34 replies to this topic

[Pazuzu]

I've been reading all the various power threads but (selfishly) wanted to start one specifically about the bits that relate to me.

The plan was to sell mine and buy a stage 4 after a ride in Simon's (MrSimba) but the secondhand market seems to be dead in the water so I'm considering improving mine.

Currently I've got a full Milltek exhaust and a map that was already on the car apparently. When Thorney did the 'pre' dyno run before the exhaust went on it was already making 225BHP so they did not do a remap after fitting as far as I can tell.

This was all done by the previous owner.

The front radiator was uprated to a proper one last year so that's all good and it's recently had a full service and cambelt so everything is as it should be.

As far as I can tell the next steps for me would be

Charge Cooler to bring down the intake temps

A proper induction kit

Then clutch, injectors, actuator, turbo & remap to get it to Stage 4.

Does that sound about right?

Is it worth doing these as I get the cash together or should I just wait until I can do it as one lump?

Ballpark costs? I'm not DIY for this sort of work (although I could probably fit an induction kit)

Also Insurance - what sort of increase are we talking about or is it specialist policy time? I use mine a lot so I have full business use (I commute to multiple sites).

Advice most welcome

Cheers,

Phil

[Whiteboy]

http://www.courtenay...bo/info_22.html be warned it gets addictive, but these guys are the best.

Steve

[Bumblebee]

I've got a chargecooler and running stage 3 atm but I think your cheaper option is an intercooler from MMG.MMG done all my work and I'm very pleased its very hard to say who's the best unless you've used both Courtney's and MMG but they both get good comments. Who ever you choose to go with I'm sure you will be happy

Edited by Aimy, 01 July 2012 - 03:54 PM.

[Bumblebee]

If you doing it in stages I'd say in this order clutch(apparently the clutch is on its limits at stage 2) chargecooler/intercooler,vxr turbo if I've got it right you can just bolt on the vxr turbo with out a remap and then injectors and remap

Edited by Aimy, 01 July 2012 - 04:07 PM.

[Pazuzu]

Cool, cheers

[rob999]

If you really want a stage 4 I'd wait for one to come up for sale and let someone else spend their hard earned.

[Pazuzu]

If you really want a stage 4 I'd wait for one to come up for sale and let someone else spend their hard earned.

I've had mine up for sale for 12 days and apart from a couple of tyre kickers there's been nothing hence thinking about converting mine which is a very nice example.

If I had sold it and had the money in my pocket I'd agree.

Cheers,

Phil

[rob999]

You can either get another map, as I thought the TMS ones were pants to be fair. Or, you could look at smaller items first, Tophat, PA Intake Pipe, Underdriven Pulley Kit, Airbox Mod (not totally necessary tbh), balance shaft delete then remap and see how you get on. If you've got monies.... 80MM Pipework, Uprated Helix Clutch/Plate. VXR Turbo/Garrett. CC. 3inch exhaust. VXR Injectors. And other gubbins for the engine bay. Andddd probably a spare F23 gearbox or fit an M32. Remap.

[Pazuzu]

LOL, just had a phone call and a bloke reckons he's coming up on Tuesday with a pocket full of cash Might be looking for a complete Stage 4 after all. Fingers crossed! Phil

[MrSimba]

LOL, just had a phone call and a bloke reckons he's coming up on Tuesday with a pocket full of cash

Might be looking for a complete Stage 4 after all.

Fingers crossed!

Phil

Makes far more sense that way Phil, though as you say yours is a stunning VX

I can vouch for Jonny's car its amazing! - yes its top of the price range but Ian the former owner spent nearly £20k on it and Jonny's spent another £6k... wants for absolutely nothing!

http://www.pistonhea...les/3593282.htm



* and add an uprated fuel pump and its faster than mine with the klassen manifold!!!

Edited by MrSimba, 01 July 2012 - 07:40 PM.

[Pazuzu]

I can vouch for Jonny's car its amazing! - yes its top of the price range but Ian the former owner spent nearly £20k on it and Jonny's spent another £6k... wants for absolutely nothing!

http://www.pistonhea...les/3593282.htm



* and add an uprated fuel pump and its faster than mine with the klassen manifold!!!

That does look amazing but a bit beyond my budget at the moment!

Sell me yours in a moment of madness and you can buy it

Cheers,

Phil

[MrSimba]

That does look amazing but a bit beyond my budget at the moment!

Sell me yours in a moment of madness and you can buy it

Cheers,

Phil

Nah! Mines even better!!!

[Pazuzu]

Nah! Mines even better!!!

No argument here

Phil

[Pazuzu]

Chaps coming down on Tuesday from Brighton with the money (apparently). Now , I've just had an email from an Austrian chap I was speaking to earlier in the week - he wants to give me a £500 "guarantee" now and come over to pick it up as well! It seems Sunday night is 'buy a VX' night! Phil

[MrSimba]

Sounds like its got a 'SOLD' sticker across the windscreen whoever has it! Good luck with your hunt for a stage 4, real shame you did not manage to get to see Cheekys VXR 41, that was an amazing car But they do seem to be coming up on PH regularly so fingers crossed for you!

Edited by MrSimba, 01 July 2012 - 08:12 PM.

[turbobob]

Just something to bear in mind. If you do the upgrades on your car you know the history. Buy someone else's stage 4 (if from an unknown member) then you have no idea of it's history. I'm glad I've taken mine from standard to stage 3 as I know what's been done to it.

[danger7]

Hi ya, Beware modifying becomes addictive and should carry a health warning In your post you dont mention suspension and brakes, what is fitted? I would look first at suspension and brakes before increasing power outputs, if it helps this how I started My VXT was standard apart from the previous owner kindly fitting at great expense Racelogic adjustable traction control and Oz wheels. But thennnnnnnnnnnnnn Nitron singles, with stiffer springs Eibach 450/550, Geo settings identical to Exige S AP Racing Big Brake Kit with PAGID RC5's all round/Goodridge SS hoses fitted Lotus Motorsport 5 way ARB Komo-tec rear toe links and craddle brace Wheels - Rial GTR's 215/45/17 front 245/45/17 rear shod with Toyo 888's Engine - replaced LET with LEH (block later replaced with C20LET), benefit improved piston design, oil jets for under piston cooling Improved valve design cooling on inlet and exhaust, balancer delete - rev limit set to 7,200 rpm Secondary Bosch Motorsport pump and 1 litre Proalloy surge tank fitted with braided fuel lines Injectors - Big! 80mm AMM Turbo - Garrett GT2871RS Owen Developments steel caged cartridge modified actuator and wastegate - 'Disco potato' at 1.6 bar 4500 rpm (good for 380 bhp) Bailey valve fitted All induction pipework 76mm ally with Samco hose connectors Proalloy Charge Cooler (latest design) Aquamist Water/methanol injection opertates at 0.9 bar boost Exhaust manifold - bespoke with modified flange Exhaust system 76mm throughout, with Zirconia coated down pipe - reaches 96db at Zolder Clutch - Sachs competition paddle clutch, with bespoke lightened flywheel Jobs in pipeline - 80mm throttle body and top hot (restricting power no strangling it) The work has been done over four years and the number of maps which I have run is in high teens now - always looking for detonation It helps if a close friend owns a tuning company even if he is a German My advice is simple for evey 1 pound you'll spend on mods you only ever get back 33p, and when it goes you'll be feeling fantastic ripping up the countryside but the downside is much higher running costs and reduced reliability (he says as he prepares to drive from Germany to the National) if you start on handling and braking then there are intermediate stages which allow you to reasonably improve power without breaking bank in one go. Cheers Ian

[GeorgeBC]

Just something to bear in mind. If you do the upgrades on your car you know the history. Buy someone else's stage 4 (if from an unknown member) then you have no idea of it's history. I'm glad I've taken mine from standard to stage 3 as I know what's been done to it.

Bought mine completely standard and defo wish I'd bought an already done stage 4! Mega money down the drain.

[turbobob]

There is money to be saved George. But if you buy an unknown stage 4, it could be a bottomless money pit.

[Bumblebee]

As you no,well looked after vx's are hard to come by,if I was in your position and had a really good Vx to start of with id do the mods myself (not saying it the best option but this is the route i have gone with my vx with it been a really good 1) stage 4's alone aren't that common (although a lot more people seem to be going that way lately) so trying to find a stg 4 plus been in good condition may be hard to find not saying you won't find one but trying to find stage 4 plus very good condition maybe hard and you might have to wait a little bit,but on the other hand by buying an already modded (stg 4) will save you 's but then I guess you don't no how old the mods are or what your letting yourself into and as turbobob said it could be a bottomless pit i guess there's pro's and con's to both but it depends wether the pro's out way the cons when your looking to sell yours and buy a stage 4 this is all IMO of course

Edited by Aimy, 01 July 2012 - 09:58 PM.