Evie aka the blue banger - update

Hi all. Many apologies for my absense lately. Lots going on - not all car related but some is ! The transformation in my beloved Blue Banger, Evie being one  of them. Obviously she is nowhere near standard now and maybe not to everyones taste but this project was about making two cars live on - Evie who was well past her best and my friend Nick's MK2 Driver, whos engine he had lovingly rebuilt- see pics here: proboards15.com is for sale | HugeDomains


 She is nearly finished now - just needs camber & tracking doing next week when she gets her new wheels.
 The mk2 driver engine was a fairly straightforward swap using the MK1 engine mounts. Some improvisation with bolts was needed to make the mk2 gearbox fit, also some grinding was required despite the hoards of people who assured us it'd 'drop straight in'.

In order to convert the car from an auto to a manual we needed to fit a clutch pedal, we managed to adapt the existing pedal box and use a large bolt to mount the pedal. The 'P' position sensor wire (red/black) needed to be linked so the car would think it was in Park and start.
The gear selector rods etc… fit straight in, the only major gripe being that the steering rack needed to be swapped as manual cars had steering racks with part of the selector mount built in.

The wiring was a lot more involved than we first thought, the differing location of the starter motor meant extending the solenoid wire. A mk2 battery-starter-altenator cable was used. The car also needed to be converted to transistorised ignition. We could have used the existing contact breaker dizzy from the old engine, but in for a penny in for a pound the ignition amplifier and coil were fitted. Also the coil needed a new 12 volt ignition fed positive.

We opted for a GTi exhaust manifold, the one we got turned out to be from a cabriolet, but mated up fine with a full cabby system which sounds great. (cheers to my friend garnetteyes  for above write up & all his help with the project).

Other new bits include petrol tank & filler neck, suspension lowered 40mm, the black interior but in, new stereo & speakers, brembo discs, green stuff pads, new exhaust system, rear lights, custom gear knob & badges, if they ever arrive & some wolfsburg interior bling.
Here are some pics start to finish. Not got many of her finished yet.

looking nice and sparkerly

Wow - loads done!

One technical question - is there any additional complications with removing/refitting the engine and gearbox, with the auto? I'm going to be removing mine soon…..but I'm staying with autobox.

Paul, I asked my friend nick who did the engine swop with gary for me and he said:
The answer being:

If you plan to use the original engine and put this back in then there wont be a problem. If you swap to an engine from a manual car then the flywheel etc.. will need to be swapped over.

There may be an issue setting up the cable which controls 'Park', 'Drive' etc… Can't see it being a real issue though just leave it in 'Park' before you remove it.

It'd probably be worthwhile changing the ATF in the box as well while it's off

dubgrrl said

Paul, I asked my friend nick who did the engine swop with gary for me and he said:
The answer being:

If you plan to use the original engine and put this back in then there wont be a problem. If you swap to an engine from a manual car then the flywheel etc.. will need to be swapped over.

There may be an issue setting up the cable which controls 'Park', 'Drive' etc… Can't see it being a real issue though just leave it in 'Park' before you remove it.

It'd probably be worthwhile changing the ATF in the box as well while it's off

Cheers, it was more to do with is it too heavy, or big, to fit where a manual tranny would come out, etc. I'll see how it goes……..few months off before I start the swap around…..

definately heavier, the gearbox was massive! when it came out and we fitted the manual box, she was really really high at the front!