27 replies to this topic

[JakeMcC]

After a little persuasion I'll try and keep a thread going here as well as on the Mk1 OC Forum. Anyone reading this probably already knows me from my MK4, link is in my sig.

After finally getting my Mk4 to a point where I'm happy with it as a reliable (? ) daily, I decided I needed another project to properly get stuck into. My dad considered giving me his unfinished Triumph Spitfire project for my 21st, and I went to have a look at a pretty cool Mk3 classic Mini shell with a Metro Turbo swap, but in the end when I discovered my uncle was selling his Mk1 Golf I couldn't resist…



The car is a 1983 1.3 Driver edition. My uncle adapted some Mk3 Recaros to fit and it was fitted with a towbar at some point but apart from that it seems to be completely stock. The plan for this is to do a full restoration - bare metal, nut and bolt rebuild. I'll hopefully be swapping in an ABF 2.0 16V and most likely running it on ITBs. Currently I'm thinking the shell will be painted in RAL5009 which is similar to VW Monaco Blue, and will run small chrome bumpers, riding on 3 piece 15" wheels. This could all change as I work on it though!

It has a few patches that need attention...









..but is overall a very solid shell. Nevertheless, it'll be getting a thorough restoration. First job is stripping it down - started off with the interior. Mad quick release seat belt function, no need to undo any bolts, just pull!





Windows out so the headliner can be removed...



And interior stripped.



Next job is to disconnect the engine loom and pull the fuse box with the rest of the dash/interior loom, then it's time to pull the engine!

I've already started collecting bits, early front grill, chrome grill trim and badge, chrome waist and sill trims, and early chrome front bumper (managed to get a genuine one!).

-Jake

[JakeMcC]

Reserving a post so I can have a final build sheet thing like my MK4 thread

[Calico]

The stripes say its a GTi to me but the wheels dont lol not sure why they put the stripes on a 1.3

[pistolpedro]

Being a driver model it would have come from the factory with stripes

 

3 door non sunroof MK1 you've hit the jackpot! looking forward to future updates

 

personal view - I'd be wary of backdating the car with small bumpers, unless you go all in with small rear light panel, early dash, interior etc they always look a bit off

[JakeMcC]

The stripes say its a GTi to me but the wheels dont lol not sure why they put the stripes on a 1.3

Yup, as @pistolpedro said - the driver edition had the stripes, arch spats, and a nicer interior than the rest of the non-GTIs. Basically a factory GTI replica without the badges and red grill trim

Being a driver model it would have come from the factory with stripes

3 door non sunroof MK1 you've hit the jackpot! looking forward to future updates

personal view - I'd be wary of backdating the car with small bumpers, unless you go all in with small rear light panel, early dash, interior etc they always look a bit off

Cheers! I'll try and keep the thread as up to dat as possible

I totally get what you mean about the bumpers - although the reason I'm going for the small ones is because I think the big ones cover up too much of the shape of the car, not because I want to make it look like an S1 - I feel that's almost like sticking a GTI badge on a non GTI

I know it'll probably annoy the Mk1 purists, but so will sticking a Mk3 engine in it haha.

[Ruined_brain]

     

[Adam_Jonezy]

Glad you've put a thread on here mate.
Sod the purists, make it your own. Keeping a car completely stock and not doing what you want to do to it just to make a few extra quid at a later date is like not sleeping with your Mrs to save her for the next guy.

Make it unique and your own, I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread. Love mk1s 👌

[adam-]

Mmmm, crusty.

[JakeMcC]

Glad you've put a thread on here mate.
Sod the purists, make it your own. Keeping a car completely stock and not doing what you want to do to it just to make a few extra quid at a later date is like not sleeping with your Mrs to save her for the next guy.

Make it unique and your own, I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread. Love mk1s 👌

It's already got more interest here than I expected so I'll be trying to stick plenty of updates on

Good point on not keeping it stock haha, plus Mk1s are so simple it's not terribly hard to put back to stock if I ever need to sell it!

[TomasLT]

2.0 is slow and heavy..... if you must go petrol, do 1.8t


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[JakeMcC]

2.0 is slow and heavy..... if you must go petrol, do 1.8t

Not Mk4 2.0, ABF from the Mk3. On throttle bodies
and decent exhaust should get about 165-170bhp which I reckon is enough for the Mk1...

[John130]

Not Mk4 2.0, ABF from the Mk3. On throttle bodies
and decent exhaust should get about 165-170bhp which I reckon is enough for the Mk1...

Looking forward to following this thread

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[TomasLT]

Not Mk4 2.0, ABF from the Mk3. On throttle bodies
and decent exhaust should get about 165-170bhp which I reckon is enough for the Mk1...

Yeah, got it first time. It’s a capable engine. I like turbos tho

Great stuff anyways
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Edited by TomasLT, 24 April 2019 - 08:00 PM.

[JakeMcC]

Yeah, got it first time. It’s a capable engine. I like turbos tho

Great stuff anyways

Was half tempted to go for a 16vT but I reckon I'll save that for when I get bored of throttle bodies some day

Cheers!

[JakeMcC]

Bought myself an engine.

£310 for an ABF block with a ported head and baffled sump. I like that Just need to sort out a gearbox, flywheel, clutch, throttle bodies, ECU, loom... Hmm.

[rainbird]

Nice find that. Has the engine proven itself previously then? Decent figures?

[JakeMcC]

Nice find that. Has the engine proven itself previously then? Decent figures?

The guy reckoned 165 on stock induction but he never got round to finishing the car it was supposed to go in so it was never dynoed Apparently you can make about 190 on throttle bodies with the head work, not bad gains for a naturally aspirated engine thats 150 stock!

[JakeMcC]

Got some wheels! 15x8J Image DM - 3 piece with hidden hardware. They're 4x108 so will need the inserts machined or hubs redrilled. Also got the centre caps but didn't have them on for the pics!

[JakeMcC]

Got some more bits - genuine chrome front bumper, looks like it's never even been used on a car! Got the chrome waist trims and sill trims too and the chrome grill surround.

Picked my engine up too, guy gave me a free engine stand which was kind of him

[JakeMcC]

Taking a break from the Mk1 for a bit as I'm driving around Ireland in this with my mate Charlie, seen here broken down at the side of the road! It's a 1929 Austin 7

Got some of the engine stripped down before I left - alternator, water pump, oil filter housing, etc. all removed.



Cams and lifters seem to look in decent condition, oil is clean too.



A look at the head porting, looks very well done, good job around the valves as well. It was done by Dave Crissell, a well known name in the 16v head porting world!



Bores aren't in bad condition, a bit glazed so will be honed.



Just thought this was a cool looking photo.

Edited by JakeMcC, 20 December 2019 - 11:41 AM.

[JakeMcC]

Started stripping the engine bay. Everything is now disconnected apart from the gearbox linkage.



Started on the suspension.



Bought some VDO gauges from an Audi 80. A little bracket bending and they fit nicely. That's voltage, oil temperature, and oil pressure.



Did a fitment check. Might be able to run 8Js flush but it'll be very tight. We'll see. Can always step the lips down to 1".

[JakeMcC]

Collected some parts today - Klokkerholm rear arch repair panels, both inners and outers and for both sides.

 

 

And a brand new South African genuine VW boot lid. Very happy about this as my boot lid is a bit of a state and my uncle had this one stashed away!

 

Edited by JakeMcC, 30 June 2019 - 09:19 PM.

[JakeMcC]

Finally got round to lifting the 1.3 engine out. Not much left to remove now before I can send the shell off to get blasted!

[Glendil]

Coming along nicely


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[JakeMcC]

Bit of a late update here, been busy with uni and messing around working with various teams… Did the 24h of Spa with Garage 59.



Plenty of messing with the University Formula Student car, I'm designing and building the engine loom for the 2020 car.



And have been working as a mechanic for Team Dolan and their Formula Ford 1600s (that's me on the right!)



Continued stripping the shell of the Mk1. The more I take off the more I'm surprised by just how clean this car is! Started stripping the sound deadening on the floor too.





Stripped the wiring loom, all labelled. All engine loom components will be removed as I'll be building my own loom for the engine, as I'm removing engine bay wires all other wires will be checked for damage. I'll likely also remove all of the mounting tabs for the body loom, as I'll be replacing those with a more modern solution.





Alloy radiator arrived, along with two fans. The fans had bullet connectors on them which I'm not keen on so they were promptly replaced with Deutsch DTM plugs. I'm using the open barrel crimp pins as I don't have a tool to crimp the closed barrel motorsport spec ones, I'll see how these hold up. The DTM pins are rated to 7.5A which is techinically enough but I might go up to a size 16 contact in the DT plug just to give a bit of safety margin as weight isn't a major concern.





I also picked up a set of throttle bodies, trumpets, injectors, and throttle linkage for a good price. (Need to get rid of one!) They're the real deal Jenvey 45s, I want to go a little shorter on the trumpets to match the inlet manifold I'm using and need to look at injector sizing. The injetcors are stock 1.8T ones which I imagine should be fine.



Did some CAD to check wheel and brake fitment. I picked up a set of Wilwood Dynalite calipers but they'll need spaced to fit the G60 discs as they're designed for much skinnier discs. Tolerance between the wheel bolts and caliper looks tight but it's just the perspective - there's plenty of room. The wheels will need 20mm spacers so rather than messing with redrilling the wheels I've decided to run 20mm adapters. They'll also need stepped down from a 2.5" lip to 1.5" to fit the stock arches.







Think that's all - my uncle gave me an AEM ECU he had sitting in the garage, not sure if he'll need it back but itll allow me to get the engine running on something. Progress will be slow over the next few months as I'll be back over in England but I should be able to continue sourcing parts.

Edited by JakeMcC, 20 December 2019 - 11:42 AM.

[rainbird]

Good stuff man - and yay for updates!

Uncle sounds like a good bloke, at least he must be to have th elikes of AEMs knocking about - has he got any interesting toys?

[JakeMcC]

Cheers!

My uncle has a few toys, his 911 is a stunner, and he's got a 914 and an MG Midget too.



Some interesting cars in our family for sure! My dad has a beautiful Austin Healey 3000 and is currently restoring a Triumph Spitfire He's also got a Morris Minor tucked away in a shed that he might get round to restoring some day...



Being interested in cars wasn't really a choice for me, it's in the blood!

[JakeMcC]

Got a little more done today in between shed tidying and reorganising. Removed the drivers side door and wing. The wings are stuck on pretty tight, took a lot of effort to get them off! No alarming amounts of rust behind the panel which is nice.



Also drilled the spot welds on the battery tray and various brackets in the engine bay. I won't be doing a full shave and tuck but it tidies it up a bit as I'll be moving the battery to the spare wheel well and using a small Tudor washer bottle, no point having a few litres of washer fluid in something that's not driven daily!