Purchased from 3rd owner with just over 300,000 miles on the odometer.
Helga was purchased with the goal of using her as a donor for the economy kit car being designed by the founder of FFR (Factory Five Racing), Mark Smith, as part of a new venture called Smythe Performance (see thread here: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/new-kit-car-jetta-w-tdi-14154.html).
Goal is to get familiar enough with Helga and TDI's in general so that there are no (or at least "few") surprises during the kit car build.
Build Thread:
Current Mods:
The following mods have been done:
Goodyear Ecopia LRR tires at ~50psi
Grill block
Metal skid plate under engine
Rear axle-back belly pan
High temp thermostat
- 205° F t'stat, but keeps temps at ~213° F
Low viscosity oil
- 0w-30 Castrol Syntec Eurospec
SMIC ducting
- OEM piece; was missing on my car (and probably is missing on the majority of early MkIVs)
A few drivetrain mods:
Larger fuel injectors (from transporter)
Stage 1 Rocketchip tune
Taller 5th gear (0.681)
Mufflerectomy (muffler removal)
- Doesn't do anything for FE, but does allow the belly pan to fit better
Lowered by 1.5 inches
- H&R Sport springs with Koni STR.T shocks & struts
Planned Mods:
Since the goal is to convert this to a kit car, only mild aero mods are planned:
