Driver Found - mkII GTI VR6

[kittenpuncher]

What's up SW I was able to finally purchase a car I have wanted for a long time a MkII GTI.

Long story short I met the guy down in Arlington VA a couple Fridays ago, he had listed his mk2 VR Swapped GTI on Craigslist for $3500 pictures looked great and he seemed nice enough so I shot down there cash in hand. Based on the condition from the pictures and the quality of the swap I didn't anticipate it lasting long. Turns out the guy was awesome, a mini cooper mechanic by trade and this was his fun weekend car he had owned for 7 years?

It was rust free, clean as a whistle, VR pulled incredibly solid and the body was straight. It was everything I had been looking for over the last 6 months and then some.

What the car came with-
+Seriously no rust! aside from a half dime sized spot below a rear window seal /No clear coat peel just a little fading on the roof
+Velour Recaros
+Red stripe dash
+VR Swap everything from a corrado so it is still a 4 lug car (I am a fan of this because I like 4 lug wheel options better)
+Techtonics Exhaust
+GIAC Chip
+BMW 14" basketweaves with toyo proxy tires
+Head Unit
+Everything to do a mk4 rear brake swap including the larger master cylinder
+B Pillar mounted seat belts
+Rear windshield wiper delete
+Single round badgless light set up with the red stripe surround
+Thule roof rack with bike mount
+R32 control arm bushings

All in all I got the car for a steal from a solid previous owner and couldn't be more excited about it

Plans - it's my weekend driver/project
-Starting this weekend I am replacing a rear wheel bearing the the seller disclosed would need to be done and I can hear it hummin along and doing an oil change
-Half cage for chassis rigidity
-Coilovers
-BFI Stage 1/2 mounts
-Reupholster the headliner (Black suede) PO has some skull and crossbones 90s sh!t going on
-Find carpets for the foot wells
-New wheels 15s (image, Schmidt or bbs)
-new headlights/ new grill with badge
-either red stripe or polished trim bumpers
-Respray




Cheers

[kittenpuncher]

I refuse to cut corners with this build only quality parts.

Ordered a few odds and ends to button up basic upkeep
-missing passenger side rear quarter trim (from the uk and OEM)$$$
-new OEM donut style exhaust hangers (exhaust rattled over bumps) looks like 3-4 were dry rotted
-new driver side Recaro brand seat back adjuster (old one is stripped)
-leather NOS 5 speed shift knob

Car needs a full detail ASAP.

[Robitussin]

Wow this thing looks way clean! Excited to see what you do with it.

[swole_dwarf]

Dude, nice.

[veedubbin]

mmm very nice. Can't help but love anything vr6

[gipidoer]

this thing looks way clean! Excited to see what you do with it.

[kittenpuncher]

Dude, nice.

Wow this thing looks way clean! Excited to see what you do with it.

mmm very nice. Can't help but love anything vr6

this thing looks way clean! Excited to see what you do with it.

Wow this thing looks way clean!

Thanks for the kind words fellas! Plan is too clean it up even more.

Nothing exciting today did the rear bearing, installed the new seatback adjuster and an oil change. Gave it a quick wash and drove it down for some fuel.

Potato pictures for now I have a t2i but not worth busting that out yet.

[kittenpuncher]

Ordered new motor mounts yesterday went with the BFI .5 mounts. The stock swiss cheese mounts still feel okay but the trans mount is toast so I opted for the full kit. Anyone with any experience with these?

Also, should be ordering coils soon, if I can get H&R ultra lows for decent price used that is my go to or I will go with new FKs. I just can't justify new ultra lows at a third the price of what I bought the car for when I won't be daily driving it.

[kittenpuncher]

Picking up a set of coilovers ideally within the week... Have my eyes on some FK Silverlines for maximum lows without the H&R price tag.

-Picked out some temporary wheels for this summer. Will be trying to build some wheels this winter
-BFI Motor Mounts/Trans mount are in and hopefully I will get a chance to install them this weekend
-Also, need to fix the driver side door handle this weekend, that part came in today as well

I want to try and give it a nice wash and stretch the legs to my local cars and coffee on Saturday morning.

Really want/need to have everything buttoned up for H2o 2015

Other random stuff that needs to be done ASAP
-Fenders rolled
-Trans Fluid flush
-New CAI Filter
-Frame/tie rod notch because I do want to put this thing on its balls

[FunfGang]

Just installed FK's on my friend's mk6 GTI, albeit they have no adjustability, for $400 new they ride and handle absolutely amazingly. My mk3 also came with an fk cup kit and its great as well.


Looking forward to the progress!

[DutchieSaxo]

nice find dude, it looks really mint

i've helped building my mates mk2 vr6 and have to say they are such a blast to drive
dunno if you already did this but i'd suggest upgrading your brakes because that vr weighs a bit more then the orginal engine.. some g60 calipers should help

keep the updates coming, very interested how this unfolds

[kittenpuncher]

Just installed FK's on my friend's mk6 GTI, albeit they have no adjustability, for $400 new they ride and handle absolutely amazingly. My mk3 also came with an fk cup kit and its great as well.


Looking forward to the progress!

Thanks man! Ended up going with some FK SIlverlines used, got a great deal. My buddy had them on his MKV and his experience was great they rode on par with Ultralows.

nice find dude, it looks really mint

I've helped building my mates mk2 vr6 and have to say they are such a blast to drive
dunno if you already did this but i'd suggest upgrading your brakes because that vr weighs a bit more then the orginal engine.. some g60 calipers should help

keep the updates coming, very interested how this unfolds

Thanks! Will do.

[kittenpuncher]

Got to work this weekend installing the FK Silverlines. Picked them up Friday in York, PA. Disassembled them hit them with brake cleaner and a wire brush for about an hour. Reassembled and used a light viscosity spray grease that is actually used for gun barrels (bang! bang!) and it worked great not nearly as messy as WD40 or the like.

Unfortunately, in the process of removing the left rear fender trim I found some rust. It look like it was dented under the flare some time early in its life and rusted out underneath the guard. The rivets on the plastic fender were still OEM so I cant blame the PO for not disclosing.

The other rear fender is super clean as well as the fronts. Managed to clean up the rust in the rear, cut out the really bad stuff and coat the remaining more solid cancer with a rust converting spray.

Will do a complete cut out and weld in a new fender this winter. Managed to install the coils rolled the fenders and successfully trimmed and remounted the plastic fenders using new rivets and 3M double sided. Will update with potato pictures of progress later this week.

P.S. Rolling Mk2 fenders is a huge PITA.

[kittenpuncher]

Driver Found - mkII GTI VR6

Stand by for potato photos...

Coils pre cleanup and the new mounts from BFI





I needed a moment.


Installation don't mind the precarious jack situation, I own jack stands. 3 pairs actually.




No pictures of the PITA rolling/hammering the arches process

Untrimmed flares.


Trimmed flares.


She is low now, pretty stoked 7 threads up front 15 rear the silverlines go lowwww. Installing a new axle tomorrow

Also, wheels and tires came in looks like the push to make vagfair will pay off.

[kittenpuncher]

Here are some more potato photos wheels on!

Lowered it some more zero threads left in the front but the helper springs are still in and I have ten threads left in the rear.

Assuming I knock out the axle tomorrow it's vag fair for me Sunday, thrilled to go I took 2nd in my mkv in 2013 but missed it last year.





Really happy with the "stance". I went with 15x8 et 25 175/50/15 really light stretch but plenty of cushion. Coils are all the way down in the front and I have ten threads left in the rear. Helpers are still in. Rides really nice.





Also went to pick up my wheels and tires after they were mounted and stepped out the back door to take the boxes to the trash for the guys (it's a local shop, good friends of mine) and baaayyuuuummmm. So gnarly. Easily over 2 million in metal. Please don't mind the donuts my buddy has an e30 he drives "spiritedly".