MK2 Golf 1.6 Driver Project

Rossios

RMS Regular
Messages
140
Location
NI
Hi all,

I've always had a soft spot for MK2 Golfs, I first car was a 1.3 3dr that I bought when I was 16 after working in a local filling station for a full summer. It was the car I learnt basic mechanic skills on and the car I learned to drive in tearing up our neighbours field. Unfortunately I had to sell it (along with another 1.3 5dr I had bought as a donor car) as it needed a full restoration and wasn't a realistic option at the time.
1601833366032.png

I always toyed the idea of getting another MK2 when I got older, but with prices rapidly rising, along with practically issues it seemed further and further out of my reach, until a silly decision one saturday afternoon :grinning:.

A few weeks ago, @martymim and I were discussing a friend of ours, Caleb's, MK2 Golf. It was being stored at his parents house but they were looking it moved ASAP, panic ensued and he went up that day to get small bits on it tidied up and had intended to stick it up for sale that week as a project. I had jokingly said to Martin "sure let's go halfers" and 2 hours later we were on the road to his to purchase it. I've known the car for quite a few years and it is a clean example, but unfortunately this guys brother had 'borrowed' some bits off it for his own MK2 (Most notably the engine!) so it definitely needed some work.
1601834296121.png
1601834276107.png

How it looked then vs how it looks now!
We purchased it as a bit of a project, and not only us 2 but all of the boys to work on at the weekends, something to keep us out of badness. (Martin, Adam, Caleb and myself) Hopefully multiple people working on, making decisions and essentially owning the car, don't create too many arguments.
Seeing as we did save it from possible scrappage or for cuts, I think it gives us free reign to be somewhat heretical with the car, considering they are becoming rarer on today's roads. We will attempt to do all the work ourselves. I think we are confident in nearly all aspects except the paint. So far the rough plan is:
Small displacement engine on bike carbs, converted back to small bumper, unconventional colour, big wheels :oops:

There's no particular goal with the car, not going to be track or fast road car, nor is it going to be an OEM+ restoration, just something for us to screw at over winter and hopefully at the end we will get a somewhat presentable car. This is a first for the most of us, but 4 wrongs make a right I guess?^o).

1601835316079.png
1601835360434.png
1601835968124.png

A few photos of it going into its new home!
Some specs

1989 MK2 Golf 3dr
Atlas Grey
1.6 8v Driver, CE1
150kish miles
Rainbow interior
Big bumper conversion, GTI Grill

Thanks for looking!
 

cauld1

RMS Regular
Messages
5,325
Drives
BMW E34
Good project! Great to hear its going small bumper, theyre better (may be biased there).
 

Coog

Admin
Messages
47,514
Drives
GTI
Nice project, not long finished one myself over the lockdown there earlier this year.
 

Rossios

RMS Regular
OP
Rossios
Messages
140
Location
NI
Good project! Great to hear its going small bumper, theyre better (may be biased there).
If you had to ask me a few years ago I'd had preferred big bumper, but the small bumper has grown on me. Much more retro looking!
Nice project, not long finished one myself over the lockdown there earlier this year.
Been following yours and if this one ever gets to the condition of yours i'll be chuffed!
That takes me back! My 1.6 driver in atlas grey too, long time ago. Mine was a 1987

If you are keeping the 1.6 32/34 dtml Weber carb on it, makes it much more drivable
Retro goodness :cool: , unfortunately the engine, carbs and box didn't come with it, though when it was driving years ago it did have a Weber, was pretty quick for what it was
 

Rossios

RMS Regular
OP
Rossios
Messages
140
Location
NI
So the stripping down and taking apart commenced, sharpie and a tonne of resealable bags is a must!
Boot, rear seats and door cards out, along with the tank drained of petrol.

1602443144777.png
1602443245659.png
1602443477759.png

1602443330127.png


Rear windows removed, one of the more stressful things i've done recently(n)

1602443660973.png
1602443823119.png
 

Rossios

RMS Regular
OP
Rossios
Messages
140
Location
NI
Next up was stripping the rest of the interior,

The dashboard was taken out along with the heater piping, I wish dash removals on MK4s were as handy as MK2s! The car had an after market toad alarm system that was being taken out so it added to the spaghetti mess of the wiring.
1606685117198.png
1606685248015.png

Most of the loom out along with the drawer of pain, will be good fun sorting the loom when it's time for it to go back together :joy:
1606685810360.png
1606685924984.png

Rest of the loom out and the inside given a blow-out
1606686215534.png
1606686314755.png


Last month we got an engine from an RMS member, it's a 1.6 AEE from a Felecia, not particularly the engine we were aiming for but it was very cheap and local so we decided to pick it up, civil fella and very handy dealt with (y). Unfortunately upon taking of the rocker cover there was a hairline crack in it, and moisture got into the head. It doesn't seem too bad and may get away with only a cam, but the cam out of this particular engine seems to actually be a common upgrade for other 8v engines, so it's a part that seems hard to come by 8-(. Not annoyed by it as again the engine was pennies, just unsure whether we should utilize this engine or look for another.

1606686592071.png
1606686691112.png
1606686842928.png


We continued to strip it to see if the moisture had made it's way into anywhere else, took intake and any other accessories off, then took the cam off followed by the head, fortunately the block along with the cylinder walls, pistons and crank all seemed locked away from the moisture and were in good condition.

1606687533096.png
1606687737637.png
1606687617050.png


We are still looking out for another engine but it's no sense of urgency, I've also heard of polo boys using this engine to build a hybrid along with a 16v head, but it doesn't seem to be a common engine used in the conversion. We will see how things go and the temptation to fire another driver engine into it is great:joy:.

Thanks for looking
 

Attachments

  • 1606685461411.png
    1606685461411.png
    1.8 MB · Views: 39

Coog

Admin
Messages
47,514
Drives
GTI
Theres a guy on the all Ireland Mk2 owners club selling a couple of engines, one of which was a 1600 EZ. Had a quick look there and couldn't find it but it was only a really quick look. He was down south somewhere but the engine was cheap.

If you're stuck.
 
Top