Welcome to Waterzone. Please come back and visit again!
16v ENGINE TUNING
If you are after more HP and torque , you should always start at the air box. Many people dont know this but Jamex makes a lower piece for the stock CIS-E airbox that flows from all sides and is alot cleaner looking option than cutting your stock box to pieces. Another option is a drop in panel filter. They are available from: ITG, K&N, Jetex and BMC . Sucking in underhood heat is a concern when modding the stock box. If you insist on cutting , attach a larger than stock air hose to feed the air box cold air from an outside source. AUTOCAVAN VOLKSPORT in the UK sells a Cold air scoop for aout 20 pounds.
There is a decent selection available for 16v cams just right for your RPM range. With most profiles over 250+ fuel enrichment is a must to richen the fuel mixture at higher RPM's. First of all the infamous Euro intake cam. You can pick one up for around $200 bucks and they are a replica of the Euro equipped 1.8l 16v cam with 139hp. Ive seen this cam on a dyno and it made 5-6 hp only over 5700 rpm. It will pass emissions and not hurt low end. Shrick makes an intake, 256, 260, 268, and 276 series cams. They are the most expensive but quality is top notch. Web Cam will regrind your stock pair to 270 and 276 profiles. AutoTech sells a 260 sport cam set set which they claim outperform the Shrick 260's, with no loss in low end, for $399. Autotech dealer cost is $300, but it is hard to get a set as I have been on the waiting list for a year now. A good option would be a pair of Kent Cams they are decently priced with good build quality , fuel enrichment module is required w/ the 258's. If you call UK shops you will find Crane cams and Piper cams I have yet to investigate them ,any experiences anyone may have had I'd like to hear from them.
From the factory , the 16v Scirocco's recieved a decent dual outlet manifold with a dual 1 3/4" down pipe, however there is room for improvement. Headers are available in 4-2-1 to 4-1 configurations. 4-2-1 are designed for mid rpm power as 4-1 are set up for top end power. Remember to change your motor mounts or you will cause damage as the headers dont flex very well.Expect a deeper more athorative exhaust note with around 4-6 hp all the way up the rpm range. EuroSport makes a 4-2-1 race header (no cat) available in chrome and ceramic finishes. Bellvue Motorsports also carries a TRI-Y unit with a plain painted finish. Supersprint makes a real nice stainless steel unit but it is pricy. Its packed in with a 2 year warranty. Techtonics has an excellent 4 to 1 racing header , but the tubes are huge and may cause interference with front sway bars. People have dropped there 1/4 mile E.T.'s by .2 seconds with this unit on their 2.0l 16vs. Another option would be to port your existing manifold and fit a Techtonics dual 2" racing down pipe. Full reliability with increased perfomance that rivals most street headers.
Quaife currently does not produce a 020 6 speed kit, but they are available from other manufacturers. However Quaife does produce a differential upgrade which drastically improves traction off the line and especially around corners. Check out the Green Autotech Jetta III for example. The 020 unit goes for over $1k, but many people swear by it to be one of the best upgrades you can do, plus it never needs a rebuild. Velocity sell a stage 2 diff kit which they claim improves wheel lock about 40% to both wheels and you can install in your driveway, it goes for about 100 bucks, expect a mild improvement.
One place where you will not find a shortage of aftermarket parts is Suspension components. Shocks are available from Blistien, Koni, Boge, Spax, AVO, Tokico and others.Bilstiens and Konis are some of the most popular, as their quality and performance is top notch. AVO and H&R also makes a set of coilovers. Springs are available from Neuspeed, H&R, Eibach, Suspension Techniques, Intrax, Spax, Hor technologie and others. The Sportsline series is lower and stiffer than usual. My experience with the Neuspeed race springs is in a climate like Tennessee, they work just fine and are plenty comfortable. When you order your springs the salesman will try his best for you not to buy any type of race spring because he/she will claim it will make you car's ride unbearable. This is a huge exaggeration, and you may find the "sport spring" to soft for serious performance. The H&R sport springs in my experience are very simillar to stock stiffness and doesnt lower the car substanstially, I wouldnt recommend them unless you live with major potholes. For sway bars(anti roll bars), one of the best options is the Autotech 25mm/28mm Hollow units. The weight savings is helpful in decreasing unsprung wieght. Neuspeed makes a 22mm/28mm pair, they work well but weigh quite a bit more than the hollow pair. All others anti roll bars on the market will be solid. Upgrading to POWERFLEX bushings were applicable will greatly reduce slop and play with slighty more vibration and stiffness being sent to the passenger compartment.
