Project Modernise A Mk2 Golf!

[MkIIJay]

Evening!

So far, i've had 6 Mk2 Golfs. My most recent Mk2 was sold last year and instantly, i regretted it. I've always wanted another since then.

My old Mk2:



For as a long as I remember, i've wanted a proper project car! A car that I can build when I feel like it and leave alone when I don't. A car I don't have to worry about leaving in a legal state because I need it for work in the morning. Now, I have that car! I've recently moved into a new house with a decent driveway and a garage. Two weeks later and I already have my project car!

It's a 1.6 1987 Type 19. I have absolutely no history, nothing. I don't even have a log book (It came from a friend so i'm not worried) I essentially want a modern car in a Mk2 so my plans are to clean it up completely, fit a 20v Turbo, air conditioning, full electric interior, air ride and some fancy wheels no doubt.

Unfortunately, I have next to no mechanical knowledge. My experience goes as far as changing an alternator and fuel pump, fitting coilers and wiring in stereos. But hey, with a Haynes manual, a laptop and Edition38, i'm going to give it a go!















And within 24 hours, it's now like this...



Watch this space!

[drift55]

Your last Mk2 was gorgeous! I have no doubt this one will be just as good! Did you daily any of you past Mk2s? I've been thinking of getting one as a daily.

[MkIIJay]

Your last Mk2 was gorgeous! I have no doubt this one will be just as good! Did you daily any of you past Mk2s? I've been thinking of getting one as a daily.

Every Mk2 i've owned has been used as a daily driver. I can't think of a car i'd rather use to be honest.

A small update:

Another evening, another hour or so in the garage. Curiosity last night had me pull one of the arch trims off. They were screwed on so I wasn't overly optimistic.

This was the front wing...



After a large *Gulp*, i decided tonight would be the night I pull the wing off and see just how bad the inner wing is. After what seems like hours fighting with undersea, i'm rather chuffed!



And how it's spending the night...



This evening I spent around £80 on axel stands, trolley jack etc. My first port of call tomorrow is to purchase a heat gun to then pull the other wing off on Wednesday!

Two new wings are definitely in order!

[Meeve]

nice project!! Don't you think an engine swap and mods like airbags and ac retrofit and stuff like that is a little too big to chew for a beginer in the DIY world?? Just seem like a big deal. I remember I used to think I could do everything when I started doing mecanics. I just don't think an engine swap is something for a beginer. I don't know you thought I'm just saying this because you said your experience was alternator and coils and stuff. This is all pretty basic stuff. The lastest I mention will require some custom work and fab and thats where things get hard real fast, or realy expensive.

Anyway, realy nice project! Good old mk2 will never be out of style!

[MkIIJay]

nice project!! Don't you think an engine swap and mods like airbags and ac retrofit and stuff like that is a little too big to chew for a beginer in the DIY world?? Just seem like a big deal. I remember I used to think I could do everything when I started doing mecanics. I just don't think an engine swap is something for a beginer. I don't know you thought I'm just saying this because you said your experience was alternator and coils and stuff. This is all pretty basic stuff. The lastest I mention will require some custom work and fab and thats where things get hard real fast, or realy expensive.

Anyway, realy nice project! Good old mk2 will never be out of style!

I agree with you completely. It's a mammoth task for me. Fortunately, I have good friends that are willing to help me in all areas.

When it comes to fabrication, a friend will come over and help. He won't do it for me though. He'll tell me how to do it, let me try and correct me if I mess up. I'm the kind of person that learns from doing something, so I'm going to do it.

My main aim is to do 99% of the work myself. Even if I have to do something 5 times to get it right, I'll do it just so I can say I've done it.

[The Simps]

Dude, I was just like you except with Novas not Golfs. All I can say is that having a project you can come & go to when you feel like it is very rewarding. Its my stress release not my stress (like you say, having to always have it road worthy!)

I also had about the same skill sets as you and this is the perfect project for you to just dive in and give things a go! I couldn't weld, at all, 7 years ago and I've gone from this:




To this:




My advice to you would be to strip down the whole thing and tackle rust repair etc, plan out what you want to achieve, research your options and then build it ground up. As its a learning thing I've put off buying hardly any expensive "mod" parts as it were and saving that to the very last opportunity so I've never got too much money in the project (at a risk of resenting it!).

Good luck and can't wait to see your updates!

[MkIIJay]

Again, I spent the whole day at work saying "I'm leaving the car alone tonight". Yeh, didn't happen. I've purchased a heatgun and a drink with wire attachments. I've never felt so manly!

I've whipped the wing off in a quarter of the time it took yesterday thanks to the heatgun and drill. Again, the inner wing is solid! The wing is pretty good but still, a new one will be ordered.





I have no idea what I'm going to do tomorrow.

[Broucksje]

damn, following this, also have a bagged mk2

[Dutch]

Following this! The best way to learn how to do stuff is to actually get out there and do it yourself! I've learned the hard way a lot and it does sometimes get expensive, but the skills you can gain from it are amazing. When I got my old Mk1 Caddy in 2010 I had no idea... by the end of it I knew gearbox conversions, basic maintenance, brake conversions hub conversions, and how to rework the interior. Then I swapped it for the mk2 Rocco I have currently, and the months it was on the road I learned how to rebuild engines from bare block etc. And since it's been off the road I've learned how to respray properly and gotten pretty good too. Next up....Welding!

What I'm trying to get at isn't that I know that stuff, but that I learned how to do that sort of stuff only by doing what you are with this project. Well worth it, keep at it mate!

[parttimeprojectionist]

yea dude, do it!
its easy-
just follow directions and double or triple check before you say its done
and if you dont know ask questions.

livin the dream...

[MkIIJay]

I'm back!

After our holiday, I came back and did a little more stripping (The car, you dirty lot!). I started removing more engine ancillaries first of all.





I then managed to remove the completely round bolt holding in the battery. I was worried about what I may find as I know the trays always rotting away.



Minus a little surface rust, it's good!

I then got around to taking a look at the rear arch properly. Crap...





The inner and outer arch are barely attached around the arch. You can go the whole way around with a screwdriver between them. I then had a look at the rear valance too...





And today I started stripping the interior, just so I could look and feel as though i'm still progressing...





And that is where i'm up to now!

[STU?]

good luck to you mate, looks like youve got quite abit of rot to deal with . Good start to get you welding :P .... im essentially modernizing my mk2 with mostly mk3 stuff building it as a tdi, orig plan was vr6 show car but i wanted it as a daily again. looking forward to progress.

[trm-]

Good luck! In for more!

[MkIIJay]

Evening!

I've spent a couple of hours on the Mk2 the past week or so. Started by stripping the dash out, front carpet and getting the door off. The dash was simple enough until it came to the nuts in the rain tray. Even Maddy McCann wasn't as good as hiding as those! Oh, I also got a light in the garage too! There'll be another in there next week.

A light...





Me and Jetta (The dog) started on the dash...





Whipped a door off...





Started on the rear. Unfortunately a rounded bumper mount bolt stopped me getting that off...



Dash, front carpets and some sound deadening out...



I then started on the drivers side. Pulled the kick panel out and then the door rubber. Nice hole in the sill...



So, the whole idea is to strip the car 100% and have it dipped so i'm left with pure metal, or a lack of. Then, i'll start on the metal work.

[MkIIJay]

Evening!

Another little bit of progress. I've continued stripping the rest of the interior and the drivers side of the car. 99% of the interior trim is now out. Drivers door is also off. I found a lovely hole underneath the rear seat which is around the size of a £2 coin. Not a massive issue. I then removed the drivers side arch trim to find it was a bit worse than I was hoping. But hey, I wanted something to learn with! The photos aren't in any particular order so ignore the fact the door keeps appearing/disappearing lol



Lots of dirt...





Holey floor...



Rusty quarter...



Front end...



I'm currently on the look out for a decent tank and compressor to allow me to use some air tools. Next up will to get the suspension component removed and then loom removal.