Mk2 project - GTI Anniversary Helios Blue

Bit more looking it seems to be the HY code which is the seats with the yellow stripe in them.

 

Was trying to find again the reference I'd read about the expansion tank / CE2 electrics being an indicator of a genuine big bumper car but unfortunately can't.

Nearly sure though it was something RJ wrote somewhere, I believe the thinking was that alot of the other changes could potentially be retro fitted relatively easily, but to change out the wiring loom and the metal work to fit a later header tank was taking things to extremes and though not impossible, probably unlikely... so if present those two things are a good initial / quick check before delving deeper.

Did find this though... another RJ article but cribbed / cut'n'pasted into a post on the MK2Golf OC... and copied yet again below!

Quote from: rubjonny

all mk2s had the electrics change/moved hazard switch in late 89 (as in when they were made not when they were registered over here)

GTI all got big bumpers, thinner side strips, different arches and sill extensions. The GL got big bumpers but retained the thicker rubbing strips and used arch spats. all lower spec models had small bumpers still, with the old small bumper arches and chunky rubbing strips

dont confuse the 90spec thin rubbing strips with the pre-88 rubbing strips which were also thin, but these were stuck on and say a little lower on the car.

loads of other minor differences over the years i can list em all if you really care

ok here are all the changes i have found so far:

85ish changes:
dual tip exhausts on GTI models
dual exhaust cutout on rear lower valance introduced
MK1 style side stripes dropped
side repeaters added
single washer tank/pump instead of separate bottles/pumps for front/rear

Kerrly edit
1986 - 16v introduced
Came with stick on thin black rubbing strips with a sticky red stripe above them
bottletop alloys
42mm inlet manifold
different ECU - il see if i can find part numbers


August 87 changes:
5 slat grill replaces old 7 slat grill
front 'GTI' & 'GTI 16v' grill badge font & clip design changed
left side rear 'VW' roundel & 'Volkswagen' badges removed, larger central 'VW' roundel with indent in panel introduced, right side 'Golf' badge font changed
single piece glass front doors replace 2 piece MK1 style doors, mirror moved to front of door
digifant injection replaces k-jet on 8v models
chunkier stalks introduced
wiper arms swapped to the other side on RHD models
chunky rubbing strips
bonnet & washer jets changed
better quality dash fitted to all models as standard?
steering wheel changed to single button

88-89 changes:
digifant engines now have a blue 2 pin push fit ECU coolant temp sender, earlier models have a white threaded 2 pin sender
large spline wheel column adaptors start being fitted
handbrake lever & mount bracket, cables & rear calipers changed
light switch changed to 11 pin
16vs got red/black tinted rear clusters, also on 8v '1 in 10 million' edition
256mm brakes on 16v
2 piece plastic timing belt cover
16v got 50mm inlet manifold

89-90 changes (90 spec):
almost all car loom changed
engine management loom hole on rain tray moved
front wings all have 2 holes for big bumper brackets
hazard switch moved to top of steering column
dash clocks now have 1 plug instead of 2
fusebox
coolant level sensor control relay removed, now internal to clocks (except with digifiz dash, relay is retained but different slot)
16vs got plain rubber injector lines instead of braided
thin rubbing strips, sill trims & front fogs on GTIs
big bumpers on GTIs & GLs
outer column housing
ignition lock housing
ignition switch
stalks
fusebox holder brackets
driver side dash under tray
fusebox cover
boot carpet made of foam instead of carpet
colour coded boot plinth on GTI
wiper spindles are thicker
header tank, lower hose, cap, level sender, level sender plug & mounting bracket
longer gearbox earth to a stud on engine->gearbox mounting bolt introduced
lower engine bay heat shield on 8v GTI models
sidelight holders have different plug
front indicators have different plug
horn loom has different plug
reverse switch has different plug

later 90 model improvements:
key in ign live for stereo
chunky plastic scuttle & ecu covers
side impact bars in doors
loom tape instead of thick plastic sheathing stuff
stainless sunroof deflector arms

 

Restoration continues, so with the car running ok it is booked in for a rolling road and carb tune early August – quite a wait, but they are the go to in my area.

Did have a useful chat to them – suggested a fuel pressure gauge to check pressure is not to high into the carbs and just pushing needle jets down, pressure was way to high 10-11 PSI, turns out I had put the diaphragm in the regulator the wrong way up so could not adjust it all sorted now and sits at circa 5 PSI, there is concern that the in tank pump that just feeds the small electric Facet pump under the car is pushing fuel at against that with no return (swirlpot has been removed) so I need to look at what to do there, perhaps need to put swirlpot back with a return to tank then pump to push fuel to regulator and change that to one with a return back to swirlpot?

Found a trimmer who can sort the seat and waiting for a quote, but they think £350-£400 for the drivers I have some spare fabric, this may be the only way to get it looking right. I then need to attempt the headlining and get the correct cassette player for it give the interior a good clean and then it’s done.

Bodywork is next so started tackling the rust (well a fabricator has) this week – OSR arch, sills/jacking points, wings and scuttle. Removed the wipers to help with access. A fair bit of work to do here.

Is there a go to on windscreens? Get one from Heritage? Claim on insurance and get them to fit it or go to an independent windscreen place?

 

Fuel pressure results, also was advised to check ignition advance - I got a strobe with the dial so was able to plot RPM vs advance by knowing the marks where 6 degrees as standard then for various RPM adjusting the strobe to line the marks up and adding the 6 degrees. Tried with the vac line to ECU attached and not, idle is set to 12 and it was max'ed out at 42 degrees with vac line connected and 34 with it not with fairly smooth line so assume this is about right?

 

Got our screen from Heritage and it was perfectly fine, we can see though it and everything!

 

300-400 for the drivers seat retrim is a bit rich. Surely you could buy a mint passenger seat or even full interior to pillage for nowhere near that.

 

Agree, but if its 2 days works for them at circa £200/day I can see how they get there. I am constantly on the lookout for a passenger seat in the right fabric so keeping that option open.

 

2 days?! To do a seat or the whole interior? I'd shop around. Where are you based?

 

Near Milton Keynes.

There is a part interior on ebay - but its only back seat, which I have and passenger back seat section, so overall its not helping as I have spare fabric.

 

I'd try hold out. I paid 140 on ebay for a complete interior with door cards, it was the more common tartan but it was 90 spec so less common in that respect. The bargains are out there if you are happy to wait

 

I think that is about right for a seat. After bodywork, upholstery is probably the most expensive thing to get done well on a car.

 

Some repair panels welded in and a new wings - aftermarket so fit not 100% and needed some fettling but got there, hope to get some paint on it in the next couple of weeks.

 

Now in paint.

 

Coming along really well Paul ...you don't muck around ,wow, going to be a fantastic car when finished ,good luck ,cheers.

 

Well its been painted and I should pick it up this week, still a few bits to refit wipers, arches and side skirts - is glueing or Tigersealing these on an option? Rear wiper needs sorting as well.

Off for a rolling road on Monday and hopefully get the carbs setup. Still lots of jobs to do interior (headlining, seats and radio), gearbox is lacking syncro on 2nd and 3rd so that needs a rebuild and I want to replace the aftermarket headlights with originals and get the foglights fitted. I think I will do belts as well with waterpump and coolant change.

 

Car looking good with the fresh paint. What exhaust is it?

 

Thanks. Its a Jetex system was on the car when I got it nice sounds it has a 4 branch manifold as well.

looks like it needs adjusting slightly in the pictures which I will sort.

 

Looking really nice