Mk1 project finally (pictures added)

Hello all brought my first golf at last ive had it 3 days, I got it off a friend quite cheap it's a non runner 3 door, 1.3, 1983

It came with the bbs kit with both boot spoilers not sure if there bbs or not but I dont like any of it so I've removed it all I didn't like doing it because I was scared what to find but I'm very happy with the condition for the price

My plans are to weld by chopping and replacing with fresh sheets or replacment panels, filling as many dents, painting it myself mars red this might change, coilovers, and bbs Rs 15x7 wheels

I will be doing the work myself

The interior is all mouldy and it smells alot inside but all there apart from parcel shelf and fog light switch

When I had a look at it from what I seen its pretty solid the o/s inner sill has some corrosion and outer sill same side has been replaced but seems to be over the old one gutted about that but can't see any other bodges, after removing the kit I inspected the rear arches and the n/s arch the seam has rust inbitween both skins the o/s arch is abit worse only seems to outer arch it's gone through in a couple of places till I start cutting the bad parts in not going to know

After that I removed the front plastic inner trims and lets just say I'm very happy with the inner arches will remove the wings soon to check better, the front valance is very good with only surface rust and the rear valance is even better

The boot needs a few holes welding and the windscreen theres two rust patches but not too bad

I will post pictures of when I got it to its current state when I know how to upload them

I'll also be happy with comment giving me help, tips and guidance to complete it to a decent quality and where to check

Hopefully I'll enjoy it and also everyone on here

Cheers mike

looking good, amazing what a bit of t cut n polish can do for ya, you were right about that rear spoiler, looked like a 70's porn tash lol

chris

Yes I've only done one side, it's alot brighter under where the arches were its a shame no I've got respray it all

I don't know why people had them there ugly and the boot didn't stay up with them on

nice project mate, best of luck with it

Rich

Cheers dude hopefully With my luck.. It goes as well as I'm hoping

Managed to get quite alot done today, all the interior is out apart from the dash, then I found a puddle behind the foot rest plate no idea how I'm going to sort it out, also polished the main areas apart from boot, the paint is shocking orange peel, runs the lot so it's definately having a full respray
Also managed to fit the other front coilover there on there bumpstops thought they would go lower and I don't think my alloys will fit because of there offset will try tomorrow

Heres the pictures from today

Get the water out asap and find out where it's getting in.

You need to clear the scuttle drain holes at either end and get a scuttle cover tray, it covers the plastic motor blower cage in the scuttle tray, the water will be getting in there for sure.

Check the door drain holes at the bottom and also the windscreen seal at the corners etc all common leak points.

An aqua Vac to shampoo the seats, door cards and vynil a wipe down with dilute bleach to kill the mould spores too. Don't get it on the fabric as it will ruin it lol.


Paint work came up lovely really, good luck with the project.

cheers

chortle

Oh right it might of been me then when I was washing it all it hasn't got the scuttle tray plastic hopefully it was its going to be a pain to get it all out do you know if it's waxoiled under that panel there's only 6 or so tiny holes, there is a tiny hole just on the windscreen seal I've also cleaned out the scuttle tray and unblocked them drains full of leaves
The paint looks good on the pictures but I'm not happy with it I was hoping to polish and blend the repaired areas into the old but where the old bbs kit was its alot lighter

Cheers for the help

Not much done today got the dash out thought and started removing the sound deadening on the drivers front pillar it's caked in sealant I'm hoping I don't find anything bad

I've took a picture of where the water is its behind this plate though the hole on both sides hopefully I can drain it using a washer bottle pump I'll get a picture of what I mean about the pillar

Wish my paint work would come up like that! Looks prity solid under all the crudd. Good luck with it!

Looks like a great shell you've got there mate, plenty of potential!!
Must admit I quite liked that BBS kit although I'm sure you'll be able to make some money selling it and the rear spoilers on here or evil-bay!

So what's your intentions with the engine? Are you going to get it running and restore it back to factory or looking to do an engine conversion?

Cheers people, the kit will be up on here very cheap due to me not being able to remove a couple of screws so the side skirts will need abit of fibreglass easy fit

My plans are to make the shell as best looking as I can might smooth the scuttle tray and heaters and no engine coversion just rebuild and clean with bike carbs or a polo gt lump on carbs unsure what is a direct fit

That area which is full of water usually does so because water leaks in through the back of the engine bay.

If you look down the back of the engine, just above the steering rack is a little gutter spanning the width of the car. At either end where it meets the wheelarches/chassis legs there are holes usually sealed with fabric tape and covered in seam sealer. If the tape has split or come unstuck then water will pour through these holes as its right in the middle of a drainage channel.

You an drain it partially by removing the rubber grommet just behind the steering rack above where the gear linkage runs, the rest you'll have to get out another way



Good luck with the project!

Heres a random pic I found on google to demonstrate the area I'm on about;



You can see the channel running along the back of the bay above the rack, and in the corners at either end are the holes covered in seam sealer and tape.  This will most definitely be where the water is coming in :wink:

Oh I see well once it's running then my plan is to remove the engine and weld any unused holes and remove scuttle and weld a plate over the heaters don't want to get rid of them but it looks better soo…

Got the pictures of the drivers side bulkhead theres something under there I don't want to uncover but it's got to be done someone loved seam sealer :s on the pillar I noticed its out of shape plus the door is dented around the area tomorrow we will find out aswel as the inner arches I will remove the wings and start grinding them back after I've swapped the shocks over from the polo and test the wheels I think the front will hit the coilover

Wow! thats a quite a cool golf! Can't wait to see what the outcomes gonna look like!

Cheers yes hopefully I removed the arches and n/s is very good and the o/s it's caked in seam sealer so somethings gone on with the pillar with the hinges on the bottem has been welded but the bottem weld is bloken and the inside where the dash bracket is welded to is bent

Also in the engine bay under the mars red the original paint is a completely different red is the normal or has the hole front end been changed?

Today's other work is learning how to colour sand to remove orange peel to get ready for when it's painted, I used 2000g with soapy water and there's only slightly wavey but I'm happy with the finish

I'll get pictures as soon as I can

Hopefully when I remove the sealant from the inner arches it's not a bodge under there

Thats great news! but the arches sound like a bit of work to me haha, keep going!

Carbs will sound nice mate, I'm going to be using ZX9R bike carbs on mine, just waiting for the manifold to be made up!

Good luck with it all!!!