I figured I'd post an update now that its been a few weeks since I finished my swap.
This ended up being a much bigger job than I was expecting, budgeted a weekend for the swap + timing belt change and ended up needing 4 days.
I had no idea starting out that I'd need to remove the front clip. I managed to avoid completely removing the front clip as I did not want to deal with draining and refilling the AC system by sliding it forward ~5 inches as detailed in this video:
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Cutting up the fuel pump bracket was definitely the sketchiest part for me since I don't have adequate tools to do a job I am 100% happy with. I wish I had done more research initially and figured out a better way to modify it...
Bending the high pressure fuel line was not fun either. The little pipe bender I got from harbor freight broke and I ended up just clamping the fuel line in a vice and bending it with some pliers. That thing is stout! Definitely wish Darkside had an option to purchase a pre-bent line.
Figuring out the tune with Malone has taken a little while. I'm bouncing off the EGT limiter (hitting 920-930c!) with the stock turbine causing power cuts >4200 rpm.
log.tunezilla.com
I asked them to reduce fueling at the top end to get rid of the power cuts and smoothen the engine out and will be trying out the new tune tonight.
Thanks to everyone who has helped out! This was the first big job I've done on this car so far and has been a major learning experience. I definitely made many mistakes and should have prepared better.
I am very new to this and the TDI rabbit hole is certainly much deeper than I thought... reading through @
adjat84th's build thread is very cool and inspiring.