Mk2 2dr Project Car (1.8t swap)

[Weeman]

Start date: 16/02/2019

Gday everyone,

Decided to get my first post in of the project car. I'm from Tasmania and seems mk2's are very few down here now.

Bought the car completely stripped back and everything came with it except the engine. Also got a parts car, it looks pretty sad haha (no struts in it). Keeping in mind all the suspension parts and gearbox and drive shafts etc. were pretty well toast. This is my first ever project car so I realised I had a lot of learning to do.

First start was getting engine bay cleaned up. Took a lot longer than I thought, only getting areas about 300x300mm completed in like 5 hours. Started with wire brush, to sand paper, to little wire wheels, to the large wire wheels on a grinder which helped a lot. About 2 months later finally got it done. Had some rust issues under battery which seems common and so cut it out and patched it. Will neaten that up for when body goes in for spray. However, all metal has been deoxidised and converted and then primed over so no rust should continue.


Rolled the car over onto its side as, unfortunately, I do not have a rotisserie, took off all suspension and brakes and made note of what parts need to be ordered. I bought a full poly-urethane bushing kit and pretty much new discs, pads, front calipers, tie rods, rubber boots, wheel bearings, ball joints. A lot really. Thanks to VW heritage for that, pretty cheap stuff.


Current stage I am at now is shaving underside. Heating up the deadener and scraping it off. Found rust on a jacking point so did some cutting and welded back in place. Not fussed how it looks, as long as it is strong. I have also been respraying control arms and front and rear subframe with some rust proof enamel to make them look like new. Have resprayed steering rack, not gonna bother with putting in a power steering one (I have one on my parts car), too many things to replace. And plus more stuff in the engine bay.

This is where its at. I am a uni student and the mk2 is located couple hours away from me as I have no where to put it at home. So that limits the progress. Enjoy! And any Tassie enthusiasts hit me up, I drive a silver mk4 GTI, on black BBS RC 324's.

Cheers,
Thomas

[ozgti]

Looking good. Just can't wait to get my hands dirty on my 2dr..

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[Weeman]

My progress was slow to begin with as my mk4 distracted me way too much but now its kickin off. Keen to get it on the road hopefully not too keen I rush it too much lol

[HaydEn]

Interesting tactic.

How’d the panels hold up to being on the side?


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[Weeman]

Its all on tyres, haven't looked at that side since its rolled over but the tyres are pretty much under the bottom edge of the door and to stop the car rolling any further its just held by ratchet straps so it hasnt really got any stress on any panels or near the roof.
Best option as we have no hoist in the shed.

[Weeman]

Update: 27/12/2019

Steering rack sprayed in hammertone, no play or wobble in it so didn't have to rebuild it. Will have pics tomorrow of the progress on the underside.

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[Weeman]

Update: 28/12/2019

Got a bit more undercoat on today. Only around the spare wheel area to be done before putting suspension back in

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[sports racer]

You might want to reconsider using a power steering rack. Makes the car much nicer to drive and should be easy to find one, all the Aussie 4 door MK2's have them.

[Weeman]

I do have one on the parts car, wasn't planning on going through the hassle for doing it as the car seems small enough it won't matter. But I'll reconsider now

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[Weeman]

Update: 03/01/2020

2 days to finish the area around the spare wheel. Was nothing but a headache but its done.
Wheel arches to be done next weekend

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