mk1 4x4

Hi there, well im sure the subject has been broached plenty of times but does anyone know much about this conversion?.  After speaking to a guy at the vw shop at harewood house over the weekend who is building one i decided i wanted to look a bit further into it.  Has anyone built one or know of someone that has?  Is it worth all the money and hassle?

Are you on about the 4x4 mk2?? If so they are standard they are called a Syncro
Ryan strarron

Do U mean put a r32 into a mk1 golf with r32 running gear

Don't think! Just do it!

There is a mk2 4x4 round the corner from me, not the raylle one unfortunately but an off road version.

yep thats the one im on about the syncro ^^^^^^^^

I'll try and get a pic tomorrow of it, pretty sure it has country written up the side of it.

Sorry just to be a bot clearer im talking about mk1 golf 4x4 conversions if anyone has any info or links they would be greatly appreciated.

Mk2 4x4 is defo a Golf Country.



4 wheel drive mk2 is a syncro, not the jacked up one in the air. Both 4 wheel drive tho

If i could just butt into my own thread, im just looking for info on mk1 4x4 conversions

bouchay said

Mk2 4x4 is defo a Golf Country.



4 wheel drive mk2 is a syncro, not the jacked up one in the air. Both 4 wheel drive tho

Yeah thats the same as near me, thought it was a country.

4 wheel drive like a MK2 Rally then? Can be done, iirc shortening drive shafts is probably one of the biggest jobs, apart from the masses of welding! Are you planning on buying a donor mk2?

daniboy123 said

If i could just butt into my own thread, im just looking for info on mk1 4x4 conversions

Yeah it is possible but many probs due to the floor pan obviously. Hell of alot of work.

Have a look here for the cabby version..

http://www.auta5p.eu/lang/en/katalog/auto.php?idf=Biagini-Passo-4WD-221

The conversion has been done before, the best option is to rebuild the tunnel in the middle of the floor pan, this can be cut and refabricated or I have heard of using a mk2 syncro (not golf rallye) floor pan and replacing the floor although the mk2 floor is wider !!.

There is a red mk1 with a 20vt conversion that was about about 5 years ago, and I think the white mk1 with the DAN ###Y number plate that's at most of the shows has been converted to 4 wheel drive, then do you go mk2 syncro or r32 and haldex, this will depend on engine choice and I don't know enough about the modern engines,

Just remember anything is possible it's just your imagination and money that will hold you back,

im sure i remember reading that the syncro rear beam bolts up to one of the studs on the mk1 floorpan either side? obviously you have the rest of the mounts to fab up, floor pans, drive shafts etc. but at least you have a starting point

tbh with all the effort prob best to start with haldex instead

I think you are right the rear axles from a syncro would be the way forward. Cheaper to buy a mk 2 syncro and roll it on its side and then start measuring.

See here, http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=59494

there isn't a guide for this, its pretty much get the grinder out and the welder, so how are your fabbing skills?

Cheers lads! my fabing skills fairly rudimentary to be honest.  Ive repaired the inner sill/floor and replaced outer sill and inner/outer wheel arch on my corrado before and thats about it so i guess it would be quite a steep learning curve. The reason im looking into this is my ideal engine would be a 16VG60 with a turbo bolted to it which would be a bit useless in a 2wd car so i need to find out how feasible it would be to incorporate it into a 4x4 build.