Dave's TT Conversion Thread

[BigTyla]

After reading Mr. 3000's previous post, I think there are a few things to touch on as lessons learned from all of us as TT converts:

1) Rebuild your used turbos! Mine were from a newer VR4 and after driving for about 5000 miles they are pouring smoke. I'm not sure if the seals dried out since the turbos sat for so long, but if I were to do it all over again I would have rebuilt them for piece of mind.

2) Take your time! If you can find a way to get something as small as a heat shield to fit, do it! The factory put it there for a reason. The only thing I left off my car is one of the plates that bolts to the starter and transmission housing. Everything else is the way the factory put it and that's the way it should be (unless you are a self-professed automotive engineer, which I am sometimes guilty of).

3) Always be prepared to cough up money for something unexpected. I did my conversion when I probably should not have due to college taking up most of my expenses, and I have been lucky so far that nothing has gone boom. I'll have to rebuild my turbos but over the past 5000 miles that has been the only problem with my car. Don't walk the money tightrope with this car like I am!

[3000hybrid]

Originally Posted by BigTyla

After reading Mr. 3000's previous post, I think there are a few things to touch on as lessons learned from all of us as TT converts:

2) Take your time! If you can find a way to get something as small as a heat shield to fit, do it! The factory put it there for a reason. The only thing I left off my car is one of the plates that bolts to the starter and transmission housing. Everything else is the way the factory put it and that's the way it should be (unless you are a self-professed automotive engineer, which I am sometimes guilty of).

I agree. Especially about items like the heat shield. I haven't ran heat shields for 3 years, but I never took the car on a long trip. I just drove the car from NM to FLA and I was about to die from the heat coming into the car from the firewall. Like Bigtyla said - the factory put it there for a reason. I'm installing heat shields as soon as I can.

[J-Groove]

Originally Posted by BigTyla

After reading Mr. 3000's previous post, I think there are a few things to touch on as lessons learned from all of us as TT converts:

1) Rebuild your used turbos! Mine were from a newer VR4 and after driving for about 5000 miles they are pouring smoke. I'm not sure if the seals dried out since the turbos sat for so long, but if I were to do it all over again I would have rebuilt them for piece of mind.

2) Take your time! If you can find a way to get something as small as a heat shield to fit, do it! The factory put it there for a reason. The only thing I left off my car is one of the plates that bolts to the starter and transmission housing. Everything else is the way the factory put it and that's the way it should be (unless you are a self-professed automotive engineer, which I am sometimes guilty of).

3) Always be prepared to cough up money for something unexpected. I did my conversion when I probably should not have due to college taking up most of my expenses, and I have been lucky so far that nothing has gone boom. I'll have to rebuild my turbos but over the past 5000 miles that has been the only problem with my car. Don't walk the money tightrope with this car like I am!

Great points all around.

-John

[Fbc 978]

BigTyla- I am in the same place as you in terms of turbos. I bought some from HennessyGTO (a member on here) and he said they had 20k miles on them. I got them and one turbo had 2 broken studs, both had shaft play when he said there was none, 1 didnt come with a wastegate which he said he would send me and never did, and one has what looks like burnt oil inside the housing. I am either going to get them rebuilt or do it myself.

[BigTyla]

That sucks. I'm not so sure that my turbo spewing oil has to do with seller dishonesty. I really think the turbos sitting so long is what did one or both of them in (haven't been able to determine if both are blown yet).

Oh well. Live and learn.

[3000hybrid]

Originally Posted by BigTyla

That sucks. I'm not so sure that my turbo spewing oil has to do with seller dishonesty. I really think the turbos sitting so long is what did one or both of them in (haven't been able to determine if both are blown yet).

Oh well. Live and learn.

My turbo's were pretty new and I was sure I had a blown turbo since I had new VSS and the car still smoked like a train. I found out it was my PCV system. I added crank vents and the smokes a memory. Something to think about if you haven't changed your PCV valve to a TT one.

[Mr.3000]

Sucks about your bad used turbo experiences guys. Yea I got mine fully custom built with a full rebuild done at the same time. That's interesting about the heat shields. I personally don't think I could ever run them but yea I do understand the logic behind them lol. Yea as everybody said, do things right the first time. The only reason I said anything about the ebay ypipe is cuz I have a local guy who did my FMIC who could fix any fitment issues really easily. But I think I am just going to go and get my DP fixed.

Also, you need to have some money in the bank because things go wrong on you sometimes. Keep up the good work bro.

[Fbc 978]

yea its hard for me to have more than a couple hundred dollers at a time because I have to pay for my own insurance, gas, and car. As well as paying for the conversion. I am just glad that I have a car to drive as long as I need it. My brother is letting me drive his old ram 1500...now gas is gonne suck me dry. Good thing I live less than 1 mile from high school and less than 1 mile from work

[Fbc 978]

UPDATE 2

Small update I guess, did a little disassembling. Started by pulling battery and plenum off. Replaced spark plugs with some champions gapped at .029-.030 (i know...im going to ngk's at some point). Started putting on my MSD wires and noticed 2 of the rear bank wires are the same length. Dont know if thats right or not. I dont have time to keep installing them. Ill finish them tomarrow. Also dont know if I can get to the last bolt on the front header without removing the alternator. Loosened up the ac belt...did other little things. I need more parts before I can get really into it. Tomarrow my goal is to get both TT headers on. Anyone have any tips for replacing them?

Pics-

[Fbc 978]

cant get the rear header off even though all the nuts are off....when will the madness end!...i know...never