Louie's 83 GTI Build

Looks beautiful lad! What suspension are you running?

LaluOC - I bought some H&R twin tube coil overs a couple years ago when the euro to pound was a bit better thankfully! The springs match the body which is quite nice too haha.

Wasn't happy with the finish on the engine bay. As he used Rocket to make the lacquer go off quicker it was very dull. Rubbed it all back down and had it done again in the booth. Much better.

Haven't updated on here for a while, had a few big problems come up with the build so it's been gathering dust in the garage for a couple years while i try to regain the motivation.

Will do a big update at the weekend hopefully, until then here's a picture of it outside for the first time in a couple years. Not bad considering its last polish was over two years ago.

Stunning. Be interested to see how this progresses.
Sometimes it's good to take a break - especially when you've put so much time in. It can start to feel like a bit of an uphill struggle.

louiesmall said

Haven't updated on here for a while, had a few big problems come up with the build so it's been gathering dust in the garage for a couple years while i try to regain the motivation.

Will do a big update at the weekend hopefully, until then here's a picture of it outside for the first time in a couple years. Not bad considering its last polish was over two years ago.

Looking absolutely epic! I am about to start a full restore on a mk1 GTI and searching the net for a boot floor took me here  

paceman - thanks mate,  it's exactly that. Been let down by so many people along the way is a struggle to get back motivated for it.

Moosh - Best of luck with your resto bud!

Staring with the problems then over the last couple years. Essentially when painting the car we were recommended a Polyester High Build, the parts place advised on how to use (incorrectly) then had no interest once we started finding problems with the car so have had some big headaches.

We stripped the doors and tailgate as we noticed the primer cracking under the paint on the hard edges or swage lines.












Later found the paint cracking on a couple other parts on the external shell so i thought it's better to be safe than sorry and rub all the polyester off and start again. Gutting isn't even the word for it after all the years put into it. Doubly difficult as i'm having to pay again for the paint work which is a sensitive topic… Worst of it below, initially a crack which got worse.




Shell is going back to resolve primer issues on the rest of the shell early next year. 

Some of the good bits now. Found a good condition GTI fuel tank with the internal swirl pot / filter housing and no rust inside. Rubbed it down, primed and Raptor'd in black. Bit of an upgrade on the powder coated repro tank.







Started sanding the inside of the bonnet for a flat and polish. Need to take some after pics but it came up well.



Gearbox was also rebuilt a couple years ago by Mart (now Gas N Gears). Complete overhaul as everyone who's met Martin will know he knows his stuff and if a part isn't right he won't use it. Also upped the final drive from a 3.67 to a 3.89 for a little bit more zip.































Also had the flywheel lightened and balanced while i was there. This was also double checked and balanced against the crank later on during dynamic balancing.

Picked up a 16v throttle body that's already been polished, will be cleaned up but started by port matching to the inlet.



Almost there





Driveshafts powder coated and rebuilt with new joints.



Had a full custom stainless exhaust system made up by Phoenix Exhausts, manifold is a 4-1 which looks rather lovely. Will be heat wrapped before going on the car.





Had a nightmare trying to fit some steel fuel pipes with the car only on axle stands, decided to have HEL Performance make up some AN -4 hose in black from front to back. Internal diameter is just under half a mil less than the standard steel pipes used so not perfect but will see how they get on. They're essentially fuel accumulator to metering head and the return to the tank. Think they were a bit of a faff doing them but happy with the outcome.








To fit them to the body got some stainless clamps made and powder coated black. Then riv nuts across the bulk head to screw into position. Tried the ones of these found online but felt too light weight and not amazing quality compared to these.