Got stuck into the Golf last night after work.
The 16s that were on it had to go. For innumerable reasons. It felt like they werent running hub rings so they wobbled all over the shop, and 205/50/16 for the loss.
Started with the Hella Tails, I picked them up real cheap and they came with the Euro switchblocks that all the yanks hanker for will be putting them up on Shebay unless any of youse want them. Tail lights went in sweet. It looks like Mk2s are held together by 8mm nuts, as opposed to the 10mm jobs that hold Jap cars together. All good. When I pulled the stockies off there was a globe rolling around in the indicator lens - scratch one odd noise from the rear.
Next job was the wheels. I had nothing apart from a set of Mk3 14x6 Stockies with 165/60s that I'd painted red for something else. Put them on quick smart. They are waaaaaay too small, but at least they didnt wobble or rub.
I then pulled the rubber strips off the side, dreading finding a whole heap of holes, fortunately none. Just a whole heap of contact cement and double sided tape. Caramel wheel required.
Next installed the billet golf ball knob and removed the Balinese Taxi spec steering wheel cover to reveal a whole heap of black electrical tape holding the steering wheel together. Epic Fail. I have a 300mm Momo Team on order. No Power Steering and a 300mm wheel should bulk me up good for next summer.
I then started on the smoked indicators, and I probably shouldnt have. One lens wouldnt come off and I didnt want to butcher it, so I tried pushing the assembly from the back to get it out to no avail. I started on the other side with marginally more success. The Golf now has a winking front. One orange one smoked indicator.
Found the grille today, long story, so will be installing the cross-hairs and it tomorrow morning.
I've done a fair few k's in it now and a few things have become apparent.
Something is seriously awry in the suspension. It feels like one or both front wheel bearings have flogged out and something is adrift at the rear too.
It pings its arse off on anything more than about half throttle, even full of Ultimate.
It gets hot too, the stock guage varies from Hot to Danger Will Robinson! There is a supplementary temp guage fitted in the console in Fahrenheit ffs, which doesnt indicate it getting any hotter than about 80 deg C when converted. I had a thought that maybe a temp sender somewhere was rooted putting it into a different fuel map, causing the detonation.
Oh and I have no effing idea of how the central locking works. I cant make it work with the key, it works when the car is running though. Sometimes. Anyone?
I'm very happy with it, and very much looking forward to getting it to the next level.
Oh and it got the tick of approval from my 8 year old daughter. She was upset when we got in my 303whp Evo 7 to come home tonight - "Can't we take the Golf Daddy? Its cute". From someone who has ridden in the cars she has thats a glowing endorsement.
Jash
PS - Will have some pics up tomorrow, and I fitted up an SSR Mesh today - 165/40 on a 7 for the win.
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