Sharkie's TSI Amarok Build

[Sharkie]

great price! was expecting $1500-$2000 because exhausts are such rip-offs now

I know ... for a 3"stainless no less ... could not say no at that price lol

I did have to buy 4 x gaskets and 8 x high tensile bolts though ... it came without

[Lucas_R]

That is a good price Sharkie and looks like its fits well on the Amarok. Sparesbox quite often have discounts on Xforce products and you can pick them up for cheap. 18 months or so ago I picked up 2x Xforce Varex mufflers and the Smartbox to control the valves - saved nearly $500 all up buying them on sale.

[Delft Maloo]

Great work next thing on the list for my sons ute. Iv had it tuned via APR already but it looks like the turbo isn't that healthy so im running it back on the stock tune until i get the turbo rebuilt.

[Delft Maloo]

Hi Sharkie, how much research did you end up doing on turbo upgrades for it and what was actually involved in a swap? Theres nothing really out the for the amarok tsi and seeing its age there's not much chance of it happening. You seem to be the only one who looked into this.
Tim

[Sharkie]

Hi Sharkie, how much research did you end up doing on turbo upgrades for it and what was actually involved in a swap? Theres nothing really out the for the amarok tsi and seeing its age there's not much chance of it happening. You seem to be the only one who looked into this.
Tim

We did look into this, yes.

The TSI Amarok runs a modified version of the MK6 GTI engine (and similar to the MK6 R). The OEM turbo is actually similar (ie the same) to the 1 found on the Q5 2.0 TFSI in the way the plumbing of the PCV works. Very similar to the MK6 R too. So from a stock perspective the MK6 R turbo will actually fit well.

The problem is .... the cams (mainly the exhaust cam) is different to the GTI (and R) and thus you cannot simply fit the turbo and load the R stg1 tune. This would have resulted in about 230kw instead of the ~195 of the tuned TSI though less torque. Given the unique nature of the TSI, it has a totally custom tune (no other tuner in the world has 1 that is actually built for the TSI Amarok) taking into consideration the unique cam and turbo combination.

So if you upgrade the turbo, you will also need a totally new custom tune to suit the Amarok and since there are so few out there in the world, no tuner is willing to spend the time to develop 1. It took about 100 dyno runs to sort the current Stg1 tune out with APR and even that is not perfect. I believe it has a fuelling issue at low RPM in higher gears and WOT (though you can drive around that).

An option I am considering (and will do at some point in time) is to buy a wrecked MK6 R (TBH I'll probably try a wrecked MK7 R) in a manual to transplant the entire engine and ECU. The MK6R route is practically guaranteed to fit and work. This then allows you to go a full Stg 3 on the engine with many tuners able to help you. 300+kw Amarok? yes please

[Avwboy]

Hey mate, unable to pm for some reason but would love to chat about your car
I have a tsi single cab on the way and access to multiple k04’s or even entire byd engines (same as a cdl mk6r essentially)
Can you contact me if possible ?

[Sharkie]

It was time for some Amarok love today (by my son for a change). He decided to black out the badges, which looks really good and something I probably should have done a long time ago already. Used plasti-dip to do the job.

Front


Back




And the Amarok


Note to me ... need to get black number plates ...

[Sharkie]

After years of stock airfilter, then a K&N panel filter for a short while, followed by a K&N pod filter sitting in the the (open) airbox, finally the whole airbox was removed with a pod sitting in the very generous space left by the airbox.

Need to finish it off with a heatshield, but it makes nicer noises now .....

[Sharkie]

Also fitted Conti CrossContacts to Big Red recently .... what a let down compared to the Conti SportContacts it replaced. Very noticeably less grip on the road and in the wet.

[TSOTSI]

looking good Sharkie, might do the mod too. pity over the tyres. Loving my Pirelli`s

[Sharkie]

Big Red got some love this weekend too .... for a change.

Painted the front calipers red





This thing's front brakes are huge ... and 2 pot calipers too!

[Transporter]

It looks great mate. Even splashed some red paint on the vehicle stands.

[brad]

This thing's front brakes are huge ... and 4 pot calipers too!

It looks like a 2 piston sliding caliper to me.

[Sharkie]

It looks like a 2 piston sliding caliper to me.

Sorry, yes, don't know why I type 4

[Sharkie]

It looks great mate. Even splashed some red paint on the vehicle stands.

LOL, there is an astonishing amount of paint in that caliper paint can, so everything is getting some red paint

Will be able to do the TSI's brakes too with what is left in the can