coal-wagon
Active member
I purchased an 03' Wagon from user "Phrankentruk" back in 2020 - he had done a lot of work on the car and used it to commute on the East Coast. The listing when I got the car from him:
"This is an ALH wagon at it's best. This car handles great and pulls like a train. The last top speed run I did I shut down at an indicated 130mph & it was still accelerating. I haven't dynoed it but it should be putting out about 180 HP & 290+ LBS torque.
Here's the list:
-2003 Jetta TDI wagon with moon roof, Monsoon stereo, & GTI wheels
-Hidden Hitch trailer hitch
-Glass headlight lenses with silverstar bulbs
-GLI Recaro seats
-17/22 hybrid turbo, larger side mount intercooler, stainless tubing, & OMI intake from KermaTDI
-Bosio 1019 ULSD fuel injectors
-New cylinder head at 178k (timing belt was rubbing the plastic cover, frayed & broke unexpectedly)
-New fuel gauge sending unit at 180k
-Ball joints, tie rod ends, H&R sport cup kit (drop is 1.7" in back, 2" in front), & all suspension rubber except rr bushings, at 190k
-Viton fuel lines at 195k
-11mm injection pump at 200k
-Custom Malone stage 5 tune & panzar plate at 200k. Tune includes cold-start fast idle & egr delay features (idles up while it's warming up and doesn't send exhaust to the egr until it's warm to reduce problems with intake clogging.)
-Southbend stage 2 daily clutch with SMF, shift fork, pivot pin, rear main seal, all trans seals, wheel bearings, and drive axles at 210k
-New vacuum pump o-rings & Amsoil bypass filter at 210k
- Cleaned intake & battery at 250k
-New timing belt, water pump, & pulleys (Deiselgeek kit), valve cover, thermostat housing, coolant pipe o-ring, dipstick tube, Hawk HPS rear brake pads, and used GLI Recaro seats at 300k
-New glass headlight covers at 305k
-Used european 02M ERF 6-speed gearbox, shifter assembly, and axles from Darkside Developments at 310k (all that extra torque was finally too much for the stock gearbox)
-New Sachs CMF clutch kit & Shell synchromesh fluid with trans install at 310k
-New taillight innards and strut bearings at 315k
-Lubed turbo actuator & new N75 valve at 340k"
He built it well, and it was a product of help from this TDI community. I am now back sharing another chapter of its story...as this Forum and community has been an invaluable resource to me.
Long story short - this is one of the best ALH vehicles I have ever driven, I got up to 57 mpg on highway (typically low to mid 50s around town) and it ran like a rocket compared to other ALH I have driven. Unfortunately at just under 420K miles...the oil pump tensioner failed...and carnage ensued. The overhead cam does not like to run dry.
Will share the rebuild progress here.
"This is an ALH wagon at it's best. This car handles great and pulls like a train. The last top speed run I did I shut down at an indicated 130mph & it was still accelerating. I haven't dynoed it but it should be putting out about 180 HP & 290+ LBS torque.
Here's the list:
-2003 Jetta TDI wagon with moon roof, Monsoon stereo, & GTI wheels
-Hidden Hitch trailer hitch
-Glass headlight lenses with silverstar bulbs
-GLI Recaro seats
-17/22 hybrid turbo, larger side mount intercooler, stainless tubing, & OMI intake from KermaTDI
-Bosio 1019 ULSD fuel injectors
-New cylinder head at 178k (timing belt was rubbing the plastic cover, frayed & broke unexpectedly)
-New fuel gauge sending unit at 180k
-Ball joints, tie rod ends, H&R sport cup kit (drop is 1.7" in back, 2" in front), & all suspension rubber except rr bushings, at 190k
-Viton fuel lines at 195k
-11mm injection pump at 200k
-Custom Malone stage 5 tune & panzar plate at 200k. Tune includes cold-start fast idle & egr delay features (idles up while it's warming up and doesn't send exhaust to the egr until it's warm to reduce problems with intake clogging.)
-Southbend stage 2 daily clutch with SMF, shift fork, pivot pin, rear main seal, all trans seals, wheel bearings, and drive axles at 210k
-New vacuum pump o-rings & Amsoil bypass filter at 210k
- Cleaned intake & battery at 250k
-New timing belt, water pump, & pulleys (Deiselgeek kit), valve cover, thermostat housing, coolant pipe o-ring, dipstick tube, Hawk HPS rear brake pads, and used GLI Recaro seats at 300k
-New glass headlight covers at 305k
-Used european 02M ERF 6-speed gearbox, shifter assembly, and axles from Darkside Developments at 310k (all that extra torque was finally too much for the stock gearbox)
-New Sachs CMF clutch kit & Shell synchromesh fluid with trans install at 310k
-New taillight innards and strut bearings at 315k
-Lubed turbo actuator & new N75 valve at 340k"
He built it well, and it was a product of help from this TDI community. I am now back sharing another chapter of its story...as this Forum and community has been an invaluable resource to me.
Long story short - this is one of the best ALH vehicles I have ever driven, I got up to 57 mpg on highway (typically low to mid 50s around town) and it ran like a rocket compared to other ALH I have driven. Unfortunately at just under 420K miles...the oil pump tensioner failed...and carnage ensued. The overhead cam does not like to run dry.
Will share the rebuild progress here.
