Mk1 GTI Cabby.The Project So Far... NOW SOLD :( !

Thanks.

One is enough for me I think!

Another pic, still needs trimming and stapling.



Off to get my passenger seat now. Updates to follow…hopfully it's easier than the rears!

Looking great.

I love focal. massive fan. quality of the sound is fantastic.

Seats are looking fantastic. if you fancy retrimming my seats send me a pm

Thanks.

Never used Focal before but have heard great reviews and the quality looks excellent.

It was scary enough doing my covers, trying to stretch them over the bases without them going "rip"!!

Don't think I could cope having to do it using someone elses hard earned cash.

Started stripping the passenger seat:



Foam off:



Sections apart:



Again I found some patches of rust so I treated it, rubbed it back and gave them a fresh coat of black.







Rust gone…just waiting for them to dry now. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz



Whilst waiting, had a game of pool and cracked on with the door cards.

Needed to mount the original speaker pods to the front doors.

Tidied up the rear of the cards and cut the hole for the speaker:



Fixed the pockets in place:



The speaker pods have funny prongs to locate the speaker, but the woofer rubber would've been touching the grill if I'd have mounted them straight over the prongs. Hmmmm…



Speaker sitting too close to the grill…



Good old fuel hose to the rescue!…again…



Made up 10mm spacers which slipped over the prongly like a glove.



This spaced the speaker out nicely and wouldn't rattle either. Tight as a gnat's chuff.





Fitted them onto the pockets and job done.

Wish my seats would hurry up and dry!!

This project is amazing!

Sounds weird but I can't wait for my Golf to come off the road so that I can start this kind of work!

Well done sir, keep it up!

quality work.

Where did you get the leather from
I have leather seats that need re-covering .

MickLittle said

Where did you get the leather from
I have leather seats that need re-covering .

I read he got them from 'Autoleathers' (http://www.autoleathers.co.uk)

Yes, Autoleathers.

Did my front seat yesterday.

Pics and updates coming later on today.

Front door cards completed:



Hooray, my seat bases were dry today!

Time for front seat…

Once again transfered hooks and fiitings from old seat cover to the new one:





Rear seat section 1st (sorry about the picture quality!)



Did the same as the rear seats. Gave them an extra layer of padding to plump out the new covers. This was then trimmed and shaped to fit nicely.

New foam applied:

Then on with the new covers.



It took me 2 hours to get to this stage.   Still loads more fettling to do.



Couldn't resist trying a headrest…



The base was a bit easier than the back but still tight tight tight to get on.

Even with new seat bases the covers weren't as tight as I'd hoped, so I put an extra layer of foam on these too. Glutton for punishment

This is probably the reason why I'm struggling to get the covers on so much…

Got there in the end. The seats are tight. No sagg what so ever but a few small creases in them which I'm not 100% about.

Maybe I'm just being a perfectionist, but I wanted them with no creases at all. Without paying £1200 + for a custom leather re-trim, I don't think it's possible. Maybe when these wear out I'll get it done by a professional.

I won't be doing it again, that's for sure.  





Anyones comments would be appreciated as I am not feeling that impressed with the finish if I'm honest. Not as happy with them as the rear bench.

Going to have a few days off, to let me red raw fingers get better…

Ordered some new toys today. When they arrive I'll start again.

hi car looks amazing great work.

how do you plan on fitting the door card to the car - as i was looking to make some new ones myself but was unsure  of the fitting side of things, have you just screwed them on ??

djrussf1 said

that looks top notch man!   :clap:

Thanks guys,

It makes it all worth while when people like what you're doing!

The door cards will fit the same way as the original ones by clipping onto the door skin. I copied all the fixing points from the original cards onto the my ones.

The following pic shows the original black fixings in place on the back of the new door cards. Didn't Want any visible screws on the new cards.



Hope this helps

Had some bits arrive today…

Can you guess what it is yet??  :dontknow:

Engine stand:



Shutz underseal:



Any a new compressor to get to work….



Been roped in to renovating my brothers house before he rents it out, so got my hands full with that at the moment…the car is having to wait for a few weeks  

Next on the list:

1. Remove engine
2. Send off to be re-built
3. Engine Detailing
4. Engine bay cleaned and painted
5. Underside fully undersealed
6. New exhaust & manifold
7. Rebuild engine and re-fit (never done this before but how hard can it be???)

Can't wait to get going again. Id take working on my golf over plastering and painting anyday!

Anyone have any good tips on removing the engine and keeping the bits organised? I'm planning on getting all the nuts and bolts zinc coated etc before re-fitting too.

Sterling work Fella,

You can get plating kits if you fancy Zinc plating the nuts, bolts, screws etc.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zinc-Brush-Plating-Kit-Bike-Car-Boat-Antiques-/260825824462?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cba6e3cce

Not sure how much it would cost to buy them allreday done to be honest.

Thanks mate!

Have you ever used the kits? I've heard mixed reviews.

I've found a place near to me who'll zinc plate and ice cream tub of screws etc for about £50.

I have to post it though and I'm a bit nervous about that just incase it gets lost in the post! Perhaps I'll take it to them in person??

Also, as I've never stripped an engine before, I'd like to keep all nuts and bolts clearly labelled so I don't have any left over at the end.

That wouldn't be good!  :redfaced:

Quality thread mate!

especially like the mk2 wiper, nice little touch!

Theres a guy on youtube that gives step by step on rebuilding a DX engine and its pretty detailed. I'm looking at rebuilding my sportline this winter and this thread is gonna be a big help

Get more pics up!

Thanks.

Doing the strip down and rebuild but leaving the engine internals to the pro's!

Had a good tidy up today and arranged my new toys.

Sand blasting cabinet to sort out any rusty bits before repainting.



Compressor…



Engine stand…



Engine hoist…



One tidy garage…hooray!



Anyway, started putting my new gadgets to work and started stripping the engine ready to be lifted out.

Engine bay before…didn't look too bad, but close up it needs some tidying.



Removed the bonnet to make life easier.





Bonnet catch will get some new zinc plating.



Same for this part. Bit of rust on the slam panel which I'll get welded and sorted.



Rad, servo, dizzy, leads, battery all removed.



All these will get blasted, painted and zinc detailed (not the brush though!)



Needed to remove the driveshafts, gear linkages and horrible c clips on the exhaust downpipe (when they ping off, they go like a bullet!)

Stripped the front suspension too as I'm going to shutz the arches and underside of the car. I'm going to be able to do this in my sleep soon!



Remove the exhaust. What a mission this was! Didn't have the car high enough on my axle stands to drop it down but my jack wouldn't go any higher!

Going to get a 4-1 manifold to replace the naff c clip one. Centre section is fine. Got a longlife lifetime stainless back box which is fine but I noticed a slight blow on one of the welds. I'll be taking it back for them to sort out before it goes back on.





That was it for today. Try to get the engine out in the next day or so.

nice new tools and good progress, brings backs alot of memories, you going for OEM engine bay look for custom?

Thanks.

Keeping it all original. Been inspired by the mk1 golf engine detailing thread.

If mine turns out half as nice I'll be pleased!