VR6 Turbo Build, Must Do's. 

Just a note on the pistons: the reason they blow ringlands like that is due to the very tight stock ring gap. Lots of guys havs really good results using stock pistons with wider ring gaps in the high .020" and low .030" ranges. With the stock gap of .015" pump gas is just too much heat for them at the 500+ mark, and they but together.

So i own a b5. It started life as a 1.8t with a 5 speed. At 302,411 miles one of the injectors shit the bed resulting in a hole in the piston, tube 3. I bought a 24v vr6 from my local wrecking yard for $460. I did carillo rods, weisco forged pistons with the stock crank. My grandpa has been a motorsports focused engine machinist for 50 years. He has a full blown machine shop in his garage which is less than a mile from me. We balanced the rotating assembly and did quite a bit of work lightening the crank. The largest force difference is under 3oz so, detrimental harmonics are essentially non existent. I used all ARP hardware. I ported the stock head myself, the most aggressive techtonics cams they offer, their dual valve springs, stainless retainers and keepers. Krabifab longitudinal intake manifold as well as their longitudinal equal length exhaust manifold. I went with a Borg Warner efr 8374 which means i had to cut off the external waste gate tube from my $1600 exhaust manifold but the packaging benefits the efr line gives you are absolutely astonishing. Blowoff valve AND waste gate all on the turbo? YES PLEASE!! Worth every penny. Im not a wealthy man. I have a scalding hot wife and twin 6 year old boys. So i bought everything one piece at a time. Took me 18 months to acquire all the parts. I found a 6 speed from a b7 rs4, gpa and i machined an adapter plate, clutch masters twin disc, lightweight single mass flywheel. I kept the OE front diff and modified the rear subframe to accept a 2019 rs6 rear diff. I bought a wavetrac center for the bias adjustability i currently have it at 30/70 and its absolutely fantastic it really changed the characteristics. All ECS suspension arms, fortune coilovers. My subframe bushings are solid billet aluminum, rear diff bushings are poly. It has b7 rs4 brakes from the same car i got the transmission from. I got the car down to 2880 lbs with me in it, absolutely perfectly corner balanced and 52/48 weight distribution. Ive owned 33 performance cars in my life. Every single one i modified extensively. Ive never had a car that felt THIS different after i finished the build. It feels nothing like an a4 anymore in the best ways possible. Other than my 2016 Shelby gt350r its the best car ive ever owned. I do have custom subframe connectors that tie into the custom strut tower braces i made. But no cage. The chassis is so stiff it picks up a wheel pulling into my driveway. Its absolutely unbelievable. I have it on e85 right now and a very conservative tune. She makes 704whp @ 7300 rpm, 590 lb ft with a straight up diesel curve. My dad owns a seriously badass 2018 gt3 rs. My little black 4 door Audi makes it look stupid. My dad was a naval aviator. One of the few Marines who flew f-14s. Yes just like Maverick hes the coolest person i know. He wont ride in my car. He has once. He'll never do it again because i made him puke. He said he blew chow three times in his tenure. I caused him to lose breakfast driving to lake Tahoe from Reno, Nevada where we live. Even though hes 64 that should give you an idea of the raw speed this car is capable of. It sits on 18×10 3 piece wheels with 295/40r18 r888 all the way around. Yes 100 treadwear tires really really helps those entry speeds but they're just 295s. I finished the car 11 months ago, ive put over 12,000 miles on it and all ive had to do is preventative maintenance. Change the fluids. Buy yourself a b5 and vr6 swap it. You dont have to go crazy like i did. An ebay turbo kit and coilovers with good tires will give you goosebumps i promise. Oh, most importantly, the car is on a haltech elite 2500 stand alone ecu. Thats the biggest thing is ripping absolutely every single OE computer and wire out of the car and starting over. I saved 180 pounds in electronics alone.

The VR6 is one of my all time favorite engines. They just sound so good with a high flow exhaust.

Now we're in my wheelhouse 💪. My stock rods lasted until 30psi, 20* of timing, on e85, and borg s366. So approx 600-700 wtq is the limit or stock rods. Stock pistons are good to about 600whp with them being gapped to roughly 0.025". Anything more and you need aftermarket forged. When tuning, keeping it a point or two on the rich side and will save the hot cylinders. A head spacer/low conpression pistons are only necessary when using pump gas. E85 does not need lowered compression so you get to keep low-end torque when using corn juice. The mk3 12v vr6 has a FIBER head gasket and MUST be replaced if turboing. It will not hold pressure well. While the head is out, put new valve seals in and HD springs.

Would you guys ever consider making videos recording the process of building an engine? Kind of like what humble mechanic does, I think you'd provide a lot of great info for people building their engines

Can't wait to see you push the stock VR. You should call it the VRTurd.

I'm currently building a 12v VRT here in coloradi springs! I should have everything needed with this week to begin. I'm both scared and excited.

We need a much longer video with some brand specifics for build parts. Really enjoy hearing your guy's opinions and what has TRULY worked for you on the dyno. Thanks Guys!!

I'm in the process of boosting my VR5, here in Canada. Pretty straight forward

Appreciation from the U.K.!

I run 15psi on a Mk4 gasket and non-intercooled on a 66mm turbo, but I'm also on e85. Just found your channel. Now build an 8 valve if you really wanna steal my heart. 🤪

respect from New Brunswick! Looking forward to swinging on down sometime and checking you guys out in person. Thanks so much!

Just want to add, you can use stock head bolts with a head spacer. HPA uses them even with a 5mm head spacer plus 2 full gaskets, and have had no lifted heads on their 780ftlb of tq builds. ARP head studs should be a requirement for 800+.

Let's Gooooooooo boys!!! Hell yeah. Another super dope video. The videos are getting better and better. So much knowledge. Thank you and the team for all the hard work. I think I commented on a video or 2 back asking you guys to build vr6 and my prayers were answered 🤣 can't wait to watch all the episodes.

I just watched this. My future plans are build either a 2.5l 5 cylinder with a double overhead cam head and turbo (with a 5 speed) and a stand alone tune or a VR6 with a turbo and a tune ( and a 5 speed ). Either would go in a 2003 EuroVan camper. I am aiming for better than stock power and good highway fuel economy. To wow the crowd I’d find an Audi SR3 and mate that engine up to a 5 speed ( that will probably blow up! ). I also have to hit the lottery to afford this! Thought you would enjoy this train of thought of mine. Cheers, G.

in Europe we have no problems with stock pistons and stock gaps, obviously we have 95/98/100/102 octane at the pump, it also depends on the EGT and as written in the software, however forged pistons are always a guarantee

Good video. I am about to embark on a 550WHP (approx) 3.2 into a 2001 S4 B5 manual. Learned a lot and will do rods, pistons and a good head. Flywheel and adapter is probably the single biggest $$$. Probably go with Holset Cummins turbo at around 18-22 boost. Pick N Pull has my motor for $349CDN complete from Toureg.

I appreciate this video Bullikid

My dream show car is a Mk1 rabbit with a 12v VR6 with a turbo setup.

Im building a boosted 12v in a mk2 golf right now. I'm getting close to being finished. I didn't do apr rod bolts or upgraded pistons, though. Hopefully, with the united motor sports tune I can get close to 400 wheel hp. Also got 2 spare engines and an extra transmission 😅

For the vr6 you guys should just do a head spacer and run it on pump gas and see how far it can go.

I'm looking forward to the VR build.

Turbo vr6s sound insane

Hell yeah I can’t wait to see a vr pushed to the limit 🤙

Right up my alley. I'm building one now....

Stop putting good videos out like this you're going to make me start spending money 😢

A 2004 Jetta body, some kind of 4motion AWD, a 24v VR6 making 700 horsepower, and a sequential shift transmission. Wouldn't that be a sweet package.

Looking forward to watching a VR6 piston explode and a rod exit the block soon 😮

Never heard about the mk5 r32 crank cracking but I have heard from a German guy who has 1200hp turbo vr6 that he is using a crack from a 1st gen VR6 (AAA) corrado motor and mk3 gti VR6. The mk4r32 vr6 crank starts to crank at around 800whp

Love babble, please more

Great video! Question though, have you guys actually seen any situations where the stock rod bolts were the initial breaking point in a turbo VR6 build? The reason I ask is that theoretically speaking, the instant of maximum strain on a rod bolt is at TDC on the exhaust stroke. When you add boost, the backpressure in the exhaust port in front of the turbine wheel, and the incoming boost itself depending on overlap, actually cushions the piston at TDC on the exhaust stroke, thus reducing strain on the rod bolts. Presumably you might also add to the top end of the RPM range with the help of boost, so that adds strain to the rod bolts, but I don't know at what point the strain forces actually become higher than they were with the factory N/A configuration. I suspect that rod bolts really aren't necessary at all in a turbo setup like they would be in an aggressive all-motor setup.

vr6 hooptie.. yeah go for it!

How much boost can a competely stock 12v vr6 handle safely

Thanks for this video🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Gr8 educational video, as always guys. Planning to go with turbo setup with one 3.2 these days, so every info is useful. Tnx.

U should do a budget 24v turbo build with just headspacer an turbo for us guys who want to do a budget build😅

Mk5 r32 when we turbo them we aim to run them at 480hp @ the crank, when there 500+ @ the crank they have a good chance the crank will let go in the long run, mk4 r32 had a forged crank and mk5 r32 had a cast crank, we have seen afew mk5 r32 cast cranks snap at 500+hp in the long run

LOVE WHAT YOU DO !

Make sure you make them exhaust runners extra long 😏

Great video. Can't wait to boost my vr. Pistons aren't in the budget unfortunately but I will be running a head spacer with arp rod bolts and head studs. I got my hands on unitronic bt630 so I guess we'll see how that does for now. Thankfully I have access to petro 94

hell yeah I want to see the VR hoopty.....😮

I have an R36 Passat wagon coming to Edmonton in the next couple of weeks. Would love to bring it over to you guys some day... although it sounds like boosting will be quite a bit more complicated vs. the 3.2.

You mentioned head spacers but when using forged pistons that lower compression is a head spacer still necessary? I guess a better question would be: what compression ratio is recommended for pump gas as you mentioned?

“Never boosted a 3.6 yet” looking at you Alex

I have a Audi A3 3.2vr6 first gen, mine have forged pistonrods and stock pistons and can run fine at 750whp. I've heard the rods blow at 500hp, but pistons can take a beating. Mk5 r32 crank crack at 500hp ive heard from my tuner and vr6 engine builder

Make sure you remember to do a compression test on the project VR like you wish you did on the 1.8T😂

Thanks guys ❤👏👏👏

Really appreciate you fellas getting this out. Any notes on 2618 pistons with regard to drivability, cylinder wall wear, or piston longevity?

I so badly want to awd convert and boost my 18 Passat GT. I would love to be pushing around 500 with my 3.6

We did get VR5s in NA

Hello, if anyone could help me, I was watching a lot of VR6 videos months ago, something very interesting I came across (can’t remember which video it was but I’m on a VR6 video streak in hopes of finding the video again) basically when the person added the spark plugs, I remember them saying the spark plug had (can’t remember if it was VW recommended or personal) to be torqued to a certain specification where the spark plug faced a CERTAIN direction, so it had a clean flame deflagration (explosion in simple words) it was really interesting to me because it was such a cool engineering explanation and smart technique. If anyone knows what I’m talking about let me know.

I wish you guys had a shop in Massachusetts. I wanna donate my 2017 gti

I’ve got an A3 8P BDB motor and from what Ive read has a forged crank 🤷‍♂️ “same” motor (BUB) used in R32 IV/V. Is there a way to definitively say if the crank is cast / forged? I always was under impression it was forged and not given it a full inspection 🙈. Going with 9.25 compression JE’s with MaxSpeeding H rods (with 2000 Arp’s), plus headstuds, and adding a brace plate as well. Pretty much using HPA inlet / exhaust and BW EFR92/74 turbo, cnc ported head, Newman cams, supertech valves, EcuMaster, Deka clutch… so gone the whole hog here. Looking to run 750hp … fuel will always be 99 RON … any advice for the build to make so sure I dont trash all this expense!!!?

I bought a 2.0t BPY gti engine from canada that im going to build up for my mk6 R. Im gonna do pistons rods new valve seals.. i already have ttrs lpfp modded and the vis motorsport hpfp. I got a big turbo ready to make 500+ crank hp with meth and ill need to find a clutch to hold the power.

Please do boosted vr5 very interested in swapping one in my 2.slow jetta

How about that turbo 2.5 VR6 out of Chinese suvs?? Any thoughts

I have a 3.6 4 motion wagon b6 passat and i really wanna boost it but im broke lol, they hold way more and make more than a 3.2

I wanna see a 2.8 24v build

In regards to the cast cranks, been in the facebook groups for almost a decade now and have seen them fail in cars. Usually upwards of 5-600+ to the wheels and experiencing detonation. Also seen a lot of experienced tuners use cast cranks in close to 4 digit builds perfectly fine. It seems the cast cranks just aren't able to hold detonation very well, which still isn't good but is different than "you can't use these ever."

Hello I really love your videos!!! I want to install a turbo for my VR6 2.8 12V, but I want it for daily driving. Can you recommend me something? Wich turbo can I use?? Is it necessary to change the pistons?? Thank you ver y much four your help!

A local vw enthusiast shop mentioned to me that running a double head gasket is better than a gasket/head spacer/gasket on these engines since the head spacer wouldn't "tolerate much boost". Is the two head gasket route even an option? I'm still naive and inexperienced so thank you for answering my previous question you guys are really cool

Hi i wondering for a 3.6 VR6 on a porsche cayenne a turbo to gain torque and around 450 hp. Witch setup did you recommend for it ? what kind of turbo ? head gasket spacer, upgrade on fuel system and rest stock ?

I’m looking to build a vR6 3.6L v2 atlas se

What’s Best size head spacer for 400 hp?

You forgot upgraded cooling radiator and oil cooler and a baffled oil pan if track racing. Learn from my experience

Quick question, I'm building a 12v and have a head spacer (9.5 compression) schrick 288 cams, what size injectors do you recommend? I have ID1000 but not planning on running e85 anymore, I have a local gas station that sells 100 octane at the pump

Please do a ea113 2.0 tfsi build 🙏

600bhp mk5 r32 snap crank. 2.8 crank to make an R30 is the way to go here in europe

the pistons in this video are the 2.8 24 or 12 valve ? also, are 3.2 mk4 pistons have the same weak points. ?

I kinda disagree with what was said in the beginning. Yes knock/detonation is caused by poor tuning (this is why having a standalone is important. Failsafe would’ve saved it) but forged pistons are not gonna stop knock/detonation. I’ve seen forged blocks go just as quick. The weak link no matter what will always be rod/journal bearings. Stretched rod bolts. What I disagree with is the HP numbers. I’ve seen 800hp with just spacer and rod bolts. All on a 12v but that power is useless in a FWD car hence why most who are at that and above are usually awd. I don’t say this after building one VRT. I’ve built plenty in my 30+ yrs in the game. 23 as a shop owner. I have a VRT that’s been seeing 30 lbs of boost for 17 yrs without opening it once. Went through a few turbos and a few trans. That’s due to a good build and good tuning. My point is don’t think having forged internals with prevent these things cause they won’t. Detonation don’t give a shit what you got inside. I’ve seen a few broken ringlands on forged pistons. I’ve seen holes burned straight in the middle of the piston. It all comes down to tuning and setting the failsafes so it doesn’t get to that point. What they do is allow you to set your comp ratio better then a spacer. With the spacer you only have 9:1 & 8:1. Pistons you can do 8.5:1 and so on. It also allows for deeper valve pockets for those running big cams. (288’s and bigger). Keep up the good work guys. About time you’re touching a man’s engine. Not that crappy 4 cyl junk. 😁

Whats the average cost for 500whp on a vr6 24v?

Have you guys ever done a 3.6 VR6T on a Passat? Is it possible?

Interested how you deal with the timing chain for the cams... I used a 3.15mm spacer to drop CR to 8.9:1 but it was enough of a lift to mean I had to make a couple of mods to the top chain cover and chain guide to get it to fit where it had pulled the chain up enough to make the tensioner guide catch the cover... I know on the HPA kit where it drops the CR to 7.5:1 they supply a chain with an extra link... is this something you do or anything you would recommend to do to mitigate the inevitable chain fun and games?

U don't need injectors and fuel pump for 400wheel turbo?

Sir I have a 3.6l VR6 2017 Porsche Cayenne base only 43k . I trying to have someone build me a Set of Headers and then Install Headspacer then last Rear Turbo to keep my Engine Bay Cooler. So I volunteer my Engine. 😅😂🤣

Good morning, the vr6 3.2 engine without forged, how much horsepower can it resist?

How can I gain a little more power? I have a 2005 Touareg with a 241 HP 3.2 VR6 engine.

USA VR5 in my friends 2006 Rabbit

@COMotorsports what is your preferred head gasket for a 3.2L motor build using 9:1 pistons instead of a headspacer with plans to run 14-28psi? Block will be slightly overbored to 84.5mm.

Hot content 🔥

I’ve got a mk6 golf r and im just wondering if stage 3 is really worth the money or if stage 2 plus is good enough for a daily.

I just totaled my 2020 mustang gt😢 thinking about buying a 2003 vr6 24v that’s available near me, if I do I want to turbo it, can you please help or give me a list of parts,atleast 500whp is what I’d like. Just need to calculate costs

Get your notepad out ladies and gentlemen we're about to do some learning lmao #VRSICK 🤣

Hey Dave so I want to boost my r32, looking to get400-450. so the spacer should be fine?

Hey dave, im pretty sure thats my motor, ive been meaning to get in contact with you as i lost access to my other email. I hope we can have it in and pushing over 500 whp by april 😅.

do the 12v cranks fit the 24v VR´s?

Maybe you guys can give some insight. I Have a built 3.2 bottom end stock head. Did 3/8 bolts whole nine. But it does have a cast crank mk5 3.2 engine. I want to make close to 800whp. Don’t know if I should change the crank

I would love to see a VR5 build! I was looking for into them but there only seems to be a video in Polish and some french forums. Im sure its quite similar to the VR6 but it would be cool to see the differences and hear them turbo'd! Also question, is the 3.2 vr6 block is the same as a 2.8 block just bored out and with a larger crank stroke?

You can boost my 3.6 Passat lol 2015 sel premium:)

Hey man do you think I can boost my 3.6 Touareg safely without timing too much money? Reliability is a must but budget is Important.

Please explain... why would upgrading to ARP rod bolts change the inner dimensions and require line-boring? Thanks in advance.

Better to drop in lower compression pistons than the spacer?

The VW Mk4 R32 is my dream car. But I can’t afford one that has under 200km/125mi. What’s a better investment - get an R32 with this mileage or do $10k of mods on my stock Mk4 GTI with 240km/150mi to make it pull similar horsepower, get a body kit, paint job, new rims, & coilovers? Thanks!

Hi, I just bought a Audi TT 3.2 VR6. what would be the most reliable and cost effective way to get it to 400bhp mark?

Can I stock vr6 24v be turbocharged without any upgrades to the internals?

No love/mention for the 2.8 24v?

I have a 3.6 VR6 I'm looking to boost and I can't find a headspacer anywhere. By any chance do y'all sell headspacers or know any company's selling them for the 3.6

Smith Frank Hall Jose Gonzalez Ruth

Looking forward to the day the 3.2 I have sitting gets some lovin

Ho guys, pls do the turbo setup video for the 1.8t 😢