Mk1 Golf Cabby
Discussion
Nostalgia warning....It’s been a few years since I had one but the right car at the right price appeared in our new found home and we decided to purchase as bit of a project between myself and our eldest.
I’ve had several of these in the past including a 20 valve turbo version, probably the most fun I’ve had in a car just for the “How the hell did it do that” looks!!
Straight into it this weekend figuring out a fuelling issue that turned out to be the injectors being blocked solid, fortunately they’re old and mechanical so a bit of elbow grease and some deadly chemicals and she’s purring nicely!
The cars in fairly good condition with some great subtle upgrades, we don’t intend on doing too much at this stage, sort out the niggles and get it reliable, add aircon!!
Really enjoying it so far and its great to hear the lad, he’s 14, asking questions and seeing him take an interest. I can’t imagine there will be another generation that does this
I’ve had several of these in the past including a 20 valve turbo version, probably the most fun I’ve had in a car just for the “How the hell did it do that” looks!!
Straight into it this weekend figuring out a fuelling issue that turned out to be the injectors being blocked solid, fortunately they’re old and mechanical so a bit of elbow grease and some deadly chemicals and she’s purring nicely!
The cars in fairly good condition with some great subtle upgrades, we don’t intend on doing too much at this stage, sort out the niggles and get it reliable, add aircon!!
Really enjoying it so far and its great to hear the lad, he’s 14, asking questions and seeing him take an interest. I can’t imagine there will be another generation that does this
Do i get a "Holy thread resurrection Batman" Badge? 
We never did get it on the road, the boy is 20 now and running around in his E39 BMW, until it breaks and then he turns up back at home for dad to fix.
Anyway i've missed you PH, the old 1.8 DX engine is out, the VR6 AAA block is stripped down ready for clean/rebuild with 82mm pistons, rebuilt ported head, some nice rods and many other shiny parts. Its going into the MK1 with a fresh set of DG Motorsport ITBs, an 02J with an LSD and 6th, standalone ECU and some other bits and pieces that i shall very much detail here as they happen.
The garage is super clean and ready for work, quite excited again! Not something you ever grow out of is it?
The daughter wrote off the wifes new Subaru a few weeks ago so we replaced it with an R32 which said daughter is no longer allowed to borrow, everyone is ok bar a bruised ego which is the main thing and i got to replace the gutless 2.0l with a proper engine. Mk5, end of an era.
We never did get it on the road, the boy is 20 now and running around in his E39 BMW, until it breaks and then he turns up back at home for dad to fix.
Anyway i've missed you PH, the old 1.8 DX engine is out, the VR6 AAA block is stripped down ready for clean/rebuild with 82mm pistons, rebuilt ported head, some nice rods and many other shiny parts. Its going into the MK1 with a fresh set of DG Motorsport ITBs, an 02J with an LSD and 6th, standalone ECU and some other bits and pieces that i shall very much detail here as they happen.
The garage is super clean and ready for work, quite excited again! Not something you ever grow out of is it?
The daughter wrote off the wifes new Subaru a few weeks ago so we replaced it with an R32 which said daughter is no longer allowed to borrow, everyone is ok bar a bruised ego which is the main thing and i got to replace the gutless 2.0l with a proper engine. Mk5, end of an era.
v8notbrave said:
That will be epic/feral with vr6 and ITB, look fwd to updates. I recall in max power when I was a lad when they started putting vr6 in MK2. Must be a squeeze in a MK1
What style are u aiming for? What's the latest trend that no doubt will annoy some and be loved by others?
Clipper kit is gone, chrome trim, mirrors, bumpers etc. it’ll stay Helios Blue for a while and then go black on black. Interior is currently cream, it’s very nice but looking for a bit more refinement with some classic buckets. It’ll not be to everyone’s taste but what ever is?!What style are u aiming for? What's the latest trend that no doubt will annoy some and be loved by others?
In for this as well as I had a 1990 Cabby GTi for a couple of years when we lived in the Netherlands 2005-2007 and I always wished I'd just taken it back with me, as it was on UK plates and not worth a huge amount, but the fact it was an ex-forces car from Germany so LHD put me off and I sold it to a local Mk1 Cab enthusiast.
Good luck with the build. I also had a Corrado VR6 so really interested in seeing this come together
Good luck with the build. I also had a Corrado VR6 so really interested in seeing this come together
That will be a tight fit! Given their history, what brake upgrade are you going for?
Do share the go-faster bits too! In my VR6 days Corrado days I remember the evolution was from Shrick cams and fancy manifolds, to superchargers then to turbos.
I’m sure the noise will be glorious whatever bits are being used…oh yes, and:
Holy Thread Resurrection Batman!
Good luck with the build.
Do share the go-faster bits too! In my VR6 days Corrado days I remember the evolution was from Shrick cams and fancy manifolds, to superchargers then to turbos.
I’m sure the noise will be glorious whatever bits are being used…oh yes, and:
Holy Thread Resurrection Batman!
Good luck with the build.
Lots of Corrado fans, love it. Heres one i turned into a track car a few years back, brilliant thing and yes a VR6!
Anyway, who doesn't love a good list, there are some controversial parts here so be forewarned.. :
Eurowise or S&P kit VR6 Mk1
Wossner forged pistons 82 mm, 10.5:1 CR
IE Rods
Rebuilt head with shiny titanium bits
Cat Cams 284
DG Motorsport ITBs
Billet Coolant Pipe VF-Engineering crossover
External Water Pump + Blanking Plate
Gasket Set Victor Reinz full + MLS head
Coolant Hoses/Clamps Silicone kit
Small Alternator S&P compact VR6
Alloy Expansion Tank
Baffled Sump Eurowise steel baffled
R32 Oil Pump OEM high-volume
Fuel Pump Bosch 044 300 lph external
Haltech Nexus R3
ECU Universal Harness
Eurowise CSF low-profile Mk1 VR6 swap radiator with fans
LSD Wavetrac helical ATB
Stage 3 clutch
Lightened Flywheel
Driveshafts Eurowise conversion
Short Shift Kit + Mk4 Cable Mod
Gearbox Rebuild (02J 6th Gear Bolt-In)
Coilovers H&R
SuperPro full poly bushes
Anti-Roll Bars H&R 26 mm
Strut Braces Ultra Racing full
G60 front + rear disc conversion, brake servo removed, pedal box direct to master
Lines Goodridge braided brake + PTFE fuel
IC10 Haltech dash
Electric aircon! Heater box is gone.
R888 all round on the Ronals
EW or S&P exhaust
You get the idea, not exhaustive but a good chunk of whats coming, subject to change as ideas appear or funds run out! I'm trying to reduce clutter in the bay with everything tucked/hidden where possible, small form alternator so no accessory bracket required, no PAS, limited wiring required.
I had a couple of free hours today, the old cabby had a stainless Volkswagen laser cut piece sitting on the radiator and i saved it, it'll go on the valve cover for a while until a billet one is too much to resist.
Being a gunsmith has its vehicular benefits, in my not very free time i've been known to Cerakote one or two items so today it went on car parts with the exhaust manifolds getting a dousing in C Series Glacier Black.
The block and head are at the local engine shop - crack test, skim, bore/hone to 82mm and acid dip. So it/they should come back ready to reassemble and all shiny, i may cerakote more bits as they go back on.
Anyway, who doesn't love a good list, there are some controversial parts here so be forewarned.. :
Eurowise or S&P kit VR6 Mk1
Wossner forged pistons 82 mm, 10.5:1 CR
IE Rods
Rebuilt head with shiny titanium bits
Cat Cams 284
DG Motorsport ITBs
Billet Coolant Pipe VF-Engineering crossover
External Water Pump + Blanking Plate
Gasket Set Victor Reinz full + MLS head
Coolant Hoses/Clamps Silicone kit
Small Alternator S&P compact VR6
Alloy Expansion Tank
Baffled Sump Eurowise steel baffled
R32 Oil Pump OEM high-volume
Fuel Pump Bosch 044 300 lph external
Haltech Nexus R3
ECU Universal Harness
Eurowise CSF low-profile Mk1 VR6 swap radiator with fans
LSD Wavetrac helical ATB
Stage 3 clutch
Lightened Flywheel
Driveshafts Eurowise conversion
Short Shift Kit + Mk4 Cable Mod
Gearbox Rebuild (02J 6th Gear Bolt-In)
Coilovers H&R
SuperPro full poly bushes
Anti-Roll Bars H&R 26 mm
Strut Braces Ultra Racing full
G60 front + rear disc conversion, brake servo removed, pedal box direct to master
Lines Goodridge braided brake + PTFE fuel
IC10 Haltech dash
Electric aircon! Heater box is gone.
R888 all round on the Ronals
EW or S&P exhaust
You get the idea, not exhaustive but a good chunk of whats coming, subject to change as ideas appear or funds run out! I'm trying to reduce clutter in the bay with everything tucked/hidden where possible, small form alternator so no accessory bracket required, no PAS, limited wiring required.
I had a couple of free hours today, the old cabby had a stainless Volkswagen laser cut piece sitting on the radiator and i saved it, it'll go on the valve cover for a while until a billet one is too much to resist.
Being a gunsmith has its vehicular benefits, in my not very free time i've been known to Cerakote one or two items so today it went on car parts with the exhaust manifolds getting a dousing in C Series Glacier Black.
The block and head are at the local engine shop - crack test, skim, bore/hone to 82mm and acid dip. So it/they should come back ready to reassemble and all shiny, i may cerakote more bits as they go back on.
While I’m in here I may as well just…. Next minute it’s a bare metal respray 
Barely any rust to fix up which is a big plus. Wiring is going to be fun with chopped in 90s car alarms and aftermarket bits and pieces but there’s a growing pile of unnecessary bits. I’ll get it all mocked up and labelled then pull it all out for paint.
Barely any rust to fix up which is a big plus. Wiring is going to be fun with chopped in 90s car alarms and aftermarket bits and pieces but there’s a growing pile of unnecessary bits. I’ll get it all mocked up and labelled then pull it all out for paint.Pablo16v said:
Nice work so far, and I'm liking the cream leather and the Ronal wheel peaking out behind the VW plate. Are those wheels going on the Cabby?
Thanks! The R10s are for the cabby yes, to be clad in 888s. The leather work was redone on the seats and does look nice in cream but a colour change on the car means they will likely go.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff