Mk1 Leon Cupra TDI Track Daily

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
My last project didn't quite go to plan, a race car was a fun idea but the car in question probably wasn't the best choice. So I have my 'snow car' (usually ride a bike but snow is... interesting).

20210117_090212.jpg
20210117_090237.jpg
20210117_090152.jpg


It was pretty standard (don't look at the exhaust) and I was thinking about getting shot of it, picking up something newer on PCP.

But it's now destined for upgrades because I figure I can play around with aero etc and if it breaks I can pick up another and swap the parts over. Also I have spares from the TDI I scrapped so I can test bits out if needs be.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Syphon

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
Mods so far

Brakes

Phase 1

312mm front calipers
Standard discs
EBC Bluestuff pads
256mm rear brake calipers
Standard discs and pads
Hel braided lines

Suspension

Phase 1

Koni FSDs
H&R springs
Cupra R top mounts
Audi TT rear LCA bushes
Cupra R beam bushes
Random uoper strut brace
Audi TT lower strut brace

Phase 2

Cast front arms
Cookbots wishbone inserts
Superpro wishbone bushes with offset rears for increased castor
Audi TT hubs (fully rebuilt)
Audi TT V6 steering rack
Powerflex Black Series steering rack bush
KW V3 coilover suspension
H&R 25mm adjustable front ARB
H&R 25mm rear ARB
Cupra R rear beam bushes
Cupra R top mounts
Powerflex dog bone mount
Random upper strut brace
Vibratechnics street density engine and gearbox mounts

Engine

Miltek cat back exhaust
Darkside Developments silicone coolant hoses
Odyssey Extreme PC950 battery

Transmission

Forge front/rear short shift kit
Forge side/side short shift kit
42Draft solid shifter bracket bushings
Darkside Developments solid cable end bushings
Gear lever relocated to on top of transmission tunnel

Wheels/Tyres

Standard Cupra Starfish wheels
Goodyear Asymmetric 5s
RacingLine stud conversion
H&R 8mm spacers all round (so I can fit the caps over the wheels and maintain a stock look)

Interior

OMP First R seat (driver)
OMP Design 2 seat (passenger)
TRS 4 point harness
Stripped carpets and roof lining
 
Last edited:

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
Thought I'd get a baseline figure for the weight of the car.

20210117_152248.jpg


This is every fluid full, full leather electric seats etc, no driver.

Not bad balance but would like to get that weight down
 
  • Like
Reactions: Manic172 and Syphon

chrismc

Active Member
Aug 31, 2020
25
16
Highworth, Wiltshire
Oof- quite some weight!

What are the standard ARB diameters? Shouldn’t the front be somewhat thinner than the rear to dial out any inherent understeer?

I’m sure that was the case from my tweaked mk2 Golf days
 

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
Yeah, it's not the lightest but will be getting stuff on the scales soon and see where weight can be offloaded/moved around.

Stock ARB is 23mm up front with no rear ARB so 25mm front and back makes a difference, it feels very planted in a neutral way, haven't really pushed it yet though
 
  • Like
Reactions: chrismc

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
First change was the shifter

Forge short shift kit (both front/rear n side)
Darkside solid cable end bushings

20210402_103050.jpg


A recon'd bracket fitted with 42Draft solid bushings

20210402_102201.jpg


The test drive showed the downside which is that it's a very notchy feeling when shifting (it's set to almost 40% reduction in both planes).

On the upside it's extremely direct which means heel n toe has gone from being ill advised to an absolute joy, it really makes it worthwhile.
 

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
Next (and possibly the most controversial) bit is an ITG Maxogen induction kit

20210402_123121.jpg


It's eye wateringly expensive (in my defence it was advertised as being made of carbon fibre on Awesome) and I know some will question its usefulness on a diesel but there's method to the madness, just have to wait for future updates to see why I went with it
 

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
Genuinely can't believe how different changing gears is now thanks to the quickshift and now this

20210405_142535.jpg


Mounting the lever higher has made the driving ergonomics so much better
 

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
Been a while so I thought I'd comment on the suspension setup before I say about the mods done.

Had the opportunity to take the car out on track (Silverstone National circuit) during Trax, this being its first in anger test since the suspension work. Set the shocks to full stiff at the front and not quite so much on the back, can't remember what the front ARB is set at.

So, car is in need of a power increase from a remap (fairly sure there's a boost leak as well) but the suspension is awesome.

Everything is much better, less body roll, better response to bumps. I usually run on the kerbs which previously meant a lot of noise and rattling inside the fully insulated cabin, but barely noticed them with the harder suspension and stripped out interior.

The thing that really impressed was throwing it through Copse at speed (3rd at high revs I think), back end leaning out as opposed to the understeer expected, and then being able to modulate that with the throttle. Wasn't expecting that and very happy.

Won't be doing much more to handling but an LSD, solid driveline mounts and some stickier tyres are on the wishlist.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 300bhpdaily

300bhpdaily

Active Member
May 26, 2020
1,245
565
Just goes to show much handling mods make a difference on track. How far are you from thruxton out of interest? Next time we all book on I’ll let you know see if your available.
 

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
I'm about 2½ hours from Thruxton so it's doable. Appreciate the consideration 👍 I might actually remember a tow hook next time
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 300bhpdaily

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
So it's winter again and that means it's time for some work on the Leon. Today was a relatively easy day, playing with things on the passenger side

Started out like this

20211221_095924.jpg


Stripped things out and thought "Let's give it a wipe down"

20211221_110127.jpg


That's better
 

MoToJoJo

Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
784
600
Northants
First job was swapping the gearbox mount, don't think the OEM was in bad shape but hey, upgrade

20211221_105646.jpg


Gone for the Vibratechnics Street Density as I thought Track would be a little bit much.

Was surprised by the weight difference

20211221_164617.jpg


Fitment was pretty easy really and it looks pretty good too

20211221_133204.jpg
 
Progressive Parts, performance parts and tuning specialists