Mk1 Golf 1.8 GTI Lhasa Rebuild

So… I got bored of waiting for my Caddy, which will be ready soon enough :/ 

Managed to get my hands on what was originally a Lhasa Green 1.8 GTI. Rolling without glass or very much else but that's never a problem now is it
It started off like this…




For obvious reasons, his name is now "Kermit"

This time round, I managed to get it painted straight away whilst I was on holiday which is a touch. Haven't been to collect it yet but just got sent some pictures so I thought I'd start this build thread.























So on this occasion, we really are smoking considering I only got it a few weeks ago.

I just got a Lhasa interior that just requires a bolster repair and will be mint and a set of glass. Thanks Blaise.. so… baring in mind I was away for 3 weeks+ I have managed to orcastrate this quite amazingly well.. So that would make a painted shell and an interior and glass. Ps, the dash was taken out before I got the car also… So needed an engine, front end bits ie, lights grille etc. I managed to find this. A nice but real unlucky guy called Brett was trying to repair a fuel leak on his GTI when it burst into flames. Heartbreaking stuff. But amazingly, it only burnt up to the dash leaving what looks to be a good engine, lights, a couple of wings, bumper and one spat. Even a window wiper motor. Happy days. (for me :/ )



















Now to all of us that walk by fire extinguishers at shows, like me… Get one as you never know!!!

So that gave me a very small window to strip the crispy golf. With help from my pal Chris, who is also doing a mk1 build, we dealt with it. He took some bits to get his rolling to the sand blasters and we took off everything we could and it got taken to VW Heaven. 







A couple, maybe 3 Alley Cats available for sale. 1 melted and want to check one first. 2 wings.  Front bumper. Maybe some other bits.
Next to do is get new a roof lining, all new window rubbers and seals to get it dry, clean and powder coat and new nut/bolt/washer pulleys etc on the engine. New carpet, put seats in then all the little new screw on bits. Easy enough right lol?!?

And lastly… Got these coming too  


Watch this space

Look forward to reading your updates, should be one nice car.  Shame about the silver one, hope it was well insured.

Unfortunately for that guy.. I don't think it was insured

Blimey you've got a lot done, nice one! Love the lhasa, looks a great paint job. Shame about the fire, I'd cry my eyes out if that was me! At least some good is coming from it though  

Oh yeah!!!!

Shame about the fire. Gutted if it wasn't insured.

…so. I have managed to source everything I need (I think) and im going to really start cracking on today. The only thing I don't seem to have or know is how to refit the sunroof. It look ls all together but I have no bolts or screws or whatever holds it to the roof meaning I won't be able to do the new roof lining or put the glass in any help/knowledge on this would be gratefully received as this will stop me dead in my tracks when it come to it otherwise. Expect some pics

VeeDubstaDean said

So… I got bored of waiting for my Caddy, which will be ready soon enough :/

Managed to get my hands on what was originally a Lhasa Green 1.8 GTI. Rolling without glass or very much else but that's never a problem now is it

Great looking paintwork. You can't beat a freshly paint Lhasa MK1 

Looks great! Who did the paint?

Bighairsam.  A friend of mine did it. Not sure if he paints now though as he was looking to shut up shop. My Caddy has now gone elewhere to be painted. ..

Great read that, thanks!  
Bad news for the silver and if it was me I don't know what I would do.

However please do keep the posts coming as it's a really entertaining read with pics!  

I'm after getting mine done in the same colour , looks a great job and it's getting hard to find decent tradesmen you can trust. Keep the posts coming, I'm enjoying reading this thread so far!

…so. I got quite involved in the last 2 days and I'm glad to say it's really coming along.  I managed to put in the heater matrix, dash, carpet, rear seat, door handles, parcel shelf, loom and fuse box, wheels. Probably more as I got carried away I'm a world of my own but if the truth be told, I was fast forgetting where the nuts bolts and screws may go lol









I will be getting a lot of new bits like front spoiler and side trims next. Got a load of powder coated bits for the engine already. I'll probably start on the engine bits tomorrow. I have to change the gearbox so my mfa will work though. Things are looking good Its the sunroof that's gonna hold me up as It wasnt in the car when I got it. Need to get that sorted so I can do the roof lining and get the windows fitted but it's still moving forward!!!

…and once it's all built I can see what will need to be replaced for new a lot easier but to be fair, that will be most of it so that it lasts another 30 odd years

It's coming along nicely. Looking great so far. And you are in a real hurry to get it done as it seems. Great work so far.

Beeno It has to be done pretty sharpish as my Mk1 Caddy which I have another thread on will be out of the paint shop any week now :/ Not enough space lol

Sure wish I could get on with mine. But moved into a new place now so finance running a bit low. Can only buy some bits every other month and that's if I can find them. But as they say "slowly slowly catch the monkey".    But from the look of things I seem to have the monkey by the damn tail end.    

So… Someone stole my complete engine and gearbox before I got a chance to get a hand to get it fitted.  How thoughtful of them. Oh yeah,  thanks for scraping it along the side of my campervan to get it out. Much appreciated! ***ts!

Oh no mate that sucks, so gutting. Any evidence or clues as to the culprits? (so they can be strung up by their dangly bits!)

Damn that sucks. I thought we only had that kind of problems here in S A. Best of luck getting it sorted.