uglybastard's Carbon Steel GTI

[damagi123]

Originally Posted by uglybastard

I was told a FSB would not be worth doing - it makes sens to me but could you confirm that it wouldn't add value?

ive always said to anyone thatll listen that the matching set of both front and back feels way more stable than just the rear.

i went with a 27mm rear for about a year before adding the front one and during that year i had a lot of fun with a surprisingly tail happy car but also spun around a bunch of times in a very uncontrollable way. One time would have totalled my car if i was 15 feet closer to the other car coming the opposite way.

with just the rear the car felt really twitchy on the highway and once you do the front it becomes much more stable and the nose gets way faster to change direction as well.

[uglybastard]

Originally Posted by damagi123

ive always said to anyone thatll listen that the matching set of both front and back feels way more stable than just the rear.

i went with a 27mm rear for about a year before adding the front one and during that year i had a lot of fun with a surprisingly tail happy car but also spun around a bunch of times in a very uncontrollable way. One time would have totalled my car if i was 15 feet closer to the other car coming the opposite way.

with just the rear the car felt really twitchy on the highway and once you do the front it becomes much more stable and the nose gets way faster to change direction as well.

Interesting. Think i may try unibrace xB first to see how that feels. Need money and time to install though.

[uglybastard]

yesterday's clear side marker install... not best pictures, bear with me til i can get daylight pictures

Off


On


Was throwing a code for bulb being out, likely due to the LED used. Bypassed using vagcom (link).

[uglybastard]

Last night painted a front emblem white to match my grille's accents. Did clearcoat quickly today and the thing looks nice.

[uglybastard]

I had lost a fog light access cover (forget the technical name for it) a while back and replaced it, so i decided to drill some holes and secure both of them loosely with zipties as I had seen advised somewhere on the interwebs (probably here).







Disregard the dirty wheels, its been too cold for me to be able to sneak away for a car bath.

I don't have any drillbits, but i used a 1.5" screw with my electric screwdriver to puncture the plastic and a knife to make the hold small but flat for the ziptie to fit. If you try this, make sure you are clear of any wires first on the panel! Might replace the zipties with dark ones to blend better but for now these shall do.

[pioneercrazed]

Good idea on the fog light cover. That reminds me I'm missing mine also. Any chance you could lmk the part number for the cover?

[uglybastard]

Originally Posted by pioneercrazed

Good idea on the fog light cover. That reminds me I'm missing mine also. Any chance you could lmk the part number for the cover?

Thanks. These are side-specific, though the differences seem to be rather minute... i had to replace one of them, as mentioned.

Right: 5K0805414A
Left: 5K0805413A

I bought mine from ECS for under $7 plus shipping. If you shop around, right now with holiday sales and stuff, im sure you could find a way to get shipped for free (probably need to buy more stuff but who doesn't love that?)

[pioneercrazed]

Originally Posted by uglybastard

Thanks. These are side-specific, though the differences seem to be rather minute... i had to replace one of them, as mentioned.

Right: 5K0805414A
Left: 5K0805413A

I bought mine from ECS for under $7 plus shipping. If you shop around, right now with holiday sales and stuff, im sure you could find a way to get shipped for free (probably need to buy more stuff but who doesn't love that?)

Thanks for the info. Really appreciate it!

I'm sure I can always find some more stuff to buy. Haha

[GoodTimesIndeed]

Originally Posted by uglybastard

I had lost a fog light access cover (forget the technical name for it) a while back and replaced it, so i decided to drill some holes and secure both of them loosely with zipties as I had seen advised somewhere on the interwebs (probably here).

I have lost one before too, this is an awesome idea!

[uglybastard]

Originally Posted by GoodTimesIndeed

I have lost one before too, this is an awesome idea!

the trick is to make the puncture just big enough for the ziptie. weary of water near wiring like that. Silicone caulking to plug up the overage might work, and be temporary too.

[uglybastard]

soundaktor disconnected (deleted?) today. easy mod, still need to test drive to hear the difference. hoping the hood blanket removal really makes the engine noise ring true now.

[GoodTimesIndeed]

Originally Posted by uglybastard

soundaktor disconnected (deleted?) today. easy mod, still need to test drive to hear the difference. hoping the hood blanket removal really makes the engine noise ring true now.

Disconnecting the Soundaktor is great, you'll probably notice less interior vibrations/buzzes too (at least I did).

Removing the hood liner is good as well, it definitely makes things more pronounced under the hood. Unfortunately one of the noises is the tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic......... of the valves. Will be interesting to hear your thoughts after a few miles.

Enjoy the REAL sound of your car!

[uglybastard]

Originally Posted by GoodTimesIndeed

Disconnecting the Soundaktor is great, you'll probably notice less interior vibrations/buzzes too (at least I did).

Removing the hood liner is good as well, it definitely makes things more pronounced under the hood. Unfortunately one of the noises is the tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic......... of the valves. Will be interesting to hear your thoughts after a few miles.

Enjoy the REAL sound of your car!

Drove about 50 miles since the disconnect. Remarkable difference in noises. Quieter cabin and real engine noises are the obvious benefit. I like that I can now hear my turbo for real, and my CAI noise is more pronounced above 4k rpm.

[uglybastard]

Spring/summer to-do list (aside from reg maint.):

- UM Tune
- VWR sport springs
- boost gauge (likely CIM vent pod)
- Stage 2 downpipe - TBD (either Oatmeal Hammer's DIY CF, or APR)
- side mirror indicators upgrade (once i figure out the short on wiring i have in there)

hoping to finance most of this with my tax return.

stretch goals will be a CBE (just need to dig around and find one I like and can afford) and uniBrace xB