Visit to Monkfish
Discussion
Hi all,
I've not posted on here for a while, as I've not really driven my car much lately. But its recently been to Monkfish, so here goes....
I bought my Monaro new in May 2004. I bought a CV8, because I much prefer the low key stealth styling of it, compared to the body kitted VXR. The original is always best in my opinion, and I think the shape of it is just perfect.
Fairly early on, I binned the standard brakes and fitted the full on AP 6 pot fronts, and 4 pot rears. Next I upped the power output by having a well know company fit their stage 3 kit. The car was dyno’d at Abbey motorsport on their dynapack system and showed 350 bhp at the wheels. I did the second hole cold air intake mode, and about 10,000 miles later I took it to WRC for a remap. Their roller system showed 360 at the wheels, and after a remap 380 bhp at the wheels, which I’m led to believe equates to about 430 flywheel bhp. A few other mods followed - a rip shifter to make the gear changes better, and I replaced the standard stereo with Kenwood head unit, infinity component speakers and a 250gb hard disk MP3 system.
It all added up to a great car, and I’ve had loads of fun driving it. But, I have to say, I was never really happy with the S3 kit, both in terms of the quality of the system - now going rusty - nor the quality of workmanship - decat pipe flanges not welded on straight, gaskets blowing, and the tail box was on wonky. The system was also very boomy when cruising on the motorway. I’d noticed a few other issues too. The (standard) suspension seemed to have lost some of it’s comfort, and gone a bit choppy. The rear diff had gone a bit ‘whiny’, and wasn’t really limiting much slip, as I found out on the drifting track day.
With the first MOT approaching, I decided I needed to do something to get the car sorted out properly, and move it on to another level. Having read so many good things about Wortec and Monkfish, I decided to pay them a visit.
I’ve had the Wortec Focus pack, lowered springs and dampers, road response pack, and the Harrop diff cover fitted, along with a 3 year service, MOT and change of PAS and clutch fluids.
Am I pleased with the results? - You bet I am! The car is completely transformed! The car feels absolutely ballistic compared to the old S3 system. The power output is supposed to be about the same, but you get more torque due to the bigger MAF. It feels way quicker on the road. Throttle response is much improved, and the exhaust sound is just incredible.
Handling wise, it’s like going from a Ford Granada to a Peugeot 205 gti! The road response pack gives much more feel through the steering, it seems weightier during cornering. Most of the straight ahead dead zone feeling from the standard steering has gone, and the cornering roll is significantly reduced. I was a little concerned that the lowered springs might make the ride too firm and uncomfortable, but I need not have worried. The ride if anything is better, it’s undoubtedly firm, most of the choppiness has gone.
The Harrop diff cover seems to work well too. I liked the concept of the better location. Before I had it fitted, If you booted the car, sometimes the back end would judder about and it seemed that the traction control was cutting in more often than it should, although some of this may have been due to the LSD not working properly due to it requiring decent oil. Now the TC hardly cuts in at all, the rear end feels a lot firmer. It can be slid about on wet roundabouts with ease now, and you can boot it out of corners without worrying.
Overall, it all adds up to give the car a far more confident feel, when you're pressing on.
As you can probably tell, I’m rather pleased, its as if I have a new car! Many thanks to Roger and the guys at Monkfish - highly recommended.
I do have a minor issue though. I opted for the ‘quiet’ version of the exhaust. Well if that’s quiet, loud must be deafening! It’s a totally different sound to the old system (almost Ferrari like!) it’s noisier during acceleration in the lower gears but once cruising it’s far less boomy. To be honest, I could do with it being about 50% less noisy, as it scares pedestrians off their feet! Any chance of having quieter silencers?
Paul.
I've not posted on here for a while, as I've not really driven my car much lately. But its recently been to Monkfish, so here goes....
I bought my Monaro new in May 2004. I bought a CV8, because I much prefer the low key stealth styling of it, compared to the body kitted VXR. The original is always best in my opinion, and I think the shape of it is just perfect.
Fairly early on, I binned the standard brakes and fitted the full on AP 6 pot fronts, and 4 pot rears. Next I upped the power output by having a well know company fit their stage 3 kit. The car was dyno’d at Abbey motorsport on their dynapack system and showed 350 bhp at the wheels. I did the second hole cold air intake mode, and about 10,000 miles later I took it to WRC for a remap. Their roller system showed 360 at the wheels, and after a remap 380 bhp at the wheels, which I’m led to believe equates to about 430 flywheel bhp. A few other mods followed - a rip shifter to make the gear changes better, and I replaced the standard stereo with Kenwood head unit, infinity component speakers and a 250gb hard disk MP3 system.
It all added up to a great car, and I’ve had loads of fun driving it. But, I have to say, I was never really happy with the S3 kit, both in terms of the quality of the system - now going rusty - nor the quality of workmanship - decat pipe flanges not welded on straight, gaskets blowing, and the tail box was on wonky. The system was also very boomy when cruising on the motorway. I’d noticed a few other issues too. The (standard) suspension seemed to have lost some of it’s comfort, and gone a bit choppy. The rear diff had gone a bit ‘whiny’, and wasn’t really limiting much slip, as I found out on the drifting track day.
With the first MOT approaching, I decided I needed to do something to get the car sorted out properly, and move it on to another level. Having read so many good things about Wortec and Monkfish, I decided to pay them a visit.
I’ve had the Wortec Focus pack, lowered springs and dampers, road response pack, and the Harrop diff cover fitted, along with a 3 year service, MOT and change of PAS and clutch fluids.
Am I pleased with the results? - You bet I am! The car is completely transformed! The car feels absolutely ballistic compared to the old S3 system. The power output is supposed to be about the same, but you get more torque due to the bigger MAF. It feels way quicker on the road. Throttle response is much improved, and the exhaust sound is just incredible.
Handling wise, it’s like going from a Ford Granada to a Peugeot 205 gti! The road response pack gives much more feel through the steering, it seems weightier during cornering. Most of the straight ahead dead zone feeling from the standard steering has gone, and the cornering roll is significantly reduced. I was a little concerned that the lowered springs might make the ride too firm and uncomfortable, but I need not have worried. The ride if anything is better, it’s undoubtedly firm, most of the choppiness has gone.
The Harrop diff cover seems to work well too. I liked the concept of the better location. Before I had it fitted, If you booted the car, sometimes the back end would judder about and it seemed that the traction control was cutting in more often than it should, although some of this may have been due to the LSD not working properly due to it requiring decent oil. Now the TC hardly cuts in at all, the rear end feels a lot firmer. It can be slid about on wet roundabouts with ease now, and you can boot it out of corners without worrying.
Overall, it all adds up to give the car a far more confident feel, when you're pressing on.
As you can probably tell, I’m rather pleased, its as if I have a new car! Many thanks to Roger and the guys at Monkfish - highly recommended.
I do have a minor issue though. I opted for the ‘quiet’ version of the exhaust. Well if that’s quiet, loud must be deafening! It’s a totally different sound to the old system (almost Ferrari like!) it’s noisier during acceleration in the lower gears but once cruising it’s far less boomy. To be honest, I could do with it being about 50% less noisy, as it scares pedestrians off their feet! Any chance of having quieter silencers?
Paul.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 19th June 21:31
SplatSpeed said:
how much have you spent
and is your first name sheik
and is your first name sheik
I was thinking the same thing. I take my hat off to you for your gritted determination to get the "best" out of your car whatever the cost.
Excellent write up by the way.
Finally, the VXR shape looks better in my opinion.............
Completely identify with your feelings there. I had my MY04 CV8 in at Monkfish a2 weeks ago. I too had the focus pac, and the ripshifter, and the AP's, 30k service, engine covers and road response pac etc. Whole car feels fantastic and sounds awesome... though I feel I'd be happier with a louder exhaust note. I have the silencer boxes in (old system) so that may well be rectified on the next visit. Saving hard for the supercharger and bigger wheels now, cos those AP's are mighty close to the inside of the rim on the 18's. Not enough room for the brake dust to get between them!
As ever I agree with your comment about the service from Roger et al. They pulled out all the stops for me, got all the above done in a day with a couple of hitches too! Recommend to anyone.
As ever I agree with your comment about the service from Roger et al. They pulled out all the stops for me, got all the above done in a day with a couple of hitches too! Recommend to anyone.
Have to say I think Roger & Andy are damn fantastic and they saved my hide a few times at awkward hours on awkward days (wot no gears), diagnosing problems and talking through fitting items over the phone etc.and doing a great job at great prices.
It is rare to find people who genuinely care about what they do for you these days Monkfish deserve to do very well.
Must pop in guys and try the demonstrator!! did you leave the big stick in when super charging?
It is rare to find people who genuinely care about what they do for you these days Monkfish deserve to do very well.
Must pop in guys and try the demonstrator!! did you leave the big stick in when super charging?
Thanks for the comments 
A wortec remap is included in the focus pack
How much have I spent on it? Probably too much - including this visit to Monkfish, about £13k over 3 years. Not nearly as much as some have spent though... Recent upgrades weren't cheap, but it was bugging me that the car wasn't 'right' I just had to do something about it. Well pleased with it now! Thought about the new VXR8, but I just can't convince myself that I like the shape, compared to the beautiful Monaro. There’s just nothing new to compare to it imo (apart from an Aston V8 which I can't afford) so I've had the mods done and I'm keeping it for the foreseeable future
My Monaro isn't used full time, it's a second fun car used at evenings and weekends when the traffic dies down. I have a Peugeot 405 TD Estate for running about in. Totally opposite to the Monaro, but It's actually a very good car! Does 45mpg (so it offsets the Monaro fuel consumption ) you can leave it anywhere without worrying, carry all sorts of stuff in the back, and it's handy for picking up those supermarket car park dents. And when I change over from the Peugeot to the Monaro .... wow!
A wortec remap is included in the focus pack
How much have I spent on it? Probably too much - including this visit to Monkfish, about £13k over 3 years. Not nearly as much as some have spent though... Recent upgrades weren't cheap, but it was bugging me that the car wasn't 'right' I just had to do something about it. Well pleased with it now! Thought about the new VXR8, but I just can't convince myself that I like the shape, compared to the beautiful Monaro. There’s just nothing new to compare to it imo (apart from an Aston V8 which I can't afford) so I've had the mods done and I'm keeping it for the foreseeable future
My Monaro isn't used full time, it's a second fun car used at evenings and weekends when the traffic dies down. I have a Peugeot 405 TD Estate for running about in. Totally opposite to the Monaro, but It's actually a very good car! Does 45mpg (so it offsets the Monaro fuel consumption
) you can leave it anywhere without worrying, carry all sorts of stuff in the back, and it's handy for picking up those supermarket car park dents. And when I change over from the Peugeot to the Monaro .... wow! Excellent writeup! the vibration at the back you experienced is called axle tramp and is common in these cars, the harrop diff is designed to combat that, and with added benefit of holding more diff oil its supposed to help your diff last longer due to reduced temperature. Glad to hear you are enjoying your car more!
On the topic of Monkfish, how much experience do they have fitting and tuning FI applications such as the gen-tt? Do we have any roadgoing examples of that at the moment?
On the topic of Monkfish, how much experience do they have fitting and tuning FI applications such as the gen-tt? Do we have any roadgoing examples of that at the moment?
Edited by VXClubby on Wednesday 20th June 14:36
Hi VXClubby,
Roger and gang should be good for FI jobs also, they are a Wortec house amongst other things - so familar with harrop supercharger kits. Rogers UTE (nice hothouse green) has had a single turbo on it for almost 12 months now.
I like most, totally trust Monkfish and their service - I have to say it is not often I am happy leaving my baby with a garage (yes, I am really anal about it). My last visit was for coilovers and the then unnamed road response pack - transformed the car ok, just need to get a 3.91 diff and harrop cover plus maybe a bigger throttle body.
Cheers
Steven
Roger and gang should be good for FI jobs also, they are a Wortec house amongst other things - so familar with harrop supercharger kits. Rogers UTE (nice hothouse green) has had a single turbo on it for almost 12 months now.
I like most, totally trust Monkfish and their service - I have to say it is not often I am happy leaving my baby with a garage (yes, I am really anal about it). My last visit was for coilovers and the then unnamed road response pack - transformed the car ok, just need to get a 3.91 diff and harrop cover plus maybe a bigger throttle body.
Cheers
Steven
Edited by swordfishcoupe on Wednesday 20th June 21:34
car89 said:
Im at Monkfish in the morning for a 10000 service and geometry check, really looking forward to the visit, its been long overdue!
Paul
Paul
Well i went, and may i say i was very impressed, nice clean workshops in a lovely setting, good communication and all in all a great job done!!!
Thanks guys, i will be back!
Paul
car89 said:
car89 said:
Im at Monkfish in the morning for a 10000 service and geometry check, really looking forward to the visit, its been long overdue!
Paul
Paul
Well i went, and may i say i was very impressed, nice clean workshops in a lovely setting, good communication and all in all a great job done!!!
Thanks guys, i will be back!
Paul
what he said, first visit for the sport pac and I was very impressed by their honest, down to earth attitude. That old Rover courtesy car though is scarily bad, the radio made a burning smell when I turned it on so I quickly turned it back off again; made me laugh though!
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