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SAMGLF's Mk1 Golf GTI Karman Cabriolet Progress - Recaro Sport (But not for me!)

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So I picked this up at the weekend, a 1991 Mk1 Golf GTI Karman Cabriolet with 147k on the clock and in need of a little TLC. It's not too bad (having seen worse when looking), but it needs some tender loving care I think.

I really only bought this car to last me the summer, whilst I work out what exactly to do with my previous car, a Ford Fiesta ST 05 plate, that the big end is blown on and needs an engine replacement. Having bought this car as a runaround during this time, I started thinking I would give it a spruce up in places and see to some of the obvious issues such as broken drivers door catch and leaking roof (by the handle), but the more I look at the car, the more I want to restore the entire vehicle. So it will be interesting to see if I manage to contain myself to the small things, or whether this spirals out of control and into an obsession.

I'll start by sharing just a few of the pics taken on the day of collection and a brief idea of the initial things I've identified as needing seeing to and hopefully when I get a bit more time, I can take some better photos etc.

Areas in need of attention:

- Roof leaking a little from drivers roof handle and the join above drivers window - seems dry on the passenger side though.
- Drivers door catch isn't working, meaning I'm having to use brute force to get in the car each time - getting out doesn't seem to be an issue.
- The drivers door handle and lock were replaced at some stage, meaning it has a separate key to the rest of the car - so will need to ideally replace the lot for ease of use
- Exhaust is knocking against the underside of the vehicle
- It doesn't sound great when you turn on the ignition - struggles a tad
- Front grill has a crack beside the o/s headlamp
- Wiper arms have paint missing
- Petrol cap rusty and faded
- Rips in drivers seat - small
- Faded steering wheel
- Ripped drivers side carpet - plastic part under pedals torn and scrappy
- Boot doesn't always open
- Stone guards on the rear wheel arches are different colours - I think one has been repainted at some stage, the colour of the car, whilst the other hasn't
- Various imperfections in paintwork need seeing to
- Radio doesn't work
- Really loud noise coming from top right corner of windscreen when reaching 60mph - sounds like it's coming from the windscreen/roof join

As well as the above, the engine bay looks like it's been at the bottom of the ocean for some time, so I'm going to have to just forget about that for the moment as being far from an expert mechanic, anything under there is way out of my comfort zone.

Anyway, here's the first pics, feedback/thoughts welcome!









Last edit: by SAMGLF

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Looks sound enough mate.

Bit of a shock going from a 7 year old car to a car that's got to be getting on for 24yrs old then?  :lol:

You'll get there I'm sure. At least it ain't rusting out!

Cornish Host.
1980 VW Derby
Clive the Cabby
Ujum the Invisible
Mynx the  Tintop

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Tell me about it! Haha, I'm not used to such strenuous driving (no power steering) and have had a few funny looks from people whilst I attempt to manouvre it!

The last MOT said minor corrosion to body actually, but I am going to get it checked out and hopefuly can resolve it.

The car will certainly take some getting used to, I just figured that with a low budget to get a runaround, that I might as well get something classic, hopefully reliable and that will more or less hold it's value if I decide to only keep it for one summer.

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Well it certainly looks pretty clean to me, and your list of problems are relatively minor really.

One thing, in your second pic with the hood down, the hood hasn't folded correctly. If you left it like this for an extended period you could damage it if you're not careful.

1983 White cabriolet GTi

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thats a really nice colour, good luck and enjoy it

facebook.com/classicsandcustoms

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Maniac said

Well it certainly looks pretty clean to me, and your list of problems are relatively minor really.

One thing, in your second pic with the hood down, the hood hasn't folded correctly. If you left it like this for an extended period you could damage it if you're not careful.

Thought that wouild be spotted. It was odd, as it did that when I viewed it and I picked up on it and the guy said it hadn't done it before and I asked to see it working correctly without him pushing it in etc and it worked fine. I've taken roof up and down a few times now and it's folded down perfectly and all ties are intact so don't know why it happened that one occassion when I viewed to be honest.

As mentioned really, where it all goes wrong visually is under the bonnet - it's a rusty mess!

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brumy ian said

thats a really nice colour, good luck and enjoy it

Yeah, I quite ligjt the colour, apart from sometimes I think it looks a tad dull? Just needs a little more wow factor I think, but not sure how far to take it really as don't want to spend thousands.

I'd say in all honesty, I'd be prepared to invest about £1,000-£1,500 in sprucing it up, but wouldn't be worth spending more to me really, as past that I am really getting into the realms of re-sprays and new engines etc which are huge money!

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That looks a really good base, nice colour and a Golf number plate too!  :cool:

It will turn in to an obsession I'm sure, so be prepared! It's a shame the roof is leaking as it looks in pretty good condition in the pics

Andy

LINCOLNSHIRE REGION - https://www.facebook.com/groups/467122313360002/

1983 MK1 Golf GTI Campaign Model - Under (looooong) resto!
1962 Rover P4 80
2002 BMW 745i
2008 BMW Z4 2.5Si

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Hairyarse said

That looks a really good base, nice colour and a Golf number plate too!  :cool:

It will turn in to an obsession I'm sure, so be prepared! It's a shame the roof is leaking as it looks in pretty good condition in the pics

Well spotted on theplate :)

I've ordered new gasket seals for the roof from VW which will hopefully be here by the end of the week so I can fit them saturday. So I'm hoping that once I've done that and possible seen to the tension in the handles, it won't leak anymore. It's the seals as opposed to the fabric itself as far as I can tell, so hopefully resolvable.

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Looks good.
My Boot was the same . As soon as it opens successfully, make sure every time you open it thereafter you turn the key anti-clockwise before you push the barrel in. If you push the barrel and then turn the key the latch ends-up on the wrong side of the opening mechanism and the lock doesn't open. Mine opens every time now if I turn the key before pushing.
A New Header seal should sort out your roof leak.

Enjoy….

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KPCabrio said

Looks good.
My Boot was the same . As soon as it opens successfully, make sure every time you open it thereafter you turn the key anti-clockwise before you push the barrel in. If you push the barrel and then turn the key the latch ends-up on the wrong side of the opening mechanism and the lock doesn't open. Mine opens every time now if I turn the key before pushing.
A New Header seal should sort out your roof leak.

Enjoy….

Good shout, that seems to make sense! I'll try that next time

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So….having owned the car since Saturday, I got in this morning to find it won't start!! Good times!

Seems to be a bit of power, but it's not turning over, just clicking! Guessing flat battery or starter motor? 

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SAMGLF said

So….having owned the car since Saturday, I got in this morning to find it won't start!! Good times!

Seems to be a bit of power, but it's not turning over, just clicking! Guessing flat battery or starter motor? 



Sounds like a flat battery, or poor connections to the battery to me. As you've had it a few days, it could be your alternator is not charging the battery properly, so the charge has been slowly getting worse to the point where it now won't start.

What you need to do is charge your battery first, then put it back on the car and see if it starts. If it does, then test the output from your alternator using a multimeter across the battery terminals when the engine is running - it should read about 14v - if it's reading much lower than this then your alternator may be on the way out. If it's reading OK, then get your battery tested as that could be the fault. If both the alternator and battery test OK then check your wiring.

Mike.

1983 White cabriolet GTi

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Stick up some piccies of the seals you ordered when you get them will you please?

Mine also leaks at the handles so I'll be intrigued as to whether it fixes it or not.

I'd agree with the flat battery stuff

Cornish Host.
1980 VW Derby
Clive the Cabby
Ujum the Invisible
Mynx the  Tintop

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Maniac said

SAMGLF said

So….having owned the car since Saturday, I got in this morning to find it won't start!! Good times!

Seems to be a bit of power, but it's not turning over, just clicking! Guessing flat battery or starter motor? 



Sounds like a flat battery, or poor connections to the battery to me. As you've had it a few days, it could be your alternator is not charging the battery properly, so the charge has been slowly getting worse to the point where it now won't start.

What you need to do is charge your battery first, then put it back on the car and see if it starts. If it does, then test the output from your alternator using a multimeter across the battery terminals when the engine is running - it should read about 14v - if it's reading much lower than this then your alternator may be on the way out. If it's reading OK, then get your battery tested as that could be the fault. If both the alternator and battery test OK then check your wiring.

Mike.


The connections were barely on the battery, plus battery able to move back and forth. Don't know if maybe the previous owner had charged battery and dropped it back in, but it was hanging on by a thread.

I thought that would resolve it and it started once, but second time I went to start it, it wouldn't again. Battery can't be holding enough charge, so I've stuck it on charge for the night and hopefully we'll be good to go in the morning with any luck.

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borednow said

Stick up some piccies of the seals you ordered when you get them will you please?

Mine also leaks at the handles so I'll be intrigued as to whether it fixes it or not.

I'd agree with the flat battery stuff

Seals turned up today at VW garage, so I'll pick them up tomorrow hopefully (if car starts) and sure, I'll share pics and fitting process.

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SAMGLF said

The connections were barely on the battery, plus battery able to move back and forth. Don't know if maybe the previous owner had charged battery and dropped it back in, but it was hanging on by a thread.

I thought that would resolve it and it started once, but second time I went to start it, it wouldn't again. Battery can't be holding enough charge, so I've stuck it on charge for the night and hopefully we'll be good to go in the morning with any luck.
Check the voltage across the battery terminals when the engine is running if you can. It will give you a big clue as to where the problem lies, battery or alternator or wiring.

You need to secure the battery because it's an MOT failure to have it in-secure; it's quite dangerous if the +ve terminal comes into contact with any of the bodywork.

Mike.

1983 White cabriolet GTi

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Left battery on charge overnignht and it started ok this morning. I'm just worried that I am going to get caught out in the middle of nowhere now though and obviously the electric roof doesn't help!

Battery is secured now, I don'r know why the last owner didn't do this!

I don't have the equipment to check the current unfortunately.

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Having mentioned that under the hood, was a slightly more sorry state, I thought that whilst messing around with the battery I would take a quick couple of shots to show.



Does anyone know what the white part with the new looking thread in the middle is?? Never seen anything like it.



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clutch cable isn't it? attached to the gear box.
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