Newbie - Polo G40
Discussion
Hi all, I've finally signed up after being a forum reader for ages!
This is my car, a '91 Polo GT, converted to G40 spec running gear in my garage in 2005.
I've owned it since 2000, and decided an engine conversion was easier than going down the route of finding a shell as straight and well looked after as mine. Can't say I've regretted doing so either! I found a low mileage G40 engine with a full and extensive service history, courtesy of some friends I know up in Yorkshire, and it's given me 18,000 fault free miles since.
Spec is as follows:
Engine:
1272cc, multipoint injected, supercharged; Pitstop Developments Full Blend ported supercharger; SNS Stage 5 chip; Bosch 250cc "Green" Injectors; 68mm alloy pulley; GT inlet manifold; De-restricted airbox; Boost return pipes removed; Pitstop Developments aluminium oil catch tank (painted satin black); Longlife stainless steel exhaust with decat pipe; 136BHP ATFW (108BHP ATW) 139lbs/ft torque;
Suspension:
Spax Adjustable rate dampers; -40mm Spax Springs; G40 cup car style Polyurethane anti-roll bar block mounts; Bonrath polyurethane shocker bushes (rear); Steel Front Brace Bar; Polyurethane bump stops;
Brakes:
Audi brake callipers and carriers (painted silver); Pagid Fast Road pads; Zimmerman Cross Drilled 256mm discs; Pitstop Developments Steel Braided Brake Hoses; 22mm Master Cylinder; Motul RBF600 brake fluid;
Wheels and Tyres:
15x6.5 Adikt Speed wheels; 195/45 Good Year Eagle F1 GSD3 Tyres;
Exterior Styling:
Clear indicators; Late spec rear light clusters; OE Fog Lights; de-locked door handles; Wing Aerial Hole smoothed; Uprated headlight and foglight wiring looms; Philips Vision Plus headlight bulbs; Xenon foglight bulbs;
Interior Styling:
Corrado VR6 Leather Steering Wheel (currently awaiting a retrim); Scirocco GTX Gear Knob; Leather Gear Gaiter; Scirocco GT2 "Modekaro" trim; Duostyling Air/Fuel meter; TIM boost gauge;
ICE and Security:
Toad Ai606 CAT1 alarm with remote central locking;
Not what you'd call a serious sports car, but bloody good fun.
Future plans involve taking it from its current 136bhp and 139lbs/ft torque up to around 150bhp with a similar torque figure. Eventually I'll be fitting a Quaife ATB limited slip differential to help get the power down as effectively as possible. These aren't currently available for the G40 but should be going into production this year, so if all goes to plan I'll be buying one of the first batch. To keep the oil in the right place I'll be fitting an RPM baffled alloy sump and windage tray, which along with a small oil cooler should also help stop me from caning my oil when I give it beans.
Style wise it's almost as I want it; I'm a firm believer in subtly enhancing the factory styling rather than completely changing how the car looks. When money allows I fancy some slightly more subtle wheels, but I've tried BBS RAs and they're a complete pain to clean, so I don't know what to get. Maybe a set of 14x6 Revolution RFX if I can find a set. Any suggestions?
As for me, I'm a recently qualified journalist, looking for a full time job as a motoring writer. I've written for PVW, PBMW and GT Porsche, design material for a couple of owners' clubs and am currently freelancing wherever possible. I'm also proud to say that I recently won the inaugural Phil Llewelin Student of the Year award, presented by the Guild of Motoring Writers last November.
This is my car, a '91 Polo GT, converted to G40 spec running gear in my garage in 2005.
I've owned it since 2000, and decided an engine conversion was easier than going down the route of finding a shell as straight and well looked after as mine. Can't say I've regretted doing so either! I found a low mileage G40 engine with a full and extensive service history, courtesy of some friends I know up in Yorkshire, and it's given me 18,000 fault free miles since.
Spec is as follows:
Engine:
1272cc, multipoint injected, supercharged; Pitstop Developments Full Blend ported supercharger; SNS Stage 5 chip; Bosch 250cc "Green" Injectors; 68mm alloy pulley; GT inlet manifold; De-restricted airbox; Boost return pipes removed; Pitstop Developments aluminium oil catch tank (painted satin black); Longlife stainless steel exhaust with decat pipe; 136BHP ATFW (108BHP ATW) 139lbs/ft torque;
Suspension:
Spax Adjustable rate dampers; -40mm Spax Springs; G40 cup car style Polyurethane anti-roll bar block mounts; Bonrath polyurethane shocker bushes (rear); Steel Front Brace Bar; Polyurethane bump stops;
Brakes:
Audi brake callipers and carriers (painted silver); Pagid Fast Road pads; Zimmerman Cross Drilled 256mm discs; Pitstop Developments Steel Braided Brake Hoses; 22mm Master Cylinder; Motul RBF600 brake fluid;
Wheels and Tyres:
15x6.5 Adikt Speed wheels; 195/45 Good Year Eagle F1 GSD3 Tyres;
Exterior Styling:
Clear indicators; Late spec rear light clusters; OE Fog Lights; de-locked door handles; Wing Aerial Hole smoothed; Uprated headlight and foglight wiring looms; Philips Vision Plus headlight bulbs; Xenon foglight bulbs;
Interior Styling:
Corrado VR6 Leather Steering Wheel (currently awaiting a retrim); Scirocco GTX Gear Knob; Leather Gear Gaiter; Scirocco GT2 "Modekaro" trim; Duostyling Air/Fuel meter; TIM boost gauge;
ICE and Security:
Toad Ai606 CAT1 alarm with remote central locking;
Not what you'd call a serious sports car, but bloody good fun.
Future plans involve taking it from its current 136bhp and 139lbs/ft torque up to around 150bhp with a similar torque figure. Eventually I'll be fitting a Quaife ATB limited slip differential to help get the power down as effectively as possible. These aren't currently available for the G40 but should be going into production this year, so if all goes to plan I'll be buying one of the first batch. To keep the oil in the right place I'll be fitting an RPM baffled alloy sump and windage tray, which along with a small oil cooler should also help stop me from caning my oil when I give it beans.
Style wise it's almost as I want it; I'm a firm believer in subtly enhancing the factory styling rather than completely changing how the car looks. When money allows I fancy some slightly more subtle wheels, but I've tried BBS RAs and they're a complete pain to clean, so I don't know what to get. Maybe a set of 14x6 Revolution RFX if I can find a set. Any suggestions?
As for me, I'm a recently qualified journalist, looking for a full time job as a motoring writer. I've written for PVW, PBMW and GT Porsche, design material for a couple of owners' clubs and am currently freelancing wherever possible. I'm also proud to say that I recently won the inaugural Phil Llewelin Student of the Year award, presented by the Guild of Motoring Writers last November.
it's beautiful! Awesome car 
Thanks for the warm welcome! Glad you like it!
Yeah I've been lucky with the 'lader so far, seems to be holding out. I check it periodically to make sure there are no bits of charger in the boost pipes, and give it a spray of PTFE grease every 1000 miles to keep it healthy. The thing is it's fairly easy to turbocharge these now, quite tried and tested, so if it does eat itself I know what I'll be doing next.
Alright Stu, it's good to see a familiar name on here!
Got my fingers firmly crossed for a few jobs at the moment, not all motoring sadly, but anything beats being unemployed and living off savings. Of course, the motoring ones are the ones I really want, but the question is will this be mutual?
Hopefully!
Yeah I've been lucky with the 'lader so far, seems to be holding out. I check it periodically to make sure there are no bits of charger in the boost pipes, and give it a spray of PTFE grease every 1000 miles to keep it healthy. The thing is it's fairly easy to turbocharge these now, quite tried and tested, so if it does eat itself I know what I'll be doing next.
Alright Stu, it's good to see a familiar name on here!
Got my fingers firmly crossed for a few jobs at the moment, not all motoring sadly, but anything beats being unemployed and living off savings. Of course, the motoring ones are the ones I really want, but the question is will this be mutual?
Hopefully!
Cool, looks really clean.
Just sold my Golf G60 to my mate Rich, who used to have Jabbas G40. That used to scare the **** out of me. Mental little cars with mental power to weight ratios!
Its hard to resist a quest for power with g-laders as the respond so well to engine mods. The £/bhp increases are great!
Just sold my Golf G60 to my mate Rich, who used to have Jabbas G40. That used to scare the **** out of me. Mental little cars with mental power to weight ratios!
Its hard to resist a quest for power with g-laders as the respond so well to engine mods. The £/bhp increases are great!
Thanks for the welcome! Glad my car's going down well.
I've barely scratched the surface in terms of power, but I'm trying not to go overboard with it. There are some very powerful ones out there, but front wheel drive starts to become a real pain when you get into massive power figures. Hopefully with what I've got planned it'll be fast but still usable as a daily hack if I want to.
I've barely scratched the surface in terms of power, but I'm trying not to go overboard with it. There are some very powerful ones out there, but front wheel drive starts to become a real pain when you get into massive power figures. Hopefully with what I've got planned it'll be fast but still usable as a daily hack if I want to.
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