E30 Zone

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:12 pm**

Thought i'd get a thread started on my Mk1 as I'm hoping to start work on it over the next few weeks as I need to move it out of my garage soon to make way for my E30 as my mum wants her garage back for the winter. The Golf will put under a car cover at hers.

Bit of background on the car, I first owned it as my first car when I was 17. It was bought early summer 2002 from one of my best mates at the time who also had it as his first car and he'd bought it off another of our mates who'd had it as a first car.

I had the car for about a year, unfortuneately I rear ended a Vectra with a towbar damaging the front panel, bonnet and moving the off-side chassis rail a touch. As it was a really good shell I stripped it and swapped the wheels, exhaust, suspension and Cobra bucket seats into a Silver Driver and sold it as a rolling shell. A guy came to look at it with a view to chop it up to repair his S1 1.6 GTi but ended up carrying out a full GTi conversion on this shell due to it's condition and repaired the front end (apart from the chassis rail

) and re-registered it as a 1600.

Fastward 9 years and on a regular browse in the internet I stubled across an advert matching this car as I knew it'd been re-registered and there it was, the otherside of Birmingham from where I work. As I'd kept looking at Golfs through the 9 years I thought there was no better time to get back into one than buy my old one. :lol:

Here's the advert pics;

Since buying it early this year it's just sat in my garage untouched while I was working on the E30, it's slowly found itself getting used as parts storage but they're slowly getting sold now.

Initial plans are to get it running and see what it needs for an MOT before a bit of a simple tidy up and get it on the road. I'll probably be lowering somemore (was dropped about 60mm when I had it before), fitting some other wheels (either refurbed BBS or the OZs in my sig pic). I've also got a 2.0l 8v bottom end that's been rebuilt a few years ago buy Grant Motorsport that will probably find its way in at a later point.

Sat on the drive the day it was delivered;

Here's how it's sitting now;

Scirroco Storm leathers

When I bought it it did run but not great but now it won't even turn over with a fully charged battery. The battery light comes on and the temp light flashes a few times but nothing else happens. It's fitted with a Clifford alarm

so I'm going to take a wild guess that this might be the cause. I've noticed these three wires near the battery, the black is connected to the negative terminal, I'm guessing the red needs to go to the positive but anyideas where the grey would go? I think all the electrics need an overhaul as nothing really worked when I first got it.

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:25 pm**

WIN

My first car was a Mars red Mk1 Golf 1.3LS 5 Door - sooo much better than the Metro's and Fiestas that everyone else had at the time.

Love 'em

Nice work dave - keep the pics coming

Posted: **Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:40 pm**

wish i could buy my first car back!! was shite... 903cc fiat uno 4 speed that i bought for £100 but was a beast could keep up with my mates 1.1 saxo

happy days

Posted: **Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:28 pm**

Little update, felt the need to do some spannering to this over the last couple of days as I need a retro car on the road and I can't see the E30 filling that void any time soon.

In attempts to solve the crap running of the engine I've been having a real good tinker, this old K-Jet really does seem overly complicated.

I'd already sorted the non-start issue, was a long line of duff starters. Even a couple of new ones from ECP were dead!!

The metering head took a few bashes with a hammer which gave instant positive results, something to do with a plunger/pin getting stuck. As that made such a difference I opened up the metering head and gave it a quick clean up and check for any obvious wear and tear, all looked fine. Been over the engine checking all he vacuum pipes and trimmed down any pipes with splits and used new clamps or replaced altogether with black silicon hose, also replaced all the tiny braided vacuum hoses with diesel injector line. Finally the throttle body was pulled off and given a good clean out and the gasket was replaced with some instant gasket stuff. Fired it up and it ran like a dream yesterday, reverted to being a rough again so still need to dig deeper. Next port of call will to double check all the vacuums (there's a lot

)since it was OK yesterday and check the timing.

Also fitted to OZs that used to be on my last Tech 2 touring, going to need some meat taking off the ones on the front as they're sticking out a fair amount at the moment. Currently ET12, going to trial fit a 15" E30 BBS to see how that fits with ET25. Fitted all new exhaust rubbers as the old ones had perished so the exhuast was sat on the rear beam.

Next jobs on the list with curing the engine is a brake overhaul, found out yesterday the brakes are pretty much non-existant, and also the lights need rewiring as it's got a nasty uprated lighting loom fitted and even worse Clifford alarm that I think I'll remove as well.

Time for a few pics on the new rims;

Don't worry, the nasty badgeless grille will be going as well. It's just a temporary thing since what was on it was broken and missing the ends and this was in the boot.

Posted: **Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:00 pm**

Those wheels and a good interior clear out has transformed the look of that car

I love old golfs

Posted: **Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:33 pm**

Theres a genuine 1983 A mars red GTI parked up in the yard at my workshop. My mate has tried to buy it as he's a gold wrongun (with a 2.0 16v Mk2) but the owner wants silly money for it.

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2013 9:09 am**

Prices for good Mk1 GTi's are increasing at quite a pace, it's easy to forget how old these are now. The last on the tin tops are hitting 30 now and dare I say they like to rust as much if not more then similar aged BMWs.

I can't wait to get it back on the road, just a quick blast up and down my estate was enough to get me excited. 10 years this month since I last had it on the road.

Posted: **Fri Jun 28, 2013 5:19 pm**

Bit of an update, this is now road legal pretty much bang on 10 years after I got rid of the car first time around and 6 1/2 years since anyone has had it on the road!

Flew through it's MOT yesterday, only close shave was having to switch back to the old GTi wheels which have old perished tyres with a few cracks in them which got me a couple of advisories.

Engine still isn't running anywhere near like it should but now I can get it to people to maybe have a look.

Jobs done since buying it;
New starter motor
New discs and pads
New rear shoes and springs
New rear wheel cylinders
New off-side caliper
New brake bias controller
New hazard light switch
Multiple new sections of brake pipe made and added
1 new sidelight bulb holder.
Terminals cleaned on indicator plugs and relay and a random broken purple wire under the dash re-connected
Various bulbs replaced
Horn replaced with one from an E30 to get it working
New wipers
All filters changed
Oil changed
Various vacuum pipes replaced or tidied
Throttle body cleaned out and refitted with liquid gasket
Rear arches and floor painted in POR15 chassis paint
Sills round back and resprayed
Metering head massaged and checked by a mate

Still much much more to do but at least it's on the road.

Posted: **Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:36 pm**

Thought I'd do a little update on this.

Car has been SORN'd since the end of OCT but going to drag it out with a view to getting along to UD next month.

Last summer was good fun but highlighted a few issues, rear shocks are goosed and I really want some more ooomph. I've got some shocks ready to fit but will also get some new bushes while I'm at it. I also want to sort the ride height, I'm happy with how the rear sits at the moment but dare say it'll raise a little with new shocks. Does the front look like its standard height? I'm thinking to 40mm springs should suffice.

Took it down to the German show last summer at Beaulieu motor museum in the New Forest and it didn't miss a beat. Few pics from that weekend;

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2014 10:50 am**

Very nice

Posted: **Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:10 am**

Cheers Andy.

As I said in the last post, the rear shocks have had it and I had some new ones ready to go. But then I was offered a nearly new Weitec (made by KW) 40mm Sports kit for a bargain price and that also included new bushes and struts and was ready to bolt straight on, so that was thrown on during the week.

Quick trial with one of the OZs on the front and it looks a lot better. Left them off for now for a proper clean and wax before I tax it at the and of the month. Still toying with the idea of trying to get the front machined a little to reduce the amount the stick out.

Posted: **Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:03 am**

You sorted out the rear Rubbing issue Dave?

Posted: **Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:22 am**

Will find out on Saturday once its taxed Rav, hopefully the new shocks will have solved it.

Posted: **Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:20 pm**

Rubbing isn't cured

Back on the road for the summer

Nice being back in it after a few months away. Ran it down to my mums loaded up with the OZs in the boot to give them a good clean and wax before refitting. With them in the booth and a big jack there was no sign of any rubbing.

Then with the wheels swapped and loaded back up the rubbing was back when going over bumps so looks like it is all down to the size/offset of the OZs.
Took it for a good run this morning as well and at decent speed on bumpy roads there was the odd rub with just a spare in the boot. Looks like I'm going to be need somekind of arch work..............

Posted: **Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:53 pm**

Awesome little motor mate

One of my good mates has a white one, been a bit 'boy'd up' with stripped interior bar 2 front recaros, de-badged and running 9" wide BBS Splits (so he rubs just about every time he alters steering angle

)..........
but he is running 230horses from a 1.820vTurbo on custom management in a flushed bay which looks the nuts and it goes like foooook

Hoping to get my M30 project done this year and see how I stand up against him on a spirited b-road run

80's cars are the best

Posted: **Mon Mar 03, 2014 7:11 am**

Looking good kedge great car and great colour. Looks like u have two 80s icons

Posted: **Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:42 pm**

So I spent most of last year saying "going to prep it and sell it". Needless to say I just couldn't bring myself to do it, even though I'd made my mind up what was replacing it (944) and was in contact with a few seller

I did get as far as having the OEM GTi wheels powder coated and threw them back on and tidied up a few little bits and then I just thought "sod it". So the 2.0 8v engine is getting built, I'll be refurbishing a set of 15" E30 BBS I've got sat on the shelf, swap the tyres over from the OZs and get them sold. Then I'm just going to drive it like I'm 17 again

May even sling it around on a few track days

Back on the 9 spokes for now;

Seeing full use through the winter as well when I need my retro fix;

Beats presents rubbish crimbo presents under the tree;

Posted: **Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:23 pm**

Thought about some steelies? They do look nice on an old golf

Posted: **Thu Jan 15, 2015 3:38 pm**

DanThe wrote:Thought about some steelies? They do look nice on an old golf

I'm having the same thoughts... I reckon a nice set of g60 15" steelies would look nice.

They go fairly cheap as well, here's a set for sale http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-st ... 19fa094761

Posted: **Thu Jan 15, 2015 3:43 pm**

I do like some of the steelies, but they're not already sat on the shelf. Plus, won't the weigh a fair bit more?

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:59 pm**

Just seeing this for the first time.

Posted: **Sun Feb 07, 2016 11:44 pm**

Thread revival!!

Progress was minimal to say the least on this last year, double hernia op followed by then doing a disc in my back curtailed most things for quite some time. However I'm now back spannering and swearing in my Mums garage again, still banned from all two wheeled activities though

.

So since the last update, the OZ's have been sold to a mate to fit on his Mk2 Jetta, and I've now got the BBS from a previous E30 breaker on the Golf, powder coated in a generic silver.

Never ceases to amaze me how pictures actually make this look a tidy motor

So I've now bitten the bullet and pulled out the tired old 280+ mile 1600 and set about giving the engine bay a quick spruce up before the 2.0 is then fitted (still need to bolt the ancillaries to that to). All scabs have been dealt with, POR15 has been applied liberally so it should be very well protected now. Just need to finish off with the primer and final prep before laying on the Mars Red.

Engine gone, not a bad job, even without an engine crane.

After its most recent coating of high build primer, wasn't originally going to do the front panel, but just got carried away this morning.

Ideally I want a new engine loom, condition of the old one is probably only just about functional. Getting the impression that the only option will be to make my own though, should be interesting as I've never done anything like that, but the current one will do to get it back on the road ASAP.

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:18 pm**

How the bloody hell did you get the engine out without a crane ?

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:29 pm**

I'd love to say "just lifted it out", but I haven't got Jim sized muscles.

Same method I nearly always use, strip most ancillairies off and whip the head off. Then drop the engine onto a dolly board and drag it out from underneath, it is pretty easy actually. Will obviously be scrounging a crane to fit the new lump.

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:32 pm**

my two ,the golf's quite a bit futher on now,just havnt got any recent pics

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:11 pm**

Nice, but love the Caddy, especially with the bikes in the back

Posted: **Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:31 pm**

Enjoying the thread, always liked the Mk1 Golf.

Keep the pics and updates coming

Posted: **Tue Feb 09, 2016 5:59 pm**

Final coat of primer went on today, so all being well it'll be ready to flat down tomorrow and I'll have it painted by the time I'm back work on Saturday.

Forgot to mention the fact I changed the steering wheel last year to. Got fed up of the standard GTi wheel with its slick worn out plastic so nabbed a cheap retro Raid leather steering wheel off of eBay, just need to find a horn push for it.

Posted: **Mon Feb 15, 2016 7:59 pm**

Engine bay is now painted, just needs a quick flat and polish, and then will crack on with giving brake servo and all that gubbins a spruce up.

Posted: **Sat Feb 27, 2021 6:11 pm**

Kedge wrote: ↑
Mon Feb 15, 2016 7:59 pm
Engine bay is now painted, just needs a quick flat and polish, and then will crack on with giving brake servo and all that gubbins a spruce up.

Kedge wrote: ↑
Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:12 pm
Thought i'd get a thread started on my Mk1 as I'm hoping to start work on it over the next few weeks as I need to move it out of my garage soon to make way for my E30 as my mum wants her garage back for the winter. The Golf will put under a car cover at hers.

Bit of background on the car, I first owned it as my first car when I was 17. It was bought early summer 2002 from one of my best mates at the time who also had it as his first car and he'd bought it off another of our mates who'd had it as a first car.

I had the car for about a year, unfortuneately I rear ended a Vectra with a towbar damaging the front panel, bonnet and moving the off-side chassis rail a touch. As it was a really good shell I stripped it and swapped the wheels, exhaust, suspension and Cobra bucket seats into a Silver Driver and sold it as a rolling shell. A guy came to look at it with a view to chop it up to repair his S1 1.6 GTi but ended up carrying out a full GTi conversion on this shell due to it's condition and repaired the front end (apart from the chassis rail ) and re-registered it as a 1600.

Fastward 9 years and on a regular browse in the internet I stubled across an advert matching this car as I knew it'd been re-registered and there it was, the otherside of Birmingham from where I work. As I'd kept looking at Golfs through the 9 years I thought there was no better time to get back into one than buy my old one.

Here's the advert pics;

Since buying it early this year it's just sat in my garage untouched while I was working on the E30, it's slowly found itself getting used as parts storage but they're slowly getting sold now.

Initial plans are to get it running and see what it needs for an MOT before a bit of a simple tidy up and get it on the road. I'll probably be lowering somemore (was dropped about 60mm when I had it before), fitting some other wheels (either refurbed BBS or the OZs in my sig pic). I've also got a 2.0l 8v bottom end that's been rebuilt a few years ago buy Grant Motorsport that will probably find its way in at a later point.

Sat on the drive the day it was delivered;

Here's how it's sitting now;

Scirroco Storm leathers

When I bought it it did run but not great but now it won't even turn over with a fully charged battery. The battery light comes on and the temp light flashes a few times but nothing else happens. It's fitted with a Clifford alarm so I'm going to take a wild guess that this might be the cause. I've noticed these three wires near the battery, the black is connected to the negative terminal, I'm guessing the red needs to go to the positive but anyideas where the grey would go? I think all the electrics need an overhaul as nothing really worked when I first got it.

Hi Kedge

Nice work there with the gti fella

I also have a gti in restoration but I’m after driver & passanger doors
Was wondering if you may know of any going

Cheers

E30 Zone

Mk1 Golf - Mars Red 1.6 GTi Converted Driver

Mk1 Golf - Mars Red 1.6 GTi Converted Driver

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