Just got us a 1989 Mk2 Golf 1.8 Syncro as a winter runaround.
The Syncro is a rare model and has 4WD, just over 500 were imported into the UK.
I'm hoping to get some little issues sorted and start modifying it straight away. Came to me at a nice price and its a great drive - you can hoon it round a roundabout and it won't give in, it just grips and grips and grips...
Jobs that NEED doing:
[COLOR="Red"]Ignition switch swap (need to swap the barrel) - done after much swearing![/COLOR]
Rear arches (getting rough so they need chopping out and new ones fitting
[COLOR="Red"]Front doors (Had to buy a complete car to get a matching set, but replaced all 4 in the process)[/COLOR]
Windscreen (cracked so it will be an insurance fix)
Gear selection (think its just badly aligned but 1st is a bitch!)
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Carb setup (its got the Weber carb upgrade, but its running a bit hesitant. Hoping to tune that out) - Sorted[/COLOR]
Things I WANT to do:
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Fit tinted indicators and side repeaters from the Jetta! (Job done)[/COLOR]
Swap the Isotta steering wheel for a more motorsporty one.
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Swap from thin bumpers to 90 spec.(Job done - need painting!)[/COLOR]
Fit a GTi rear spoiler
Upgrade the front lights to crystals
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Tint the rear lenses(blue Hella ones fitted)[/COLOR]
Get some german style plates
Fit an eyebrow spoiler
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Swap the steels (Now on 16" BK Racing alloys)[/COLOR]
Here is a few pics:
Wicked.
Thats a tasty runabout dude
No doubt it will be back running and looking 100% soon
Tasty?
If your a tin worm maybe
Im sure you will turn this around mate you seem to have more projects on your plate than anyone!
Sticky'd the thread as your member, id really like to see one of your creations on the stand next year at Nationals!
Those rear arches are a mess, though it looks worse because of the sealant on them.
Some daft previous owner couldn't be arsed to sort it by the look of it so I will chop them out and put some new ones on. Only other bits are tidying on the fuel flap and the front doors. Hoping to get two to swap in the right colour.
Nationals? Not saying yes but you never know
Serviced the ignition system with new spark plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor and coil.
Guess what? It still ran like shit!
Anyway - I decided it was down to timing as I couldn't adjust it out at the dizzy and it ran better with the wrong firing order :eyes:
Got the local garage bod to reset the cam/ignition timing and tension it all up and now it goes like shit off a shovel. Still need to adjust the Weber and I want to swap the zorst for one off a Rallye to get some extra BHP.
Think I may just keep this one :hush:
Decision made. I'm keeping it for sure - might cost me my license though :-o
It's rapid - not so much because of the power (it's only a 1.8 carb so just over 100bhp I reckon) but because of the sheer grip you get when you boot it and round roundabouts when you don't need to back off - it's fast in/fast out with this baby.
A performance exhaust and GTi cam could make this a proper mayhem machine.
Proposed mods are now looking like:
Jetta 3 bar grille in satin black inc bottom trim with black badge
Headlights spilt from lenses and backings blacked out
90' spec bumpers and spoiler
Crystal indicators and repeaters
50/50 rear lenses in red/black
Colour coded badging (blue on the back and sides, black on the grille), boot handle, door handles
Slam it! - got to check up which springs fit
Nice rims (still undecided but I like the look of 16" Speedline/Compomotive from a Lancia Delta Integrale?)
Here's a crappy 'shop job - opinions please....
Swapped the ignition barrel and found out by accident that the steering wheel had caused a short in the headlight dim/dip switch. Next up will be a new switch and a Porsche steering wheel. I've vowed never to buy a Momo/Mountney boss again as I have had many problems with them. Left alone this would have caused the car to set on fire.
Got a factory primered Rallye spec tailgate trim ready to be colour coded.
Attempted the Jolf front end swap today but it was so cold and wet I decided to leave it till I can get it indoors. Looks straightforward enough and I am gagging to get some changes made.
Picking up a '90 spec bumper with crystal indicators on Tuesday which will be fitted when I do the grille.
With the Jetta now gone I have a 90 spec front bumper, kit, steering wheel, smoked indicators, repeaters, windscreen, Jetta front and eyebrow to go on.
Been down to the Golf breakers and managed to pick up a few damaged bits of trim, a rear spoiler, 90 spec rear bumper and a set of MIM 15" alloys up for next to nowt. They look like BBS alloys, but IMO better, with a nice rim.
Hoping to get some time to fit some of this over the weekend and begin the transformation....
that chop aint bad at all
sounds like a beast.. you like your 4wd dont you
Despite the crappy weather I started on the Getta/Jolf front end conversion this morning. I managed to strip it all down in 2 hours (in between showers).
Began to refit the Jetta slam panel and had a downpour of torrential rain - the Rainworth canal ran right under me while I tried bolting the bumper on.
So I managed to swap the slam panel, lights, grille. Fitted the 90 spec bumper and even swapped the indicators and repeaters for smoked ones.
Hoping to colour code it all in the morning and take a few photos.
As promised....
Update!!
I've just bought another car (no shock there then!) as a donor for the Golf.
Its a Jetta TX in Stratos Blue, modified and in pretty good nick with tax and MOT.
I'm going to swap the doors and wings for those on the Golf (same colour) - sorting the dents and most of the rust.
Other bits it will donate include:
16" 5 spoke BK Racing alloys
-60mm HR suspension kit
Single wiper conversion
Door gap trim
Debadged 3 bar grille
Crystal repeaters (smoked)
Chrome interior trim
Leather gear and handbrake gaiters
Sports steering wheel
I'll post pics/details of the Jetta when I get it, but once I have swapped the parts and made it a full car again it will be up for sale as a roadworthy runner with some mods so anyone interested drop me a PM pls.
Jetta has donated its doors, chrome handles, leather gaiters and alloys now. Also fitted some Hella blue tinted rear lenses and crystal smoked repeaters.
I think the rears are going to be 'modified' in a typical Dubmodder fashion.
The scabby Golf is looking a little more respectable, though I am still not sure about the style of wheels. Still 16" is better than 14" and they are a nice temporary solution till the 'right' ones come along.
Pics are a bit blue but you can see the changes:
shes gettin there mate..
you should of jacked it up and made it a off roader
Looked into it but to do it Country style you need the undercarriage which is unique, rare as fook and damn expensive.
Thinking of going with single lamp grille, eyebrow, 50/50 blue/smoked taillights (my own idea - we will see how good/shite it looks!). Rayvern quoted 1650 for the bags....too much for me right now so it might have to be custom coilovers and a slam.