Resurrection of the GTI Build Thread

How She Sits Now




The List:

Interior
Black Interior Trim Pieces
Fiber Optic Starlight Headliner (work in progress)
Wiechers Roll Cage (work in progress)
OEM Blue Euro Recaro Seats
Custom Two Tone Cupra R Steering Wheel
Alcantara Blue Suede Door Cards and Shift Boot
Blue Suede Cargo Cover
Custom Fiberglass Trunk Setup w/ Suede VW Logo False Floor
2 12" Pioneer 950w Subwoofers
6.5" Alpine Type-S Speakers
Pioneer Double Din Radio
Carbon Fiber Wrapped Radio Cage
Hidden Push To Start
VW 3D cut upper vents
Arm Rest Delete
Audi TT Pedals
Monster Mats
Short Shifter
Auto Roll Down Windows
Euro Switch
Color Swapped All Buttons to Blue LEDs
Blue Led Floor Lighting
VDO Pillar Mounted Boost Gauge
AEM Pillar Mounted Air/Fuel Gauge

Exterior
Custom Mixed Teal Metallic Paintjob
Tuxedo Black Metallic Roof
Boser Hood Extension
R32 Front Bumper
GLI Side Skirts
R32 Euro Rear Bumper
R32 Rear Spoiler
Shaved Antenna
Shaved Rubstrips
Shaved Side Markers
Shaved Trunk Latch
Hella mk5 style headlights, retrofitted w/ RGB Halos
2 Bar Badgeless Grille
DEPO Smoked LED Taillights
Rolled Fenders
Auto Hatch Pop
Wiper Delete
LED License Plate Lights
VW Logo Puddle Light


Suspension/Braking
Air Lift V2 Management
Air Lift Front and Rear Bags
IDF Drop Plates
Dual 444C ViAir Compressors
5 Gallon Tank Powdercoated White
Polyurethane Dog Mount Bushings
Removed Sway Bar
Rear Stress Bar Powdercoated White
Porsche 911 Calipers Powdercoated Pepsi Blue
Hawk Performance Pads
Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Front and Rear Drilled Slotted Rotors


Wheels
18" OEM Porsche Twists Powder Coated Glossy White
-Front: 18x8 ET: 22 Wrapped in 205/40/18
-Rears: 18x10 ET: 35 Wrapped in 225/40/18
-30MM adapters Front and Rear

Engine
Eurodyne Maestro Tuning
GT3071R Garrett Turbo
CTS 1.8T T3 Turbo Manifold
IE Rods Rifle Drilled
ARP Main Studs
ARP Head Studs
Supertech Exhaust Valves
Supertech Valve Spring Kit
Supertech Valve Guides
Autotech Intake Camshaft
630cc Siemens Injectors
DLI Teknik Motor Mounts
Tial 50mm Q BOV
Tial 38mm Wastegate
MBC
IE Manual Tensioner
DeatschWerks DW65v Fuel Pump
3" Forge Turbo Inlet Pipe
MAFless
AutoTech Short Shift
3" Turbo Back Exhaust
ABD Racing Intake Manifold
Kinetic Motorworks FMIC
Southbend Stage 2 Clutch w/ Lightened Flywheel
Pinion Brace
R8 Coils
Porsche Oil Cap
Coolant Ball Reservoir Delete
Moroso Inline Filler
SAI/EVAP/N249 Delete
Washer Fluid Delete
Power Steering Relocated
NGK BKR7E Spark Plugs





The Story:

My name is Matt and I own a 2005 GTI 1.8T. I've been meaning to start a build thread but since my car is being worked on/stored in the body shop for the winter, I finally made time to start this up. I was 20 years old when I purchased my first GTI in June of 2013. This is how she looked when I bought it. Ignore the HD quality btw





Well this bitter sweet moment only lasted about a couple of months until this happened




I knew that an endless supply of JB Weld and duct tape wouldn't be able fix this so not letting my VW flame die, I purchased another '05 GTI. Came on blown Raceland's woo!








Same day that I bought it, I started putting in some work. I pretty much stripped the entire interior to swap it to black from my old car.






Since I had everything out, I decided to do what mk4 owners do and make my headliner plaid






Started also to Joey Mod my headlights, add my diverter valve, intake manifold, and TIP






Also had to get rid of that Need For Speed looking exhaust


My front mount ending up coming in the mail a few days later




She looked clean:thumbup: (pre intercooler pics)



Had to lose the lip and cut off my bumper to make it fit but it looked alright. I didn't care at that point since I had my mind set of getting the R32 Bumper


And this is why you can't trust New England :banghead:


The weather started to get better, and in that time, I've saved up enough money to get the ball rolling again. I replaced my headlight lenses to glass, added custom CCFL angel eyes, and picked up some LED Helix Taillights from the forums. Also got my vanity plate!






Swapped out the throttle body hose


Hmm seemed like the UPS guy had to bring in the big guns. I wonder what it is


Got my door cards and shift boot wrapped in some alcantara suede


Also vinyl wrapped the radio cage



OEM plus :laugh:



Then all of a sudden, it turned to a wheel week frenzy for me. My Porsche Twists came in the mail, and knowing that I wouldn't have enough time to buy tires, adapters, mount tires, yada yada yada, I ended up sandblasting my Arietta's and plastidipped them white in time to go to Staggered. I couldn't believe the amount of paint that were on my wheels.





And this is how purty she looked at Staggered.


Went back to work a couple of days later. Did the 'Ultimate Delete'



Then i bought a powdercoating gun and started to powdercoat various things for people, starting with my own wheels. They came out amazing if I do say so myself



Once I finally mounted them on, they grew on me so quickly.



Having my subs in the back taking up my whole trunk was becoming a nuisance so I tried something different. Made a few layers of fiberglass to create the molding


Then started to create a cover for it using the existing carpet as a template and a jigsaw cutter


Some more suede for the vw cover and the trunk cover


She grew up so fast


Aaaannd finally the end result, which I was proud of


Changed the plaid to something more suitable to fit my car (probably gonna change it again to something simple like black)





And finally here we are. I probably forgot a few things here and there but whatever if I remember, I'll edit it. So hopefully I'll be able to keep this updated as new things happen to my car so stay tuned!