This may or may not be a cautionary tale regarding power chipping.

My son recently had his 20V 1.8 GTi chipped to a "reported" 200BHP.

Since then the clutch (which was on it's way out anyway) has gone AWOL.

Problem is noone will guarantee a standard GTi clutch and for an uprated AP one he's been quoted £800 parts only

There is an uprated one by "Black Diamond" but it only claims to handle 15% increase and so again no-one will guarantee it.

I think the guy who power chipped it has been a bit sharp in not telling him but I guess he should have known better.

Anyone know of any other possible solutions??

My Leon Cupra(same engine) still has the original clutch at 86k and has been chipped(revo) to circa 200/210 bhp for 20k of that without any problems!
just fit a normal clutch itll be fine.

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Originally posted by pajsh
I think the guy who power chipped it has been a bit sharp in not telling him but I guess he should have known better.

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Most standard clutches are capable of a reasonable amount of uprating, although how much spare there is on a GTi, I wouldn't like to guess. How much has the power gone up by?

[Edited on 21/11/06 by DIY Si]

From 180bhp if its the 1.8 20v turbo which by the power im gussing it is.
Which iirc is the same clutch as whats on the audi TT/S3 and CupraR ie 225bhp engine, which is chippable up to 270+, in other words it should EASILY take 200, i certainly dont spare mine and its rock solid at 86k!

Just fit a new standard job, it'll be fine. As said, it's almost certainly because it was on its way out already.

Originally it was 150 BHP so power is supposedly up by 1/3rd.

Someone did suggest a G60 clutch but I if the Cupra is basically the same engine I guess that could fit too.

I said the same, just fit the GTi one and accept it might need changing sooner but it may slip due to the increased torque.

Totally agree with everyone, a good condition OEM clutch will easily put up with a mild chip upgrade like that.

Also in defence of the guy who chipped it, most (if not all) chip manufacturers will mention on their websites etc that there is a possibility of increased wear and tear on the engine, you can't reall expect him to mention every single possible point of failure especially as clutch slip isnt exactly a common problem with chipped VAG engines.

[Edited on 21/11/06 by ChrisGamlin]

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Originally posted by pajsh
Originally it was 150 BHP so power is supposedly up by 1/3rd.

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The 180bhp Golf was the GTi "Anniversary" I think, with the 6 speed box like the Leon Cupra (which Ive got). The 5 speed box is also used on the 180bhp Octavia vRS though, so might be worth looking into.

Thanks guys for the advice.

I think I'll ring VW parts tomorrow and see what else will fit it, i.e. possibly G60, Audi TT, VR6 etc and see if we can get an uprated OEM part.

Failing that I think the standard clutch should be OK.

I've no real gripes with the guy that chipped it as I said my lad should have known better really and it would not be great sales pitch.

And yes "only" 150 BHP.

When I was 19 all I had a f****n push bike

When i was 19(not so long ago) i had a 160bhp MK1 Astra GTE in white

And I "only" had 150 bhp. But mine was in a classic mini!

When I was 19 I had a Mk1 Lotus Cortina that I bought for £125! And before anyone asks,I drove it under my mums "any car any driver" insurance policy!

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a Mk1 Lotus Cortina that I bought for £125

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Older than me and thee

Got to be older than me, I'm only 23! You could just about get a pair of cortina uprights for £100 when I was 19!

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Originally posted by DIY Si

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a Mk1 Lotus Cortina that I bought for £125

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Crikey, how old must you be?!

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Gertcha! can beat all those. When I was nineteen I had a Morris 8 Tourer, 4 pot side valve, I think it was somewhere around 38bhp, but it used to pull the birds, cos all the mob had bloody motor bikes. Ahhh! what sweet memories, and before you say anything that was in 1958. Ray.

i had a beach buggy.

just fit a std new clutch, if they can't cope with 200hp then they must be really shite!!!

It will be fine, don't worry, only broke cos it was knackered anyway.

try the guys on the UKMK4's forum, I know that there fit an alternative oem clutch and flywheel, I think its off a G60 mk2 thats suposed to be happy up to 360bhp, you shouldn't have problems with 200bhp, the diesels produce more torque and the clutch is fine.

The standard clutch in my Leon Cupra TDI 150 (320Nm torque) is still working fine after 60k of serious grief so assuming it's the same clutch it should be fine for 200bhp on petrol engine

I'm pretty sure my (ex Chris Gamlin) bora is still on it's original clutch and it's at 142k now, something like 50k+ of that is chipped at 140bhp, 260lb/ft which is still more torque than your son's golf.

Ned.

Try and have a word with Badger Bill on Club GTI or seatcupra.net. He now races his reasonably nutty 20v Ibiza, over the last couple of years he's managed to break pretty much everything on the car (sometimes repeatedly), but it means he now knows how much abuse it can all take, and what you need if it can't. He can supply a fair bit of it as well.

Thanks again guys.

Much appreciated and valued advice

ive seen some pretty wicked vidoes of badger bills ibiza, that was one VERY quick car!