Josh's MK2 Golf GTI

[martinijosh]

Some of you might recognise this little guy





Things I can remember off the top of my head, this will be maintained and updated in the original post right here (in no particular order).


The not so small list of things to do

Cosmetic/Functional

• - [COMPLETE] Freshen up the interior, steam clean and deodorise (old cars smell, that's just how it is)
• - Do the headlight wiring mod!
• - Change out headlight globes to something a little less pathetic
• - [COMPLETE] replace interior light globe
• - [COMPLETE] replace dead fuses, replace fuse with incorrect amp rating
• - [COMPLETE] brake and clutch pedal rubbers
• - [ARRIVED] replace seat slide guides
• - Get A/C leak tested/Gassed
• - Replace heater core
• - Install front foglights
• - [HAPPENING] Re paint front and rear VW badges gloss black
• - [COMPLETE] Clean up golf gti hatch badge
• - re mount rear VW emblem
• - Full body buff/polish, seal and wax
• - realign bonnet and a couple of other panels
• - [COMPLETE] re black some of the faded exterior plastics
• - fab a dash mat if I somehow stumble upon extra time
• - Throw on either a) my spare set of 15's with fresh KU31's to save the track tyres B) New set of 16's... currently eyeing off some 16x8 +20offset Rota Grid Classics (Gloss Grey, slight bronze tinge)
• - Install 12v socket to charge devices with
• - Get a cheap single din head unit and a pair of speakers, no doof doof for this car
• - Touch up front bumper
• - Re paint silver garnish on the front grill (strip that runs between the bumper and the headlights)
• - Fix stiff hinge in rear driver side door
• - Get a quote to have the driver front quarter repaired, pre existing damage makes insurance troublesome
• - [COMPLETE] Tint
• - [COMPLETE] Re black the bonnet vent plastic piece

Mechanical/Driveline

• - Brown coolant, flush that gunk out a few times and fill with fresh goodness (standard green glycol should be fine as long as I flush it thoroughly?)
• - [COMPELTE] Clutch only bites in the first 30-50mm of pedal travel
• - Brakes feel vague, spongy and weak, fresh fluid and bleed to make sure there's no air in the system
• - [COMPLETE] accelerator cable
• - Engine only revs out to 5,000rpm. Possibly distributor not set correctly after timing belt changeover.
• - [COMPLETE] Stiffness and sticking in the clutch and throttle make traffic driving a bit of a pain
• - [COMPLETE] Second gear is a pain to notch in to once you're rolling
• - Driveline whine at road speeds above 80kph, gear doesn't matter, load doesn't matter. Not sure what it is.
• - Replace radiator with a thick core aluminium unit. (Current one is leaking and has probably about 30-40% broken fins and is gunked up with stop leak.)
• - [COMPLETE] Clean out MAF and throttle body, possibly fouled by K&N oil
• - Set up an external oil cooler, ATF style.
• - [COMPLETE] Replace power steering fluid

[blinkx]

Looks great mate cant wait to see more

[martinijosh]

Looks great mate cant wait to see more

Cheers blinkx, haven't got huge plans for it, going to keep it mostly original and just enjoy it for what it is.

[ryana89]

Good to see it being loved (again)

Just a few thoughts on your mech/driveline trouble,

Brown coolant, flush that gunk out a few times and fill with fresh goodness (standard green glycol should be fine as long as I flush it thoroughly?)

Green is okay to use (with thorough flushing) however VW does have its own specialty coolant (G12++) which (according to VW) is a lifetime coolant. As opposed to green, which is ideally changed every 3-5 years.

Brakes feel vague, spongy and weak, fresh fluid and bleed to make sure there's no air in the system

Did Tim replace/upgrade the original master cylinder?

Second gear is a pain to notch in to once you're rolling

2nd is always a pain, in early Golfs. I reduced mine by playing with different g'box oils and using nulon G70 additive.

Set up an external oil cooler, ATF style.

Euro spec MK2 GTI's came standard with a water to oil, oil cooler set-up.... Just a thought.

[martinijosh]

QUOTE - ryana89

Green is okay to use (with thorough flushing) however VW does have its own specialty coolant (G12++) which (according to VW) is a lifetime coolant. As opposed to green, which is ideally changed every 3-5 years.

Cheers for that

Did Tim replace/upgrade the original master cylinder?

I don't believe so. To clarify, I don't have any particular issue with the braking power, just the large travel before anything useful starts happening. Although I have been testing increasingly higher braking force to find the limit (always good to know where it is) and I've not gotten there yet. So it could probably use an upgrade.

2nd is always a pain, in early Golfs. I reduced mine by playing with different g'box oils and using nulon G70 additive.

It's feeling a bit better now, I think Tim had only recently had the gear oil done not many klm before I bought it. I have found you have to be quite accurate and firm with the gear selection, but now that I'm used to it its fine.

Euro spec MK2 GTI's came standard with a water to oil, oil cooler set-up.... Just a thought.

Yeah I'm not sure how accurate the factory temperature sensor is, it takes about 15 minutes to actually get up to its normal temperature (98-104*c) and only goes beyond that on extended highway runs (~ 3k rpm). My care factor for this has faded, this is summer temperature on a 36 degree day, so I'm not worried.

Other things I've noticed while doing checks is that brake fluid looks burned/dirty and so does the power steering fluid. Might flush and replace for peace of mind.

Tint was meant to be happening today (30% 3m black) but my tinter mate who is meant to be doing it is notoriously unreliable so it hasn't happened - sad face

[martinijosh]

New radiator, plastic tank unit (supply only) - $330

I really want to give my business to locals, but they make it pretty bloody difficult to justify.

[ryana89]

New radiator, plastic tank unit (supply only) - $330

I really want to give my business to locals, but they make it pretty bloody difficult to justify.

Supercheap should be able to order you one (just the radiator) for under $200.
Alternativly, give Camden GTI a call (I did when I needed a rad.)

[martinijosh]

I called another local radiator place, after taking about 10 minutes to actually find the right one in his book he said $220. 1km down the street and a price difference of $110.

Will see if SuperCrap can order one in for me, might ask repco first, though.

edit: $280 + shipping from Camden GTI

[martinijosh]

Tint done today, looks a bit darker as its overcast today.



Also stripped off most of the stickers on the quarter window.



All the heater/demister bars were destroyed too (before I got the car). Not a single bar connecting to the other side to complete the circuit. All heater material was then stripped off the rear window to make the tint sit better.

[martinijosh]

Changed power steering fluid today with penrite atf. Feels much lighter in the hand and seems to have cured the strange cut out when you hit 3/4 lock. Old fluid was naaasty.

Also cleaned out the throttle body and gave the maf and associated plugs a thorough clean with maf cleaner. Revving much more cleanly and seems to have more top end power on the butt dyno.