budget series 1 track car

I am intending to track a 1980 series 1 gti, and i am hoping for a bit of guidance in this matter, i will be selling all non essential parts for the project, and i have already sold the steering wheel for ?75 (Wolfsburg wheel).
As i am on a budget, i am hoping for a bit of input on what to spend the money on?
Bodywise it is fine, but the engine/gearbox/suspension needs attention, due to being standard (not bad).
The exhaust is blowing and gear selection crap (mk2 5 speed box) also it has a mk2 kjet engine.
As i said i am on a tight budget, so please give me ideas that dont cost ???'s :wink:

Wish i could persuade you not to. Its a nice series 1 and in my opinion shouldn't be altered too much.
Each to their own i suppose.

need to get the thing up to scratch first. if i had a good standard car, i'd start on loosing weight. money wise from there, i'd spend the dosh on tyres, brakes, suspension then engine.

ronalturbo said

Wish i could persuade you not to. Its a nice series 1 and in my opinion shouldn't be altered too much.
Each to their own i suppose.

It has a series 2 panel or i may have kept it as it was intended, i may even use the car as a track/sleeper road car

Ummmm, I'm no expert, but you're going to need a steering wheel for trackdays! Personally I'd simply remove the rear seat and keep it in the loft or something. In theory losing weight will give more performance, but it will also upset the balance of the car if you simply remove some trim from the rear. Racers who have done it have done so, partly for regulations reasons (so as nothing flammable is left in the car) and partly because they've also lost weight at the front too - possibly with glassfibre bonnet, wings, no bumpers, relocated battery, etc.

Got a wheel and boss already, it cost me ?20 notes on ebay :wink:

Here's how I've done mine,

I use Toyo R888 tyres on Corrado G60 rims
Koni shocks
Eibach springs
Poly bushed wishbones
Ferrodo DS2500 Front pads (I've got 280mm discs) You can get away with Pagid Fast road pads if you're not as mad as me!

That will make a massive difference without costing the earth, remove a few of the excess bits too, like the rear seats and seatbelts

Mines got a load of performance mods too, but that list will get you started

juz said

Here's how I've done mine,

I use Toyo R888 tyres on Corrado G60 rims
Koni shocks
Eibach springs
Poly bushed wishbones
Ferrodo DS2500 Front pads (I've got 280mm discs) You can get away with Pagid Fast road pads if you're not as mad as me!

That will make a massive difference without costing the earth, remove a few of the excess bits too, like the rear seats and seatbelts

Mines got a load of performance mods too, but that list will get you started

Thanks Juz,
I would like to maybe keep the 239 brakes, but upgrade the m/c and servo and braided hoses, i dont know what drums it has, but i was told to change to a Passat one??
Engine wise i will leave for the moment, but poly bushes seems a good idea, along with decent suspension.
I will also try and stiffen the shell with braces.

Mk2 16v servo and master cylinder is the way i went, some people disk the backs but it's not really needed if your going to 'lighten' it.  might want to beef up the anti roll bars and put top and bottom strut braces on as well ( the old girl has probably sagged a bit)  8O. Loads of stuff you can do quite cheaply if you use flea bay and have a friendly mechanic with a lift. The gear thing is probably just the gear linkage bushes (about 12 quid a set) and/or it needs adjusting on the spline at the gearbox end. Haynes manual shows all the stuff you need to look at on the linkage or i'm sure theres something in the knowledge base on here already?  Good luck with it mate, my next car (I was hoping) would be a track car…  I Have a nice non sunroof chassis no interior… Just can't bring myself to not make it back to standard.   :roll:

I forgot to add that I've fitted both front braces and an upper rear one  :roll:

Well that's one job ticked off then!    Front anti roll bars seem quite expensive to buy, poly bushes are fine but i like my fillings in  

dubburke said

ronalturbo said

Wish i could persuade you not to. Its a nice series 1 and in my opinion shouldn't be altered too much.
Each to their own i suppose.

It has a series 2 panel or i may have kept it as it was intended, i may even use the car as a track/sleeper road car

Oh right, what idiot did that?
Thats fair enough. What kind of muppet would change one of the best parts of a series 1 into a series 2 part.
Anyway good luck with your car

ronalturbo said

dubburke said

ronalturbo said

Wish i could persuade you not to. Its a nice series 1 and in my opinion shouldn't be altered too much.
Each to their own i suppose.

It has a series 2 panel or i may have kept it as it was intended, i may even use the car as a track/sleeper road car

Oh right, what idiot did that?
Thats fair enough. What kind of muppet would change one of the best parts of a series 1 into a series 2 part.
Anyway good luck with your car

Apparently when it was restored about 6 years ago, the small lights were not fashionable, or so i heard :dontknow: