TDI's

I was thinking about a GRM article years back about some one that took a TDI beetle and hopped it up to something like 400Ft/lbs. SO I immediately had to go to CL to see if they were still out there and to my surprise they are and from what I can see many under challenge $$$$$. Does anyone know the specifics for hopping up a TDI? I have never messed with diesel but for some reason a small diesel powered car with 400 foot lbs of torque seems like something I need to explore further.

I do know that at about 300 lb-ft, stock rods like to take on a distinct C-shape, or convert themselves into special 2-piece rods.

One of the diesel mags had an article about a really hopped up Jetta. Diesel Power? Diesel World? Might search for it there.

Kerma TDI is a great source, so is myturbodiesel.com.

but it doesnt take much to make power and they are pretty peppy in stock form.

I have a TDI Jetta that's been modified just a bit. Stock Tq is 240 ft/lbs I now have something like 275 peak. Want to pass something on a 2 lane hwy, no need to downshift out of 6th. Just lay back a bit and then punch it. I have regularly taken it up near 100 mph from 60 in a mater of seconds. And it still can get over 50 mpg!

A turbo down pipe and ecu reflash is all that's been done. It still has the stock cat.

jimbbski wrote: I have a TDI Jetta that's been modified just a bit. Stock Tq is 240 ft/lbs I now have something like 275 peak. Want to pass something on a 2 lane hwy, no need to downshift out of 6th. Just lay back a bit and then punch it. I have regularly taken it up near 100 mph from 60 in a mater of seconds. And it still can get over 50 mpg! A turbo down pipe and ecu reflash is all that's been done. It still has the stock cat.

What year is yours?

I wish I had my '98 TDI Jetta back. I bought it new from Burnsville VW. No mods when I had it but the mpg's were awesome. And it was the only car I've ever had with a leather interior. Made my long (at that time) commute quite tolerable. Dang it now your making me want to swap that mill into my '91 Caravan.

Ninja edit: it's an off the wall example but there is a YouTube video out there of a guy with a jet boat (think Pacific Northwest salmon runner rather than a big cutty style cruiser) powered by a VW TDI.

My car makes around 260ftlbs, and i also have egr delete, down pipe, cat delete and a super mild tuner.

Buy one that doesn't have a DPF.

400 ft lbs is no small feat with a 4 cyl TDI. On an older 1.9 that's mild internals, big turbo or compound setup, injectors, clutch, IC,tuning etc etc

On a CR car, that's still dpf delete, tune, clutch and a turbo.

The best bang for the buck is like a stage 2 Malone 2 with a dpf delete. Its around 180 hp/315 tq. They still aren't fast per se but they will put a smile on your face.

For newer common rail cars:

I recommend the newer Passat for the less failure prone HPFP and liquid to air IC. The water to air can get filled with sludge from the EGR on the Air to Air intercooler cars.

HPFPs, EGR, DPF.... mine all failed on my '12 Jetta so personally I think they are fun but would never own one again.

If I owned another, it would be another ALH powered something WITHOUT 400 ft lbs of tq. Mild upgrades and just enjoy it. You'll be spending enough money on maintenance to keep you busy 20 year old VW stuff anyway.

Besides the engine internals, at those torque levels the transmission becomes the next weak link.

Race car <- this guy races one in crapcan racing. I have always been interested in it, but I am too chicken, because I am intimidated by the over engineering of VW's. He can go 4.45 hours before he needs to fuel. Simply amazing. I rather just drive a uncomplicated BMW e30.

GRM was talking about building a budget Beetle TDI sometime ago, hope this nudges them to do so, I think the interest is there..