My MkII GTI Rebuild Project

[Mischa]

nice! im always amazed at how dirty ugly floorpans turn out so nice and shiny

[joshyd-mk2gti]

geez you got it clean.

you can get a bulk pack of dynamat [36 sq ft] for less than $250 off ebay. i bought one a while back. theres other sizes on there too if you want less.

[anarchycamp]

Cheers Josh, thats awesome..thats half the price compared to from the stores!!!

[anarchycamp]

off again...

So im back into this project now that ive finished some major house renovations....happy if i never have to gyprock another wall ever again....

Been stripping it down this weekend and doing some clean up...finding broken parts etc....storing different assemblies n parts in nice little bags so that i don't lose things etc...

Taking all external black trim off for a repaint. I found my front bumper is stuffed, was held on (tightly ill admit) with some kind of glue and tech screws. Looks like its had a front ding and smashed the bumper clips. SO looking for a new bumper.

Ive also been cleaning up my left hand doors. They have been hit and replaced at some stage (they are/were red) and were repainted nicely on the external parts but behind the door cards they are a mess, paint peeling off...tape etc so ive taken it all back to the metal and primed it ready for when it gets repainted.

Now a question for restore/rebuild people....I know what i want to do as an end result. This involves motor swap, wheels, coilovers, interior rebuild with dynamat and various new parts here and there. And will be getting a respray as well..questions is.....

Do i get the car rebuilt and running etc then strip it down for paint, or do I repaint it and slowly get the rest done after, risking damage to the paint etc...thoughts?

I'll take some pics of the mess ive made soon anyway....

[Jarred]

depends if you are changing colour.

If you're staying the same colour, it's much easier to prep, cause less needs doing, ie door jams etc, unless your are planning on...


a full respray or colour change. If you pull if apart and paint it all and get it schmick, then you only have to do it once. rather than fit everything then pull it apart. I would only suggest "test fitting" things if you were doing alot of customising, ie cutting bits in the engine bay etc.

It's alot of work to strip a car for painting (completely} so I say strip it once, and then spray it all, then put it back together, just be careful with scratches etc etc.

that's just my thoughts etc, how i'd do it, and how I am doing it with my diesel.

[Golf Loon]

I have done it both ways!

The problem with having it painted as a rolling shell is that then it sits around for x years getting dirty and scratched whilst you put it back together.

Thats ok if its gonna go back together fast.

With the Rocco, I have got it all running and registered then I`m gonna paint what shows.

At least then I get to enjoy driving the new paint.

[anarchycamp]

Body Work

Fixed up a couple of the worst dents over the past couple of days....been to hot for body filler up until now!!!!

Ding in side door now nice n smooooooth....



Dent in rear panel fixed.....

Used to be....



now....



Also cleaned up the inside of the dodgy resprayed passenger door (rear is the same )..back to the metal and primed for cleanliness.

[anarchycamp]

Door Locks

And while I was sitting in the heat...cleaned and polished door locks....

Before...



After...



Also swapped barrels from the old door handles to my new ones.

[Jarred]

nice work on the door locks!! mint.

good to see some progress!

[anarchycamp]

nice work on the door locks!! mint.

good to see some progress!

haha...i thought if Alex can polish a gear box housing then i can do 4 door locks.

Also, if anyone has a front left wing panel thats is straight or even needs some minor work then let me know. Im going to need one as I have some damage on the point near the bonnet that is unrepairable (big ass chunk of body gone! ) I reckon. Will post in the relevant section anyway

[anarchycamp]

New Door Cards.....should match the Recaros nicely....

[GoLfMan]

nice progress matey, lookign forward to more updates

[Retired]

jesus mate, those door cards look brand new. What are the recaros from?

Looks good mate

[Golf Loon]

Car looks schmick, as do the recaros.

Also, if anyone has a front left wing panel thats is straight or even needs some minor work then let me know. Im going to need one as I have some damage on the point near the bonnet that is unrepairable (big ass chunk of body gone! ) I reckon. Will post in the relevant section anyway

I have a couple of guards. White or red. $100 gets you a good un.

[GOLFBALLS]

Whoa! where'd ya get the door cards???!