The little Series1 Getting Some Work

So, during the finishing parts of the mk2 ABF

(which is now sold but i'm trying to hunt it down if anyone knows it's whereabouts
G736 OFM - cherry red with early doors
This one…


)

Anyways, while this was being built a mk1 popped up on eBay locally. Went to investigate and it was in a very sorry state but could see the potential.
After becoming the winning bidder it was time to get it back and assess the situation further….
Because due to being away or various other happenings this is nearing it's 5th year of build so getting kinda anxious to get her back and start going to some meets



After getting back and replacing the battery, carb gasket and a few other bits the old girl fired into life with her mighty 1.6 and sounded like a tractor.
Poking around at the dodgy bodykit there were issues so that was all stripped off..



Now, the white look stuff amongst the rust is actually expanding foam. This caused the sills, arches and front and rear valance to rot. Fantastic..
Already looking better without the bodykit and getting prepped for the bodyshop..
Needing -
Both inner and outer rear arches
Both wings
Both sills
Spare wheel well
Front and Rear valance
Fuel Filler Panel
Number Plate Recess



And stripping the interior to check out the floors..



Collection of parts needed for the body repairs..


(wish i'd kept the steering wheel instead of selling it with the mk2)

Just touching quickly on the engine side. The 1.6 was a little too far gone to hang onto and repair so parts were stripped off it and sold on to fund other sides of the project.
First engine idea was a KR on bike carbs that was bought for the ridiculous sum of……. 99p
This was sold to a friend that is building a 16v turbo for his mk2 rocco and bought a G60 which ended up looking like this..



This was traded for an AGU which ended up looking like this..



With the intention of sticking a turbo lump in the bay there was the issue of getting more cooling to the intercoolers. After some head scratching and noticed that this hasn't been done before, the inner wings were modified to house the twin intercooler set up from a leon





This has now been sold on and sticking with an ABF instead. Figured it's keeping more with the era of the car and who doesn't love a screaming valver
One with the ABF in the bay..



At a later date all the gaskets and belts will be replaced. I have a spare ABF block that i'm planning on building up to replace the current and have the head port, polished and rebuilt with a few tweaks to get a bit more out of it.

As the gearbox was never really going to change, the box was stripped, cleaned and painted ready for fitment



Using the o2a for cable shift and hydro clutch, a new clutch and release installed to freshen up

Getting back to the bodywork..
Because there are going to be a few internal changes all unnecessary holes in the engine bay were filled and smoothed. The scuttle tray is still staying though



Also the extra wiper has now been deleted



Hence why the servo brackets etc have been smoothed



Getting prepped for primer



Engine bay all premiered up.


And the rest of the old girl with a test fit of the winter wheels


Bay all painted up and new shiny parts getting fitted in form of:
Powder coated and polybushed wishbones
New ball joints
New Steering rack and tie rod ends with powder coated and polybushed rack mounts
New steering rack boot
New coilovers and new top mounts



Now the ABF is going in and not going to need the intercooler holes, the idea is to get the ABF running and then everything's coming back out again for a repaint and install..

Here's a quick test fit of the interior (undecided on the seats right now as might go fixed back buckets but still using the TT seat frames)



Absolutely hate this part.
Onto the wiring tuck



And the chosen brakes being stripped for paint and new seals
Vauxhall 280mm that are a direct fit to mk1 hubs and mk4 rear callipers



And the chosen colour for the callipers and 'other bits'



(if anyone is interested, i have a spare set of these callipers that would need, shoulder bolts, hoses, pads and G60 discs to complete)

Battery arrived..



This is going in the boot and using the BMW battery wires

Also started stripping the OZ Vega's as a possibility for fancy wheels to use. Might strip down and sell for something different but for now just get them looking pretty



ooh and a quick one of what's going in the back..



I do like having decent sound and when this come up for pretty much pennies i jumped at it
A few of the components will be getting replaced and going to re-trim the worn old black as well but for now, it works so it's going in

And a closing one until some real progression. Fingers crossed she'll be ready for Dubs At The Park

Looks great, I'm trying to get my head around an ABF with 02a box and hydro clutch etc at the moment so I will watch this closely as you seem to know what you are doing. Love to colour, can't wait to see it when it is all blue. Bet your excited!

Wow Nicko! It's looking good. Can't wait to see it at the Berkshire meet when it's all done. 
If you still need help with the s1 dash loom. I rember you asking something about it last time we met! , just give me a shout buddy.

That's awesome, thanks for your help there buddy.
Yeah, getting excited to have this out to some shows and meets this year - fingers crossed

Yeah I'm excited to lol! You come to the meet this week? 

yeah, thinking of swinging by to say hey.
i'll check the FBook page for the info

that looks smart, awesome work on it

Fabulous work! Love the intercooler positioning

That MK2 looked good too  

Thanks guys

Really miss the mk2 actually so if anyone catches any info on it's whereabouts i'd be keen (Somerset area last time) It was up for sale mid last year but i was away so missed it

A couple of bits sourced but mostly interior so not much really to update but fingers crossed, very soon

It's not one I recognise. Give a shout out on the MK2 forum, someone may know it

Good idea - thanks for that

Since i've been unable to get down to the car i though i'd turn my attention to the interior
After a random trip to Fabric Warehouse (love this place) ended up coming away with some brown tweed

Looking at the old worn speaker pods it was decided they needed a freshen up, so off with the old



And on with the new


Just need to get hold of some speaker grilles to both protect and finish tidying them up and they're good to go

Half tempted to do the rest of the rear boxes in this material but making sure enough is left for the seats, for now i think i'm just going to tackle the sun visors and go from there
 

Amazing work I have to say.
Tell me, what do you do in your spare time?  

Thank you for the comment, fingers crossed she'll be ready to introduce at some meets/shows

Well, i recently got back from Australia so currently on the hunt for work and doing little bits and pieces to finish the old girl off because she's going to be the daily driver

As soon as the headliner is delivered then i can decide on a colour for the bolsters/door cards etc

Just itching to get it back on the road as i've never actually driven it

  

I thought from your photo that you and your mate looked a bit Aussie like. 

Whatever you do, don't mention the cricket!     

hahah
That was heading up to the Gold Coast to catch NOFX

That's ok, not fussed about the cricket

nice ride, love the IC and the wiring solution.
i might steal that idea

Thanks buddy
The wiring i guess has been stolen from so many others but the intercooler setup i've never seen before.
All the hot air is forced straight out into the wheel arch and not back into the engine bay.

The chassis legs were trimmed and honey comb style welded so it's actually now a lot tougher than it was when it left the factory

Nice.
ive bought a slim IC to mount in the front before the radiator and oil cooler at the sides.
but first need to send the engine away for making room for the 82mm pistons

Are you going with regular 150bhp setup or improving the car?

Sticking with 150 for now and probably upgrade at a later date - just want to enjoy her for a bit first

Just read your thread again - what air setup did you go for?