been happening intermittantly for ages.

The KW's are just awesome, and the Greenstuff pads kick arse. I also am pretty satisfied with the Toyo Proxes4 road tyres. They held up great and gave MUCH better grip than the Bridgestones and GT radials i had.

[Jarred]

great to hear.

can't wait for some pics/vid.

finally after all this time, all the heartache, some real rewards thrashing it! wooot!

[roccodingo]

Sounds like a day of bliss Wade, I saw you at the caltex filling up about 10 to 12. I was on a mission so couldnt stop bud, when is the speed dome day ???

[GOLFBALLS]

Yea Jarred, very satisfying. Now to just see how long/well the mechanicals hold up!

Bingers, the superkhana is on sunday the 26th. I have the second 'tuning day' at the RAC driving centre the friday before.

[dubmc]

eagerly awaiting photos and vids! sounds like you had a blast