1987 Mk2 Golf GTI 3.2 vr6

[carmad.]

the key to welding like that is take your time and keep the panels cool

 

[WSK]

As above - Go even slower than you imagine, small tacks one side, then the other etc - Even have a air blower/dust gun and blow cold air over your welds each time.

Have a MK2 GTI myself, i started to restore and stopped. Would love to re-shell it at this point i think, been keeping an eye out but a good shell not easily found.

 

[cauld1]

Cheers lads, will be using the airline and having 2 people at it, one to weld and one to cool this time.

 

[cauld1]

Got my steering rack and the 'tubes' for the handbrake cables back from cerakote treatment from Nuluk. Really pleased with how they turned out. Will be getting a few more bits done in the near future for engine bay bits.

And then moved the rack to the dirty bench (actual work bench) and got it back in one piece.

Have it fitted up, but need to do some more adjustments as we have put the front arb in upside down so it's fouling the track rod ends. Will hopefully get that sorted at the weekend and photos of it fitted after.

@jayme is coming up tomorrow so we will tackle the drivers quarter panel and hopefully have it sitting right this time....

 

[cauld1]

Drivers arch finally, nearly done.

Just need to weld up the 2 skins for the filler neck and finish rolling the arch lip and welding the inner arch to the outer.

Big thanks to @jayme for the patience in doing most of the work on this bit.

The passenger arch has had all the rust killing and painting done so just needs seamsealer, arch lip rolled and underseal done.

I, eh, also have another engine sorted. Exactly the same, 3.2 24v VR6, comes from a car thats running with less miles. The idea is I can do a service on it, but use it to get this moving (with the itbs), and in the background build the other engine as a proper high compression one to make the most of the itbs etc.

I then have a spare VR6, and a few cars that it could be made to work in.....

 

[cauld1]

Occurs to me that I never added a photo of it with the steering rack in, so here it is.

Didn't get much done today, but progress is progress.

Tailgate glass out, and ready for a bit of repair work.

Plan is to attempt fixing this and remove the wiper/washer hole at the same time. Would be doing that to any replacement panel anyway so may as well have a go.

Got the rust convertor on to the drivers inner arch too (except for the outer section where we need to do some more work).

Hoping to get stuck into smoothing the front slam panel tomorrow as well as finish off the filler neck, then back to work on Wednesday.

Need to also start buying fuel and brake lines to get them run once the back arches are done.

 

[cauld1]

Past few days have been a bit spendy, but all in the right direction.

First up, I ordered a new billet 'crackpipe' from Jaaatt Engineering. I already have an ECS one, but this new one doesn't have the outlet for the water cooled oil filter housing which I'm not using. It'll be getting cerakoted when I have a few other bits gathered to do it. Awful picture, but it's just a billet pipe.

Then I've been thinking about fueling. I had wanted a billet fuel rail, but getting one in stock was looking to be very slow. They also have inlets and returns on opposite ends so would be messier than I'd want in the engine bay for fuel lines. So I'll be getting the standard one modified to take AN fittings and then cerakoted too. As part of that I bought an adjustable drop in FPR from Bartek.

Next up, fuel pump. A MK3 vr6 in tank upgrade Walbro one will do for what I want.

I also ordered some random bits from VW Classic Parts in Germany, such as a bonnet release cable and a bracket for the fuel tank.

Last thing bought was the thing that I may well regret if it doesn't work as described. A billet bracket and small alternator. As I don't have Aircon or powersteering so no need to have the big factory bracket.

And Vs the standard alternator and bracket.

Will see how it is when it lands from the States in a few weeks hopefully.

Next up to order is hard-line brake and fuel lines, as well as new straps for the fuel tank. No photos of current progress on the shell, but have all the spare holes welded up on the slam panel and just need to tidy them up.

 

[cauld1]

Dreadful photo, but front slam panel holes all welded up. Wee bit more tidying to be done but nearly there.

Passenger inner arch seamsealed. It's not too tidy but key for me was getting the joins well covered.

And the stone chip applied.

Will roll the lip at the weekend and then seal that too.

Also started to the bootlid.

Need to make a repair panel for this. Getting rid of the washer and wipe holes makes it a little more simple.

Drivers arch next weekend.

 

[cauld1]

Finally have the underneath of the car pretty much done.

Got finished up with sealing the drivers rear arch last weekend.

Again, not the tidiest, but there was a lot of welding on this side to cover up! Ran out of the 3m seamsealer I was using so had to switch to Bilt Hamber Dynax seamsealer. To be honest it was a bit more liquid which was probably better for brushing into the welds etc.

And with the stone chip applied.

The passenger side arch got seamsealer where whe rolled it and re stonechipped too.

I'll clean the whole floor up and give it all another coat of stonechip to make sure it's all evenly coated.

Around the filler neck got welded back up too, and turned out better than expected tbh. The car is upside down in the photo if it looks wrong way round. This will need some more tidying but pretty much sorted.

Hoping to get the inside tidied and seal whatever needs sealed up to the bulkhead in the next week or so.

Also waiting for another bootlid to cut sections from the blank my wiper holes and hopefully keep the bends in the panel.

Then it will be a case of putting the back suspension and fuel tank in and running the main brake and fuel hardliners. Can then take it off the rotisserie and into its wheels to finish the dry build and engine bay, then wait for paint. Just like that

 

[natogreen16v]

Looks tidy Conor. Where did you get the Bilt Hamber seam sealer? online I assume?

 

[cauld1]

Back at it again.

Dug out the standard front wings and arch extensions, massively better fit than the aftermarket cheapo ones I have.

Unfortunately the standard front wings aren't likely to work as I need steering lock.

So tried one of the wider fibreglass wings on the drivers side. The extensions look terrible on these because of the size of them, so tried some textured paint in the rough outline of what the extension should be. Will likely get the rear extensions, bumpers and this bit done on the same paint so it all matches.

Got the cae shifter fitted.

As well as the rear axle and fuel tank.

This allowed for running the hard fuel lines and brake lines. Leaving it all a bit too long to allow room to play with when I've the engine etc in. Also fitted the servo delete and pedal box to help line stuff up.

 

[cauld1]

Finally, an update of sorts! Have been neglecting this due to being busy with changing jobs, doing an advanced diploma, heading to shows with the e34, buying a daily that ended up taking up time to tidy up to a point I'm really happy with it (ongoing but nearly there).

Bought most of the exhaust system. Went for a 2.5 inch Trackslag one, really happy with the quality of it.

Came with all it needed to fit it. Hopefully get to putting it on over the weekend. Went for twin straight pipes as I think that will fit in with the overall look best. That just leaves a manifold and down pipe to be made. Need to get the engine etc back in before looking at that.

Also ended up going for another bootlid which after looking at it was easier to just weld the wiper/washer hole up rather than cut up to fix the original one. This is also in progress but getting there.

And, pic of my new daily which I posted on another thread a while back. This is my 4th golf (3 mk2s and then this Mk5). Enjoying it more than I thought, some sill welding to finish before going for not and that should be it sorted for a while. I do have still static coilovers for it too, so I am half heartedly looking for 19s and big brakes....

 

[wbrown343]

This is gonna be some project! The tbs and the billet cam cover are something else, makes me wanna tb the v8 hopefully see this at dubshed!

 

[cauld1]

This is gonna be some project! The tbs and the billet cam cover are something else, makes me wanna tb the v8 hopefully see this at dubshed!

Cheers, it's kinda completely on hold atm. Underneath is done, just to finish the engine bay and dry build before paint. It'll definitely not be at Dubshed next year (E34 probably won't either)

But I'm now changing the E34 engine (also going to be a 3.2 6 cylinder on itbs as it turns out) and tidying bits on it first instead.

Edited to add, definitely do put itbs on the V8. Think of the noise.

 

[wbrown343]

Cheers, it's kinda completely on hold atm. Underneath is done, just to finish the engine bay and dry build before paint. It'll definitely not be at Dubshed next year (E34 probably won't either)

But I'm now changing the E34 engine (also going to be a 3.2 6 cylinder on itbs as it turns out) and tidying bits on it first instead.

Edited to add, definitely do put itbs on the V8. Think of the noise.

Think of the thousands spent too though smiles per miles tho

I've just came across the e34 thread now! Thats me sorted till hometime friday. Fair play for keeping a couple projects like that ticking over