Where to start?

[Gratis 0]

Greetings from Sunny South Africa!

I have recently acquired a 1997 Golf3 VR6. All seems standard on it, but I would like to change all that.

I have in the car the following:

K&N Cone filter, 57mm freeflow exhaust system.

I would like to get some more "life" into it, without going the forced induction route, as here in SA the people RIP you off. A supercharger kit here costs R 35 000, which equates to roughly 3000 pounds.

Any advice?

[matth76 1]

Supercharger kits over here are expensive too at between 2-3k at least! If you're going the normally aspirated tuning route like me then 268 cams give around 10-15bhp increase - the cost can vary - shrick/eurospec as supposed to give more linear power increases throughout the rev range as opposed to high end power only.

You could get a free flowing inlet manifold (although this can be expensive if it's a Shrick inlet manifold - but gives extremely good torque increases). Or a free flowing 6 branch exhaust manifold - and get some uprated engine mounts too to keep the engine stable. If you get an exhaust manifold ensure it has flexi joints to keep it independent to engine movement.

You can also get a high flow cat or a decat (a decat involves removing the catalytic converter - but this is illegal for MOT's...at least in the UK) whereas a high flow cat gives virtually the same increase in power as a decat but is totally legal. If you get cams you may need a remap to ensure fuelling is correct and there's no pinking. The remap won't give any extra power though on later model vr6's like yours. If you have more money you can get a gas flowed head or even better "big valve head". This in conjunction with 268 cams will take power to around the 210 or even as high as 220bhp mark.. not bad for a normally aspirated car! My car is currently running at 192bhp and am hoping to get some 268 cams fitted fairly soon so will be able to give an idea of their power increase. A gas flowed head would be my next mod after that but that is very expensive over here (probably not far off £1000 if not more) in the UK so may have to wait a while!

Good luck mate with your mods.

[Gratis 0]

Thanks for the Info!

We have here a place called Steve's Auto Clinic, who does an upgrade to a 3.1 L engine with Flowed head and cams for about 1200 pound(converted). But the ride will have to stand for about 2 weeks, which I cannot afford, as this is my primary transport.

What would a turbo conversion"bolt on kit" cost up there? I might even be able to get it mailed to me, as it should be a whole lot cheaper, even with the steep Rand pound exchange.

[matth76 1]

Not sure on prices of turbo kits. I know they are probably more expensive than a supercharger normally...mainly because there don't seem to be any easy ways to bolt a turbo on a right hand drive car... not a prob with left hand cars though.