Projects. Dive in at the deep end/wallowing in the shallows

I know this is going to be personal preference but what do people suggest?

A bit of a background. I fancy another Mk1. A project this time. Last time i had my mk1 is was running, and i did bits over time (coilovers in a weekend) but had to be done asap as it was my only car but it kept going and going. Then i paid someone to do an engine conversion because i didnt feel i could attempt it myself. My mechanical knowledge sort of stops at fitting coilovers myself basically.

Anyway i currently have a 20vt mk2 (which will be up for a sale in a couple of weeks), plus abit of money i've been saving to either find another mk1 that's usable or to find a full on project.

The only thing stopping me is not knowing where to start as having not much knowledge (i know i'd pick it up but still abit daunting).

Anyway, back to the question. I have seen a proper bare shell for sale, no welding needed (big thumbs  up) but that all that comes with it, so will need absolutely everything (probably the thing that's scaring me the most). Or i can try and find a tidy car that runs (or at least has most of the parts but just needs an engine change).

This is just inspired by helping my mate put a g60 into his mk1 yesterday and it got me thinking 'it's not that hard really is it?' (the car wasnt wired up but the everything else seemed straight forward enough).

I would love the bare shell because then i could do whatever i wanted to it (colour mainly) and it's already had the engine mounts moved for a bigger engine it's just the fact it has no other bits to it. Not too bothered about it not having windows/interior as they can be gotten later but it's all the other bits like fuel tanks etc that come with a car already running, looms etc. I know the cost will be pretty silly with a bare shell but least i'd know everything was new-ish with it.

So i basically want a project but not sure what's the best way? Either way will help me learn the mechanical side of things as i'd want to do as much as possible this time to try and save abit of money.  So any help with this decision on what you'd do?

ta

foxymk1 has a mint shell may be worth a look,blank canvas  :wink:
Bert

If you're not that mechanically minded or dont have much knowledge when it comes to building a car/ conversions then i wouldnt suggest a blank canvas unless you know of someone reliable who is that'd be able to help you.

It also depends on the timescale you want to work to? if you're happy to spend years on a project then its worth a try, if not go for something that you can just do as and when (but then is that really a project??)

And dont forget the money it'll cost and all the problems you'll come across that'll need solving with alot of headaches lol

oh if i got a car that sort of works then it would be off the road while i work on it so it would still be a project but then that one would be easier as fuel lines/brake lines etc will all be there to make the job easier.

And i'm not saying im gonna get a shell and do everything in a month

I have some money saved up which will be to buy the car and then the sale of the mk2 gives me a headstart on buying bits for whichever i choose.

and you read my mind bert. That's just the problem. that's probably as bare as you're going to get which is abit daunting.

The heart says get foxys but the head says get one that already has an engine in so i know where everything goes to make it abit easier, and would probably learn abit quicker that with with taking the engine out and knowing where stuff goes? but then that means trying to find a tidy shell :/

it'd be the sourcing of parts that'd put me off a bare shell project. awesome as a donor to swap bits over to, but to start with nothing else, trying to find the bits needed and not paying an arm and a leg for them is another matter.

My mate's got a rolling shell that I'm going to be posting up for sale on the forum for him today. It's a LHD 3 door, series 2 with the engine mount in the big block location. It's solid in all the right places and has had quite a bit of work done in the past. It's also fitted with a small light rear panel, which looks like it was a NOS item prior to fitting!

It's fitted with doors, tailgate but no wings or bonnet. He's also got glass and got a 1983 1.1 Golf C title for the shell so all you need is a few bits of welding and then it's ready to be built back up.

He's after £400 ono, I'd be all over it but don't have the time or space for another car.

I have no experience of doing this myself, but it sounds like your best option is to get the decent shell and then try and find a donor car with a lot of parts still in good useable condition. I realise it might be being broken for a reason, but it could just be a knackered shell with a decent interior/running gear that you buy. That way not only do you get the parts needed, but you get a great reference point as to how to re-mount it (probably after refurbing it) into the decent shell…if that makes sense ?.

Anyway, just my thoughts !.

Best of luck with it whatever you do mate.

Paul

dive in mate, nothing to it really if you have space undercover. buy a rotten car for cheap fpr all the bits, strip it, powdercoat everything, stick it on the new shell. bam job done.

if you take it off a car, you'll know where it goes for future ref

I've got a mate who has a red campaign that's stripped with all the parts to put it back,,only mods are 16v and koni coilovers…low mileage for year,loads of history  and needs rear arches doing ,other than that I'd say its ideal for you.
Let me know if you're interested..

buy 2. get yourself a cheap little polo runaround or something, then there is no pressure to finish your main project. take your time to learn things, lots of help available if you get stuck!

fitting an engine is no more difficult than coilovers so long as you do your research and buy the correct parts. i put a kr into my mk1 cabrio and i didnt have to modify or make anything whatsoever to make it fit, everything was a direct bolt in swap.

something a bit newer like a 1.8t will be more work/fabrication, but if you arnt in a hurry the bits you want will eventually come up for sale to make it a bolt in fit! quite a few mk1 1.8t out there now and as time goes on the shells give out, get crashed, or owners get bored and fit something else

personally though mk1 + kr is all you need really, any more power than that is just overkill. 2.0 is nice for the extra torque but i was more than happy with the kr in my cabrio it was still quick enough to beat just about anyone who tried it on with me. was quite funny embarrassing all these people in a 1983 hairdressers car