New here! Restoring Black Mk1 GTI

Hi Everyone…

Thought I'd say hi, For those that are interested I'm half way through restoring my Black Mk1 GTI 1.6 I brought about 7 months ago… First VW I've ever owned and think I've made the right choice  :wink:

Hoping to get it finished for the GTI Sprint day at Santa pod in April but having a few problems sourcing some parts (e.g. Oil Cooler bracket   )

I have some pics but will check for the correct forum area before I start posting them in the wrong place!  :wink:

Should be respraying it next week… as I've done all the work myself so far (never welded before but it turned out I picked it up really easily) I thought I'd have a go at spraying myself to.

anyhow, think that's enough for a 'hi'  

Hi there and welcome. Is it a series one (small tail light/4 speed) or two (big tail lights/5 speed)? Love to see some pics, always fancied a black 1600. Mines a white 5 speed 1600 and is a rolling resto at the moment  :roll: .

You can post photos in the photo and images section, but they seem to take a long while to be approved. A lot of people stick pictures in their actual post, so may as well do that.

Cheers

It's the Big-Light 5 speed, I'll have a go at posting the pics up

If I don't have any luck, they're on club GTI's forum so I could post a link to there.

when do you plan to get your white one finished?

Thought I'd add some pictures to the post (hope they're not too big! they don't look it )

when I got it



Stripped down (mostly)


Filler neck + wheel arch replaced


Front end ready for slight filler + spraying


Passenger side wheel arch done last weekend



sorry about the pics… not much of a photographer  

will post updates when I've primered it and sprayed it if ppl are interested?

as a bit of advice though, Seriously spend the time finding as much original panels as you can… I haven't and have had a couplt of problems with the pattern part arches and front panel! and the front wings are going to be a headache!

Welcome mate and well done on doing it yourself!

Out of interest where did you source the arches and front panel?

Cheers

Thanks

I got the arches from euro car parts (they're listing aren't accurate, if you ask for parts showing no stock, chances are they can get them) www.eurocarparts.com

Got the front panel with the car but it wasn't the best of quality, think GSF do them for around ?75 exc. VAT

you got some work to do on yours? any details?

You can knock about ?40 off that price for a GSF panel!!!!

I got one for around ?35 - complete panel and crossmember.
Also had two wings though can't remember how much they were.
They aren't the best fit - they needed a bit of persuasion but once on and painted they look OK.

PS - Car looks like it is coming on nice - well done!

Yes, I am restoring an old LS at the moment. It needs rear arches too but I already sourced mine from Germany.

Interested to hear your experiences of Euro car parts panel quality. In general I stay well clear of them.

ahhh.. my mistake, just checked GSF's web site (?45)  ops:

I found the rear arches weren't too bad putting on, don't recommend doing an inner arch if your faint-hearted though, that got me throwing the hammer at the floor a couple of times  

yeah I found euro car parts panels to be slightly too short at the rear

got any pics of your LS dubboy?

Phill

Great to see yet another DIY restorer. Interesting to hear about pattern panels. I've got a few Hadrian ones ready to use (sill, inner rear arch, floor panels). Had been warned about quality, don't intend to fit them whole rather use them for cutting out repair patches. Thought about pattern front panel(half price of genuine) but thought better of it. Genuine one fitted like a dream, and has the VW/Audi stamps in it     

Regarding when I'll get mine finshed, I bought it almost 3 years ago and been doing stuff as I go along. Haven't got the time or space to take it off the road for more than a week at a time, just realised the other day I've done 20000 miles + since buying it - not bad for a 24 year old car.

So far replaced front panel, recon gearbox, lots of ignition components, lots of trim and interior bits and sprayed/fitted rust free 2nd hand genuine tailgate and sunroof panel. Previous owner did quite a good job of fitting new rear panel 7-8 years ago. My aim this year to finally make all the bodywork nice and sound. Need to replace rear arch around fuel filler, patch spare wheel well, ideally new bonnet and front wings and welding on the sills where idiots have badly jacked it over the years :roll:

Few… bit of a long post… oh and 2006 - engine rebuild!

Cheers

Hi there.

I also used a hadrian inner arch, was thinking about just cutting off what I needed but thought there would be more chance of me welding it on too high or low (if that makes sense) so took the entire panel out.. just didn't feel right to but up a good/new panel and mould it to parts of the old one   bit more work but I think it's worth it

not sure if this was the easiest option but got there in the end and the result is *almost* perfect  :wink:

Good point - have to assess properly before cutting things up. Just had another look at the photos. Looks like rear arch was a real mess  8O  must have been a bit of a challenge. Great to see the car saved, look like was in a condition where it could have quite easily ended up being broken for spares.

Cheers

lol

funny you should say that… I brought the car off a mate who's put a GTI engine in an E reg caddy, he robbed a few bits off the gear linkage, the front seats and clocks (which I've got back off him now).. he was given the car, when I saw it it was a car I just had to save to gave him ?200 for it (probably paid too much but it's got the FD short ratio 5 speed gearbox)

The car's given me a chance to redeem myself on previous incomplete projects (1972 mk1 escort as an example which only needed spraying but gave up and swapped for a Nova *cough cough* I'm a …..) so I will not give up on this!

Is it just me though or is the Mk1 Golf a car that once you have, you become attached to?  

to be honest the hardest part I've found so far is the drivers side sill which I've also replaced, I'm too affraid to put the door back on yet in case it's all wrong  ops: .. best thing to do is take measurements before you cut anything off, also you can use the other arch as a guideline if anything doesn't quiet look right.

you got any pictures of your mk1?

Come on the black series 2 1.6ers! :cheer:

Looking good PhillTMK1GTI keep up the good work. :y:

I agree I love my MK1 Golf the most out of all the cars I've had.

you got any pictures of your mk1?

Few here…..

click here

Cheers

Looking good Markwon.. I can't wait to get mine finished now, got next week off for my birthday but I know I'm just going to get stuck in and get it primed    picking up the paint tomorrow!

And to make thing worse I've seen a black GTI with BBS splits in black/polished rims locally… makes me turn green with envy seeing it fly past me!

It's almost ready to prep and spray!    


Got the drivers door back on to which lined up perfectly and had enough room by the new sill to close properly!!

new suspension is on to (apart from one rear shock.. need a new lower bolt!)..  so it's getting there!  

Thnx for the update Phil, will be a good feeling when back from the sprayers! 8)

 Going to be spraying it myself if I can find somewhere to do it!

Not sure if it will be ready for April 24th (GTI sprint day) but I'm going to try

Hi

 I see a couple of people talking about gsf and front pannels…. whats there web address???

 Cheers