Bringing my Mk2 16v back to life

Discussion in 'Members Gallery' started by gybjw, Nov 23, 2019.

  1. gybjw Forum Member

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    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.
    IMG_0011.JPG IMG_0001.JPG IMG_0005.JPG IMG_0583.JPG IMG_1010.JPG IMG_1011.JPG 9085141e-79bb-4994-a3ef-ddeea20a69b8.jpg 3b59745a-e399-4fb5-a6f6-3a270c9a4649.jpg 2aee4289-30a8-4586-8c51-f1ce8c55e449.jpg 0ef14555-db97-4bdd-92e3-2103412bb8bf.jpg e05dd4b0-50db-439d-9867-e36cfdf9e856.jpg bab5eff0-ef40-49cc-a05f-cf6e8e77ce85.jpg 9612a151-1399-4dec-a438-7c5669ba6199.jpg 5be5181e-7f6b-4951-b188-0d5a8259a8a5.jpg ccfe6237-9ebc-4989-bc56-c7db52cfb885.jpg 3ab233f6-be19-4602-8f46-c96944199ef1.jpg 5fd2f6d4-1ba1-43a0-be29-386ff1602c26.jpg bc1fbc8c-5251-4bd5-9919-c9ad0d69dccc.jpg IMG_1027.JPG
     
    Toyotec, Dubber84, erreesse and 2 others like this.
  2. IgorCRO New Member

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    great car and happy to see one more mk2 is back on road. nice job with engine :)
     
  3. costel1969

    costel1969 Paid Member Paid Member

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    Great stuff - it's going to be a real beauty, brings back great memories of my old Tornado Red 16V. Keep going my friend
     
  4. gybjw Forum Member

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    Thanks for the feedback. I'm excited to get this finished.
     
  5. gybjw Forum Member

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    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:

    120048768_10221865906369831_4355630527705366145_o.jpg 120048768_10221865906369831_4355630527705366145_o.jpg 122228335_10222083964741154_2462060697202010867_n (1).jpg 124576523_10222222793651790_7489006446281477037_o.jpg 124553850_10222222791571738_367028481253453483_o.jpg 124255717_10222222108234655_1879179892862980206_o.jpg 124162960_10222207293744302_6902708794592497580_o.jpg 124152476_10222207294064310_4894513384144784941_o.jpg 123997226_10222198922615029_8569761897561945122_o.jpg 123996513_10222198923655055_2549241076048185860_o.jpg 119948709_10221865907009847_1305936103113419279_o.jpg
     

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    erreesse, Dubber84 and costel1969 like this.
  6. Savagesam

    Savagesam Moderator Staff Member Moderator

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    Looking great!

    look forward to seeing more updates
     
  7. Tristan

    Tristan Paid Member Paid Member

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    I echo what Sam says above!
     
  8. ger16v Forum Member

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    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
     
  9. Dubber84

    Dubber84 Paid Member Paid Member

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    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
     
  10. jshep73 Forum Member

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    Very nice car
     
  11. gybjw Forum Member

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    The engine was Eliot Retallick at 3D Motorsport.
     
    Dubber84 likes this.
  12. gybjw Forum Member

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    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.
     
  13. gybjw Forum Member

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    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.

    156657743_10223103895198778_128537576341677669_n.jpg 128747248_10222383065178478_7507203470290775094_n.jpg
     
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  14. Mk2daz

    Mk2daz Paid Member Paid Member

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    Looks awesome!
     
  15. afbiker02

    afbiker02 Paid Member Paid Member

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    Very nice mate
     
  16. BISSONE Forum Member

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    Eww nice shiny bits!
     
  17. valvemiester

    valvemiester Paid Member Paid Member

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    Wow that is looking very nice, good to see another mk2 being saved :thumbup:
     
  18. GTIBOB

    GTIBOB Paid Member Paid Member

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    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
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2021
  19. gybjw Forum Member

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    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!
     
    KeithMac likes this.
  20. Savagesam

    Savagesam Moderator Staff Member Moderator

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    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!
     

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