Adi's mk2 golf fetish, latest aquisitions Dec '13

Update o'clock!

I've done a few bits on my latest GL, finally drilled and tapped the drilled out bolts on the centre caps, so they're now fitted making the car look a million times better. I've swapped the badged grilled for a debadged item, fitted rainbows, fitted the dishy suede steering wheel, osram nightbreakers with LED sidelights, new top rad hose, new heater panel that actually lights up, fixed the central locking and cleaned it









I hadn't posted a pic of the PB lump, so here it is, needs some dressing and cleaning, however I'm not sure I'l bother as I really want an ABF in there...



And lastly a little discovery I made today when I realised I've lost my autosol, so I found a replacement product to clean my tailpipes in Hobrite and a scourer! It took literally 2 mins to scrub the black curse word loose, then rinsed off with warm water, this is the result!

I know it's a bit late to tell you, but you can do the matrix with the dash in - mk2vr6.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3560

They are claiming it takes a whole day, but I did mine in about an hour without really knowing what I was doing

Bit of an update on my golf. Still got it, still using/abusing daily, and still putting up with it!

So, after the heater matrix fiasco, a few days later it started steaming the windscreen up again slightly, as you can imagine I was far from impressed. Then very soon after it over heated in traffic due to a now duff radiator fan, which caused the plastic coolant flange on the side of the head to distort and no longer keep water in my engine. So I replaced the flange, saw it was leak free, then although I hate using the stuff I stuck some radweld in it and touch wood so far I have no more steamy windows, lots of heat, and NO water leaks! Also in this time I changed a CV joint, but typically I now need one in the other side.

Still in need of a rad fan, but keeping out of traffic Otherwise all has been good, it does desperately need some discs/pads all round for the upcoming MOT though.

In cosmetic news, I got myself some flyeye kit. Can't recommend it enough, cost me just over a fiver posted for enough to do my headlights (and still have a bit left) and come with a posh scalpel, a nice little applicator tool and a letter stating they're vosa approved in case of a jobsworth copper! Have a pic




Also jetwashed my engine bay a few weeks ago, its actually nice to do work on it without getting covered in all manner of curse word!

Bit of a premature update. I've almost lost mojo with this and almost considered just buying a cheap driver shell and breaking this, but I'm soldiering on. As soon as I got the car in the air I discovered this...



Yes thats a very rotten subframe, right next to a wishbone mount. Very safe. NOT.
So I carried on and started on the rear brakes. 1st one was the drivers side rear, which I was already aware of it having a stuck handbrake that didn't work. 1st disaster was me trying to wind the bearing into the disc with the hub nut. Bad idea. I stripped a few threads off the nut. Poo. Luckily I managed to bash the bearing in with a hammer and socket, and there was enough thread left on the nut to tighten it to my satisfaction, plus theres the split pin for good measure, so I'm just about happy with that. So onto the other side. I lost my 8mm allen key socket, so removed the other side carrier with a torx bit which was ok, but the passenger side didn't appreciate this. And rounded them off. Double poo. So I moved onto the fronts which went smoothly, apart from ebay sent me the fat pads for solid disc equipped cars, so the pads don't fit. I stuck the new discs on with the just about usable old pads until I get hold of the correct ones next week.

Anyways back to the stuck off handbrake on one rear caliper. I managed to sort of free it off, but it now works but sticks on and won't return. I've moved the return spring round a bit to no avail. Poo again. So a new caliper will be required. As I've left it I now have new discs on front with old pads, and one new rear disc and pads. Not ideal, but its drivable again until I can sort it all out ready for the MOT.

Have some useless pics of my rear brakes.



Thats the old passenger side rear, with the dead carrier bolts.



And thats the new rear set up with the none working handbrake.

Now I'm off to sulk/kick the curse word out of my car.

So today I got the subframe fixed. To remind you all this is the mess I started with



I ground out as much of the rot as possible (its a really difficult place to get a grinder into!), then I made up a repair piece and bent it to shape. It looked like this



Then I welded it in a flush as possible, the welds don't look so good at the bottom, but thats because I ran to welds to ensure I had good penetration in both the subframe and the repair patch. It looked like this



I then gave it a few coats of zinc primer, then re-assembled the suspension. I'l brush on some paint at a later date. Its all good now apart from the knackered wishbone bushes I discovered but at least its flexing there and not in my subframe!

Well I guess no-ones following this but I'l update anyway...

I took delivery of this rotten heap o curse word today. I swear I've never seen a golf with so many holes! Unfortunately due to being made redundant next week I had to make do with whatever donor was available locally and cheaply, so no ABF



Here's the tall block 2E and other curse word that'l end up in my mk2



280s and widetrack... oh go on then

Because the intention was to get a 16v mk3 as a donor, and a mate in Lincoln had a dead GTI and desperately needed an engine, so I took it out a bit prematurely to help him out.

Great work

I second the great work comment! Bookmarked....looking forward to updates