Is it bad I've nicknamed my car?

 

Here she is, bone stock.

 

Fabia SEL, 1.2 TSI, 90PS, 15 plate (MY16), with Colour Edition, Quartz Grey, 16" Antia wheels.

That's about all there is to say at first. Except maybe that I removed the center arm-rest.

Both mine and anyone in the passenger seat's elbows are much happer for it!

 

Big plans ahead (Dream: IS38 1.8TSI conversion..)

 

My first upgrade; Vibra Technics Engine Mounts

 

Hugely improved handling, no more engine slopping about! Car feels way more stable

Eliminates wheel hop in the wet, still hops a little in the dry if pushed REALLY hard, but that's probably due to leaking front shocks.

 

Right Front (goes near coolant reservoir)

 

Gearbox mount, replaces the very soft OE mount, and even has studs to re-fit the battery holder!

Latest Modification, wheels!

 

Managed to grab a full set of 17" Savio alloys, originally from a Skoda Rapid. They look pretty damn nice if I can say so myself!

 

Pre-wash;

 

Post Wash;

Plans for the near future. (next few months)

 

- 312mm Front & 254mm Rear Brakes Upgrade (up from 256mm Front & 230mm Rear), already have a pair of front calipers & carriers from a Polo GTI pics below), along with braided hoses.

- Eibach Lowering Springs + Bilstein B8 shocks, my front shocks are on their way out, I wouldn't mind the adjustability of a set of coilovers, but I just want something that I can install and be done with. Beside that, the progressive design of the springs should ensure good comfort as well as improved handling. I've riden in someone elses fabia with this combination, it looked great, and it drove great too.

- Along with the above, i'll replace anything that looks like it could wear out, drop-links, strut mount bearings, wheel bearings, ball joints, arb bushes, track-rod ends etc, all that jazz done, new CV drive shafts too. Then it won't need anything doing for another 5 years at least!

- Remap to 130bhp, or, if the opportunity arrises, a turbo swap from a 1.4tsi and remap to 160bhp or so.

 

Plans for the further future. (6months - 1y)

 

- Chassis bracing, hardrace does some decent looking chassis stiffening braces, some that go underneath to reinforce the subframe (how much will that help) as well as a brake cylinder stopper to prevent fire-wall flex under hard braking conditions, should improve the feel and response of the brake pedal

- Monte Carlo Interior trims, MC seats, MC steering wheel. For the red trims, cos red is well.. red! It'll make sense in the end

 

Plans for the far future. (1y+)

 

- Keep an eye out for a totalled Polo GTI, and steal its heart... well, engine, gearbox, ecu, wiring harness, and any other bits to make a transplant work.

- Uprate the clutch.. for sure! Stock one won't handle too much over 350nm, and that aint enough where we're going!

- IS38 turbo upgrade, with custom exhaust, custom intake, and a front mount intercooler, should be able to push around 375bhp, and 500nm torque.

 

Once it's all done it'll move like **** off a stick. I'm not looking to do any major aesthetic changes, at most maybe monte carlo trims. Don't want it looking tooo obvious it's been heavily modified underneath the hood

 

Anyway, here's the "new" brake calipers, they are in need of a really good scrub to get them cleaned up, and those rather nasty looking old pads pulled out of there.

Some tar remover and wheel cleaner should do a good job, from the parts i've given a quick rub with a damp cloth I think they'll come up great.

 

 

Great plans will be watching this one move along 👍🏻

 

Random question but that car park. It’s not in Sheffield just off the parkway is it? Lol

15 minutes ago, mikey362 said:

Great plans will be watching this one move along 👍🏻

 

Random question but that car park. It’s not in Sheffield just off the parkway is it? Lol

 

It just so happens that it is!

 

They all are somewhere along the parkway haha, I went around a few different places after having the wheels fitted yesterday, Tescos for some air in the tyres, Morrisons for car wash and a bit of food, Asda to get some stuff that's only at Asda, and lastly to that car park to get some a final nice picture

I've seen a Race Blue (the nice deep metalic blue?) Fabia MK3 with the same wheels i had on originally in that car park a few times, that yours? 

Are you from Sheffield then?

 

Haha no I used to park in there when I worked for Lloyd’s. I’ve got a mk1 I’m slowly bringing back to life and hopefully going to swap to a 1.8t and a Mk2 Monte Carlo in red that is the daily at the minute. 

 

Don’t have much reason to park there anymore as I’m at uni lol.

Edited 13 February, 20206 yr by mikey362

1 minute ago, mikey362 said:

Are you from Sheffield then?

 

Haha no I used to park in there when I worked for Lloyd’s. I’ve got a mk1 I’m slowly bringing back to life and hopefully going to swap to a 1.8t and a Mk2 Monte Carlo in red that is the daily at the minute. 

 

Don’t have much reason to park there anymore as I’m at uni lol.

 

I'm actually from East Yorkshire, South Cave to be more exact. Currently living in Sheffield while at Uni, graduating this year though. May or may not stay around Sheffield depending on jobs etc.

 

I read the 1.8T swap is a bit of a big job for the MK1? or are you taking it from a Polo GTI like me? I'm hoping that the Engines and such are similar enough, that i can use the same ECU as i'm running now. I don't really want to have to swap the entire vehicles wiring harnes if i don't have to. That *might* mean getting a 1.4 and going mad with that instead, that's literally a bolt in replacement with a remap (it might even run but very poorly with a 1.2 map haha), should still be able to get 300bhp+ from it, though likely with a lot less torque.

 

I'll cross that bridge when i get to it! Plenty of other stuff to worry about and sort out before then.

 

There's also the possibility of finding that the 2.0 TSI from the new Polo MK6 GTI can fit too, but it looks like they don't put out as much torque? They also haven't been around long from what i can find, so there's not as wide an array of mods. Yet anyway.

Which uni are you at?

 

the polo 1.8tsi or the 2.0tsi should fit no issue just be a case of swapping the mounts, radiators and all that other good stuff. The Audi a1 and s1 also have the same fittings and engines so your not just restricted to the polo as a donor car. It’ll be the wiring and and getting it to work with the can bus system that causes an issue but I would think you would have to swap the dials, key barrel and ECU as a minimum.

 

Ive looked through techie and a couple of others build threads for there mk1 1.8t conversions. I’m too phased by it I’m pretty much done working my way through all the wiring diagrams, just need to figure out what additional relays I need then find a suitable engine to rebuild over the next year. 

26 minutes ago, mikey362 said:

Which uni are you at?

 

Sheffield Hallam

 

26 minutes ago, mikey362 said:

the polo 1.8tsi or the 2.0tsi should fit no issue just be a case of swapping the mounts, radiators and all that other good stuff.

 

The main thing i'm concerned about is the ECU and wiring. The 1.2/1.4 both use the same ecu, so a 1.4 swap woul be very easy and very possible.

 

The 1.2 TSI in the Fabia MK3 uses Bosch MED 17.5.25 ECU

The 1.8 TSI in the Polo GTI uses Continental Simos 18

The 2.0 TSI in the Polo WRC uses Bosch ME9

The 2.0 TSI In the Audi S1 uses Continental Simos 18

 

I'm not sure how inter-compatible they are.

 

Is the wiring harness two part? i.e small harness for the engine stuff, and big, full vehicle one for the rest?

I'd be interested in getting the 1.8 TSI to run with the original Bosch MED 17.5.25 ECU if possible.

 

Edit: They do indeed have seperate engine-harness from the vehicle harness;

http://catcar.info/audivw/?lang=en&l=c3RzPT17IjEwIjoiQnJhbmQiLCIyMCI6IlZXIiwiNDAiOiJQb2xvXC9EZXJieVwvVmVudG8tSU5EIEV1cm9wZSIsIjUwIjoiMjAxNSAoNlItRi0wMDAgMDAxID4%2BKSIsIjYwIjoiRWxlY3RyaWNzIiwiNzAiOiI5NzExNSJ9fHxzdD09NzB8fGJyYW5kPT12d3x8bWFya2V0PT1SRFd8fG1kbD09UE8gICB8fEVwaXM9PTc3M3x8RWluc2F0ej09MjAxNXx8TWFpbkdyb3VwPT05fHxCaWxkdGFmZWw9PTk3MTE1fHxHcmFmaWs9PTA5NzExNTc3Mw%3D%3D

Edited 13 February, 20206 yr by FabiaGonzales

Yeah they will all have separate harnesses how ever I believe some like you said will be one with the interior loom so that might cause some issues or at least a lot of splicing. You might find you have to swap the wires round in some connectors as well but that’s probably the easy part lol.

 

I’d look at what can be done to the 1.4tsi and see what power you can get out of it. Then decide if the hassle and work and additional cost of fitting the bigger engines is worth it from a drivability point of view. If you can get 300bhp out of it I’d do that unless your going to go 4wd like the s1? Lol

 

11 minutes ago, FabiaGonzales said:

 

Sheffield Hallam

 

Same here, don’t see much of the campus though as every lesson I’m in is the cantor building lol.

3 minutes ago, mikey362 said:

Yeah they will all have separate harnesses how ever I believe some like you said will be one with the interior loom so that might cause some issues or at least a lot of splicing. You might find you have to swap the wires round in some connectors as well but that’s probably the easy part lol.

 

I’d look at what can be done to the 1.4tsi and see what power you can get out of it. Then decide if the hassle and work and additional cost of fitting the bigger engines is worth it from a drivability point of view. If you can get 300bhp out of it I’d do that unless your going to go 4wd like the s1? Lol

 

Same here, don’t see much of the campus though as every lesson I’m in is the cantor building lol.

 

Course you doing? I spend most of my time in Cantor too!

 

Once i've got all other mods done and dusted, i'll have more time and effort to put into figuring out what to do with the engine swap. I don't see why, with the correct sensors, my current Bosch ECU can't control the 1.8TSI, it'd take some work and tuning, but it should be doable. Famous last words "should be doable" lol

23 minutes ago, FabiaGonzales said:

 

Course you doing? I spend most of my time in Cantor too!

 

I’m doing BSc Hons Computing wheni can be bothered to actually go in haha. What about you?

 

I’m pretty sure it can be done, might just take a lot of work when it comes to the wiring. If your ECU can be flashed and then custom mapped with the additional sensors and there is enough pins on the ECU then I wouldn’t have though you would not need a new ECU. Would certainly make things easier instead of swapping gauges etc because of the immobiliser.

 

and I know what you mean, I’ve got a lot of cleaning, restoring and polishing to do before I begin messing with another engine.

Just now, mikey362 said:

I’m doing BSc Hons Computing wheni can be bothered to actually go in haha. What about you?

 

I’m pretty sure it can be done, might just take a lot of work when it comes to the wiring. If your ECU can be flashed and then custom mapped with the additional sensors and there is enough pins on the ECU then I wouldn’t have though you would not need a new ECU. Would certainly make things easier instead of swapping gauges etc because of the immobiliser.

 

and I know what you mean, I’ve got a lot of cleaning, restoring and polishing to do before I begin messing with another engine.

 

BSc Hons Computer Studies, final year, going the Software Engineering route though, so i'm doing different modules to pretty much everyone else on the course, also when i can be bothered to go in

 

The MED 17.5 is supposedly a versatile ECU, it used on engines with and without variable valve timing, cylinder deactivation, and other features. Hopefully i'd imagine custom programming the ECU would be easier than re-wiring harnesses and trying to get stuff to work. It'd also keep the imobiliser and everything original, little/no risk of something not working. And no need to tear open the dash

That’s cool, I wasn’t sure what course to go for so ended up on the general computer one. Worked out pretty well as I’m hopefully going to be a business analyst when I’m done already got a couple of employers willing to take me on thankfully.

 

will have to meet and say hello sometime. Where do you normally park? I end up in the APOCAL 90% of the time.

 

seen as your focusing on software are you going to try and learn how to program the ECU yourself?

1 hour ago, mikey362 said:

will have to meet and say hello sometime. Where do you normally park? I end up in the APOCAL 90% of the time.

 

Certainly, i usually park at Vic' Quays

 

1 hour ago, mikey362 said:

seen as your focusing on software are you going to try and learn how to program the ECU yourself?

 

A possibility! 

On 12/02/2020 at 23:30, FabiaGonzales said:

Keep an eye out for a totalled Polo GTI, and steal its heart

I've thought about the same thing! Too bad i don't have the experience (or $£€) for that sort of thing.

 

I keep wondering why they didn't do a VRS with the MKIII when they could've just bolted the same 2.0 from the GTI/A1/S1 on. Would've bought that instantly.

 

Well they got my money anyway, that definitely won't teach 'em!

On 29/02/2020 at 22:58, Rizzoed said:

I've thought about the same thing! Too bad i don't have the experience (or $£€) for that sort of thing.

 

I keep wondering why they didn't do a VRS with the MKIII when they could've just bolted the same 2.0 from the GTI/A1/S1 on. Would've bought that instantly.

 

Well they got my money anyway, that definitely won't teach 'em!

 

The 1.8T or the 2.0T would have been fine, they both make similar power.

 

I've been looking into fabrication and stuff, and while it would probably be easier to shove a 2.0T or 1.8T in, and swap over the electronics, i'd probably have a hard time getting any of the internals working with the replaced ECU, not to mention all the hassle with immobilizers etc.

 

What i'm considering is getting a custom designed 4cyl engine, as big as can fit in there, probably a 2.0, with fittings and etc moved over to work with the stock sensors and hardware. I can add in stuff what's in other engines on the same ECU, like VVT on both intake and exhaust, easy enough to map in and use a harness from the 1.4TSI.

It'll be hella expensive, but it'll be both a journey, and a learning experience, i aim to try get good low down torque (with a somewhat flat torque curve), as well as somewhere aroune 4-500 bhp. I'll also see what i can do regarding switchable maps, i'd like one which is torque limited in 1st and 2nd gear, so it's actually posible to launch the damn thing, and one which runs full torque in all gears, for when i gotta leave those civic ricer bois in a cloud of tyre smoke

 

I've got Eibach springs ordered, but i'm in 2 minds as to fit them before or after I get new shocks (they'll need replacing at some point in the near future anyways, as all 4 are leaking to some degree now).

 

Eibach Lowering Springs (for engines 1.0/1.0 TSI and 1.2 TSI (non-dsg), for 1.2 TSI (with-dsg) or 1.4 TDI, you need the higher load rated ones):

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/eibach/1930200

 

The suspension rebuild / upgrade will be accompanied with the big brake swap, and will hopefully be happening later this year, once i'm back earning money, after this corinavirus shizzle gets over with. I might even do the rear brake upgrade if i can get my hands on the parts, not sure if i need new rear axle hubs or anything.

 

I've found part numbers for solid rubber suspension bushes from other MQB-ish platform cars (leon cupra, ibiza cupra, polo gti etc), that'll replace the old rear beam axle pivot bushes and the wishbone large bushes (currently got powerflexes in there, will see what condition they're in before getting replacements for those)

 

Wishbone Large Bush:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/febi-bilstein/1883119

 

Beam Axle Pivot Bush:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/febi-bilstein/7556656

 

Caliper pins & bushes set (for 312mm brakes from Polo GTI):

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bosch/12792480

 

I'm kinda more excited to one day take in to the dealer for a "diagnosis for a noise under full throttle" and for them to go "what the f*** did you do to this thing?" as they press the pedal!

Edited 17 April, 20206 yr by FabiaGonzales

Wish i would've seen this earlier. I have some eibach springs from my fabia monte carlo 1.2tsi for sale and im from Sheffield haha

On 19/04/2020 at 00:39, Lucas8024 said:

Wish i would've seen this earlier. I have some eibach springs from my fabia monte carlo 1.2tsi for sale and im from Sheffield haha

 

Damn, woulda been great, wouldn't have had to wait almost 2 weeks for mine to arrive, which they did just today!

 

Send them back I'll sell you mine for £50 haha

3 minutes ago, Lucas8024 said:

Send them back I'll sell you mine for £50 haha

 

What engine and gearbox is yours?

It was a 1.2 tsi 90bhp manual. I only did about 6000 miles on them then took them off and traded it in. 

Just now, Lucas8024 said:

It was a 1.2 tsi 90bhp manual. I only did about 6000 miles on them then took them off and traded it in. 

 

Ooh, then springs are already bedded in too, i'll get in touch with AutoDoc and see they'll accept a return.

 

I suspect they'll make me pay postage, which i can see not being too cheap!

Yeah true. Still be a decent saving though. Let me know either way 👍