Turkish's Astra G 2.0 Turbo "Sleeper"
Discussion
AlmostUseful said:
Such a pleasure to see a proper sleeper on this site, most people here seem to have no understanding of the term.
You might like these then...I have this currently - Volvo S40 2.5 Turbo T5 remapped to 270BHP - its the engine that Ford use in the ST. Looks like a 2.0D, goes like stink.
Previously had this - VW Caddy fitted with a VR6 engine, VR6 leather seats, Polo dash, G40 steels, coilovers, flipped rear axle....
Okay some updates...
I've been having a running issue with the car - it would just cut all power at 5000rpm in every gear, with no EML or fault codes. I tried first off buying a few cheap sensors/components that could well be the cause, but it was to no avail. Thankfully a friend has a Z20LET converted van, so I tried swapping a few known good parts (MAF, MAP, coil pack etc) off his, again to no avail.
I then decided to visit a local dyno, mainly because they had the facility to check AFR figures - my reasoning being that the issue was that troublesome to diagnose that I didn't know if the car was even safe to keep driving with the fault. Here she is on the dyno...
She made a dizzying 117hp and 170lb/ft of torque!! However the AFR's were slightly lean from idle to 3k then mega rich from there to it's weird 5k rev limit. Hmm... More head scratching needed!
By pure chance, I noticed on Facebook that the company records all the runs during the day and then makes a "compilation" video for their page... As you can imagine my car got torn a new one in the comments! But when watching the video I noticed that the silicone crossover pipe was suddenly sucking flat at 5k, starving the turbo of air almost completely, in turn then starving the inlet (you could see the crossover turbo pipe go, then a second later the main pipe from the intercooler to the throttle body!). Went outside, pulled the pipe off and ran the car down the road with the turbo straight to atmosphere: no filter or MAF... Bingo! Revs right round to 6500 and goes like a rocket! Big winner... So a hardpipe crossover kit got ordered -
Now I'm looking to get hold of a VXR turbo, VXR MAF, VXR Injectors and also a 2.5" hardpipe kit to replace the intercooler to inlet hose. Once I have fitted all those bits, I'll be taking it down to a well regarded firm in Stevenage with the aim of getting close to 300hp... Which should make it very lively!
I've been having a running issue with the car - it would just cut all power at 5000rpm in every gear, with no EML or fault codes. I tried first off buying a few cheap sensors/components that could well be the cause, but it was to no avail. Thankfully a friend has a Z20LET converted van, so I tried swapping a few known good parts (MAF, MAP, coil pack etc) off his, again to no avail.
I then decided to visit a local dyno, mainly because they had the facility to check AFR figures - my reasoning being that the issue was that troublesome to diagnose that I didn't know if the car was even safe to keep driving with the fault. Here she is on the dyno...
She made a dizzying 117hp and 170lb/ft of torque!! However the AFR's were slightly lean from idle to 3k then mega rich from there to it's weird 5k rev limit. Hmm... More head scratching needed!
By pure chance, I noticed on Facebook that the company records all the runs during the day and then makes a "compilation" video for their page... As you can imagine my car got torn a new one in the comments! But when watching the video I noticed that the silicone crossover pipe was suddenly sucking flat at 5k, starving the turbo of air almost completely, in turn then starving the inlet (you could see the crossover turbo pipe go, then a second later the main pipe from the intercooler to the throttle body!). Went outside, pulled the pipe off and ran the car down the road with the turbo straight to atmosphere: no filter or MAF... Bingo! Revs right round to 6500 and goes like a rocket! Big winner... So a hardpipe crossover kit got ordered -
Now I'm looking to get hold of a VXR turbo, VXR MAF, VXR Injectors and also a 2.5" hardpipe kit to replace the intercooler to inlet hose. Once I have fitted all those bits, I'll be taking it down to a well regarded firm in Stevenage with the aim of getting close to 300hp... Which should make it very lively!
Bit less sleeper now... But the summer wheel/tyre assembly is back on. I left the winters on for too long and have absolutely shredded them now that the weather is warmer! So I may purchase some Nankang NS2R semi-slicks if I can find them in the correct size for the steel wheels
I think this old girl will also be making an appearance at the Nürburgring this year; I'm swaying towards taking this over my Evo VI!
Straff99 said:
Fantastic thread! Is that Tesco at Clowne...?
Cheers! No it's the one near me in Southam.Updates...
Mirrors are now finally black and not the garish blue they were before!
And these badboys arrived last week...
Nankang NS2-R semi slicks which I absolutely swear by. So the steelies will be back on very soon!
I've had a little change of direction with the car - I've decided my Evo is too nice to be used on track and the Astra is a little impractical for a daily driver... So the logical step of course is to strip out the Astra, take her up to 300hp and fit a diff and then get a third car to use instead as a daily! The other half is not impressed
Turkish91 said:
I've had a little change of direction with the car - I've decided my Evo is too nice to be used on track and the Astra is a little impractical for a daily driver... So the logical step of course is to strip out the Astra, take her up to 300hp and fit a diff and then get a third car to use instead as a daily! The other half is not impressed
Sounds like a perfect solution in that case! Great thread OP - looking forward to the next instalment!
So it's been a while since I updated this... The Dogbus has been running the VXR lump now for nearly a year and about 8k miles and has been an absolute hoot! I've done a few bits, one of the biggest improvements being a 2.5" stainless inlet pipe which seems to have reduced lag dramatically and possibly given it a bit more oomph on the bum dyno.
However it has also potentially done this...
Making her run pretty lean by the looks of it! So the plan is to do a few more bits over the winter and get her mapped properly in the Spring time, potentially then tickling close to 300hp! Watch this space...
However it has also potentially done this...
Making her run pretty lean by the looks of it! So the plan is to do a few more bits over the winter and get her mapped properly in the Spring time, potentially then tickling close to 300hp! Watch this space...
So the Dogbus has been off the road for a few months now whilst I’ve gathered up a few bits and bobs. I’ve sourced another turbo which will be sent off and rebuilt including a VXR core. I’ve also found an intercooler kit which should work, although I may need to fettle a few bits as it’s meant for a Mk5 VXR not a Mk4 GSI so for one it doesn’t have fitment for a map sensor which I’ll need to create. Bonus is though it does have 2.5” pipework throughout so should do well once mapped. So I just need to acquire some new injectors, a new MAF sensor & housing and an uprated fuel pump... fit it all and get it mapped and hopefully be knocking on the door of 300hp... and hopefully no knocking from the bottom end!
In the meantime, I’ve begun the interior strip out, fitted a replacement front wing as the original was beginning to rust and also fitted some extra chavvy LED sidelight bulbs
In the meantime, I’ve begun the interior strip out, fitted a replacement front wing as the original was beginning to rust and also fitted some extra chavvy LED sidelight bulbs
Long overdue update!
Some of you may have seen some updates in the SLEEPERS! thread but it occurred to me I haven’t put any in here for ages.
Since I last posted I’ve had a lot of changes in my life and the Dogbus did sit on the back burner for quite a while. But during the first lockdown I spent a fair bit of time and money sorting it all out. Long story short the engine loom threw a wobbler and spiked the ECU & burnt out some wiring in the coolant circuits (the latter being a bloody nightmare to diagnose!).
The cars now all good… well, was good for 7/8 weeks after finally getting it mapped for all the new mods and then the clutch started slipping But I knew this was going to happen with the additional torque so it’s not the end of the world. I always said when the clutch went I’d add an LSD but I’m not going to for the time being. So on October 6th (when I’m back from a work trip to Italy) I’ll be doing a load of work with my friend at his unit… To go on is -
TTV lightened flywheel
C20LET Calibra Turbo Clutch kit
New rear main crankshaft seal
New upper & lower sump gaskets
Eibach springs (should raise it by 10mm or so, additional sleeper points!!)
Powerflex front engine mount/support
Re-bleed of the brakes
Next plans after this for 2022 are a different exhaust as this one is just too loud, I want something quieter and better quality. Some more road-biased tyres rather than the Nankang semi-slicks and probably new discs & pads all round. I also need a new windscreen as this one is quite heavily cracked!
Here is a couple of more recent photos showing the engine bay now looking a bit more jazzy. And also… a video! Just a short pull my girlfriend filmed - this was the first time she’d been in the car since having it mapped so as you can hear at the end I think she was quite surprised!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=giIOBVYVPWA
Some of you may have seen some updates in the SLEEPERS! thread but it occurred to me I haven’t put any in here for ages.
Since I last posted I’ve had a lot of changes in my life and the Dogbus did sit on the back burner for quite a while. But during the first lockdown I spent a fair bit of time and money sorting it all out. Long story short the engine loom threw a wobbler and spiked the ECU & burnt out some wiring in the coolant circuits (the latter being a bloody nightmare to diagnose!).
The cars now all good… well, was good for 7/8 weeks after finally getting it mapped for all the new mods and then the clutch started slipping
But I knew this was going to happen with the additional torque so it’s not the end of the world. I always said when the clutch went I’d add an LSD but I’m not going to for the time being. So on October 6th (when I’m back from a work trip to Italy) I’ll be doing a load of work with my friend at his unit… To go on is -TTV lightened flywheel
C20LET Calibra Turbo Clutch kit
New rear main crankshaft seal
New upper & lower sump gaskets
Eibach springs (should raise it by 10mm or so, additional sleeper points!!)
Powerflex front engine mount/support
Re-bleed of the brakes
Next plans after this for 2022 are a different exhaust as this one is just too loud, I want something quieter and better quality. Some more road-biased tyres rather than the Nankang semi-slicks and probably new discs & pads all round. I also need a new windscreen as this one is quite heavily cracked!
Here is a couple of more recent photos showing the engine bay now looking a bit more jazzy. And also… a video! Just a short pull my girlfriend filmed - this was the first time she’d been in the car since having it mapped so as you can hear at the end I think she was quite surprised!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=giIOBVYVPWA
Edited by Turkish91 on Wednesday 22 September 12:35
Edited by Turkish91 on Wednesday 22 September 12:37
OpulentBob said:
This is great.
I think, though, the wheel trims are drawing attention to the size of the wheel - they look TOO big, and I think give the game away a bit. Much prefer the black bare steelies.
That said, still think it's very cool.
Oo, tough crowd, don't think most folk would notice, its one of those largely invisible cars and a slight increase in plastic disk size isnt going to give the game away too much.I think, though, the wheel trims are drawing attention to the size of the wheel - they look TOO big, and I think give the game away a bit. Much prefer the black bare steelies.
That said, still think it's very cool.
Does look like it gets a move on !
Awesome build, even more so given your connection to the car.
As someone who has a Z20LEH swapped Corsa C, they're hilarious even with mild tweaking. Mine still bares from the previous keeper a somewhat more chavvy/'scene' appearance compared to your car, however still catches people unawares when it grips up in 4th - can only imagine what great fun your car must be with the added stealth factor!
As someone who has a Z20LEH swapped Corsa C, they're hilarious even with mild tweaking. Mine still bares from the previous keeper a somewhat more chavvy/'scene' appearance compared to your car, however still catches people unawares when it grips up in 4th - can only imagine what great fun your car must be with the added stealth factor!
Edited by Chunkychucky on Wednesday 22 September 14:53
J4CKO said:
OpulentBob said:
This is great.
I think, though, the wheel trims are drawing attention to the size of the wheel - they look TOO big, and I think give the game away a bit. Much prefer the black bare steelies.
That said, still think it's very cool.
Oo, tough crowd, don't think most folk would notice, its one of those largely invisible cars and a slight increase in plastic disk size isnt going to give the game away too much.I think, though, the wheel trims are drawing attention to the size of the wheel - they look TOO big, and I think give the game away a bit. Much prefer the black bare steelies.
That said, still think it's very cool.
Does look like it gets a move on !
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