Hello from Yorkshire

Hello everyone,

My name is Ben and I'm here seeking help, advice and encouragement with a 1983 Golf Cabriolet 1.5 GL that hasn't moved in 19 years. The clocks show nearly 230k so the car has been around the block so to speak. Structurally it is reasonable for it's age and mileage but mechanically it is turd. Plan is to slowly, bit by bit get the car sorted but it's a very long to do list;

Front brakes - new calipers, lines, discs and pads
Rear Brakes - caliper and disc conversion as it is on drums
Suspension - shocks and springs and who knows what else
Engine - is the 1.5 seized?? Engine swap??
Hood - needs a new vinyl cover and possibly a hood frame as well
Body - always wanted a Clipper kit so I'll find one and fit it

The wheels are the only thing that are still good. Some rather tasty Borbet 5 spokes but the tyres they are wrapped in are so perished that I suspect they are now part of the garage floor at a molecular level.

At some point I will start a thread on the build but for now I'm gonna go use the search tab and see if any of the answers to my questions can be found there

Nice to be here


Ben

Welcome Ben. 

We've all been where you are! Why Is say is start a build thread NOW and update it regularly so that when you lose a bit of steam you'll be able to see how far you've come. 

You've got a Yorkshire Facebook group and some knowledgeable people over there who may be able to help you. 

Search for Mk1 Golf Owners Club Yorkshire. 

Hi Ben,

I second what Dano said - get that build thread started!

If it were mine, I wouldn't bother converting drums to discs, spend your money on something else that it needs. Rebuild the drums with widely available and inexpensive parts and they work perfectly well. Rear discs are for show! If you have any money left when you've done anything else then you can revisit.

J

Thank you Dano and paceman for the welcome. Years ago, circa 1999, when I was into cars with a Blue Oval dick the same thing happened to me. I took my 1988 Ford Orion Ghia off the road to get some welding done and it never saw the road again. Probably for the best as it was an absolute sack 🤣🤣

I will start a build thread but it will be a bit later in the year. I've got a Mk7 Tdi build that is nearing "completion". Only a couple more things to do and it is where I want it for now. I also promised myself at the start of the year I would finish my track bike project which has been on the go now for 2 years. Once the Mk7 and the bike are done then I'll make a start on the Golf