stripping a MK1 down

hi all

i m new on here and was just wondering,
what does a typical MK1 wiegh ? whats the lightest i could strip it down to ?, does anyone know of any really light wieght ones ? i know HR engineering do carbon pannels etc but does anyone else do light wieght bodywork for the MK1

much apriciated

Finlay

carbon and fiberglass parts come up on ebay sometimes. polycarb fo your windows would save a bit of weight

In standard form, according to the Haynes manual, a Mk1 will weigh between 800 and 855kg, depending on the number of doors, the size of the engine, and the type of transmission (auto or manual).

I've read about a guy who got one down to 660kg, but he took a holesaw to almost every inner panel, replaced the glass with lightweight stuff, and completely gutted the interior.

There's a thread about it on No-Rice which is a great read (apart from the ending)

HTH

Rich

This order makes sense (cost reasons/awkward):

Under dash tray
Rear seats
Carpet and underlay
Door trim panels
Other trim panels (eg seatbelt covers, parcel shelf supports, etc)
Passenger seat
Seat belts (except driver's)
Rear bumper
Headlining

(All the above is free)

Front bumper (relocate indicators somewhere else, costs money)
Scrape sound deadening material off inside of floor
Scrape underseal off outside of floor, wheelarches
Plexiglass (except front screen)
Ultra light alloys
Ultra light calipers
Carbon fibre hatchback, doors, bonnet, front wings
Carbon fibre driveshafts

No battery or alternator (or race versions)
No oil cooler
No cooling system


I did the first 8 on the list I can tell you, it works!

Lose the mirrors and wipers too. This is more for aerodynamics than weight, but it does help. Lowering and having the stock GTI splitter helps the aerodynamics too.

Dashboard too, lightweight seat for driver. etc etc

I'm stripping mine down just now too, have removed all the interior bar the dash and headlining, going to do those soo tho, i've also cut out the spare wheel well and will replace it with a sheet of metal.
I've also seen that the mounts for the seat belts have heavy plate behind them, obviously you'll need to leave a few in for yourself plus passanger if your having one.

Where can you get the poly windows from? and do they have to be made from a certain standard of material?

Cheers

Danny

ive seen plexi glass windows on ebay 120 pound looked good as well but if you can find them again if not try these poeple they will make things out of fibre glass or carbon for you they car callled performance trim.com

search for mine in mk1 chat or on glub gti members rides, mines all been done on the cheap being a poor student, the only thing thats cost has been my FIA seats and Harnesses, as i dont skimp on safety.

so far bumpers have gone (front indicators are flush mount side repeaters in the holes where the wiring used to go, grand price of ?10 from chav world (motorworld)) rear bumpers have gone, lower dash has gone along with gear suround, rear seats gone, all trims gone (or going…door card are still in for now but need to come off to remove speakers) carpets are gone, rear wash wipe is gone (that saved about 3kg alone!)

you can then look at things like tubular manifolds as these are lighetr than the cast ones and improve the poke, i have just had my middle box removed when i fitted the new manifold as this allowed easier fitment and also saved a couple kilos more.

plastic windows save some good wieght too, a rear one alone saves about 4-6kg, but becareful on the side fronts as they will scratch esp if they are wound up and down.

a carbon fibre bonnet will save a shed load too, but then you are looking at big ? per kg, and tbh going on a diet would be cheaper…

also think of things like coil overs as these will reduce wieght and improve the handling, and the more wight you can save thats un sprung the better, as this will improve handling, hence why i am still using 239 discs and trying different pads to see if i can get a set up that is easily as good as monster brakes, as smaller discs = less wieght. so im now on the same zinerman drilled 239 discs, with mintex pads (i was on gfs stock pads but cooked them on track)

dannyk said

I'm stripping mine down just now too, have removed all the interior bar the dash and headlining, going to do those soo tho, i've also cut out the spare wheel well and will replace it with a sheet of metal.
I've also seen that the mounts for the seat belts have heavy plate behind them, obviously you'll need to leave a few in for yourself plus passanger if your having one.

Where can you get the poly windows from? and do they have to be made from a certain standard of material?

Cheers

Danny

hello Danny

i m out in westhill where abouts are you in town ?

as for windows,  what i have done in the past is just buy sheets of poly and cut then to size using the original window as a template

cheers

Finlay

hi finlay,
Didn't notice you where from the aberdeen area! :roll:  i'm out at balmedie.
Been reading about the windows issue and the only one they check for the MOT is the windscreen aparently so it seems you can use anything for the rest!?!!

What thickness did you use, 4mm?

Cheers

Danny

for the love of god use proper plastic windows! if its the wrong type of platic in a impact it will shatter and you will have a nice new look to your face, like ive said dont skimp on safety!

speak to pascall on club gti, he's who im ordering mine off when ive got the spare dosh as thats the last thing ive got to change thats good ? per kg saving

don't worry, i've been looking into it and finding out what kind of platsic to use, 4mm ploycarbonate seems to be the preffered option. I was just saying that there doesn't seen to be anything to say what you should have/use legally? thought there would've been for the reason your talking about?

dannyk said

hi finlay,
Didn't notice you where from the aberdeen area! :roll:  i'm out at balmedie.
Been reading about the windows issue and the only one they check for the MOT is the windscreen aparently so it seems you can use anything for the rest!?!!

What thickness did you use, 4mm?

Cheers

Danny

i cant honestly remember, i tried different thicknesses, i think i ended up with 3mm poly ? as they seemed to be the best comprimise between stiffness and wieght