MK1 Cabby restoration Project

We made a start on the Golf at the weekend - the hood had a lot of muck and mould all over it and I don't think it had ever seen a jet washer underneath so we set about washing 25 years worth of grime off before parking it up in the garage for Christmas!

All the panels look straight and there doesn't appear to be a lot of the dreaded tin worm on it…

I think we're going to skip the 20v conversion and just rebuild and lightly upgrade what we have… probably a fully balance and lighten and a ported and polished head etc..

Looks ok except for the very dodgy paint job… shame its not a VW colour it's a lot brighter than the Hellos Blue (I think) it was originally

Drying out… its a bit damp inside..

Interior is ok, no rips, but the dash has seen better days so I need to keep my eye out for a new one.


We're thinking of doing a few enhancements, rear disks, PAS, suspension works and bushes etc. out of interest if we did want to change the engine other than the 2ltr block swap what is the easiest or most straight forward one to do? - It would be nice to have a x-flow type head and a factory 150-ish BHP

If we did stick to the stock engine, which conversion is better in a cab? the 1900 'squarer' rever or the 2ltr with it's extra torque?

Oh is retro fit PAS ok on a MK1? any gotchas? I'm thinking rack and pump….?

Sorry for all the question! - I'll have loads more soon Geeba

hi geeba

nice looking car you have, looks very clean  

not too sure about engine swaps. ive gone with an abf, about as simple as it gets i guess.  

good luck with the project.

matt

Cheers Matt! yeah its pretty clean, hopefully we don't find many horrors when we strip her down…

Does the ABF involve new loom etc? is that 150bhp MK3 valve engine?

Yeah, 2l 16v from the mk3.

Not sure about the electrical side of it, yet. I'm ditching the injection and going to carbs, for a simpler install.  

Rubjonny is the man to talk to about electrics, an electrical (an vw) genius! 

Gessss not sure where that 2 years went but my MK1 is still sat in the garage   I really need to get started I guess…. Matt how is yours coming along?

I'm starting to think the ABF could be the way to go, as nice as a turbo would be, this is going to be more of a stock look cruiser and the Mrs and kids will use it more than I will  Is the ABF a bolt in proceedure?  anyone got any suggestions of different engines that are pretty straight forward? - I know its not that simple but I mean I don't want to be welding in engine mounts etc.

Will the later 150bhp MK3 engine go in?

What about power steering on a MK1? - I fitted it to my MK2 GTI, but that was pretty straight forward…. is it even possible on a MK1?

PAS was fitted to the last of the Cabby's mainland Europe LHD.
It is the same setup pretty much as a Mk2 RHD but don't ask me how! 😀👌

rubjonny 😉

Cheers Golf Cabrio - I guess its a pretty rare thing then? do you know if anyone on here has attempted it?
 

Geeba said

Cheers Golf Cabrio - I guess its a pretty rare thing then? do you know if anyone on here has attempted it?
 

Geeba said

Cheers Golf Cabrio - I guess its a pretty rare thing then? do you know if anyone on here has attempted it?
 

Well I do know a lot of people wished they had it including me! 😂

Mine was 6 months to early for it but hey ho.
I seem to remember someone did it last year or the year before but sorry just can't remember.

I'd still wait for John to come back because he knows a heck of a lot more than I do and some!  👍

Still split on what to do engine wise… the current 8v is knackard… its got a serious miss-fire which to me is looking like a burnt out valve..

To be honest I think The Mrs will be making more use of it with the kids, hence asking about PAS.

But I'm thinking a 20v might be too much? or will a factory 150/180bhp 20v be better than a 16v lump? smoother? easier to drive… I want to do the OEM+ look, just improve with later/better bits etc.

Anyone got experince of cabs with both 16v and 20v lumps?

Well she's still sat in the garage…

not really sure what to do with her, needs a full respray, plus the engine sorting out   I've been looking at Corrado's but they are going up in price quickly, plus there are some real stinkers kicking about that people want top money for so ts kinda tempting me back into the MK1 project…. decisions… the garage is heated by the boiler so at least shes nicely dried out ready!  

Looks  good will keep eye on ur progress as for the roof is it mohair if so how did u clean it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Progress has been pretty slow if I'm honest… its not moved in two years - I did buy a new battery and run it up last month  

I believe mohair is the fabric roof? this is a fabric one… it was really green when I got it… to be honest I used hot soapy water and a jet washer to get the grime off …. seemed fine.  

Cheers will have to try that on mine I used auto glum hood cleaner but didn't work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need a cleaner and proofer for the roof.
Ragg Topp or 303 aerospace cleaner protectant. Just google them.
Get your self a mushroom (chefs have them) they have soft bristles to gentley scrub the muck out.
Soap flakes and warm water mixed applied. Agitate with brush, rinse repeat.,
Treat.
The material is made up of three layers. A top acrylic weave. Then the actual waterproof bit a rubber membrane and underneath a further fabric sheet known as Doby weave pattern.
These are all sandwiched together.
The rubber core is prone to UV damage and environmental conditions.
Hence the treatment to be applied after.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sadly I've decided that the golf is too much work for me at the moment and I'm going to put her  up for sale. - its been dry stored for over 2 years now with the odd startup and dust off… I'll stick an ad up in the classifieds

This has mow sold - gone to a good home and a forum member so happy days!