Project GTI: The Saga Continues
The Final Evolution

If it feels like an eternity since the last update, you wouldn’t be wrong.

Although more of a figurative eternity, rather than a literal one, the last five months have mostly been spent using the car as I had always intended to: daily driving with the occasional fast road blast. To be quite frank, the car has been a joy over the relatively calm winter months that we’ve had in Ireland. Touch wood that it stays that way.

What’s prompted this update was the recent discovery of a to-do list that was buried deep within my iPhone. It was a reminder that there are still things that need doing in order to finish what I’ve started. While there was the temptation to change into a Golf MK7 R at the end of last year, I came around to the idea that there’s still at least one more good summer of driving to be had in the GTI, before another project commences.

So, at the start of February I revived that to-do list and started working my way through them. First, and crucially, was something that I’ve always wanted to do with the car which involves our friends at RAYS.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-4
PGTI Extra TE37-1

I rarely speak of the small things that sometimes get under my skin within the realm of car culture, but one of them is the incorrect fitment of wheels on FWD cars. I’ve lost count of the amount of cars I’ve seen over the years with wide rears and narrow fronts, which is fine if you want to induce understeer and have less traction with your wrong wheel drive platform. To be fair, for show cars and style orientated builds, it makes no odds, but from a performance perspective, it’s – literally – backwards.

I originally made plans for this way back when we converted the front of the GTI to wider fenders, subtly adding roughly an inch to either side. Since this conversion, I’ve continued to run my custom painted Volk Racing ZE40s with 225/40/18 tyres on all four corners, as I did with the original narrow fenders.

PGTI Extra TE37-1-2

With no room to move the tyre out the way, at least without adding all of the negative camber, I needed to add the required increase in tread to the inside, which required a slightly different wheel setup on the front axle. Of course, as all true enthusiasts know, this was all the reason I needed in order to completely change my entire setup.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-10

Many, many hours were lost to the vast RAYS catalog, while willtheyfit.com was open in a separate tab in order to calculate the various options that I had before me. The rear fitment has always been perfect, so I was keen to maintain that if possible, while figuring out the added width at the front was where I focused most of my time, along with tyre size and the differential from front to rear.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-15

It did take some time to make a decision, as I wandered between two different aesthetics. Originally, I wanted to run a front wheel setup with strong concavity to contrast against the rear. This would have required modifying my hubs to take a 5×114.3 wheel (VW fitment is 5×112) which quickly started to spiral out of control; my hubs are stud converted already, so would need new studs. Then the news studs would be too large to fit the wheels, so the wheels would have to be drilled. After all this, I would then have different front and rear PCD, which would be nightmare if I needed to change a wheel in case of puncture etc. It just wouldn’t be worth it.

In the end, we decided to keep it simple with off the shelf 5×112 options.

I’ll come to the model choice in a moment, because the sizes and offset are the most significant part of this. I was able to more or less match the rear fitment I currently have; ET44 on the ZE40s, with the TE37s being ET42. The front is where the biggest difference lies. Instead of an 18×8.5-inch ET24 equivalent, my new fronts are 18×9-inch ET50.

The higher offset at the front increases the width on the inside, moving the wheel and tyre closer to the strut, where I currently have acres of room. It also allows me the freedom to play with spacers in order to balance the fitment. To start, I currently have an order in with ST Suspensions for a pair of 20mm DZX System spacers which will poke the new fronts by just 0.6mm, despite the increase in overall width.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-28

Having owned my ZE40s for over two years, there was only ever going to be one choice to replace them: the new TE37 Saga. When I ordered the ZE40s previously, I agonised for so long over whether to go for those or TE37s. This time around, the decision was a lot easier to make, especially considering that they come in a variety of GTI fitments off the shelf.

Some will bemoan the choice as being too obvious, but there’s a reason why so many people, all over the world, choose the TE37 for their cars. It’s one of the best and most iconic wheel designs out there. In my opinions, it’s the best wheel design of all time. It suits so many cars, and for me, it perfectly exemplifies the Japanese feel that I want to achieve with Project GTI.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-24

In some ways, the TE37 has been a victim of its own success, in that the design has been copied and ripped off so many times over the years. Although they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, there’s no beating the original. RAYS have stepped up things in order to stay ahead of the counterfeiters, including beautiful and ornate machining within the Volk Racing logo which adorns a single spoke, with other small engravings around the lip of the wheel.

The anti-slip knurling, which is a common feature across the RAYS range, also features. This is designed to prevent the tyre bead from slipping.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-33

The TE37 Saga is one of the latest iterations of a wheel design which goes back 20 years. The Touring Evolution was originally designed to bridge the gap between outright race car and performance street car. With focus on light weight and rigidity, the Saga is a simple evolution of these principles, but designed with modern, more powerful cars and heavier cars in mind. Nearly five years ago, Dino wrote a succinct history of the TE37. Want to know where the ’37’ comes from? Click through and find out. It’s okay, we’ll wait for you here.

To balance the added weight in the modern car, larger brake systems and larger tyres are required which ask more of the wheels. After 12 months of development, the Saga offers increased rigidity and performance over its predecessors to suit contemporary cars.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-44

With model, sizes and offsets decided, the only remaining choice to make was colour: Bronze or Diamond Dark Gunmetal. With gold wheels already on the car, which were originally Diamond Dark Gunmetal, I ticked the same option box as the first time around.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-49

They might just be wheels, but the paint finish on them is exemplary. Multiple coats of wheel sealant will be added before they’re fitted to protect them as best as I can. With the car currently sat under eight inches of snow – and counting – I should have lots of time before these are eventually mounted to the car to get that done. I do have some other small changes that I plan on making, so these will likely be the icing on the cake when they go on and herald the end of the project.

Throughout the project, I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from OEM. When trying to decide just how much of a reverse stagger to run, I looked to Audi’s new RS3 for an idea of where to start. The five-cylinder and Haldex equipped Audi is offered with a reverse stagger from factory: 19×8.5-inch fronts equipped with 255/30/19 rubber versus 19×8-inch rears with 235/35/19 tyres.

With the TE37s running in 18×9-inch fronts and 18×8.5-inch rears, they will be paired with 245/35/18 and 225/40/18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4s (note: PS4, not PS4S) respectively. This is the same half-inch rim width and 20mm tyre width difference as the Audi. I know they’re very different cars, but it’s as good a starting point as any.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-54

I’ll always have the option later to go wider or narrower depending on how the driving experience is affected. I’m quite keen not to over-tyre the car, and to keep the feel of the car alive while increasing traction on the street. It’s just about finding that balance which is entirely down to personal preference.

2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-60

With all going to plan, I hope to have the car finished by the end of this month. There’s a lot to be done, although it’s more finishing touches at this point rather than completely overhauling any one particular aspect of the car. It’s currently 90% the car I envisioned it being from day one, but that last 10% is maybe what requires the most focus and discipline.

To give you an idea of what’s left to do, my review period with the Tarox brake kit is up, so I’ll be replacing that with an OEM inspired and cost friendly kit which I’m currently putting together. I’m also looking into adding slightly more aggression to the front of the car – purely from an aesthetic standpoint – while also looking for more support inside the car. Finally, optimising the car for our (pathetic) Irish fuel has been underway for a while, with final mapping to make the most of what we have here.

With all of these done, and only then, the TE37s can be bolted on. When the car is lowered down off the trolley jack with them fitted, I will know that I’ve finally finished what I set out to do.

Could this be the first finished project car in the history of mankind?

Paddy McGrath
Instagram: pmcgphotos
Twitter: pmcgphotos
paddy@speedhunters.com

Even More GTI
2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-6
2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-20
2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-26
2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-45
2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-46
2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-56
2018 Project GTI Volk Racing TE37 Saga Unboxing Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-59
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1

After binging every single Project GTI article last night i was longing for more and then you post another one! The way each article is written has given me an attachment to your project like it is my own. Having a MK7 GTI myself i can only hope it looks as good as yours in a few years. What i really want to know is how accommodating have your insurance company been throughout the project? I mentioned the possibility of a BBK and new wheels to mine and they nearly had a fit :(

Author2

Thanks for the comment. I've hadn't had any issues so far with my insurance company but they seem to be one of the rare ones. There was no added charge for my wheels or brakes from memory.

3

Good stuff

4

I like your articles. tasteful choices on the car. But this is more or less an unpackaging if parts. Incomplete. Should have waited until you had them mounted.

Author5

I had promised an update in February, and truth be told, I thought I'd be finished everything but there were some holdups due to the weather here. Don't worry, the next one will be the finished article.

6

Just jabbin ya. I look forward to seeing them on the car.

7

Man, i love the TE37's but the price for one wheel is just beyond sane (at least here in Switzerland)

Author8

It's very much a case of getting what you pay for. Light, strong, cheap. Pick two.

9

yeah, but then again, never seen reports about the cheaper buddyclub wheels breaking

Author10

A similar sized Buddy Club forged 18-inch is in the same ballpark (price wise) as a TE37, when comparing like for like.

11

you custom ordered wheels and are planning on using spacers????
Id be more than happy to lend you my tape measure, heck ill even show you how to use it....

Author12

I didn't custom order, they were straight off the shelf. To get the exact right fitment it would have required converting the car to 5x114.3 as detailed above. I'm happy with the spacer situation, because I have the ability to run a smaller spacer if I want to run more tyre without fear of rubbing the front arches.

13

Like how "Man can never be hot" A "Project car shall never be finished"

Author14

This post definitely needed more Big Shaq. Approved.

15

Very nice Paddy! Look forward to the install!
I was really hoping for a wheel selection that would involve Rays' Gunmetal Blue. I can't get enough of that colour!

Author16

That's a proper cool colour.

17

interesting you say about the fuel, I brought my Golf R home to Cork for a weeks holiday last summer and it felt like a bag of spanners under the bonnet on Irish fuel. Awful stuff.

GTi looks stunning.

Author18

It's definitely dependant on where you get the fuel, but absolutely best case it's 95RON with 5% bioethanol.

I was at a rolling road day here recently, where a stage 2 Golf 7R made ~360hp even with NF Race additive, that's usually ~400hp in the UK.

19

I started reading Project GTi a year ago and binged every single post about it. Love the set up you've gone for Paddy and been using your project as an inspiration (note: not imitation) for my own project. I've noticed that you've, having followed you on Instagram, that you installed the OSRAM LEDriving XENARC MK7 headlight conversion. What are they like as this was a mod I was looking to get myself to replace the standard halogens on my Mk6.

20

I'll cover them in a future update, but the whole install was documented for PVW magazine. I do recommend them based upon my experiences so far.

21
Pernell Roberts

Lord knows how many days on I've been hoping to see an update on the Project GTI series. Thank you. sir!
And yes I myself now have to wait for this post to be completed with mounting.
Interesting seeing you addressing the fwd wheel width and fitment, being a mazdaspeed3 owner running 235 front 225 rear, truly appreciate your clinical approach to every step with your car Paddy, its like a guide to many.

22

Thanks, Pernell. I don't claim to be an authority, just trying to do things for myself and figuring it out as I go along.

23

I'll be one of the bemoaners. I commend people who travel deep underground to uncover some wild wheels nobody else has ever seen if not heard of. I don't give local TE37s a second look anymore because it's such a saturated market.

24

That's fair enough, but I didn't choose them to be different or anything like that. I chose them because they're exactly what I need for what I want to do with the car.

If you like the unusual, you might enjoy an upcoming story we have after a visit to Izanami Wheels.

25

Great choice! Best wheels ever!

26

Great update Paddy, love to see how this car has evolved over the past couple of years. Your updates have given me food for thought on improving my own car ('14 Civic) especially when it comes to wrong wheel drive improvements and suspension/tire information.

Surprised to hear you'll be thinking of selling it after next summer, wont you be sad to see it go once you finally get it 100% dialed in?

thanks!

27

Absolutely, but I don't have the means to store it and keep it forever and you have to move on at some stage. The build is the most enjoyable part of the process, although I'm looking forward to lots of driving in it this summer.

28

So you are going back to the Michelin's! How did you find the Conti's I am not sure you posted your thoughts on them after you swapped previously?

29

I genuinely found the Continentals (Premium Contact 6) to be very good tyres on a day to day basis, especially in poor conditions. I went to the PS4 because I've had good experience with them and can get them relatively cheap, too. I wouldn't rule out trying the Sport Contact 6 in future.

30

Whoa Audi selling oversteer now too?

31
Hans from Fance

pas op voor de sneeuw, ken gaaan roestenna een tied!

32

Already have washed underneath the car, don't worry :)

33

I really enjoy reading your articles and even more, enjoy the pictures being into photography myself.

With regards to the poor quality of Irish fuel and running a Subaru Impreza daily here myself, it really depends where you get the fuel from. So far a Maxol station near be seemed to be the one that my car runs the best. On Shell Vmax though while I was in London last year, there was a significant difference. Shame we can't get anything 98Ron here.

Have you considered/looked into Water methanol injection as an option for the poor quality fuel issue as that's where I am heading with my own upgrades? Imho, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks especially for a turbocharged car.

34

I tend to stick to Maxol, Topaz or Texaco. I've tried Topaz' new Miles Plus, but there's no difference whatsoever, it's still 95RON.

I've considered Water / Meth, but it's just not something for me. I'll get my current setup optimised on the dyno and it should be golden. I'm running a low boost configuration at the moment which makes 308hp / 300lbs/ft and the car drives lovely, so keen to just build on that.

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