VW Mk2 Golf "Deep Blue" project

[M M]

Car is still not going unfortunately. Have almost all the bits now, intake manifold is made now and most other bits sorted but I'm having trouble with the alternator setup, was going to run the v belt but there is no way that will work really, the bottom of the carb on cylinder 1 hits the alternator so it looks like I will have to run a serpentine belt setup, just need to find all the bits I had for it that I left at my friend's place. Hope they are still there. Another thing which sucks is we discovered one of the mixture screws on the carb is rounded off and stuck, so have to order a new one and try to get this one out while keeping the thread it tact. Also I've had to order some silicone joiners and aluminum pipe to be able to plumb in the top radiator hose as I'm using an e36 radiator. Will get some pictures up soon.

[M M]

The carbs and manifold:




The screwed screw



How the carb hits the alternator:



The carbs on the car (they look great if I do say so myself):

[M M]

I've got quite a bit on the mk2 done. With great help from Anton, we drilled out the rounded idle screw and retapped it, luckily it came out perfectly. I have sorted the alternator now by swapping to a serpentine belt set-up, including the waterpump so there is no v-belt at all, just one ribbed belt. I've also sorted the choke and throttle cable for the cables and made all the mounts for the radiator. It's basically complete now, just need to hook up the fuel hose from the regulator to the carbs, the vacuum line for the distributor and install the new idle screw when it arrives (hopefully tomorrow so I can start this thing finally!)
It's great to see the car mostly back together, almost there now after 3 months. Can't even remember what the car felt like to drive.

[ryana89]

I'm amazed how much space you gain (in the rear of the bay) by going to a cross flow head.
Would love to hear a video of it when it's up and running.

[M M]

I'm amazed how much space you gain (in the rear of the bay) by going to a cross flow head.

I know it's huge!
I'll definitely be putting a video (or a few) up once it's going.

[M M]

After quite a lot of fiddling around for it on Friday and not being able to get it firing (which I realized just as we ended for the night that it was because my ignition leads were in a random order as i just placed them on and forgot to re-arrange them, guess how I feel!) we managed to get it firing yesterday.

It started a couple of times but can't get it going again, the battery seems too weak as it struggles to turn the engine over. Will get a bigger battery and see if that helps. Was really happy though when it did fire because it just fired right up, no struggling or pumping the pedal for ages. Also still need to wire an oil pressure safety switch for the fuel pump as now it runs constantly on with the key on run even if the motor is off, and need to sort the small fuel leak coming from the FPR.

[M M]

The battery was the issue, just picked up a larger one and the car has started multiple times. Tuning time now, I need to fiddle with the idle mixture as it's idling at around 1500-2000 and I can't get it to go lower with the main idle screw plus revs are returning really slowly, all signs of a lean mixture (as far as I can find out) so will have a play with the the idle mixture screws a little later and see what I can do.

[M M]

Took the car out for the first drive yesterday just around the block, I'm very pleased with the results. It's by no means running right, currently it idles anywhere between 1200-2200 revs and I haven't even begun to tune it, so I can only imagine how well it will go when I sort it out. I still need to sort a few other issues such as a leak from the lower radiator hose that I improvised and I need to install an oil pressure safety switch for the fuel pump as well as a radiator fan sensor switch. My main fuel pump is not currently working so I have bypassed it and am just running the intake pump which seems to provide the needed 3psi. I will try and claim warranty on the other pump as I only started the car 3 times with it and now it only pumps drops of fuel, not sure what's going on there. Will try to get pictures and videos up soon.

[M M]

Right guys, time for photos:









I have been playing around with the carbs and have got it to idle pretty smooth now at about 950 rpm so I'm guessing they are close to balanced. The revs also return nicely now and it goes as it should. Still need to do a bit more to get it perfect, I know a guy who has put these carbs on mk2 escorts so will go and see him to make sure everything is ok. Have taken it for a few drives around the block, I've very pleased with how it goes. Quite a bit of torque steer when flooring it in first, makes me smile every time.

[Jarred]

nice, looks and sounds good!

[M M]

Thanks mate

[SP4RR0W]

looks real nice man, just a quick question where did you get those wheels??

[M M]

Thanks man. The wheels are mk3 steel wheels which I had widened.

[mike1990]

You have no idea how much I want your MK2! And those steels look great on it too

[M M]

You have no idea how much I want your MK2! And those steels look great on it too

Thanks man, appreciate the kind words