Joel Mitchell
MkIII Golf 2.0 GTi
Year: 1995
Mileage: 120,000
Current Mods: FK coilovers, black MkIV Steels, Cooper 205/45/16 tyres, EBC Brakes, Green Stuff Pads, K&N Induction Kit, Cat back Magnex stainless steel exhaust, Sports cat, Kent Cam, Kent venier power pully, CG Lock
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This is the new
exhaut system |
This month started off not too well.... the car started to run badly again. If you’d read my last report you’d know I had trouble with the power steering belt. What I found out this month is what caused it. The temperature air sensor had come loose from the K&N filter and had hung down, got caught up in the belt and subsequently snapped it, making a right mess of the sensor. Time to dig deep again in the old wallet.
A new sensor was ordered from VW and fitted within about 30 seconds, but then the computer needed to be reset; not a job I could do! So the Golf was taken to AmD in West Thurrock, where Steve (my new best friend) sorted the problem. Now with my car running sweetly again and a smile on my face it was time to get rid of the stock exhaust...
After researching the matter, I finally decided on a 3-inch Magnex stainless steel model, with twin 2-inch tail pipes. The system (from cat back) was ordered and the next day?(excellent service! Cheers guys!) the exhaust had landed. Again, if you’d read my last report you’ll also know I’d ordered a performance catalytic converter from Online Automotive. So that was waiting to partner up with the exhaust (I’d been offered a de-cat pipe but was concerned about getting through an MoT).
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The original cam in situ. Looks a tad dingy... |
So with all the pieces of the puzzle in place, I just needed to fit them all. I had planned to fit everything myself – but (luckily) the pit I would have used was taken, so I took the easy route and gave RSR in Redhill a call. They had a slot that very same afternoon. Result!?I drove straight there.
Once up on the ramp it was clear to see the job in hand wasn’t quite as easy as I’d originally thought. The nuts holding the cat on to the manifold were too tight for the boys to undo, so out came the air saw. The old exhaust was cut into pieces and removed. Getting the new cat into place was simple; it’s now held in place with three nice new nuts and bolts.
Next was to join the middle section – simple enough, you might think, but the sleeve that had been supplied was too small at the cat end to get over the pipe. So Mark, RSR’s exhaust genius, cut the sleeve down, flared an end and then welded it into place... sorted!
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...but the shiny new one with vernier pully looks top |
The rest of the system was a doddle, the only problem was getting the tail pipes into ‘perfect’ position. To achieve this, Mark welded a steel rod onto the back box to reach over to another bracket. Two clamps were fitting onto the exhaust and the MkIII was humming a different tune.
A fast road cam and vernier power pulley were ordered from Kent Cams. The cam kit comes with all the necessary bits: cam, cam followers, lube and even a sticker. The pulley comes separate with a timing disc. Being just a single head camshaft the job’s not too difficult, but to get it perfect I gave AmD another call. While doing the job we also fitted a new cambelt and tensioner as I’m not too sure when the belt was last changed.
Once all back together and timed up the car sounds great and runs beautifully. And it pulls well too. To get a little more out of the cam, we’re gonna get it on a rolling road (hopefully in my next report), where a remap will be carried out too; hopefully I’ll see a nice, healthy bhp increase...
Also fitted was a CG Lock, ready for the GTI to get out on the track. So, all in all a great month for the GTI. Big thanks to the guys at AmD, especially Steve. Nothing left to do this month but drive the car with a big smile on my face. JM
