My OTHER mk2

[Matt P]

Hey all

Not a lot of activity in here lately so i thought i'd post a thread about a car i bought 3 months ago

Picked up a 1990 White Auto GTI mk2 off ebay with accident damage. It was likely going to be wrecked but due to the fact that it was in great condition otherwise, i couldnt let that happen.

It was unregistered but as i'm in SA its one of those "call up and put rego on it" situations so i did that and drove it home.

Fitted a new bonnet off a wreck and a new-ish grille (some small cracks in it but darn good compared to the original one and unmolested uncracked grilles cost a bomb these days so it'll do), a radiator support panel and picked up a new rear bumper at the same time. Bumper and bonnet were silver so they needed to be painted but not before the rear end was fixed.

The car was due a sizable service so i did the service first so i did that and also gave the radiator support panel a sand and a few coats of satin black and sent it off to have the rear end repaired. While it was away i sanded and prepped the bonnet and rear bumper. They were mostly straight.

A grand later and it returned with a straight butt again so i set to work test fitting the parts. All lined up OK so they came back off. I then masked and taped up a booth in my garage and sprayed the bonnet and rear bumper. Bumper i think a pretty good job, bonnet needs to be re-cleared as i dont think i used enough and also didnt lay it on thick enough so ill do that in the coming weeks.

I then entered it into its first show (Volksfest).



Quite happy with how it has came up. Its not a perfect car but its probably better nick than half the others out there.

It will be going on to a new owner early in the new year. Being an Auto will limit what i get for it but i want it to go to a good home and ive already found a very interested party.

A lot of work i know to repair it for someone else but i needed a hobby as i've been out of work for a while now waiting for the right new job to come up and i really wanted to make sure it didn't end up being wrecked.

I'll add some more pics when i get on my laptop (on my sons chromebook at the moment)

Cheers
Matt

[sports racer]

Good to see one being saved. Looks like you've done a good job on it too.

[benough]

Nice work!

A manual swap out isn't that hard apparently...

[sports racer]

All you need is someone with a manual MK2 that they are wrecking.

Hmmm, wonder where you can find someone like that.

[Matt P]

haha, i want to keep this thing factory original.

Chapter is pretty much closed on it anyway, i have a buyer and it'll go after xmas

Whats happening with the 2.0 bits...

[sports racer]

2.0 is going into the MK1 with a 02a gearbox.

020 gearbox from the MK2 is going into the shed, together with the pedal assembly and all the linkages.

[Matt P]

Thought as much

[Matt P]

This photo of it popped up online and i like it much better than the original one i posted

[Matt P]

This car needs some new shocks (factory originals are a bit tired) and ive come across some KYB excel-g's at a really good price. Any comments on how good/bad they are?

[sports racer]

Anything is better than standard but don't go overboard with stiff shocks. The best setup I found to suit the rough country roads around Canberra was standard shocks on the front with Spax lowered springs and Spax shocks/lowered springs on the back. Handling was still as good as with coils (don't have to slow down for roundabouts) but the ride was much better.

I'm trying to copy this setup in the Cupra but even after swapping bits from the MK2 it still doesn't corner as well as the old Golf. With a properly setup MK2 it's fun to play with boy racers in their Japanese cars through corners.

Cheers

Paul