StormyTommy 0 Posted January 16, 2012 Decided to check out the state of my VR's timing chain. Took rocker cover off & found the top tip of the resin pad of top tensioner has snapped off by rivets, also on the top chain guide the plastic 'bolt hole' has gone. I've booked into Stealth Racing to get chains, clutch and head done - a spur of the moment decision. I'm getting thermostat housing and gearbox oil changed at the same time - water pumps & serpintine belt + tensioner pulley bearing have been done lately. Anyone got other suggestions of things to get done while that lots going on? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lauraJ 0 Posted January 16, 2012 If you're having the clutch replaced would be worth having the release arm replaced aswell, only costs about a tenner. Hope the work goes well, the lads at stealth are great :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StormyTommy 0 Posted January 16, 2012 Ok, cheers for that, I'll give Vince a call when I've gathered up a few ideas. Not been there before but I've heard good things about them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 1 Posted January 16, 2012 Yep... Stealth are one of two VW specialists I'd consider using personally! They know the Corrado inside out! :) Your car will be in good hands. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benjevw 10 Posted June 6, 2012 Hey man have you had this done yet? Thinkin of gettin mine done at stealth. Ben Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C5 OEM 0 Posted June 6, 2012 Get your piggy bank out and burn the invoice...!!! to hide it from your other half...!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 0 Posted June 6, 2012 I drive 85 miles to get to stealh, worth it, wouldnt take my VR6 anywhere else! been going to vince for nearly 10 years... hes currently building my VR6 gearbox with new new bearings, seals, 3.68 final drive, cant wait to get that in along with my schimmel 263's :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benjevw 10 Posted June 6, 2012 Get your piggy bank out and burn the invoice...!!! to hide it from your other half...!!! Lmao exactly what I was thinkin dude!! I've just been on the phone to stealth(might have been vince? Not sure). He said its Gunna be £750 to do chains, tensioners, clutch and rear crank seal!! A lot of money but deffo still a good price! Unfortunately I've emptied the piggyback already to buy the car! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
poll250 0 Posted June 6, 2012 When you consider the cost of the parts + the labour to get at the chains, £750 is very reasonable. I'd echo everyone else's sentiments about Stealth, I wouldn't take my car anywhere else. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 1 Posted June 6, 2012 I think given the work involved and the cost of all the parts, that's a pretty good deal.. given the choice between doing the job myself and paying £750 to have it all done, that's a no brainer! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted June 6, 2012 Bargain. Might take mine there instead of doing chains myself. Bitten off a bit more than I can chew with my corrado. And need a proper 2nd opinion. Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Portent 0 Posted June 6, 2012 That's a good price. From memory I think the previous owner of mine got similar work done at DG for about £1k including VAT a year and a half ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DriverVR6 11 Posted June 6, 2012 (edited) Is that £750 for labour and including all of the parts? If so, then that's not that bad. However, I will be doing mine myself. I've only ever taken my car once to a garage, that was in 2000 and to a main VW franchise dealer. They didn't identify or rectify the problem (water leak from a cracked thermostat housing) and they just simply did a pressure test and normal service. So guess what, I didn't pay them a penny for the "diagnostics" or the service and did the repair work myself. Sorry, but I don't care what someones reputation is, I always do all of my own repairs and maintenance to my VR. I've had it for 12 years and it has not broken down or failed on me once. I've seen enough "repairs" to other cars to simply trust no one..... By the way, you don't need any special tools to do the timing chains. The only thing that you need that you may not have is a simple metal tool to lock the cams level, and you can make that very easily. Edited June 6, 2012 by DriverVR6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benjevw 10 Posted June 6, 2012 Is that £750 for labour and including all of the parts? If so, then that's not that bad. However, I will be doing mine myself. I've only ever taken my car once to a garage, that was in 2000 and to a main VW franchise dealer. They didn't identify or rectify the problem (water leak from a cracked thermostat housing) and they just simply did a pressure test and normal service. So guess what, I didn't pay them a penny for the "diagnostics" or the service and did the repair work myself. Sorry, but I don't care what someones reputation is, I always do all of my own repairs and maintenance to my VR. I've had it for 12 years and it has not broken down or failed on me once. I've seen enough "repairs" to other cars to simply trust no one..... Yea that's all parts from Vw(or same quality). Tbh I was thinking about buying all the parts myself and doin it with me dad. But the parts prices alone add up to quite a bit, aswell as not having the time to do it all! From the things I've heard about stealth (not just off this forum) I'm more than happy for them to have it for a few days. The only other place would be DGautotech! I got my first C from up there and just couldn't believe the amount of Corrados being seen too! Must know what they're doing... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 15, 2012 Hey, seems like a good time to join the SP263 cams group buy while you're having all that done! ;) ---------- Post added at 11:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 AM ---------- Ouch, 16 hours labour! This is why Stealth are so good value. They can do timing chains on a VR in 6 hours... Worth asking about getting the intermediate pulley and the oil pump transfer shaft replaced at the same time. I believe that's what rattles in high miles VRs.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stonejag 10 Posted June 15, 2012 How much extra work is it to change the chains over when fitting cams? I've seen it can be done without taking the head off but not quite convinced that it's such a good idea... Since I'm only on 87k my chains have never been done - any other awkward service items that I should consider getting done at the same time? Quite tempted by a set of lightened (and shiny!) alloy pulleys from ARZ but I need to watch the spending a little :lol: Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 15, 2012 You can't change the chains without taking the gearbox off. Having the cams out is pretty much irrelevent at that point. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted June 15, 2012 Ouch, 16 hours labour! This is why Stealth are so good value. They can do timing chains on a VR in 6 hours... You always get over-inflated quotes like that from garages who can't be arsed. Stealth are about the only garage I know who don't groan or suck their teeth when chains are mentioned. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 16, 2012 The book time for the timing chain replacement is simply quoted as "10+ hours". Even the official factory manuals don't quote a number.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VR6matty 0 Posted June 16, 2012 Just want to echo the sentiments around the service and work being done by stealth, it's the only place I have ever taken my vr and ever will do. Good people to know and very friendly guys, been going to them for about 6yrs now and that 750 for the clutch chains and tensioners has not changed in this time slap on another 750 and you get a full head refurb also. They also make quite a nice turbo :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spartacus74 10 Posted June 30, 2012 Is there a particular point at which you need to get the chains changed? I've been toying with giving stealth a call to get the chains changed and head done. Maybe with other items worth doing at the same time when I know what I should be getting done. Car although running alright rattles a bit when cold, and needs a lot of work doing to it - but be good to start with its heart. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 30, 2012 The chains rattling makes a distinctive noise, and it doesn't happen at idle either. Reports on here suggest that chain tensioners can be failing anywhere between 70k miles and 150k+, but I think the majority of folks find a problem and do something in the 100k -120k miles region. "Rattles when cold" is pretty normal for an ageing VR and is highly likely to be something other than the chains.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
