[Geo]

Here's a picture of my car taken at the 2004 vage meet in Twomileborris. I got the car in January 2004.

I only had the car about 2 months when this picture was taken so I had fixed most of the mechanical problems that needed urgent attention and was about to start working on the cosmetics.

At this stage I had replaced a cv joint and the rear shocks, had the mfa repaired by awesome gti, serviced it and cleaned the mfa and did a few other small bits and pieces.

I also removed the crap aftermarket electric window kit and put back the manual ones it came with.

Next job I did after this was replace the rusty lh front wing:

Then I got a set of Corrado G60 BBS wheels, fitted a beesting aerial and the correct deep front spoiler on the bumper. The following pictures were taken at the ClubGTI-NI show in Castlewellan in 2004.

To my complete surprise, the car won third place overall at the show.

These pictures were taken in November 2004 to celebrate the rare occasion when I had the BMW and the Golf both clean at the same time!

The car made an appearance at the vage meet last January at the Gandon Inn and a week later came off the road for some serious surgery.

But that story will have to wait for another day.

 

[Conor]

Beautiful, original car. Nothing could make it look any better. I love the way you kept to the orange, white and red rear clusters.

 

[Alfaguy]

I assume the original BBS alloys were 14' - the 15' BBS's make a big improvement alright - amazing given the small difference in size - its the lower profile tryes too of course - what tyres did you fit to your new alloy's?

 

[kvw]

is the 8v lowered at all Geo?

 

[GSBellew]

QUOTE (Geo @ Dec 23 2005, 01:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I had fixed most of the mechanical problems

Didn't think you'd be too fond of mentioning mechanical problems George

Hope you get it sorted, it looks great

 

[Geo]

I don't think the car is lowered Kevin, I certainly didnt lower it anyway and the springs look like the originals.

The alloys came fitted with good Yokohama A539s. I have since fitted 2 new ones of the same type due to one wearing out and the other meeting an untimely end after an incident with a rock in the middle of the road.

 

[JMS]

That car is mint.
I had a mk2 8v here before and it sat like yours Geo, and it wasn't lowered.
Those Corrado rims are always a nice little treat, were they refurbed?

The 320is are supposed to be powerful enough, are they similar to a 325i? I love those cars.

 

[Sinead]

Two lovely cars you have there Geo! Looking forward to seeing the Mk2's progress

 

[Geo]

Thanks Sinead, unfortunately I couldn't hold onto them both so I sold the BMW last March. I have missed it ever since and will have to get another some time for sure. A lot has been done to the golf since those last pictures were taken although none of the work is really visible from the outside.

@JMS the 320is has 192bhp from a 2.0 version of the S14 engine as fitted to the E30 M3. It was plenty quick enough. Far superior car to the 325 in my opinion. Has the close ratio dog leg gearbox from the M3 as well.

 

[Geo]

So to continue, by last January the car had been used as a daily driver for about 8 months with minimal maintenance so had a long list of stuff that needed sorting out.

List included:
Clutch was knackered, Front shocks and top mounts were fupped, lh front wheel bearing was gone, brakes were worn out and in need of an upgrade anyway, wishbone bushes were shot, engine mounts were worn out, head and spot lamps were in bad shape and there were various rusty bits in the engine bay that needed sorting.

So I decided to take the car off the road and do the whole lot in one go.

Pictures taken in March 2005:

Then with engine and subframe out and engine bay cleaned:

I didn't get near the car from then until May due to a certain vento track car taking up all my free time

Here are some pictures from when I finally managed to get the engine bay painted:

And with the subframe back in:

Few more pics:

Gearbox cleaned and with all main seals replaced:

Engine with some of the stuff bolted back onto it:

Front brake assembly showing 280mm drilled discs and goodridge lines:

Engine and box ready to go into the car:

Car ready for engine and box to be lifted in:

Engine in with all mounts, driveshafts, wiring, hoses etc connected up (started first time)
Also front panel fitted with new headlamps and radiator

Close up of the engine bay, the wiring is still a mess and there's a lot more stuff to do before the car is driveable but at least I'm heading in the right direction.......

And finally back together:

 

[JMS]

QUOTE (Geo @ Dec 23 2005, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks Sinead, unfortunately I couldn't hold onto them both so I sold the BMW last March. I have missed it ever since and will have to get another some time for sure. A lot has been done to the golf since those last pictures were taken although none of the work is really visible from the outside.

@JMS the 320is has 192bhp from a 2.0 version of the S14 engine as fitted to the E30 M3. It was plenty quick enough. Far superior car to the 325 in my opinion. Has the close ratio dog leg gearbox from the M3 as well.
Was thinkin that alright, the 318is (E36) are lively too. The only glich I suppose was trying to overtake, it being an LHD...
They are the sort of car you would love to say you had at some stage, will try and get something similar myself in the future with a bit of luck.

The only downfall with these BMs is that they are becomming a lot less exclusive these days which is a pitty. A flood of them have been for sale for the last 2 years at this stage, take a look at the Auto Trader any week and your sure to see a few whether they be 325i's or whatever, good in one way but it dosen't make them feel as "special" as when I first remember them coming back on the scene.

The drifting world has gone crazy in the last few years (no harm I might add) and now every "Tom Dick & Harry" wants something rear wheel.
I'd have a BMW over a Twin Cam anyday as I feel they're better value for money and have a touch of class aswell, though I do like the old Twin Cam too.

Anyway I'm gone way off topic in my little rant, it's just I like discussing these cars with someone I know has a real interest in them and knows how to respect them.
Hope you don't fall asleep reading this

.

I'm sure you'll pick up something nice when you go for one again.

 

[Alfaguy]

Amazing job Geo - did not know that everything just bolts off the front of the Golf like that.

Did you do the engine bay respray - and if so can you outline the various steps along the way.

Must be so satisfying to be able to do all that work yourself - was there anything done to the engine - or did you just take it out to be able to spray the engine bay?

 

[Geo]

It's good the way they come apart like that alright, not like some cars where the front panel is welded in place.

I did the respray yeah. I had some info on how to do paintwork up on vage I might go and rescue it and post it up here in a thread on its own

I didn't do anything to the engine when I had it out except clean and paint it.

@JMS yeah overtaking could be interesting with the lhd alright, and the toll bridge and car parks were awkward, but get that car out on the open road and you'd forgive it anything

There are a lot of E30s around at the moment but not many 320is models. If I get another E30 it will be either a 320is or an M3.

 

[tim]

Some Job Geo.
I seen this car in Fermoy.
Very clean.

 

[Geo]

Thanks Tim

So the total list of work done so far is something like:

Cosmetics:
Front panel, fan cowling, rocker cover, and a few other bits were sandblasted and powder coated.
Grille, headlamps and spot lamps were replaced.
Lh front wing replaced
Beesting aerial fitted
Correct front spoiler fitted

Engine and associated stuff:
New radiator, thermostat and fan switch.
New starter (bosch exchange unit)
New coolant temp sensor, distributor and knock sensor.
New timing belt and tensioner, and alternator and pas belts.
New oil pressure sensors
New plugs, plug leads, distributor cap and rotor arm.
New coolant expansion tank and cap.
New fuel pump and filter.

Transmission:
New gearbox oil seals
New clutch
New gear linkage bushes
New engine mounts
1 Inner and 1 outer cv joint replaced (the latter due to my stupidity in letting it fall apart)

Steering and Suspension:
New rear shocks
Anti roll bar replaced with thicker rallye item, new bushes and drop links.
New front shocks and top mounts.
New wishbone bushes, bottom balljoints and track rod ends.
Front hubs replaced with items from a 2002 caddy van (to take brake upgrade as below)

Brakes:
16v master cylinder
280mm front brake setup with zimmerman cross drilled discs and ferodo pads
Goodridge braided lines.

I've probably forgotten some stuff but that gives you an idea of it anyway.

A week after I got the car back on the road in August it developed a problem when starting from cold and I still haven't got to the bottom of it so I haven't really been driving it. For those of you who aren't familiar with the old thread on vage I'll post up a summary in the technical forum and ye can make some suggestions

Oh and next on the to do list after I fix the current problem is to remove the rear axle and replace the rear brakes and rear axle bushes and generally clean up that area like I did to the front of the car.

 

[PD150]

Lovely clean original Mk2 George, and a sweet colour aswell

 

[Andy Simpson]

Love the car, the colour & what you did to the engine bay

What have you planned next?

 

[Geo]

Plan for after I get it running again is to do a similar job on the back of the car and then just drive it! It's nearly a year since I had it on the road running properly.

 

[Geo]

Well I had the camera out at lunchtime and the car was clean so I took a few pictures. I haven't really done much to it since the last update,

I fitted a new accelerator cable and rewired the radio loom for an iso connection as the old loom had been butchered in the past. Also fitted a new driver's door handle. Oh, and I fitted a new exhaust back box.

 

[Trevor]

Looks very well George. Only thing that I see wrong is that you put that screw in the number plate right on the blue flag!!