An Odyssey of Tuning a Big Power VX220

[nevcontractor]

Over the last four years I have undertaken a major project tuning my Vauxhall VX220 Turbo in 2 phases, the first being power, the second being bodywork/aero. I did this out of curiousity and a general interest in mechanics as well as a desire to end up with a faster car.

I know tuning cars up is not to everyones taste but for those of you considering such a thing yourself you may gain some insight into the costs, effort, rewards and practical issues that I faced by reading from my website. Progress is logged chronologically on the left hand menu with updates 24 and 25 being the most recent, and updates 10 to 18 being the most technical.

Edited by nevcontractor on Tuesday 16th February 18:34

[MotorsportTom]

That looks evil!

Most definitely going to be spending my quiet periods at work reading though the site

[Fleckers]

if it were mine I would make the wheels and windscreen frame black as well

nice looking car

[mike88]

Best looking one I've seen. Pure focus. Will have a read

[MagicalTrevor]

I'm not sure about the grilled/vented areas at the back (I assume they're function?) but that actually looks alright! So congrats on a well modified car.

Not for me but still, well done

[slinky]

I saw it a few times over the weekend at PVS (was crewing with RV3), certainly looked and sounded great. Didn't see any of your runs I'm afraid though..

[MagicalTrevor]

Fleckers said:

if it were mine I would make the wheels and windscreen frame black as well

nice looking car

Windscreen, yes
Wheels, no

[JFReturns]

Will have a good read if your site when I'm home, but looks interesting!

[em177]

Love this... very DTMesque

[McSam]

Ooof, that looks incredible!

Something for me to read when I'm done working for the day, I have a feeling I'm gonna love it. Cap doffed already, good work!

[nevcontractor]

Thanks for all the positive comments chaps. The car is currently still having 2 different splitters being made up for it (1 for road and 1 for track) and some other vital suspension/geo mods at the moment as well as some other tweaks. I will hopefully get it back in a week or so. I've just been sent a couple more pics of last weeks PVS 2012 show by a friend:

[ludicrous speed]

"He has gone from being a standard 200 BHP when he left the factory, to 295 BHP and now to an artifically capped 500 BHP."

500bhp! holy st that thing must fly!

[ManOpener]

That looks a bit like a miniature Gumpert Apollo. I feel I'll probably spend the next hour or so reading the technical fluff.

[nevcontractor]

Thanks, I suppose it does a bit (though a little less threatening than an Appolo)

[Davie]

Had a look round this at Santa Pod, superb bit of engineering and looks fantastic too. Hats off to you.

[jatinder]

A lot of hard work gone into this, much respect for just cracking on and learning as you went along.

Hope you get to drive it finally!

[nevcontractor]

Yep, there was a lot of learning as I went along, the main thing being how it take 1000% more time than you expect !

I have logged most of my experience on my website so others can avoid some of my mistakes and speed up their own builds.

[nevcontractor]

Now with it's small 2 inch "road" splitter finally. For tracking it will have considerably bigger one.

[sulli]

Love it, seriously nice looking car with capability to match.
I have always liked these. I remember racing a VX220 Turbo with a tuned VXR engine running over 300BHP when I was in my 450 BHP M5 - it is the only thing that ever surprised me when I was driving that. I tracked down the owner from the VX220 forum, good bloke and informed me of my fire spitting on gear changes.....
Anyway, if you have 500 BHP and all those aero mods that things must be a complete weapon - wanna swap?

[DanDC5]

2 words/ a suggestion. Time Attack