brad mole's mk1 golf project
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brad mole's mk1 golf project
![](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4943473614_85bb9fb482_z.jpg)
![](https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4815845358_3353c99877_z.jpg)
http://www.edition38.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=259565&st=0
I was really into that project but always knew the ultimate project for me would be a mk1. After getting to the point on my mk2 where i felt i had done enough and didnt want to spend any more money on it i started to get bored and want a modern car, so (stupidly) i sold it and bought myself an e90 bmw, but after only a few months i started to really miss the mk2 so i started hunting for a half decent mk1 gti.
This time i wanted something a bit more challenging than the mk2, ideally by starting with a standard car which needed some attention, but this mk1 came up local which already had abit of work done but i couldnt resist and went down less than an hour after seeing the add to buy the car, got her trailered back the next day (21/12/2010). Obviously being so close to christmas and haveing loads of snow ive not had much time to do anything with the car until today when i stripped the front end down to start looking at the rust situation.
anyway heres some specs.
- 1981 (i think) mk1 golf gti.
- Previously had a 9A 2.0 16v engine in so hopefully ready to drop another straight in.
- Full stainless exhaust
- Coilovers
- G60 steels
- Rear discs and braided hoses
lets move onto some pics (the previous owner hit a deer, so excuse the odd panels etc.)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5293454200_c56353171b_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5292856917_01bb6a872c_z.jpg)
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![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5293454830_10a9574704_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5292857383_275b34270c_z.jpg)
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![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5292857769_ab35ceb2e7_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5292857911_1eb9e81af7_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5292858051_0b8de1377c_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5292858207_eb5819a4e5_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5293456196_989884b6c3_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5292858723_d33b2428fd_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5292858865_e3bc4d79d6_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5293456690_549c1049f2_z.jpg)
anyway, todays work started here, all i done was removed the bonnet, bumper and wings so i could take a closer look at teh rust in the arches and engine bay, i want to get the rust sorted before i go any further. i knew id have to expect to see unexpected rust but it seems theres more than i first thought, but never mind its all part of the project i suppose.
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5292859195_d32cfa5814_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5292859349_cb4b079b60_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5293457164_10808d2215_z.jpg)
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![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5292859773_6caf23b6ce_z.jpg)
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![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5293457672_bcfd874c50_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5293457768_9aa918fd37_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5292860367_c592766945_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5292860495_a96d693034_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5292860633_b4c40d4d42_z.jpg)
and all tucked up
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5293454032_cb0c974917_z.jpg)
overall im really pleased with it, so glad i now own a mk1 gti and i just cant wait to get stuck in with it when the weather gets a little better. the paintworks all faded and needs some attention, but im not too fussed about that at the moment as i want to treat all the rust before doing anything else.
so the plans for it so far are:
- strip the car and treat as much rust as possible
- drop a 9A engine in
- recaro front buckets from a rs turbo
- fit new steering wheel
- new wheels in the future and as much lows as possible
hope you all like and although there wont be much progress while the weathers like this, i will try and keep it updated as much as possible
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It looks in good condition all round.
I've seen a lot more rust.
I think the current wheels look good.
let us know how you get on.
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Good luck for your project…
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My New Year's resolutions are: 1. Stop making lists. B. Be more consistent. 7. Learn to count.
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birkin said
Lookin good mate likein the mk2 as well just saw this thread on ed38 as well, is it goin black again?
the plan was to go with an early colour like florida blue, or maybe that light yellow shade, but i think for the time being i will just treat the rust and rattle can the odd panels back to black then decide from there if i want it all black again or a change of colour
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Here are a few specs for you Brad so you know exactly everything that I done
Ok so its a 1981 1.6 GTI non sunroof
It is fully wired up for a 16v engine
It has a supersprint 16v conversion manifold
It has a full certified lifetime GT Longlife stainless exhaust
It has a 22mm MC from a mk2 and a 9 inch servo from a passat
It has goodridge braided hoses all round
It has a rear beam from a Mk2 scirrocco 16V which are VERY rare (gives your rear disk brakes)
Passat 'G60 type' steels with 165/50/15 khumo tyres
Interior from a mars red GTI
everything electrical worked when I removed the engine (rare for a mk1!!)
There you go enjoy mate!
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after stripping the front end down i decided id take all the muck/underseal etc from the inner arches to see the state of them
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5370446050_ab4b6f7894_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5370445788_cd874a747a_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5369839567_d7c4090fe3_z.jpg)
i noticed a few bits of rust already
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5370446778_a165cfa3af_z.jpg)
as well as some signs of some bad welding attempts which dont show up very well on these pics
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5370447076_bccbde53c5_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5369839331_1f5c3a3bdc_z.jpg)
so i started scraping off the stonechip stuff
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5369840377_5582893e35_z.jpg)
a pic of the inner arch and suspension setup, to hopefully compare to when its finished
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5369840609_58cae71654_z.jpg)
scraping off the stuff was a total nightmare so i bought one of these badboys
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5370447698_f7bfe8d446_z.jpg)
this made the job alot easier, however as my garage has no electricity, it meant i had to use a cordless drill to power it, which didnt last long at all, after a few charges i got sick and left it at that until i can get the car around to my house to use the power.
my garage is located a few streets away from my house, rolling the car around to the house involves joining a main road, so this was going to be a bit awkward, anyway i went on the hunt for a gap big enough to cut through a street to cut off joining the main road, hopefully im going to attempt the move at the weekend and will update next week with teh outcome.
anyway moving on, i bought an engine off my mate, its a 2.0 16v 9A engine, with KR cams and ported and polished head.
he was running it on carbs but took them off before selling the engine
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5370445052_cb7074d7fc_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5370444798_5cfeeb40a4_z.jpg)
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i want to go back to injection, meaning i need to source the parts myself, so i went on the hunt for the injection system and found one a few days later, and guess what turned up today
a little box of goodies
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5370447972_d5ac6fd735_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5369841257_59485ec60e_z.jpg)
the plan is to just clean up the engine block and polish the inlet and rocker cover, or possibly paint the lot silver, unsure yet i will see how things go
i also picked up this original grill from my mate
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5369841525_47b2cc2e94_z.jpg)
and thats it for now, updated when/if i get the car around to the house to get a bit further on the arches
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![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5385361634_18b719cd10_z.jpg)
took some more of the inner arch gunk off too, but still nowhere near done, and removed the side trims, however im missing a front wing trim so will need to source another one
![:(](https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/themes/default/images/ocf_emoticons/sad.png)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5385362872_4bd443157c_z.jpg)
i forgot to mention earlier in the thread, infact it was before i got the mk1, i had bought a steering wheel for it, just as a small project to try and refurb it
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5385361330_f30abab9d0_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5384761005_ee2a81515e_z.jpg)
but the boss had 18 written on the back which if i remember correctly is too big for a mk1, which is 16?
bt anyway i got offered another steering wheel off my mate so snapped that up as i thought it was mega cool, its the smallest steering wheel ive ever seen haha, the cars gonna feel like a gocart with this fitted, not looking forward to using it without pawer steering though, but i suppose its all part of the fun
![:D](https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/themes/default/images/ocf_emoticons/grin.png)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5385365152_1d13fae015_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5385365322_29672ef3e0_z.jpg)
i also picked up a set of cheap teardrops he had for sale, i fancied trying to polish them to see how they turn out (as if i havent already got enough work to be getting on with haha)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5385364534_d19e1a2f18_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5384763895_20535df9ce_z.jpg)
at least they came with brand new tyres
![:D](https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/themes/default/images/ocf_emoticons/grin.png)
![:|](https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/themes/default/images/ocf_emoticons/mellow.png)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5384764275_bfd36040f3_z.jpg)
anyway, after being sick of the sight of rust, i decided to make a start on the wheels, i removed most of the paint with nitromorse
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5385365804_c2571884ea_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5385366016_07a0dc4205_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5385366268_0c92e7397f_z.jpg)
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I had a set of tear drop that I polished. They look ok when done as they have the metal centres to polish too.
I have to say though - I LOVE the G60 steels. I really want a set for mine, though can't spare the pennies on something that isn't essential!
Keep the pics coming…
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Andy
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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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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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first the boot carpet which revealed only a tiny amount of rust in the wheel well which is to be expected, then came out the middle carpet which revealed more rust, and finally the front carpet which was where i had first spotted the rust patches along the inside of the door join part, below the sides of the dash going right down to the floor. is this a common place to get rust?
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5388117082_eab3f6e767_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5388116734_717971ea8f_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5388117318_a8f06ec11c_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5388117572_55bd5aee0b_z.jpg)
i didnt clan anything up on those pics, so it looks worse than it is i suppose, but im guessing there will still be some serious rust parts there, i will tidy it up and update at some point
heres all the stuff i emptied out of the car, its amazing how much stuff can fit inside a mk1
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5388116478_9ea594ff26_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5387510613_42fe859353_z.jpg)
i decided id give the carpet a quick clean while it was out and still light outside
before
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5388117850_7078f29c10_z.jpg)
and after
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5387512851_1a91e479c4_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5388118592_17a4d323e3_z.jpg)
i got told these were quite hard to find, anyone know if they are worth anything? they have some cracks/splits in them, if there worth nothing im just gonna bin them
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5387512575_42533c16d5_z.jpg)
a quick update on the centre caps, sick to death of sanding already and they are not even nearly done
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5387513231_b5bd97b0b4_z.jpg)
i also got these today
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5388119226_ce3ea7393d_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5388119046_053f13f37c_z.jpg)
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If they block water spills over to where the blower motor is and seeps in under the carpet
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
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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before
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5401134751_41f7f08134_z.jpg)
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5388116734_717971ea8f_z.jpg)
the pile of sound deadning i removed
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5401135151_360e3455dc_z.jpg)
this was the only piece i could salvage so im gonna try and keep it to put it back in when rebuild time comes
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5401136369_582f469bd2_z.jpg)
a nice little mess
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5401737212_4a2c181dbc_z.jpg)
after the quick clean, the interior came up a little nicer than it first looked
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5401737808_6fb78087b6_z.jpg)
but these pieces are still going to need replacing at least, these are the parts i was talking about earlier, the bit running from the endge of the dash to the floor…
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5401138377_09e16bfefc_z.jpg)
and the inner sills
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5401738612_dc9beb692d_z.jpg)
and the wheel well/middle of rear valance need a little work, but shouldnt be too hard to repair
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5401139155_4130966cf7_z.jpg)
then i moved on to tidy the engine bay a little, i removed a few wires/cables i could, and started trying to remove the loom, but seen as its going to be a while before it goes back in, i want to leave it as late as possible to remove so i have it still fresh in my mind where things go. so the rest of the loom went into a pile in the middle of the bay so i can work on the sides and front
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5401139699_393ab25275_z.jpg)
and covered over to protect from the dust etc.
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5401739940_3e88871195_z.jpg)
then started stripping some of the paint from the bay
![](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5401740512_f6b0572d8a_z.jpg)
i know ive started too many jobs at once without finishing, but im trying to find as much rust as possible to see what needs done, then i can repair the rust all in one go, or a few stages anyway
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