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Safe engine power

27K views 131 replies 21 participants last post by  skela  
#1 ·
Hello. As some of you may know i have a stage 2 VF s/c mk4 running 375 bhp. I am now after a bit more. I was thinking of getting manifolds and cats, cams and having the head flowed and ported. Now this will obviously make quite a big difference in power. What i would like to know if what power can the standard internals handle? And if i do need to uprate them what do i need to get?

Cheers

James
 
#2 ·
is head flowing worth it on forced induction?

not sure on the r32, on my 1.8T the rods were the weakest link and then the valves.
 
#5 ·
SirHenri's Bi-Turbo has 700nm (516lbs) and that runs standard internals and was designed by Martin Graf of HGP and he worked on the R engine when he was at VW.

HGP do a stage 3 twin turbo that runs 710nm (523lbs) that also runs standard internals.

From what I have read it's the gearbox you need to worry about more but if car is mapped correct you should not have a problem with that.
I have never heard of any on SirHenri's cars busting a gearbox.
 
#6 ·
Paulie said:
SirHenri's Bi-Turbo has 700nm (516lbs) and that runs standard internals and was designed by Martin Graf of HGP and he worked on the R engine when he was at VW.

HGP do a stage 3 twin turbo that runs 710nm (523lbs) that also runs standard internals.

From what I have read it's the gearbox you need to worry about more but if car is mapped correct you should not have a problem with that.
I have never heard of any on SirHenri's cars busting a gearbox.
Some interesting info there Paulie :)

Do you know the specs on SirHenri's MK5?
 
#15 ·
Slapbladder said:
SirHenri will be getting a rod through the block soon if they are standard parts. I am sure he has popped a few gearboxes before....
I'm nearly certain the con rod bearings have been uprated...and the pistons and valves are standard. Up to now I'm not sure IF SirHenri has had any gearbox issues or any issues as such? Hopefully he may read this and share his experiences?
 
#19 ·
its not the boost that does the damage its the torque the engine produces which bends rods....under 450ftlb you should be ok anymore i would be changing the rods and pistons.....
a head spacer will lower compression and allow more boost to be run safely but this will create more power/torque thus bending the rods sooner.....
 
#21 ·
Well at the moment my car is running 310ftlb. I cant imagine the car making more than 450ftlb if i put cams, manifolds,cats and have the head flowed and ported. So hopefully i should be ok. If i wanted to be on the safe side how much are a set of pistons and rods roughly?

James
 
#22 ·
Slapbladder said:
its not the boost that does the damage its the torque the engine produces which bends rods....under 450ftlb you should be ok anymore i would be changing the rods and pistons.....
a head spacer will lower compression and allow more boost to be run safely but this will create more power/torque thus bending the rods sooner.....
James, I nearly got MJ+popcorn out ;)

Not doubting what you've said but this is how I understood it...... How to add a turbo to a non turbo car. without going into a SC Vs Turbo debate lol
 
#24 ·
Paulie said:
Hopefully Henri will see this and if he is running standard internals he will be able to tell us how many rods he has bent in his engine...he may have had stronger ones fitted
LOL I'm sure HGP wouldn't advertise their kits worldwide with the wrong info & with SirHenri running 2 or 3 FI'd R's both MK4 & MK5 from the same tuner??!!!!!!!!! can't see many bent rods there............