Jonny-5's VR6, new bits, bad boy exhaust, all reds . . . .

[jonny-5 10]

Hi all.

I've had this for about 6 months now, it's my first VR6 and previously i've had a 1300 mk2 Golf (first car lol), then an 1800 Corrado 16V, then a Corrado G60, an ebay rare Oak green mk2 Golf 16V and now this.

It's a 1997 VR6, with cloth interior and climate control, the rest of the spec you can see.

I bought it needing the timing chains doing (as did most I went to see, even if the owner said there was no rattles!) did it on the second day I had it, good job I did as the upper guide was about to break in half! Also did the clutch and rear crank seal while I was at it. So far it's had a new front wheel bearing along with ABS rotor, new crack pipe and all parts of the thermostat housing, probably some more bits along the way that I've forgotten about.

By the way I plan to start making a load of aluminium crack pipes very soon, have nearly finished the prototype so look out for them, they're near enough the same as ones various companies offer, mine are made on a manual lathe (old school!) but rest assured the quality and finish are perfect!

Styling wise, it's been de-modded (it's the lastest craze) with the removal of twin projector style front lights and the single wiper, want to get the rid of the grill soon too but it might make way for a Vento front end. It has Curpa R wheels which have really grown on me, although I do fancy some steels at some point.

No real engine mods, just the obligitory induction kit for the VR6 sound we all know and love.

I've just got VAG COM working, had to learn a bit about computers to do so (com ports and what not), turns out I need a few ABS sensors but I expected that.

I have a set of 312mm brakes nearly ready to go on along with mk4 Golf rears (both painted in fetching red oxide), new discs and pads all round, goodridge brained lines all round, new wheel bearings all round, stainless steel brake dust shields for the front (shout out to DG autotech for these) and mk4 Golf handbrake cables. Just waiting to buy some new brake seals for all the calipers when funds allow and of course the wether! As messing with brakelines and stuff in cold wether is not fun!

Reckon it needs to drop a few mil too, it' still on standard suspension, but I do enjoy the comfort. Fancy some leathers at some point too.

Let me know what you think.

[Ben Seabrook 4]

sorted the pics for you mate car looks very nice, good move on getting rid of the grill and really like the wheels not seen a VR with them on before but they suit it

[jonny-5 10]

Cheers for that, yeh alot of people said they like them. Just remembered I need to get some front fogs too!

[vr6stormt 0]

nice looking car there mate not sure about the grill though ive gone the other way (adding mods)

[jonny-5 10]

Be it a standard replacement grill or a full Vento fron end - either way it's going lol!

Can some one confirm, is it a Kamei style grill?

[richievr 1]

it is indeed!!

tidy looking motor too mate!

[tododavies 1]

dont you just love dragon green! lovely car mate

[jonny-5 10]

Ah yeh, took me a while to find a good dragon green one that wasn't either a 5-door or a heap. It was between dragon green and the colour in richievr's sig, that colour looks awesome on Corrados, known as blackberry metallic in Corrado circles or sometimes bramble, dunno if it's the exact same for mk3's though

[bungy 2]

Nive Vr. I had those wheels on a Cupra I had and they were a bitch to keep clean.

[J5KE F 0]

That's goin some if Bungy reakons there a pig to clean!!

Agreed tho the wheels are a nic. Vag compatible touch! I'll be eager to see how she progresses!!

Oh and welcome to the club

[jonny-5 10]

They're nearly as fun to clean as the BBS RM's I had on my Corrado lol

[hvr6 88]

nice paint work :-)

welcome aboard

good on ya for going premium def worth every penny :-)

[jonny-5 10]

Yeh I signed up for it pretty much striaght away, deffo worth it.

The question is will my new 312mm brakes (S3) fit under the Seat rims? They are 16" but i'm still worried they won't!

[H13VYY 0]

Yeh I signed up for it pretty much striaght away' date=' deffo worth it.

The question is will my new 312mm brakes (S3) fit under the Seat rims? They are 16" but i'm still worried they won't!

[/quote']

welcome mate..whether or not the 312's fit, depend on the wheels. Some 16" go ontop of 312's quite comfortably whereas some 16" don't. your best bet would be to ask someone on edition38 or get someone with 312's to try your wheels.

[ingham 5]

312mm brakes fit under 15in rims if you get the right rims

[CALICO 130]

if you are using standard vr calipers on tt or s3 carriers there is no reason why they wouldnt fit under 16's

[craggsy 91]

I run 16" porsche rims over 312s and they clear quite easy

[jonny-5 10]

Yeh just took a few measurements and i reckon they'll just about fit under. Should be good!

[jonny-5 10]

My first prototype is finished! Just ordered some more metal and fittings, so hopefully I'll be able to get a few done in the next couple of weeks.

[jonny-5 10]

Been busy this week and got my 312mm front and mk4 rear calipers on, along with 3 ABS sensors and 2 rotors, all wheel bearings, braided hoses all round, new discs and pads all round, new hand brake cables and new brake disc shields on the front. Had a few troublesome bolts to deal with, had a rounded off carrier to hub bolt on the rear - a 15mm socket hammered over soon sorted that. Also a sheared off ABS bolt - had to drill it out and then helicoil that one.

It's made alot of difference even though I haven't properly bled the system yet (it's quiet spongy still) but when they kick in it stops very quickly indeed and the hand brake feels mint.

Forgot to take many pictures but heres a few of the rears before I put the hoses on and one poor picture of the front, but you get the idea.

[jonny-5 10]

More pics

[jonny-5 10]

The brakes

[jonny-5 10]

Haven't added any updates for a while so here goes all at once:

Got a massive crack in my windscreen, got it done by National windscreeens in the end - did a good job

The back box sheared off at the join as one on the hangers had snapped (original exhaust). So I thought it would be a good chance to upgrade, managed to get a Stainless Magnet system for a good price. The sound is perfect - I was worried it would be a bit noisy like my G60 was with a Jetex but it's nice and subtle.

Got a US spec handbrake surround which came with the all important bracket (you really do need this to fit them properly, even if people tell you that you don't). Unfortunately I thought that the UK spec handbrake lever would be ok to use, but to make it look tidy you need a proper US one, so I got my self one of those too.

De-wipered the rear to see what it looked like, looks ok so I think i'll keep it

Bought a few bits at GTI international including a number plate surround that I wasn't sure about at first but now I love it and need to buy another for the front. Also got a just of mats from Just matz with the Golf logo in dragon green colour including a boot mat too. Also a California Scents cherry falvour air freshener which smells lovely!

Sorted out the ABS too - had the old ABS ECU failure (outside of specified values). Got another ECU - same P# and it worked a treat.

By now the MOT was due. I had been collecting loads of parts before hand ready to put on. By the time it went in I had fitted; New track rod ends, ARB links, a CV boot, wishbones and bottom ball joints. And she passed first time with no advisories or anything.

Celebrated the MOT by fitting the slightly legally questionable all red rear lights, with some green bulbs to make the indicators orange.

Got bored at work one day so made a stainless steel rear strut brace, nothing to special just bent plate and tube tig'd together. Then I got it powder coated in lovely matt black for a fiver, some may say that covering stainless steel is sacrilege lol. Originally I wanted just the bar to protrude from the carpet so you couldn't see the plate part at all but the carpet is just too ridgid to re form around it. I used riv-nuts to fit it to the body instead of self tappers and then undersealed the wheel arch side of them. I may be up for making a few of these If people want them, could get them powder coated too. They look alot tidyer than the ones with the large threaded section for adjustment.

Think that's about it, i'm sure there's a few other bits and bobs too, but here's some pictures: