My first car - 1983 Mk1 Golf

[Mk1Sam]

After driving for about 3 months, i gave her a bloody good service!
The service was that good infact, i managed to kill a clutch!
Heres how bad the old inline fuel filter was!



After a look on ebay, i won a clutch, clutch plate and a release bearing for £26! Happy days!
Having never fitted a clutch before, i asked my dad for a hand - turns out he had never fitted a clutch before either! It couldn't have been a more simple clutch change for our first times.
I simply followed the haynes manual, and luckily the only problem i had was one of the drive shaft bolts were rounded, but just had enough left for me to undo the bolt!
I then popped to DubUnit in Tamworth and Matt was very kind enough to help me out and give me a few drive shaft bolts that were in great condition, and got me out of the shit!
I also thought it would be a good idea to change the clutch cable while i was at it.
As the clutch had been slipping rather alot, a gave the flywheel a very light sanding to improve its surface.





The gearbox when i first removed it. I gave it a good clean in Gunk before i put it back on!




New release bearing fitted after the box was cleaned up to a reasonable standard






Great! I had a clutch that worked.... until just under a week later, when this happened!




I lost all drive on the way to my friends house, about 100 yards from his drive.
I heard a slight bang, and then i had no go!
I could select all gears fine, and i knew it couldn't have been the clutch as i was able to do 50mph on the spot, and press the clutch in and the speedo would drop back to 0.
It must have been gearbox related past the final drive.
It must not have been able to handle all 45bhp of the mighty 1.1 engine!

Once back home, i had no trouble taking the gearbox off as i had learnt how to just a few days before - sods law!
Once i disconnected the shorter drive shaft, the problem became apparent when gearbox oil started flowing out all down the drive.... sorry dad!
This was what i found!





Balls! Now i was left to find another 4 speed box having no idea which box would fit my engine, if there were any differences etc.
So i had to do my research, and thanks to the guys on the Mk1Golf owners club, i was able to find out the information i needed.
Awesome, now it was time to scour the internet to find a gearbox!

[Steve.]

Very clean MK1, if only mine were this clean! I can't wait to see more progress on it.

[FourRingsB6]

Car looks so clean. I could only wish to find a Mk1 in that kind of shape around me. Enjoy it, and congrats on the driving test.

[Mk1Sam]

A couple of months went by, and i managed to save just enough to be able to afford a new grill and small front splitter. I also ordered a Rabbit injection badge for a laugh.
I was limited on funds as i was still in my final year of high school at this point, so there were many weekends washing my parents cars and their friends cars to try to make some money.






I was well chuffed! It was starting to look like a Mk1 should do again!

After a few more weeks, i had enough money to change the rear lights back to the original spec ones, as i really couldn't stand those clear light ones!
I also had a set of pressed plates made, and fitted them to the car.
I never had a front licence plate holder on the front of the car, and i had never liked the way the original plate holders stick out below the front bumper, so i set about making my own bracket which was attached just at the level of the front bumper, tight into the front valance. In my opinion it made the front of the car look cleaner and less cluttered.






FINALLY, THE DAY CAME!
I was 17 and i could finally slap the L plates onto the Golf and take her for a spin!





And after driving her for a while, it confirmed how badly i needed to ditch the ridiculous bad boy exhaust as it sounded horrendous!
So i got myself onto ebay and managed to get a brand new standard exhaust for her for under £30 delivered - win win!
With the help of my mates pit, a blow lamp, a hammer and a fair amount of swearing, i realised why the pipe was so cheep, as i needed to tweet almost every bend in every way to get the pipe to fit correctly!
But it was worth it in the end when i started her up and she sounded sweet and classic!
I also fitted a new Volkswagen badge on the rear which was kindly bought by a friend for my birthday.





After just under 3 months of turning 17, the day of my driving test came and i passed 1st time with 3 minors!! Awesome!! The day i had been waiting for my whole life had just happened! I was over the moon!
Time to get insured.....
After spending a whole day trying to find insurance that was not a total joke, the cheapest i found was for £2600!! But i had no choice but to pay it! Thieving swines!

[dDutch]

looking good! what are the plans?

[Mk1Sam]

This will most likely be the only full picture of the engine bay i will ever post on here, as there is nothing to show other than the fact it is totally standard, but in surprisingly good condition for a original engine bay!



During the time leading up untill i was 17, the down pipe developed a blow, so i got my dad to drive her with me riding shotgun to a local garage where it was changed for a new downpipe. While it was in the garage, i asked to have a look under the car while it was up on the ramps which the guys at the garage kindly let me do so.
I was rather surprised at how clean it was, with all the guys in the garage wanting to have a look under her! They said she was the cleanest Mk1 they had seen in years, which instantly made me feel like i had done well for myself, and had not let my want over power my common sense when i bought her.

I eventually got round to fixing the drivers side window, as when i got her, there was no window mech. The window was held up in the door ghetto style with 2 lengths of wood, and after about the 3rd time the wood had fell over, allowing the window to fly into the door, i decided it would be a good idea to buy a new window regulator + 2 seats and rubbers from VW heritage. This gave me the first excuse to do something to her! I had it fitted within the hour! Awesome, a window that worked!

[Mk1Sam]

After always wanting a Mk1 Golf, i was determined to have my own as my first car, no matter what the cost was going to be!
After looking for about a year for the ideal Mk1 for myself, 2 years ago, at the age of 16 i bought my dream car! A 1983 Mk1 Golf. She was a 3 door with no sunroof and a mighty 1.1 engine under the bonnet! Which i thought would make my insurance cheep when i finally turned 17 and passed my test!





She wasn't perfect, but she was mine!
Now was the time for me to start imagining what i wanted to do with her. First plans were to remove the disgusting front grill that didn't fit, and remove the horrible rear lights.
I wanted to fit a standard grill and standard rear lights as i much preferred the look of them.

My dad insured her on a classic policy so we could keep her moving while i waited for 6 long agonising months till i could slap the L plates on and get behind the wheel myself!

I shall update more of this possibly tomorrow as i have 2 years worth to post up!
Only just registered on this forum - why i didn't do this sooner ill never know!