'90 Mk2 VR6 Golf Smooth Bay Never Ending Project

[JoeMallett]

Annoyingly I can't work out what half of the photos I have posted are, but it looks like they were all iPhone photos so aren't that important hopefully.

[JoeMallett]

Maybe Vento front it... (getting carried away already)

[JoeMallett]

Cool man, thanks. Won't be going mad with it I don't expect. Want to replace wings and fix the rear arches, then probably just get everything really clean and keep it as a super well looked after daily. (I expect I will probably go overboard though. Im terrible.)

[Mehowski]

Defo interested in a thread for that MK3

[JoeMallett]

Seen that I need to sort out some of the now missing photos from earlier on in the thread, ill get to that soon.

Rightyho, quite a lot has been going on since my last proper update, unfortunately not much related to the Mk2...

Been through a couple of dailys since the Skoda now haha (most reliable/boring car I've ever owned).
I was given an Audi A3 1.8t as a christmas bonus from work! absolute heap but great fun!



I then managed to get a sweet opportunity and grab this beauty for a bargain!

IMG_7325 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr

IMG_7322 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr

IMG_7318 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr

'93 GL currently with 30k on the clock. Its super super clean apart from the arches.
Hopefully I shall get these on at some point too

IMG_7346 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr



I'll probably end up with a build thread for this at some point in the near future.

Right, this is partly what has been holding me up with the Mk2 progress...

IMG_7336 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr



Full restoration on a Mk1 Caddy with partially smoothed bay, wider arches and a few other little bits. As well and a full resto on a Mini Black. Once these are out the way things should get much more productive for my cars.

Since the last update on the Mk2 I have done a bit... I checked the compression and things on the ABF and everything seems all good, so I managed to rip that out of the car and start stripping everything down with a plan to mostly rebuild it and add a few upgrades. Here's how it stands at the moment.

IMG_7348 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr

IMG_7349 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr

Hopefully I should have some more updates in the following weeks.

[PassionGarage]

woo keeeeeen !!

[JoeMallett]

Quick note to say that not much has happened, but I will get some up to date photos up tomorrow and hopefully I will start to get some more regular updates for y'all soon.
Been restoring a Mk1 Caddy for someone, as well as just starting on a Mini. Haven't put any time into my car, but I am trying to push on with it now.

[JoeMallett]

So I've had a VERY expensive month. Paying for a holiday (Barcelona Grand Prix )
This happened...

IMG_0017 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr

The whole car(my daily), as you can see, was literally falling apart... So I went on a hunt and ended up with this beast...

IMG_0016 by Joe Mallett, on Flickr]

So happy with it, quiet, quick(ish), comfortable, BIG, and a Skoda

Then this happened...



Been looking for an engine for a long time and haven't really been having any luck. Then this popped up 40 minutes from me. I was already heading there when I found it and managed to get my foot in that day. It's a 16v ABF. I actually ended up paying less for this than I was expecting to pay for just an engine. It's fairly high mileage (160k) but runs beautiful. Drove back home fine, pulls how I'd expect a 16v to pull. I'll probably do a compression test on it later on, just out of interest.
It almost seems a shame to pull it apart though. Theres nothing wrong with it apart from standard mk3 rust on a couple windows and a drooping headliner. Such a steal!

Just need to get the E30 out of the way and this will be coming apart. Hopefully I can push on and get a lot done next week.

[JoeMallett]

So the engine is back out. Searching for a new engine now, still not 100% what. I think a 1.8t is just going to be more than I can afford. A nice 2.0 16v ABF is a big possibility, nearly as much power as the VR, ALOT lighter, parts are a lot cheaper. I can also make it look very tidy, with a nice set of carbs or something.

[JoeMallett]

So after a lot of stress from trying to sort out new coolant leaks and buying a new coolant flange, I finally got round to starting the Golf. Turned out I didn't solve the problem by changing the head gasket. Everything is pointing towards a cracked cylinder head and piston rings. I can't afford to get it tested just to see whether it is or not. Looks like the engine is going to have to come back out and start looking for a new solution. Not sure whether to go for a VR6 again or not. I have been thinking about a 1.8t 20v for a while now. No show season for me this year I don't think...

[JoeMallett]

Been busy with other things. Need to get on with my car!

Servicing the Lady's Audi A3 Quattro...



A Land Rover I am Respraying



He wanted to keep the 'War wounds' Which has actually made it more difficult for me, because I don't have a single flat surface to work with and flatting the primer is basically impossible!

[JoeMallett]

Hopefully all of the photos have now been sorted out.
Been busy at work spraying a camper. And at home spraying a Series 2 Land Rover. Will get back on it with the Golf in a couple of weeks.
If I haven't sorted out the problem. I'm looking for other engines. Maybe 16v turbo, 20v turbo, 2.0 TSI. We'll see.

[JoeMallett]

Just need to sort out fitting the coolant hoses, then I can check whether the problem is solved. Then it's back apart for some improvements for the new year. Definitely decided to touch up the bay, but can't decide whether to remove to scuttle or not. I quite like the look of it with it there, but removing it will make the bay look so much more spaced out! Is it work I'm willing to put in?

[JoeMallett]

Awesome, my photos have stopped working...

Anyway, I'll sort that out later, for now...

It's onnnn, had far too many troubles with parts. Auto factors really need to sort themselves out.

Still trying to decide what to do with this ally rocker cover. I was planning on polishing it, which I have started myself, but it's doing my head in, also I'm not 100% on whether its going to look right on top of the silver cylinder head, might spray it the same colour as the car? But I don't know whether that would look weird too...

Any suggestions?

[JoeMallett]

So I'm hopefully going to pick up some head bolts that fit in a minute. Then I'll be able to make a little bit of progress.