Mk1 g60

Hi, i've figured out all the wiring and my car now starts and idles. Got a couple of small questions.
What throttle cable do people use?
What expansion bottle is best? mk1? As this has the mount there already?

I'd say use a g60 cable, mk1 expansion bottle.

Thanks that was what I was thinking, another question. How important is the lamba probe? How exactly does it work. A few people have said I don't actually need it, how much does it effect the ecu?

Also what fans do people usually go for? one slimline 10inch?

Hi Matt,
there is a good thread on Edition 38 for mk1 G60 builders that's worth a look

http://www.edition38.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=372041&st=760

I think the Pacet 12" slimline fan is what's recommended - apparently cheapy ebay ones are a waste of money. Some good tips there on radiator/ intercooler options too if you've got time to read through all 39 pages!

Also might be worthwhile looking on dubforce

Cheers

Mike

Thanks for the link

Been fitting the driveshafts today and looked at the linkage. I've got a mk2 16v gearbox on her so this will be rod change. How do I hook up the linkage? Obviously the bracket on the mk2 gearbox is different to the mk1 bracket but the mk1 bracket doesnt seem to fit the 16v gearbox, I was only having a quick look so might have missed something. Any advice?

farmboymatt said

Thanks that was what I was thinking, another question. How important is the lamba probe? How exactly does it work. A few people have said I don't actually need it, how much does it effect the ecu?

It always worries me when people are doing a conversion and they ask questions like that - because it shows a lack of research before undertaking the task - a good way to throw money down the drain !!

The Lambda probe measures how efficiently the fuel is being burnt. Ideal is 14.7:1 air to fuel ratio. The probe on the G60 is a narrow band one, so only measures a small distance around the 14.7.
On the Digifant ECU the Lambda Probe signal is used to allow it to go into a closed loop mode for cruising, so if it goes too rich or lean within the narrow band it will try and correct the air fuel ratio. However if the signal is not present the ECU will not be very happy at all.
So you could run without it if you could tell the ECU to always use the map that it has and not adjust for a Lambda signal - some one like Jabbasport can do that, but it is a bit of a hack.

If you want full control of your setup then you need to consider an aftermarket ECU like Emerald, Omex, Megasquirt etc…

It always worries me when people are doing a conversion and they ask questions like that - because it shows a lack of research before undertaking the task - a good way to throw money down the drain !!

Thanks for the answer it was the best explanation i've heard, surely this is research? To be honest mate doing any kinda mod on a car is like chucking money down the drain (especially if you pay someone to do it), you'll never get it back when you come to sell it. Best option is to buy a car that someone else has spent a lot of money on.

I feel getting your hands dirty and taking things apart to figure out how it works is the best form of research but then I always think agriculturally, that anything is possible.

many thanks
matt.p

I agree doing it yourself is more fun :-)
Buying a ready done car removes all the fun.

I daren't add up all the money I have spent on mine since 1993 !! And it has not stopped - lol.

Good luck with the conversion. I like supercharged engines, currently running a 16V Lysholm :-)

The Digifant ECU is a bit fussy if it is not getting all its signals and will drop into a limp mode. As well as the Lambda there is a knock sensor (not a particularly good one mind) but it will allow the ECU to adjust the spark advance depending on the fuel grade you use. The other critical ones are the coolant temperature and Air temp/CO Pot. The throttle housing also has fully closed and wide open throttle micro switches that should be checked for continuity.

Thanks for the advice, i've literally got to put the throttle and clutch cables on and fit an exhaust then should have a better idea of how shes running. Blatantly my conversion doesnt look half as smart as most i've seen on the site photos, more about the mechanics rather than the looks. Wow 1993 thats a long time, i started mine in 2005. Started off with a mint 1.1 shell and a rotted out 1.6 gti, took everything apart. Re newed most things and got it running in 2007 briefly until I blew up a few engines and gearboxes. Stripped it down again and put the g60 lump in. Paul H did the loom for me so I know thats sound. I dread to think how much i've spent. Will post some pics once i've got it on the road then hopefully come along to a few meets. Also got a 1991 corrado g60 which is due a complete overhaul once the mk1 is done.

Hi, having a few issues with the throttle cable.
Is anything else appart from the rubber plug supposed to hold it in the bulkhead. It keeps coming loose at this point. Also, theres no spring on the throttle pedal is there? Been so long that i've worked on the mk1 I'm struggling to remember.

The rubber bung on the throttle cable should fit snugly in the bulkhead to hold it in place.
No spring on the pedal as the sprung loaded butterflies provide enough on the throttle body.

Bad news on the engine front. cam-belt slipped on the teeth and knackered a few. Seems like the cam very slightly heat seized nearest the cam. Everything seemed well lubricated when I took the cam off, cam looks alright. I've seen a lot worse cam seizes. Bit of a bugger so I guess i've got to change the head. I know everything was sound when I put it all together a few years ago. Will take head off and see what the bottom end is looking like. Anyone got a decent head lying around at a sensible price?

Thats a shame.

I have a 1H head, it came from a running engine, although I never heard it running. I bought it for the bottom end.

Not really sure what it's worth, shall we say £50 ?

Ideal, yeah I may well go for that. I'll take mine off 1st and see what the score is and get back to you

Took the head off today, Couple piston liners look a bit scored to me, enough to make me not happy with them so engine out I guess and start from scratch. May well look around for a complete unit if anyone has one. Will keep my options open, may still require that head i've been offered but i'm in no rush.