1.8T Fabia (built by Unit 18)

[Dark_Hero]

What is with the built not bought thing? Surely you have to buy the parts so what does it matter who fits them?

Unless the parts are stolen..

[hutchysrs50]

Built not bought is if you have made the car your own taste, not bought it already lowerd on coilovers etc..

[PastyBoy]

Built not bought is if you have made the car your own taste, not bought it already lowerd on coilovers etc..

Is it?

My assumption was that "built" meant you'd done the work yourself and the "not bought" bit a sideways slagging off of people who pay tuners to do their car for them?

Which frankly has always rubbed me up the wrong way as, as Charlie says, all the parts are "bought" from somewhere and personly I'd rather have a big project "built" by someone who knows what they are doing than fudge it myself just so I can stick two fingers up and go neh neh neh look what I did.

Anyway on topic Al glad it's finally working. I know the car has been a thorn in your side for quite some time and the job of getting it fitted as an OEM+ install caused you some headaches but the result is looking incredibly good.

[felicia16v]

Most of my bits are hand made by myself, even the flywheel on my conversion was machined by me in a few evenings work lol, I sent a few hours yesterday making an engine mount (instead of spending £160 on a vibratechnics lol)

My clocks are std fabia and work with the polo ecu perfectly as they are canbus controlled so they just work as they should really even the obd port works lol.

Nice project tho and I was quite close to doing the same for stage rallying but the cost of getting the motor to work with a small restrictor was going to be a pain..

[Tech1e]

Looks great mate.

Yes I am building one but it's quite a different approach. A lot of stuff I'm doing Ali is helping with and he would have liked to have done himself in this one but the brief was OEM. Mine is definitely not that. A lot of assumptions were made by both of us when we started these projects which turned out to be wrong. There are subtle differences between engines and gearboxes etc that make installation tricky. I've spent many hours figuring out things as I know Ali has. I don't blame him not wanting to divulge to much for free. Although I'd seriously doubt he take another one on even having done one.

[felicia16v]

It's not the kind of job you would be able to charge for either really as if you charged for all the thinking time and trial and error the bill would be 000's.

[allytech]

It's not the kind of job you would be able to charge for either really as if you charged for all the thinking time and trial and error the bill would be 000's.

Very much so lol, I think if I'd charged for every hour spent including sat at home in the evenings with 3 seperate wiring diagrams on my lap the bill would have been more than a brand new vRS.

I would do one again and in fact have a provisional booking for another but I have my notes to fall back on so hopefully it'll take a little less time than this one

Thanks for all the kind words guys.

[Tech1e]

I stand corrected about taking another on then. I just know how long these jobs take to do a proper job.

[BossFox]

So how long before 1.8t Fabias are pushing the 1.9Tdi ones off the top of the quarter mile chart?

[Dark_Hero]

As soon as you build one Richard

[BossFox]

As soon as you build one Richard

 

I'm late to this party Charlie.

Nearly did... but then the Citigo came out!

[Day-VRS]

It would be nice if there was a conversion package available so people can do the conversion at home. Now its been done and you know whats involved, why not develop it into a product so to speak?
Day

[Kyle_vrs]

It would be nice if there was a conversion package available so people can do the conversion at home. Now its been done and you know whats involved, why not develop it into a product so to speak?

Day

Abit like the red top kits for the corsa for example? Think you can buy the kit with everything you need then you just source your engine

[Dark_Hero]

That could be cool, a DIY kit car sort of thing

[lukeanderson31]

It would be nice if there was a conversion package available so people can do the conversion at home. Now its been done and you know whats involved, why not develop it into a product so to speak?

Day

Only problem with that is its takes away its exclusivity. If a kit becomes available, every tom, **** and harry will have a 1.8t fabia.

Dont get me wrong, id absolutely love a 1.8t fabia. But i dont think id want one as much if they were the next common mod to putting octy spiders on your fabia vrs

Besides the fabia 1 section being bombarded with posts from "less than able" 17 year old diy mechanics trying to put engines in their 1.2 fabias.

[Tech1e]

A kit would be nigh on impossible as depending on what base car you started with and what donor the parts came from it would be different.

 

Wouldnt make financial sense either, making money on them for all the research and development and time obtaining the parts would be very difficult. As a supplier then used parts are a very dodgy area, new parts for this type of project would scare most off cost wise.

 

Plus you roll up the fact you can buy a 1.8T Polo or Ibiza with the engine already in an OEM for very little these days it takes an proper fan to want it done anyhow.

[BossFox]

Plus you roll up the fact you can buy a 1.8T Polo or Ibiza with the engine already in an OEM for very little these days it takes an proper fan to want it done anyhow.

 

Exactly.

A conversion kit is going to probably be approaching £10k.  Not worth developing it IMO.

You can buy an 05 plate 180bhp Ibiza Cupra for around £4,000 (sometimes cheaper).

It's a hardcore enthusiasts choice only really.

 

I say keep them exclusive.

Making a kit using a second hand engine could only lead to moans if it's doesn't work 100% after spending all that cash anyway...

[allytech]

Exactly.

A conversion kit is going to probably be approaching £10k. Not worth developing it IMO.

You can buy an 05 plate 180bhp Ibiza Cupra for around £4,000 (sometimes cheaper).

It's a hardcore enthusiasts choice only really.

I say keep them exclusive.

Making a kit using a second hand engine could only lead to moans if it's doesn't work 100% after spending all that cash anyway...

This

[vaguel]

Very good result, really like it. It is a very deep project that requires a tremendous amount of tooling, space and of course time and knowledge. You have the notes, keep them. If anyone wants a similar machine then they know who to contact. One thing is a little guide on how to change some bushes or shocks that any kid can do on the side of the road, another is a trade secret on how to do a big engine conversion that works properly. Simple as that.

[walejase]

Awesome job Ali! Can't wait to see this thing tearing up the Tarmac! Will it have an LSD fitted?

[Tech1e]

Awesome job Ali! Can't wait to see this thing tearing up the Tarmac! Will it have an LSD fitted?

 

It has a ATB diff in it.

[Sharpyy]

Ultimate sleeper, It looks great. Thanks for sharing and making me jealous!

[allytech]

It's running at 12psi now and feels ballistic, LSD already fitted but even that is struggling in 1st gear, can't wait to get it running at 21psi

[swedey]

What's the spec of the engine?

Tubby,etc?

[allytech]

What's the spec of the engine?

Tubby,etc?

BAM engine with forged internals and ihi vf34 turbo with 3" downpipe into unit18 spec piper exhaust