I think the V2s would be fine in comparison to the V3s as I think they are the same units without the rebound adjustability, but I have gone down to softer springs so have taken advantage of the V3s to back off both compression and rebound - making the system more street friendly.
Nice work Derek as usual. BMW figured out the mix of sport handling tuning without being too firm which is why my e60 535i is my daily. Back in the day I ran a Bilstein BTS-172(?) kit on my mk1 Gti that handled amazing but crashed about everywhere on the streets. It looks like you have cracked the code here for us VW nuts on the modern setup thanks for sharing! KW needs to set up referral deal for all the kits you will influence the sale of! Curious that if this is build to order why they didn't include lower rate springs?
You can order springs from KW but they would be sold separately. I had a BTS-172 kit on my original GTI - with the 250/200 springs and the KWs set to 4 clicks it feels like the old BTS kit did - a bit much for most streets we drive on. I think the KW V3 is meant for the high-end of street use with some track use - but it sits on the threshold and doesn't do a great job of either mode. Maybe on a car that is 200-300lbs heavier than mine the stiffer 342/285 springs might work - I am about 100-150lbs lighter than a stock GTI at the moment.
Hello Derik. I have been following you for the last year or so and amazing work. I just purchased a 1984 GTI with absolutely no rust. I have three engines; the 1.8, 2.0 aba and a 2012 2.0 TSI. I want to build a nice street car which I can autocross and track occasionally. After what you have learned what would you do and how would you spend your time and money?
I assume the 1.8 and 2.0 aba are 8V cylinder heads? Do you know how much the TSI engine and trans combo weigh? I would limit front-end weight in the mk1 at all costs. These cars are already nose heavy. For street use an 8V is very torquey and fun and so would the TSI with its turbo. For the track a 16V with healthy cams makes sense - from what I have learned you need to decide on track-oriented or street-oriented. I am now into your mode - high performance street. Feel free to email me or call me. derekspratt@shaw.ca
my goodness use the 2.0 TSI its the far superior design over the other two and if your going turbo it will take the most abuse in stock form but you'll have to use the late model transmission to go with it. They are a lot of really good swap kits for a TSI into a mk1 and a very common practice more so then trying to stick with the mk1 motor and transmission platform like this dude did. You'll need to specify which 1.8 you got and which 2.0 aba you got, some have oil squirters for the pistons, some do not, some have forged cranks, some do not. A TSI will be your best bet install it the way it is stock, no mods just a nice after market stand alone ecu to make a simple neat install. AEM makes a nice ecu that does direct injection and if you ever upgrade anything you can tune it yourself so no sending out your factory VW ecu to have a "cookie cutter" tune installed for a few hundred dollars each time. I pretty sure a stock TSI with a 3" exhaust and a tune would make more power then this guys N/A set up and cost one forth the money.
I made them out of 1x2" aluminum tube internally and a carbon fiber external skin with structural foam between the aluminum and the carbon skins. 5lbs total weight and quite strong
THese are overkill unless you are tracking it. It's difficult getting a comfortable ride in a MK1 due to the lightness of the car especially with coilovers.
Well said. I had to cut the spring rates to 250/200 from KW's 342/285 to get the car to feel 'right' for me on street roads. I was running 430/350 at the track
This car is really so special, just something amazing! Thanks for sharing this project with all of us.
You are most welcome. My pleasure - it is interacting with people like you that make the project worth while.
Looky all those shiney bling bits ! I got her a pair for the 80.
Quick question. Im looking to get the V2's What would I be getting more with the V3's. Using as my weekend driver and occasionally to work.
I think the V2s would be fine in comparison to the V3s as I think they are the same units without the rebound adjustability, but I have gone down to softer springs so have taken advantage of the V3s to back off both compression and rebound - making the system more street friendly.
Nice work Derek as usual. BMW figured out the mix of sport handling tuning without being too firm which is why my e60 535i is my daily. Back in the day I ran a Bilstein BTS-172(?) kit on my mk1 Gti that handled amazing but crashed about everywhere on the streets. It looks like you have cracked the code here for us VW nuts on the modern setup thanks for sharing! KW needs to set up referral deal for all the kits you will influence the sale of! Curious that if this is build to order why they didn't include lower rate springs?
You can order springs from KW but they would be sold separately. I had a BTS-172 kit on my original GTI - with the 250/200 springs and the KWs set to 4 clicks it feels like the old BTS kit did - a bit much for most streets we drive on. I think the KW V3 is meant for the high-end of street use with some track use - but it sits on the threshold and doesn't do a great job of either mode. Maybe on a car that is 200-300lbs heavier than mine the stiffer 342/285 springs might work - I am about 100-150lbs lighter than a stock GTI at the moment.
What kind of brakes did you install? Those looks very nice and fit 14" rims.
Tech-53 custom calipers, 10.1" rotors - highly recommended
Hello Derik. I have been following you for the last year or so and amazing work. I just purchased a 1984 GTI with absolutely no rust. I have three engines; the 1.8, 2.0 aba and a 2012 2.0 TSI. I want to build a nice street car which I can autocross and track occasionally. After what you have learned what would you do and how would you spend your time and money?
I assume the 1.8 and 2.0 aba are 8V cylinder heads? Do you know how much the TSI engine and trans combo weigh? I would limit front-end weight in the mk1 at all costs. These cars are already nose heavy. For street use an 8V is very torquey and fun and so would the TSI with its turbo. For the track a 16V with healthy cams makes sense - from what I have learned you need to decide on track-oriented or street-oriented. I am now into your mode - high performance street. Feel free to email me or call me. derekspratt@shaw.ca
my goodness use the 2.0 TSI its the far superior design over the other two and if your going turbo it will take the most abuse in stock form but you'll have to use the late model transmission to go with it. They are a lot of really good swap kits for a TSI into a mk1 and a very common practice more so then trying to stick with the mk1 motor and transmission platform like this dude did. You'll need to specify which 1.8 you got and which 2.0 aba you got, some have oil squirters for the pistons, some do not, some have forged cranks, some do not. A TSI will be your best bet install it the way it is stock, no mods just a nice after market stand alone ecu to make a simple neat install. AEM makes a nice ecu that does direct injection and if you ever upgrade anything you can tune it yourself so no sending out your factory VW ecu to have a "cookie cutter" tune installed for a few hundred dollars each time. I pretty sure a stock TSI with a 3" exhaust and a tune would make more power then this guys N/A set up and cost one forth the money.
what bumpers are you running
I made them out of 1x2" aluminum tube internally and a carbon fiber external skin with structural foam between the aluminum and the carbon skins. 5lbs total weight and quite strong
THese are overkill unless you are tracking it. It's difficult getting a comfortable ride in a MK1 due to the lightness of the car especially with coilovers.
Well said. I had to cut the spring rates to 250/200 from KW's 342/285 to get the car to feel 'right' for me on street roads. I was running 430/350 at the track
why are you selling the car this makes me so sad
Just making room in my head and my garage for the next projects ...