Stock RS2 Improvements?

[Glen Chamberlain]

Hi chaps
After being without my old S2 (ABY) for a number of years I have recently acquired an RS2 that i intend to keep reasonably stock. I have a few bits and pieces to do, bushes, ARB drop links, discs & pads etc to start with but in the line of Engine/Power upgrades i was thinking:

1) Complete 3" stainless Exhaust replica of stock with no CATS, (the stock one is rotten) I have local guy that can make this based on the original for a fraction of the price of a MILTEK.

2) Black SAMCO boost hose kit.

3) Re-MAP (not sure who to do this? does Paul N (S2Central) do something for this, as his stock 3b/ABY homefrie chip used to be highly recommended & he remapped my Stock S2 with an RS2 turbo last time?


I dont want to go silly as i know from experience how much money you can easily sink into an S2/RS2.

I have been reading the forum for a few days to review previous RS2 info but as the forum has grown there is a mass of info available often with conflicting opinions.

Any views would be appreciated?

Thanks,
Glen.

[Ross]

If it's not done already, tighten it up with a bit of suspension & drivetrain overhaul. Bushes, top mounts etc. Then tweak the hell out of it for good reliability.

The Samco boost and coolant hoses would be on the list if I were you, along with the plastic coolant pipe on the back on the head (replace it with Rusty's alloy version), all jubilee clips that are not new and fairly heavy duty, put a clean or performance air filter in there (i run foam in the stock air box). Also service + ignition if required - up the boost and tired coils will present an issue.

You've already said exhaust... I have a Neuspeed RARB on mine (for the B5 RS4 i believe) and Koni shocks, which I personally prefer over stock although I'm looking to go coil overs at some point.

Brakes should be fine although I'm spoilt with the factory big brake upgrade on mine. As for power - I have replaced the turbo with a decent K26/7 hybrid unit. It already had a rather primitive hybrid otherwise I'd have kept the stock one.

Then a custom remap is ideal but you can still get an MRC hi-boost setup; PRJ will sell a stock, safe remap I believe too. Paul (s2central) was off the scene but as of about a week ago has been resurrected, so I would ask him re: availability. I know he was working on something a good while ago.

[Glen Chamberlain]

Thanks for the info i'll add the coolant hoses to the list!

I am on with tightening it up a little, i am fitting stock bushes not up-rated ones as i wont be working her too hard and want to retain a degree of comfort. The brakes are being retained as stock but are being serviced.

I don't really want to change the turbo because that will only be the start of things to come if i go down that road!

The re-map is a must as my re-mapped stock ABY (with an RS2 Turbo) had more grunt than this RS2 does. I want to exploit the potential that is in the ADU engine over the ABY without going silly. I'll drop Paul and email to see what he says on the re-map front. I'll also look into the other options you suggested, thanks.