3L3M3NT
Veteran Member
Alright so here is my initial review on quite a few different parts I had installed on my car while it was in the shop for a new 6 speed DRW transmission from BleachedBora.
DRW Transmission. I'm in love with this transmission
On my way home other than not having cruise control. I was able to do 75 mph at 2150-2200 rpm give or take 50 rpm. At 80 it was right around 2250-2300 maybe. I'm not sure if I would recommend doing this upgrade to a non modded TDI, due to the fact that the extra power is helpful to keep the car in 6th gear on grades and if traffic were to slow down. Just my opinion.
DC Stage 3 Clutch. A little loud right now, but I've only got 330 miles on the clutch and trans right now. The engagement is very nice. Requires a little bit of throttle to get it going off the start. So far seems to be holding great and no complaints there. I should be able to give a better review once it's full broken in and I can put it to the test. So I'll update a week or so after some more miles get put on.
Dieselgeek Sigma 6 Short Shifter. What a piece and I mean that in a good way. It provided crisp shifts and noticeably shorter throws and side to side movement. I couldn't imagine using the stock unit. It initially was a little notchy, but I think some of this has to do with everything being new.......trans, LSD, Short Shifter, motor mounts, dogbone, etc.
034 Motor Mounts and Dogbone. Again with everything so new it's hard to give a completely accurate review of them, but they do make the car vibrate more and especially while the new clutch is being broken in. It has gotten better in the 330 miles I have driven though. I'm sure once they are completely "broke" in they won't be so bad. As far as I can tell right now things are fairly rigid up front and very little movement as far as trans and motor.
LSD review will come once the clutch is full broken in, since I can't horse on it just yet.
PD 150 Intake Manifold and PD 150 TIP, Airbox, MAF, and R32 DSG Snorkel. I'll tie this review with the review of the Forge PD 130 FMIC kit. The first thing I noticed is the increase noise going on under the hood at slower speeds, but once up to highway speeds you hardly notice. There seems to be a nice increase in power for 2000 rpm and up and it pulls pretty good until 4K and probably more. I'm taking it somewhat easy due to clutch break in, so I should really be able to see what it can do in a couple of days. I ordered a Forge FMIC PD 130 and so far I'm very impressed with it. EGT's seem to be lower than the factory SMIC and when EGT's do start to climb it doesn't take long for them to reach normal operating temps. This might be a little skewed, since it is near the end of November in Wisconsin and it's only 40 degrees F outside, but from what I can recall, the Forge definitely has lower EGT's across the board. While Cruising at 73-75 I was seeing EGT's of right around 630 degrees F and normally it would be 750+
Since I didn't do the install myself I ask the shop owner what he thought of the kit and he was quite impressed. He liked the Custom Pancake pipe. The Same side Entry and Exit was the only solution for my car, since I'm running a TDI Heater and a DG By-Pass kit, so there would be no room for piping on the drivers side. Just an FYI it's not a completely bolt on kit for us PD100 NA guys. There were a few custom pieces that needed to be fitted to make things work.
Koni Coilovers and TT Bushings. These two things really help tighten the car up and make it feel really solid. The car has very little body roll now and corners like it's on rails. Yes the ride is a little bit stiffer, but that is to be expected for a performance shock. Some Comfort in trade for a big increase in performance......I'll take it.
GLI/20th/337 Big Brake kit. I decided to upgrade the brakes while the front and rear were apart for the coilovers. There seems a to be a nice increase in stopping power. Nothing huge, but still noticeable. Then again I'm hoping they will get better with time, since they don't have that many good stops on them to get them to bed in.
Last, but not least a SHOUT out to all the people that made this build possible.
Aaron at BleachedBora. Other than a few minor issues that had to get ironed out with the 6 speed, he was very helpful and put a rush on the parts that were needed for the install. Thanks again Aaron.
Jim @ Dieselgeek for the Short Shifter and the Timing belt kit.
Peter @ TDIParts for the 034 Motor Mounts and Dogbone and the PD 150 intake adapter "Race Pipe"
ryanp for the fast shipping on the PD 150 components.
The Shop that put it all together Mobile One, Inc. http://www.mobileoneinc.com/
A Big Thanks to them for putting up with getting parts in whenever they showed up and not necessarily the correct timing either. Great Communication with Jason the shop owner and took the time to let me know what was going on during the build and work out any issues that sprung up during the initial test drive.
I had Mobile One do my Timing Belt, since I wanted a little piece of mind. They did an excellent job on the Timing Belt job and they replaced everything that should be done on a Good TB job. Water pump, all tensioners, pulleys, belts, etc. So if there is any TDIer's looking for a Timing Belt replacement in the Chicago area don't hesitate to give them a call. IMO add them to the Trusted Mechanics for IL.
DRW Transmission. I'm in love with this transmission
On my way home other than not having cruise control. I was able to do 75 mph at 2150-2200 rpm give or take 50 rpm. At 80 it was right around 2250-2300 maybe. I'm not sure if I would recommend doing this upgrade to a non modded TDI, due to the fact that the extra power is helpful to keep the car in 6th gear on grades and if traffic were to slow down. Just my opinion. DC Stage 3 Clutch. A little loud right now, but I've only got 330 miles on the clutch and trans right now. The engagement is very nice. Requires a little bit of throttle to get it going off the start. So far seems to be holding great and no complaints there. I should be able to give a better review once it's full broken in and I can put it to the test. So I'll update a week or so after some more miles get put on.
Dieselgeek Sigma 6 Short Shifter. What a piece and I mean that in a good way. It provided crisp shifts and noticeably shorter throws and side to side movement. I couldn't imagine using the stock unit. It initially was a little notchy, but I think some of this has to do with everything being new.......trans, LSD, Short Shifter, motor mounts, dogbone, etc.
034 Motor Mounts and Dogbone. Again with everything so new it's hard to give a completely accurate review of them, but they do make the car vibrate more and especially while the new clutch is being broken in. It has gotten better in the 330 miles I have driven though. I'm sure once they are completely "broke" in they won't be so bad. As far as I can tell right now things are fairly rigid up front and very little movement as far as trans and motor.
LSD review will come once the clutch is full broken in, since I can't horse on it just yet.
PD 150 Intake Manifold and PD 150 TIP, Airbox, MAF, and R32 DSG Snorkel. I'll tie this review with the review of the Forge PD 130 FMIC kit. The first thing I noticed is the increase noise going on under the hood at slower speeds, but once up to highway speeds you hardly notice. There seems to be a nice increase in power for 2000 rpm and up and it pulls pretty good until 4K and probably more. I'm taking it somewhat easy due to clutch break in, so I should really be able to see what it can do in a couple of days. I ordered a Forge FMIC PD 130 and so far I'm very impressed with it. EGT's seem to be lower than the factory SMIC and when EGT's do start to climb it doesn't take long for them to reach normal operating temps. This might be a little skewed, since it is near the end of November in Wisconsin and it's only 40 degrees F outside, but from what I can recall, the Forge definitely has lower EGT's across the board. While Cruising at 73-75 I was seeing EGT's of right around 630 degrees F and normally it would be 750+
Since I didn't do the install myself I ask the shop owner what he thought of the kit and he was quite impressed. He liked the Custom Pancake pipe. The Same side Entry and Exit was the only solution for my car, since I'm running a TDI Heater and a DG By-Pass kit, so there would be no room for piping on the drivers side. Just an FYI it's not a completely bolt on kit for us PD100 NA guys. There were a few custom pieces that needed to be fitted to make things work.
Koni Coilovers and TT Bushings. These two things really help tighten the car up and make it feel really solid. The car has very little body roll now and corners like it's on rails. Yes the ride is a little bit stiffer, but that is to be expected for a performance shock. Some Comfort in trade for a big increase in performance......I'll take it.
GLI/20th/337 Big Brake kit. I decided to upgrade the brakes while the front and rear were apart for the coilovers. There seems a to be a nice increase in stopping power. Nothing huge, but still noticeable. Then again I'm hoping they will get better with time, since they don't have that many good stops on them to get them to bed in.
Last, but not least a SHOUT out to all the people that made this build possible.
Aaron at BleachedBora. Other than a few minor issues that had to get ironed out with the 6 speed, he was very helpful and put a rush on the parts that were needed for the install. Thanks again Aaron.
Jim @ Dieselgeek for the Short Shifter and the Timing belt kit.
Peter @ TDIParts for the 034 Motor Mounts and Dogbone and the PD 150 intake adapter "Race Pipe"
ryanp for the fast shipping on the PD 150 components.
The Shop that put it all together Mobile One, Inc. http://www.mobileoneinc.com/
A Big Thanks to them for putting up with getting parts in whenever they showed up and not necessarily the correct timing either. Great Communication with Jason the shop owner and took the time to let me know what was going on during the build and work out any issues that sprung up during the initial test drive.
I had Mobile One do my Timing Belt, since I wanted a little piece of mind. They did an excellent job on the Timing Belt job and they replaced everything that should be done on a Good TB job. Water pump, all tensioners, pulleys, belts, etc. So if there is any TDIer's looking for a Timing Belt replacement in the Chicago area don't hesitate to give them a call. IMO add them to the Trusted Mechanics for IL.
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