Project GTi Black 'n' White

Well folks it's a new year and a new start for the newly aquired GTi.

I got her back in December, just before Christmas and looks wise was very standard.  The engine has been rebuilt previously with TSR/KS components and bored out to 1900cc, it's a great revvy little engine with quite a good bit of torque.  Coilovers are already fitted, brakes upgraded, new fuel and brake lines etc.  Mechanically very strong, although the gearbox needs a little addressing for 1st/2nd synchro.

How she was when I collected it :-



She's stayed pretty much standard for the first couple of weeks (due to relaxing over the festive period).  First port of call is to strip off most of the trim to show the rusty bits :-

Bumpers off:


Arches off and new 14" BBS rims on:


The extent of the rust:




Looks like the front offside wing needs replacing and some patch work on the rear offside panel.

Obligatory shot of the engine bay:


Plans for the car are to fix all of the rust and then get it fully resprayed inc engine bay.  I need to raise the coilies about 20mm as getting some scrub, tried doing this yesterday but stupid rings wouldn't budge!  I am sticking with a black and white theme with some small elements of chrome and red in key areas.

If you know of a decent bodyshop, please PM me.  I'm in Luton but happy to travel.

I am going to tart the engine up but now I am hankering after a charger or maybe an engine swap… stay tuned for more.

Looks lush bud, i too have a white one, although not quite a Gti haha… i wish!

Took my rear bumper off the other day too to see what the rust situation was like… i think i'll just pop it back on and pretend i didn't see anything!

Silly question BUT what's the sticker in the rear side windows? Look cool and i'm after a few stickers but don't know what to get.

Cheers and nice work!

Ooo a white one! Its my favorite colour for the GTI, think they look awesome :wink:

Mine looked as clean as that one too, until like you, I started taking bits off  

Keep at it!

Greg

Ill be watching this one with interest, nice standard car fella.

let us know how you get on with the body work

S

Cheers for all the comments guys, greatly appreciated.

Well plans for this coming weekend are to remove the front suspension struts to clean them all up and adjust the stuck coilovers.  Got myself an impact wrench now (boys and their toys eh) so this should make the job a lot easier.

Oh, and I had a quote from a restoration company for the paint work.  To replace/remove/repair all of the rust areas inc sandblasting. Then full respray inc engine bay was £4000 + VAT.

This would be guaranteed for 12 months and fully waxoiled, they will even collect and deliver.  I was a bit shocked by the price but based on their previous work this could actually be about right.

Thoughts??

Depends on the quality they do, ano if Something like that came it were I work it would probly be around the same price, at the end of the day u get what you pay for but am sure sum 1 could do it 4 cheaper

Agreed.  I really wanted to use somebody recommended from the forum, try and keep the money as part of the fraternity so to speak.

Ideally I am looking to pay around £2-2.5k max but will go higher if needed

U  should be able 2 get a gd job for that With my mine i am doin the panel work n me bros paintin it, thats the only reason a bought myn or a wouldnt beable 2 afford it

I am just now looking on ebay at some MIG welders, I am very tempted to do the bodywork myself, then send it to the bodyshop for paint.

The quote I had included me stripping and re-assembling the car.

Update:

Think I have sourced a place to respray the car, they are quite a way away but reasonable price and have done another forum members car.  Details will follow later.

I now need to really start stipping the car to get it ready to go at the end of Jan, weather is rubbish though. Loads of snow outside at the moment and looks set to continue.

Need to decide which shade of white to go for, original or different, see my separate thread on that.

sjuggins said

Cheers for all the comments guys, greatly appreciated.

Well plans for this coming weekend are to remove the front suspension struts to clean them all up and adjust the stuck coilovers.  Got myself an impact wrench now (boys and their toys eh) so this should make the job a lot easier

Thoughts??

Don't force the lock rings on coilovers. As you've removed them from the car get em soaked in penetrating oil (WD40 etc) and after a suitable time (say a couple of hours with repeated applications) use the correct C spanner to undo one of the lock rings. The fine threads on "coilies" can easily be butchered with force. Good luck.

What about a lower half respray to reduce your costs and treat the parts of the car that need it? A good bodyshop will be able to match the white properly. Don't pay VAT mate, haven't you been charged enough by our wonderful government already? Let the folding stuff do the talking!

Lovely looking car, by the way. White is the new silver!

sjuggins said

Cheers for all the comments guys, greatly appreciated.

Well plans for this coming weekend are to remove the front suspension struts to clean them all up and adjust the stuck coilovers.  Got myself an impact wrench now (boys and their toys eh) so this should make the job a lot easier

Thoughts??

Don't force the lock rings on coilovers. As you've removed them from the car get em soaked in penetrating oil (WD40 etc) and after a suitable time (say a couple of hours with repeated applications) use the correct C spanner to undo one of the lock rings. The fine threads on "coilies" can easily be butchered with force. Good luck.

What about a lower half respray to reduce your costs and treat the parts of the car that need it? A good bodyshop will be able to match the white properly. Don't pay VAT mate, haven't you been charged enough by our wonderful government already? Let the folding stuff do the talking!

Lovely looking car, by the way. White is the new silver!

Update - 9th Jan:

Wow what a weekend for working on your cars….. NOT!!

I am still shivering and recovering from working outside for most of yesterday, but at last I got the front suspension sorted.  Getting the struts out was easy peasy, however getting the collars to budge on the coilovers was not!

I had applied shed loads of WD40 the day before and again yesterday morning, did it make a difference, like feck it did.  In the end (about an hour of swearing and more swearing) I realised the sub-zero temperatures was probably causing the collars to shrink.  Solution, heat, in two forms the cooker and boiling water.  I gently heated the collars over a low flame for a few seconds and tried again, movement at last (but not enough).  I didn't want to risk damaging the strut or casing so moved onto freshly boiled water, eureka, success!!

So, tip of the day, if you want to adjust your coilies like a prat when it's -5 outside and snowing, use WD40 (shite loads) and boiling water applied directly to the collars.

So end result, suspension has been raised about 25mm and new top mounts fitted.  Will sort the rears out next weekend and begin stripping the car in earnest ready for the respray in Feb/March.

Oldfool said

Don't force the lock rings on coilovers. As you've removed them from the car get em soaked in penetrating oil (WD40 etc) and after a suitable time (say a couple of hours with repeated applications) use the correct C spanner to undo one of the lock rings. The fine threads on "coilies" can easily be butchered with force. Good luck.

What about a lower half respray to reduce your costs and treat the parts of the car that need it? A good bodyshop will be able to match the white properly. Don't pay VAT mate, haven't you been charged enough by our wonderful government already? Let the folding stuff do the talking!

Lovely looking car, by the way. White is the new silver!

Thanks Oldfool, I did actually try what you suggested before reading your post.  I don't think WD40 is as effective at penetrating in sub-zero applications.  See my solution above.

I could get the bottom half resprayed but as there is some rust coming through around the sunroof that will need addressing I might as well get the whole thing done.  I am paying cash only so hopefully that will do the talking for me.

love this car!