This is the story of my Mk2 golf, purchased in around 2005 or 2006. This was my 3rd car after a Mk3 Driver that was sadly written off (not my fault!) and a Mk3 8v GTI on a J plate. Im sold the MK3 GTI for the Mk2 16v. The Mk2 was my daily driver for around 18 months when I moved abroad. In this time I probably put 15k miles on it, with almost no trouble. Currently sat on 156k. I was only expected to be away for a short amount of time so drove it into my folks garage and left it right there in 2007. Over the years of being away (over 12 years now out of the UK) I've wanted to get it back on the road but not done much about it until the last year. Come Christmas 2018 my Uncle and I hatched a plan. With the helpful circumstances of my Uncle being retired, a massive petrolhead (interesting car history that is worth a post of its own, including various Lanica Delta Integrale's amongst others) and a highy skilled engineer/mechanic, we agreed he would project manage the restoration for me, while most of the work would be done by his friend who runs a car restoration shop. Engine and gearbox rebuild to be sent to a trusted engine builders who he has worked with on other projects. Early 2019 and the car was pulled out of the grange to see the light of day for the first time in 12 years. After a short drive to the lockup the engine and gearbox were swiftly removed and sent of for the rebuild. As of today we have a fully rebuilt engine and gearbox. The only mods were some work on the cylinder head to improve air flow. Next up is to tidy up the body work which is luckily solid in most places. Then comes a full brake and suspension rebuild. I have a Bilstein B12 kit ready to put on and general tidy up. Hoping to have it back on the road for June 2020 which is when I'm next back home.
Great stuff - it's going to be a real beauty, brings back great memories of my old Tornado Red 16V. Keep going my friend
Been a while and slow going given the current situation, but good progress has been made the last month or so. Sub frame/suspension/brakes all off. Other than a wing and a few other patches the body work is generally solid. Most parts ready to go back on the car and engine/gear box ready to drop in. Just down to how busy my guy who is doing the work is to tidy up body work and re-assemble. One question I looking for some help on is wheels. The car will be running Bilstein B12 which is 20mm drop from standard. The car currently sits on BBS RA that have seen better days. I'm tempted to go with some Ronal LS. The RA are I think 6.0 x 35mm and the LS are 7.5 x 25mm. I assume from the amount of other cars with Ronals on that this is not going to be an issue and they'll fit fine? What tires are people going with? Here are some progress shots:
everyone has to love tornado red golf as they are usually turn pink i see a rare genuine exhaust too - is it in good order to? cant wait to see the progress
Love seeing another Mk2 being brought back to life! You should be very proud! Can I ask who did your engine rebuild? Thanks and keep it up Rick
The exhaust isn’t perfect but is serviceable so it is going back on. I thought about something like a Milltek, but for now sticking with the original.
Few more updates here. Paint done, calipers refurbed (courtesy of Bigg Red), new wheels with rubber ready to go on (Ronal LS) and whole load of suspension, braking, fuel, PAS, cooling parts either refurbed or bought (mostly bought!) Now it is a matter of putting it all back together. Plan is to have most of this done this month.
Great to see this. Found a new respect for the dedication of the engine out guys. That would be a step too far for me. In terms of personal confidence. I may be just fortunate that touch wood my 8v doesn’t hopefully need an engine re build. I think that might have been a deal breaker for me. I’ll be following your progress with interest. Great work
GTIBOB, anything other than an oil change is way over my skill level. I'm doing none of the work here, all being done at a small classic car place in deepest Derbyshire!
I had exactly the same fear. Then I went for it, marked up where everything came from. Then it’s a case of 12 driveshafts bolts and a hand full of others and it’s free of the car!