New Florida member: My 85 T3 TD. Tell me what to do!

[Jettagli16v]

Hello, GTD.
New member from Orlando, Fl here. (12+ years driving Mk2 + Mk3 VWs, but brand new to Diesels!
I thought you might like to see another Jetta IDI TD.
Its an 85 w/ Garrett T3.
Odometer reads 70,xxx miles (and works), but PO said it was 180,xxx when he sold it...?

PO installed: 15" G60 steelies, VMAXX coilovers.
I added: Big intake, Manual boost controller (set to 19 PSI), VDO gauges (EGT W/ Spruce thermocouple, Boost, and Oil pressure), and aesthetic touches (GLi spoiler, Yakima rack w/ basket, euro plate)
dropped a further 1.5" from these pictures.

Next on the list:
1) Drill and tap manifold for Thermocouple
2) 3" Stainless Downpipe into 2.5" Straight pipe w/ resonator
3) reset boost to....?

What should I do?
Looking for sage wisdom.....

Thanks in advance!

















Any advice appreciated!
Thanks,
Brad

[Jettagli16v]

problem of the day is:

VDO oil pressure sender (OEM from VW Cabby)
will not fit with the vacuum pump where the switch is on top of Oil Filter hsg.

Some kind of adapter is needed to install this.
Suggestions?

[BLZEEDUB]

Jettagli, hello from a fellow Newbie, and er welcome...
Your getta looks very clean; never had a Mk2 'shape'; the brother had a GTI 'clone' 1600(petrol/gasser)that was ropey but quick, as he used to get racing fuel off a rallying friend...
A bit 'off topic' I spy you have a T2 'bay; I also have one but the body is poor (rot!) but has a tuned aircooled motor, but am toying with the idea of converting it to a TD...
I'd loose the square lamps from below the bumper, personally...

[Jettagli16v]

but I went to so much trouble to add those lights!
and stock, US spec lights suck!

[rallydiesel]

Injection pump is where you will get the most performance results with the least money. Do the governor mod, up the fuel, and adjust the aneroid. Costs nothing and takes very little time.

[jtanguay]

what kind of seal do you have on the blow off valve? you can remove the screw inside and insert a longer one to block it off...  :wink:

[Jettagli16v]

I was planning on bypassing all the little IP mods, and doing everything around the motor and turbo, and then sending it to GIles..
I dont think I need any more fuel. at 15 PSI, it was fill the highway smoky at full throttle, at 19 PSI it got better, but still plenty of black smoke at full boost.
Doesnt that mean I have enough fuel? (I wont touch the IP until my EGT is installed anyways, just ot know...)
And, more to the point, arent all of the mods to increase fuel?

I "Eliminated" the recirc. valve with a big vacuum cap, and a cable tie.
Seems to be holding fine.
The standard 8v gas manifold seems to be the nice upgrade, so I was going to just wait for one of those (instead of fabbing a nice plug or whatever)...

All of these are my guesses, tell me if I am wrong!
Thanks!
-Brad

[arb]

Welcome !! I like your air filter (I'm using a similar one in my 1.6L TD Caravan) - Did you make the pipes ?

[Jettagli16v]

Yes, sure did!
And Thanks!

It was all random bits bought locally.
It sounds great! you can really hear the turbo spool.

I know Diesels are funny about their intake air, so I figured I ought to make sure I would have no worries!
-Brad

[Jettagli16v]

12.18.08 - 22:35 ET
6 hrs into Spruce EGT probe install...

The manifold has broken one tap, and stymied another.
We were trying to drill and tap with the manifold on the car,
and after breaking the tap in the manifold,
removed it.
Now my new (admittedly cheap) Harbor Freight tap set will not even phase the cast iron.

We will try a new, better set of Taps tomorrow, from a friend at a machine shop that regularly taps cast iron with this brand / style.

Also in this service:
New Oil feed and return lines (OEM) - Return leaking, feed prone to coking up.
New oil pan (PO stripped drain plug beyond belief!)


The turbo came off in under 45 minutes...
I thought that was going to be the hard part!!!

more to follow,
-Brad

[foxracer1]

You should sell those god awful steelies... to me  

[Jettagli16v]

Update:
Well, if I can make a recommendation to anyone installing a Spruce (or any, for that matter) thermocouple in the exh manifold,
I HIGHLY recommend Jarvis taps.

We spent 3 hours last night trying to tap the manifold with an old, but good tap, and broke that, went to a brand new set from Harbor freight,
and this Jarvis tap did more in 2 turns with less effort than anything else.

Egt is mechanically installed now, wiring to follow in the next hour or 2.

-Brad

[Jettagli16v]

VICTORY!!!!

Egt installed,
Oil pan, and lines installed (no leaks!)

and WOW,
that Spruce Thermocouple reacts VERY quickly.
I can see it drop at least 300-400 between shifts!

Anyone want a free VDO Thermocouple with bung?
let me know!

-Brad

[the caveman]

I'd put back the oem filter box and use a VW air filter. Flows and cleans better. K&N's don't work as well as they look.

[vanbcguy]

I'd put back the oem filter box and use a VW air filter. Flows and cleans better. K&N's don't work as well as they look.

X2...

I was looking at the stock paper filter next to the K&N filter that was on my car when I got it. If I curl the stock filter into a tube it's pretty obvious it has WAY more surface area than the K&N filter does.  Granted the stock airbox snorkels are a major restriction, but that's easily fixed.

I like the way the car sounds with the stock air box a lot better too... Can't hear the turbo as much but it totally lowered the tone of the engine noise, made it "deeper" than it was with the K&N