My son wanted it, adored it, got me to fix it, got fed up with it... And guess who...

[blis]

So it's almost three years now, from ECU faults, cooling problems, CV issues, failing electrical terminals and a pile of other issues, one gets to know the car, it gets personal and the attachment to a car forms.

Its a great place to sit, a wonderful car to drive but she's old and more often than not, it's the electric crumbling.

So the son is fed up and the father is hooked, too much invested to let it go...



Mk2 - beachmums racing

[sports racer]

MK2 with 16v, that's a pretty rare combo and it looks very well looked after.

Can you post some of your pictures and story on the MK2 pages. I'd love to know more.

Cheers from another dad.

Paul

PS. How on earth did you manage to break the end of a driveshaft???

[AdamD]

Welcome to VWW! That looks like a fantastic Mk2; I'm keen to read the story as well!

And pleased to see that you're hanging on to it.

[golfmeup]

Yes! Please share the mk2's story! I have a mk2 daily driver and believe me, that bond that forms smoothers any electrical and mechanical problems.
They are such a fun car to drive.
That engine looks so clean.

[blis]

MK2 with 16v, that's a pretty rare combo and it looks very well looked after.

Can you post some of your pictures and story on the MK2 pages. I'd love to know more.

Cheers from another dad.

Paul

PS. How on earth did you manage to break the end of a driveshaft???

Very easy, let a 19 year old ignore his fathers explicit request to measure the drive shafts, then google how tight a nut should be without any idea of 200 foot pounds of torque, then get a 4 foot bar and make a total mess of it all because dad didnt want an argument..

That was just the beginning of a huge saga of CV issues that stemmed from the fact the original mechanic used the wrong CVs and son tried to use a MK3 assembly. So after 3 sets of CV, (switching back and forth from 90 to 100mm) which luckily I sourced locally, I got it right. Note, if doing CVs get new hex bolts for the inners and be prepared to use a dremel to flat spot them and use a 11mm spanner for those originals that strip. There's a mob in QLD that has them all!

Most of my posts are on ClubGTI where Im a member and I was updating the status of things here. MK2GUY is my sons original nickname, there is a bit I posted posted here under his nick. The engine comes from a 1995 Toledo, ABF, 16V, yes it's delightfully powered and has a lovely throaty tune. Suspension is STR-T Koni, with 30mm lower and cut down rear bump stops. Im currently having cooling problems and locating the side flange for it is almost impossible locally so its on its way from the UK.

The car was delivered as a birthday present, 2 years ago DEAD... 7K, yes I know!! No Spark! Long story.. After 3 months I ordered a complete ECU/Steering Shaft and Key from Germany 2nd hand and it fired up. I then rewired ALL my grounds to a common point on the block and it's been going well. The main problem is VW uses metal plates to mount the connectors. The connectors perish and then short on the metal plate. Ive yet to see a crank sensor that hasnt broken on the sensors side.

The young one also wanted wheels, and the offsets were so wide we had to roll the guards, and boy is it good steel! So we sprayed the car sides only. Home job, not too bad but the bonnet is horrible and if in VIC I may grab another. I've put so much effort and $$ into the car for him, he no longer likes it, so Im heavily invested.

If things go to plan, I'll buy it off him, tear it down, respray, rebuild engine, sort out the loom and redo the engine bay and deal with the heater matrix too. As much as I'd want to take it closer to 300bhp with a turbo, I dont think it's rational, it's hard enough normally aspirated. In truth, while the stroker ABF is delightful, for those that thought a 8V MK2 was hard to source parts, dont even consider the ABF and move forward to a MK4 or higher. Unless you really like bringing stress into your life.

As a car, they are outstanding to work on, it's an awesome drive and wonderful place to sit with the MOMO and Clarion sound, but the thing is a labour of love. I thought a wife was hard to keep, this is a totally new level of a challenge. All said and done, would I do it again... Probably not, but hell it's hard to not love the power band between 5-7000 rpm and there's only one little bit of rust. Theres leaks in heavy rain and Im unsure where it's coming from.


Issues to address:

• Window seals
• Heater Matrix
• Big Bumpers
• Bonnet
• Oil Cooler Hoses (Which I may have found on a Mk3)
• Gear linkages
• MFA Oil temp is playing silly buggers with me.

All is ok for now, but I'd like to get it all right. Now waiting on UPS to deliver the flange and making a temp fix of the existing Meyle (replaced 1 year ago) that cracked. It's a good example of how difficult to source parts as the original flange is no longer available.

History of pics are here -> Mk2 - beachmums racing

[blis]

Yes! Please share the mk2's story! I have a mk2 daily driver and believe me, that bond that forms smoothers any electrical and mechanical problems.
They are such a fun car to drive.
That engine looks so clean.

Of course it's clean, when you have to work on it so much, it all ends up on my hands!

Careful with lowering them, you need to have a softer longer spring. Many an argument had over coilovers.. The Koni STR-T Kit came with H&R springs and it's perfect. We race RC cars at a serious level, so we know what coilovers can and cant do. The issue with Coilovers is they are often too short and you cant hang a wheel assembly off an extended shock without blowing out the shocks. Not that I know of any designed to anyway, best use helper springs if you really want to adjust them. The Mk2 has a LOT of arm travel which equates to quite a long spring. The kit we used were perfect length with arms fully extended. In order to use short struts and stiffer springs, you have to create a droop reducing system to prevent hanging off the fully extended shock. I woldn't want anything stiffer than these anyway! With Potenzas and the KONI system, its glued in the corners and it's a daily driver too!

[sports racer]

I thought I recognised the car from a thread here when your son was really keen. At least you appreciate what you've got and have no plans to get rid of it.

My MK2 is the opposite to yours, I've hardly had any problems with it except for a gearbox replacement that had me swearing. Who supplies a gearbox with a 100mm flange on one side and a 90mm on the other??? At least it was cheap.

It's a daily too, doing over 1000ks a week.

For a bonnet get in touch with Matt at Camden GTI, he's got 2 if you prefer getting one a bit closer to you.

Cheers

Paul

[blis]

yeah.. might get down there soon to visit. It's the ABF component that sends me in a spin! So far Ive managed to source basics from the wreckers, but only ever MK3 or higher (KMJ) Sumner park. Repco has water pumps, Autobarn has Coils and a after market CV wholesaler the CVs. The rest I get from OS.

Might even get it to look like this oneday...


dreaming of it!

[sports racer]

Why don't you do what I've just done and buy a Seat Cupra 2.0 16v (ABF) for parts. At least you'll have spares.

[benough]

If you've made it this far, doing the heater matrix, while it looks daunting, is not that bad.

If the insulating foam in the heater box is shagged, there's a place in Sydney called "The Foam Booth" that sells it. I'm sure they could post.

Once it works, it's a cracker. Gets hotter than my MK5 heater!

I've wanted to push mine off a cliff a few times but now she's done, I'll never sell it. It's just too good.