NP's 20VT MK1 Cabby Build Thread

[nightphotographer]

It hasn't taken long!

Last month I bought a 1991 Golf Cabriolet - it has a ripped roof, a few dents here and there, mechanically it's sound, the odd little part needs replacing, but engine and gearbox are very strong still. Shame everything is getting replaced really!

Pics: (highlighting damage mainly!)

8D2B9942 by night photographer, on Flickr

8D2B9945 by night photographer, on Flickr

8D2B9943 by night photographer, on Flickr

8D2B9946 by night photographer, on Flickr

8D2B9947 by night photographer, on Flickr

8D2B9948 by night photographer, on Flickr

8D2B9949 by night photographer, on Flickr

8D2B9950 by night photographer, on Flickr

8D2B9951 by night photographer, on Flickr

I'm getting to work on the interior, replacement roof, bodywork and new paint job first. Then the mechanics will follow later in 2013 with my dad in the UK about to buy a MK4 Golf GTI Donor car (had originally had my heart set on an AEB engine, but now I'm going AGU!).


Things I've already bought:
New carpet and boot lining in Terracotta Red.


Porsche 987 Leather and Alacantara Seats.

This seat^^ but in this style vv


Single Headlight Badged Grill Set.
Forge Short Shifter (no longer going into my Polo)
2.0T Coil packs and adapters (coming out of my Polo)

Things I've already done:
Current engine has been completely flushed and serviced and will be for sale with most of the engine components once my new engine is on a boat over here.
Interior stripped ready for sound deadening and speaker and electric seat wiring (only electric recline - nothing too crazy)

Things on the shopping list (if anyone can help):
New roof in Red from Prestige Auto Trim in the UK.
Replacement front bumper.
Replacement O/S/F Wing (or Guard - whatever you Australians call them )
Spare stock seat rails for the Porsche Seats (existing one's have had it)
OEM Porsche Seat Wiring loom - unless someone can instruct me on how to do the seat wiring without it?
Caliber RCD 110 Retro Head Unit
Pioneer TS-A4613I 4x6" Front Speakers (pretty certain they're a straight swap)
Other car audio related purchases.
Red Grille Surround
Coilovers (no decision on brand as of yet)
3 Piece 15x7/8 Wheels
Chrome Strips, Door Handles, Window Winders, Fuel Cap and Mirrors.
Replacement glove box (unless dash has to be removed)
K03s Turbocharger for the AGU unless I can find a compatible K04 for a decent price.
New Sun visors
Misc seals/gaitors and random parts.

So yeah - this is going to keep me busy for a long time, but now's definitely the time to do it before the strong dollar falls and the bargains to be had in Europe are thus gone! As a few may know I'm great at finding awesome rare parts and bringing them into Aus - not so great at actually putting them together and getting them to work! But hey we've all got to start somewhere and I am VERY excited about this project.

[nightphotographer]

Okay well - since posting the initial thread, I found myself a girlfriend, built a house, started a business and well forgot about the old fella. After finally getting my Porsche Seat(s) over from the UK and getting outrageously charged by quarantine, customs etc I think it might be time to make some progress!

I'm selling off all un-needed parts to help fund the project, I don't have the biggest budget right now for the car but it's always been a long term thing. You can PM me for parts - heaps of stuff is already getting taken so be quick!

I am however running into my first dilemma and would really appreciate some input from the more experienced restorers - remember this is my first ever project - and first car I've ever driven without PAS, ESP etc - I'm a complete noob!

So here's my dilemma - how on earth am I going to mount these seats to fit in my MK1 and maintain OEM functionality - i.e. all the adjusters working smoothly etc. What's the easiest and most cost efficient way? And also because this is Australia - how can I do it legally?

Here's some pictures of both seat bases side by side.





And a shot of the seat! I'll be getting the rears retrimmed in the same style.

[Shadow_Rusty]

Love the Carpet...
Hadn't thought about red for mine, but it very well could be the go...
Actually, I'd probably go for Burgandy to match the roof...

There are heaps of seat adaptors on ebay, but as Peter has said numerous times, probably just as easy to have some made up...

[nightphotographer]

Is it best if I keep the MK1 bases for when I get adapters made up - or will I not need them? I have a few people interested in buying the seats that's all.

[Jarred]

I'd keep em, unless you can get your hands on another set of bases. Would make it much easier to fabricate a new base with imo.

[sports racer]

Put a post in the Wanted section for some seat bases off someones crap seats and sell yours.

If you get stuck I know someone with 70 MK1's. I'm sure he'll have something to suit.

Cheers

Paul

[Shadow_Rusty]

Paul, would he have some Mk2/3 Adjustable height seat bases?
I need at least 1, as my drivers seat sits way too high... And I'd transfer my leaning, seat cushion, fabric onto the new base...

[Jarred]

mk 2 will fit, mk 3 won't, the base/legs are wider.

[gldgti]

Interesting project, nice to see a cabby (and a LA5Y Helios Blue one at that!) getting some love.

Interested to see what you do with the seats, we commute in the cabby and I am sick of the mk1 seats. They are better than many modern cars seats, but I'm a big bloke and they twist and creak with cornering forces. Be nice to have something a bit sturdier and more modern.

[sports racer]

Paul, would he have some Mk2/3 Adjustable height seat bases?
I need at least 1, as my drivers seat sits way too high... And I'd transfer my leaning, seat cushion, fabric onto the new base...

Nick's got lots of MK1s and a few MK3's. Not a single MK2 so no seats to suit. Get Andrew to do a cut and weld.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

[nightphotographer]

Interesting project, nice to see a cabby (and a LA5Y Helios Blue one at that!) getting some love.

Interested to see what you do with the seats, we commute in the cabby and I am sick of the mk1 seats. They are better than many modern cars seats, but I'm a big bloke and they twist and creak with cornering forces. Be nice to have something a bit sturdier and more modern.

If all goes to plan it won't be staying Blue for too long

[Goon]

Interested to see how you go converting the seats! I'm kinda in the same boat myself here..

Car looks decent man, what made you decide to go the AUG over AEB engine?

Cheers

[nightphotographer]

Interested to see how you go converting the seats! I'm kinda in the same boat myself here..

Car looks decent man, what made you decide to go the AUG over AEB engine?

Cheers

All the original info is a little out of date now. Dad was going to buy a MK4 Donor car, but at the same time Foff was selling a AWT engine for a decent price, so I went with that. It's essentially an AEB but with small ports. I would love an AEB, but the effort in trying to get one to Albury wouldn't be worth it. Foff came and dropped his engine off for me

I've just been reading some threads about some guy in the UK getting 270whp from his S3 Turbo'd AWT without changing internals so I would be very happy with about 240-250

[gldgti]

I dont want to dampen your enthusiasm (at all!) but even 200hp is a ****load of hp to manage in a mk1 chassis. Just get it running, then see what you think

The mk1 is not built to handle big torques - the design of the powertrain and the front suspension is from the 70's remember. I have heaps of trouble with our TD. Yes, you can get around it by modernising the whole car, but its a lot of work to go down that rout to make the car actually work properly with an engine that produces big hp - just take a look at any of the serious mk1 projects around - particularly the turbo petrol ones - and you'll see what I mean.

IMO, without doing major upgrades to the body at the front (stiffening), engine mounts, and changing to a late model gearbox, you can pretty much set a 200hp practical limit for a mk1 - and the less torque there is to deal with, the better. have been fighting the other end of that scale for the last 2 years with our cabby, since it only makes about 100hp but makes more torque than a standard 1.8T by a long way - and it does a good job of making the chassis suffer.

I only say this in the friendliest of tones you understand - perhaps you are willing to do major things to this cabriolet to get it to handle a big power engine - I don't know. But I reckon a stock standard AWT in a mk1 chassis would be a beautiful thing as a daily driver.

***FYI - about to change the turbo in the TD cabby from the GT-15 to a T3 - the GT-15 spools up from about 1200rpm and starts to be quite restrictive above 3500rpm. I am so tired of the strain on everything, the ridiculous wheelspin in the wet, etc, that I am changing to the much larger T3 which doesn't spool properly until after 2500rpm and lets the engine rev much more freely - just so it will be less punishing on the rest of the car.

[nightphotographer]

IMO, without doing major upgrades to the body at the front (stiffening), engine mounts, and changing to a late model gearbox, you can pretty much set a 200hp practical limit for a mk1

Yep - already planning on doing all of that And the entire suspension system is going to be changed...I guess it's a matter of wait and see. Anything could happen.

But thanks for the info - Jarred had already warned me when I mentioned the 1.8T swap - he suggested I just stuck with the K-JET, but I'm not living without a turbo!