78 US Golf Build

Hi everyone,

I am new here and wanted to share the last 3 years progress of my 1978 Rabbit build in the US.

I have built a number of MK1's over the years but had the desire to do a full build.  After about 6 months of searching, I was able to find a very clean early car for $400 and I couldn't pass it up.

Here is when I purchased it:





I then decided to fit an AEB 20v turbo out of a 1996 Audi A4 with an 02A trans.

Here is the MK3 Golf trans mount I fabricated into the Rabbit


And the engine test fitted



Next was time to fit wheels.  Ordered these from Image.





then time for a few little hot rod inspired modifications.  Went from this:



to this:



then time to get the car onto a rotisserie



Clean the bottom:



and modify the rear pan as well as do body work to make it perfect.







box and shave the frame legs



cut the firewall out



and do more metal work to make it all smooth




I will get more photos added over the next few days but this is a good start.


thanks for looking

Aaron

Looking good Aaron, I particularly like the corners of the doors, nice touch!

I'll look forward to more updates

Andy.

Those doors look awesome, a simple looking idea, but so clever! Fabrication works looks spot on!  

Thanks guys,


Here is a picture of the top of the doors



and a few more of the progress over the last year.









The rear wheels are a 15x9 ET0 so I had to do some work to make them fit.   Got a jog built and narrowed the rear axle 25mm on each side.





the nice thing is that the rear shock mounts stay in the stock location vs. when other people cut the centre of the axle and take the material out that way.

Here is the current fitment of the wheels.  I am fairly pleased and believe it will work nice with the air ride I am building.

Looks outstanding Aaron.
I take my hat off to you Sir!  

This is absolutely amazing!! Makes my project look very inadequate!  

Brilliant project mate. She's going to be awesome when finished.  

Oooooooooooo, I'm gonna be watching this!

Nice metalworking skills, the door corners are a nice touch.

wannabemk1owner said

This is absolutely amazing!! Makes my project look very inadequate!  

I second this, makes me want to redo my engine bay and try a bit harder  

Please keep the pictures coming, I love builds with great fabricating in them  

Matt

pazwaa said

wannabemk1owner said

This is absolutely amazing!! Makes my project look very inadequate!  

I second this, makes me want to redo my engine bay and try a bit harder  

Please keep the pictures coming, I love builds with great fabricating in them  

Matt

+1

Some great fabrication skills going on there. Really like those door corners - top work.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.  Here is the latest update from the car.

The front wheels are a 15x8 ET 7 so they are a little aggressive to fit under the front wings.  The solution was to build control arms that are 12.5mm narrower.



These are built out of Stainless 304 tubing and utilize the stock mounting points as well as ball joints.



And now for some shiny things!

Absolute quality work going on here, I love those control arms, keep the updates coming

Control arms look amazing. Nice fab skills

The control arms are a work of art! Can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve  

Nom nom.

wow, lots of amazing work going into this

Lookin' good so far.

loving this already nice to see the ridges in the panels you've added on the front chassis legs

those front control arms !!!!! awesome

Are they chrome trimmed happich rear windows? original chrome trim or something you have added?