Back in June/July I was buying parts left, right and centre to fit to my car: Weitecs Coilovers, FMIC set up, etc.

I was also looking at remaps, trying to see which was the most suitable for myself and my driving style.

Then disaster struck! The unit we were going to use was now full of a friends Cavalier GSi that had blown the oil cooler, so we were buggered. Back to the drawing board again......

So I contacted several companies who offer fitting etc, but I wasn't happy with the customer services/prices. Just as I was about to give up, a PM arrived from Clive explaining he was starting a company and he could offer me everything under one roof, remap and mechanical work in one place at a very reasonable price too from someone who is a fully qualified mechanic with all the inusrances required. Happy Days :sun: . So after a trip to see Clive to discuss what I wanted carried out, it was just a case of arranging a time he could have my car for a couple of weeks to carry out all the work. I was originally going to go with Stage 1, but after chatting with Clive I discovered that it was merely a Decat pipe needed to go to stage 2, with all the parts and work I was having carried out.

Awesome, so dates set and away we go.

So this is how she looked with the alloys on, but nothing else fitted.

A week to go till the work was going to be carried out, even more disaster struck, my clutch started to fail, whoops. I rang Clive, had a nice chat, I decided to give him the car a week early as then he had more time to to carry out all the work, also meaning I wasn't killing my clutch driving to work.

This list of work was growing by the day for Clive to carry out. It was now time for the Darkness to have her makeover .

Clive kept me informed of the progress and sent a couple of cheeky pics to me of what she looked like (mostly in bits! lol!). His knowledge and advice was second to none when it came to the whole transformation.

During the 3 weeks, it became apparent that the FMIC set up I had bought from Gee wasn't for my car, but looking deeper into it, the kit that it was in the picture on ebay showed the same wrong pipework.... epic Fail! so I had spent £120 on a kit that was no use to me, it was missing the n75 nipple on the pipework. Not Gee's fault I hasten to add, not sure he had even spotted it.

What to do? Clive! He informed me he had the FMIC set up from "The Red Devil" in his garage. Awesome, I'll take it, Bob's your uncle, Billy's your aunt, problem solved. Legend.

All the engine parts fitted, full service carried out, including managing to save my turbo, just in time too! hopefully! We are monitoring this one. My oil pick up pipe was blocked solid apart from two holes, someone had clearly used the wrong oil in the car at some point, what scared me was the fact that it had full service history, yet oil pick up pipe looked like it had never been changed/cleaned.

Once everything was in order, Clive sent my file to Shark Hq for mapping, couple of hours later it was back and on with all the deletes on there too. Clive took it for a test drive, but wasn't fully happy with the map, so he spoke to Ben and sent file back for a slight tweak, once back and on again Clive was happy with it this time.

All that was left for Clive to do was polish her so she looked all nice and clean for my pick up.

Here is the finished Car. Although, I say finished, there will be an evolution of her and her engine bay as Clive is using the car as part of his demo cars. So she will be used as a test bed for forthcoming custom products.

On Collection of the vehicle we took her for a test drive, All I did was smile and giggle like a little child the whole time. Logging runs have been done, and she is producing around 235-240bhp after doing the conversion maths, which is a big jump from stage 0, she was 178.9bhp after rolling road day at jkm earlier in the year.

The mods list

• VR6 Clutch with G60 Single mass flywheel
  
• Weitecs - Hicon gt - these have been geometrically set up - they also have about an inch drop left on them too, however if I have it lowered any more the arms and drive shafts will be pointing up. Full tracking done.
  
• Toyosports singlepass FMIC, with custom full hard pipe kit from turbo to throttle body pipe.
  
• SAI, N249, N112 Delete, plus Blanking plate
  
• Creations Motorsport TIP and Throttle body hose
  
• Ebay Decat pipe with reducer
  
• Samco Power Steering pump hose
  
• Braided Fuel Hoses
  
• Brake servo pipe reroute and replace
  
• PolyBush - Poly Bushed front end, as my lower arm bushes were shot.
  
• Whiteline ARB - set on 2nd hole
  
• Breather system and evap system tidy up and simplification - breather system ready for custom oil catch can
  
• Polished rocker cover, painted inlet manifold, New Rad header tank, Yellow spring in my 007p dv.
  
• Wide mouth Front Bumper conversion, LCR front splitter fitted
  
• Glowshift Oil pressure, Boost gauges in custom made pillar, JOM strut brace (already created and fitted by myself)
  

If I have missed something I am sure Clive will let me know.

I am truly over the moon with the work that has been carried out By Clive @ CNTUNING. I would recommend his services to anyone. Exceptional Customer Service (most importantly, with a smile!), expert advice which is honest and frank, with sound explanations behind reasoning, Workmanship which IMO is of the highest quality, cant fault any of it.

Thank You very much Clive! Epic Work! :rock:

Just think we need to have a chat! lol! everyone else has had bacon, sausage, egg baguettes or butty's for remaps..... I have had a full transformation, first customer and i got a cuppa......

Friday is window tint day at Tintinit, who helped create the first CNTUNING Sunstrip and stickers for the cars. I did have a Sunstrip fitted for USC, but unfortunately it hadnt finished setting and with the pouring rain friday morning on journey up it said adios at 90mph on A34.

There will be more to Follow, 3" custom exhaust, possibly smaller FMIC as have 400rpm of lag, yet have much cooler running because of it on hot days, but if go for Hybrid then the lag will be negated and FMIC will be perfect, also looking at meth injection too.

Now for the Shameless pic whoring, will post one with the Sunstrip on when get a picture, probably weekend with tinted windows.

That is awesome. Car looks fantastic Dave! Hope to see you around soon. Sounds like a good experience into the bargain.

Nice I'm of to Clive in a few weeks, what time did it run down pod?

sweeeeeeet

I want stuff

Nice I'm of to Clive in a few weeks, what time did it run down pod?

Best time for me was 15.01 @ 93.33, but had wheelspin for 1/8th mile. tyres I have are not that good for power I have now, also brand new clutch that was 300 miles old.

Time was about a second quicker than when she was standard year before and about 8-10mph more. With better tyres it would be into low 14's I would say and higher in mph too.

Looks very good!

Best time for me was 15.01 @ 93.33, but had wheelspin for 1/8th mile. tyres I have are not that good for power I have now, also brand new clutch that was 300 miles old.

Time was about a second quicker than when she was standard year before and about 8-10mph more. With better tyres it would be into low 14's I would say and higher in mph too.

Nice mine managed a 15.028 @ 95 I'm hoping to be well in the 14s in oct when Clive has stage 2 mine!

Good stuff and having met Clive and had a long chat about all stuff car related have no doubt to see a lot more happy customers. Rare breed of tuner who are happy to just get on a find a solution rather than attack your wallet and not actually get their hand dirty with some old school make something to get it sorted

How times have changed, I remember back in the day when anything sub 15secs was bloody quick. anything slower than a very low 11sec run now a bit pony lol

Will post a solid few mid 10's this year in the tfsi converted vx220, my best to date was 11.1 on road tyres and 320bhp friend R5 turbo did a 10.13 last year and should break into the 9's easy after recent revisions

Keep up the great work Clive

DG

Great to read something so positive about a mechanic/tuner on here.

Do you visit Northern Ireland, Clive??

thanks for the kind words guys

you will probably realise that this is my passion not just a money maker i treat every car as my own and enjoy the friendships that i make along the way

next year i will be at most shows and will try and get around a bit more

lots happening within cntuning with some awesome parts coming soon

i hope all my customers go away with a smile on there face and some money still in there wallet !!!!

dave is a top guy and his car is lovely but as said ever progessing ;-)

northern ireland okay then lol

Go over when the NW200 is on, Clive. You'll love it!

Oh yes very true love watching it on tv

Dave - She's looking mint, more importantly your overjoyed with the work that's been carried out. :clap:

Clive - I think you should go on a CN Tuning Roadshow stopping in Northumberland first.

Nice car you got there Dave, keep her tidy!

Clive- fair play to you as well!

Great to read something so positive about a mechanic/tuner on here.

Do you visit Northern Ireland, Clive??

ROAD TRIP!

You know you want to Clive! I'll drive

That is awesome. Car looks fantastic Dave! Hope to see you around soon. Sounds like a good experience into the bargain.

Yes, will have to meet up.

Go over when the NW200 is on, Clive. You'll love it!

That's not until the end of May!

Looks very good!

Cheers Babs, Very Happy with it. she moves very well for an estate

Has Caught a few People out :clap:

Dave - She's looking mint, more importantly your overjoyed with the work that's been carried out. :clap:

Clive - I think you should go on a CN Tuning Roadshow stopping in Northumberland first.

Cheers, I think Clive should do roadshow too

Nice car you got there Dave, keep her tidy!

Clive- fair play to you as well!

Mate, you have no idea, I am quite anal about how clean my car must be, she is dirty in photo's as just got back from USC and had rain most of way back. In fact going to wash her in a minute.

You can see Clive has put a lot of effort and time into it, with passion as he said himself.

looks very nice dave... looks mean.

looks very nice dave... looks mean.

Cheers Gee, just about to drop her at my mates for window tinting

Very nice Estate buddy.

I need to get mine tinted, what are the shades most folks go for these days..

Very nice Estate buddy.

I need to get mine tinted, what are the shades most folks go for these days..

Cheers Bud,

Well mine is having Limo tint, but most people are dark smoke or limo tint.

Let me know I get you a nice price.