Some pics from today (not dial-up friendly, sorry!) and review of the car!!

[Valver.]

I've been pretty slow getting some pics up of the car. TBH, it's taken me a few days to realise it is even registered and driveable and that I can take it out as I please and get photos out of the driveway!!!

The car is basically finished, apart from putting in the front half of the carpet... have been putting this off as it means the shifter, bias adjuster, dash support etc all have to come off.

Took the car for its first good drive today and it's everything I'd expected and more. The engine is an absolute peach and runs like a dream. It was always excellent in the donor car and finds itself even more in a little Mk1 with some mods! There are some big traction issues in 1st and 2nd gear, but the car is about fully hooked up in 3rd. It has no LSD, which doesn't help the situation. The JD chip is for 98RON fuel, so luckily it's now at the pumps in Tassie.

The handling and brakes are just excellent and it's possible to lock up all fours at 120 with a dab of the pedal if you're feeling eager!!!!! They modulate brilliantly too, so no issues with unintended lock-ups. There is zero body roll and the ride quality of the KWs is just awesome. I ended up lowering the car back down again - the travel still feels endless, smooth, no bump-steer and perfect spring rate. Absolutely worth the big $$.

All the stories about full poly bushes making a jagged ride in a Mk1 are rubbish. The chassis is SO responsive and surprisingly stiff, yet still smooth to ride. The poly engine mounts are very hard and do transfer some vibration, but I can put up with it over breaking my header. It'd annoy some people, though, I'm sure.

In-cabin noise is ok - the floor is covered in sound mat from front to back, which helps, but it is quite heavy. The car weighed 786kg prior to putting this in, so I'll weigh it again soon out of interest.

Anyway, here are my fave pics - it was nice to be able to get the car out of the drive and get some distance shots with a bit of perspective.

The location is just a couple of mins up the road from my place:

[Valver.]

More:

[Valver.]

The fuel system (still have to polish away under here!). Pierberg pre-pump off tank to swirl pot and VL-T main pump in the engine bay:



ECU is mounted behind the plate so as to be shielded:



Bias adjustment is on-the-fly and there are full braided lines right through - a single runs to a T piece at the rear. Extremely neat and tidy (when the carpet goes in anyway!):



Two schroth 3" harnesses:

[TassieGTi]

Stunning mate It must be hard to believe that all the hard work is done and you can take it out and enjoy it! I can't wait to see it in the flesh!

The research, money and effort that you have put into this project should be inspiration to all. The finished product is a real credit to you! Well done!

An LSD would be my number 1 mod with any similar engine upgrade

WOW....you just can't beat the look of a MK1!

[golf-kart]

Stunning pic’s & an awesome review! I can’t wait to see it in person.

We’ll have to organise another drive soon!

Cheers,

Paul

[Valver.]

Thanks guys

Here's the final spec list, as it'll be seen in PVW soon

Exterior:

- Full bare shell restoration, including underbody and floorpans
- Total in and out respray in custom DuPont light blue metallic
- Deleted wiper holes, Scirocco single wiper conversion with 76 Mk1 arm.
- Badges, aerial hole welded and smoothed, rolled and pulled arches, smoothed and de-textured front panel, smoothed floorpans and inner wheel arches
- Smoothed engine bay, deleted rain tray, heater port welded shut
- Smoothed slam panel, holes welded and smoothed
- Underbody components detailed
- Underbody stripped and resealed
- 1976 top-tint windscreen
- Sealed quarter vents
- InPro crystal crosshair headlights
- Volkswarenhaus pale red taillights
- Diygti smoked front indicators
- 1976 chrome Euro bumpers
- 1977 chrome grill
- Chrome side trim and door handles
- New VAG Mk1 Cabrio bonnet
- Stroeve Motorsport wing decals
- New genuine VAG window seals throughout

Engine bay:

- Full 1999 SEAT Ibiza Cupra mechanical and electrical conversion
- 2.0 16v ABF tall block motor
- 02A CDA cable change gearbox with 3.6 final drive
- Lightened 11lb flywheel
- AP paddle clutch
- Schrick 268/260 cams
- Stage 2 headwork, standard valve sizes
- Jereon Dik Engineering ECU
- Factory immobiliser and alarm retained
- Paul Kiernan/Race Shop 02A gearbox mounts
- SEAT Cupra long driveshaft, custom outer CV, Scirocco 16v short driveshaft with modified Cupra CV joints
- Complete CE2 wiring conversion
- Fuel injection conversion (from 1.6 carb) using Diesel tank
- Pierburg pre-pump
- MS Fabrication polished alloy swirl pot
- Holden Commodore VL Turbo fuel pump in engine bay
- 8mm EFI main fuel lines
- 9/16” Blue engine bay fuel lines
- Custom alloy heat and water shields
- K&N intake
- Eurosport ceramic race exhaust manifold, 4-2-1, de-CAT
- Eurosport RS-R 2.25” exhaust system
- Poly engine mounts
- Twin SEAT Cupra extractor fan conversion
- Mk1 GTI radiator with Cupra overflow tank and hoses
- Custom fan switch
- Custom charcoal canister
- Full serpentine belt conversion, A/C and PAS deleted, VR6 water pump pulley, custom serp belt, modified tensioner
- Chrome and gold plated bonnet catches
- Performance: 113kW at the wheels @ 7012 RPM on 98RON fuel (Approx 140kW/190hp at engine), 786kg with 1/10th fuel and all fluids (with no spare tyre or jack)
- Power to weight ratio: 5.61kg/kW


Chassis:

- GOTTI 55A 15x8”, ET25 3-piece wheels
- 3mm wheel spacers to clear front brakes
- Pirelli P7 tyres, 195/45/15
- KW V2 InoxLine coilovers
- New top mounts
- Whiteline 24mm front ARB
- Autotech 28mm rear ARB
- Poly bushes throughout
- Scirocco 16v 4-point “K-bar”
- Stroeve Motorsport rear strut brace
- Stroeve 2pc 280mm Race front rotors with blue hats
- SEAT Cupra callipers
- Momentum Tuning adapters
- Rear disc conversion
- Cupra stub axles
- Scirocco 16v handbrake cables
- Custom full-length Goodridge brake lines
- In-cabin Wilwood bias adjustment
- 23mm master cylinder and Cupra servo, ABS system removed

Interior:

- Audi seats with beige/”parchment” leather re-trim
- Cupra dash and clocks conversion on custom mounts
- Knox super plush pile beige carpet,
- Pale cream headlining
- Panelled rear deck with matching carpet
- GLS chrome stripe beige door cards
- Dash-mounted Stroeve bonnet release
- Carbon Stroeve gearknob and Cupra cable shift assembly 6mm alloy plate
- Custom stubby window winders to clear dash

Thanks to:

- Ed Connacher, Andrew Robinson (Robinson Automotive), all @ Autocraft, Knox Auto Carpets, Repco Rosny Park, Gerjan Stroeve (Stroeve Motorsport), Volkswarenhaus Germany, Kirsten @ German Auto Parts USA, Imparts, GSF Auto Parts Heathrow, Spectrum Auto Paints, and last, but not least, my family for putting up with the car and the massive build process.

[ontarv]

what can i say i can just
look and dream

[Valver.]

I missed the most important pics!!! Back in the day:

[Valver.]

Engine bay:

[GoLfMan]

awe inspiring mate... a perfection job well done, now go and enjoy!!!

[Oneofthegreats]

All I can say is
"an exceptional acheivement"
I think you are the envy of all of the waterpumper community.
especially doing most, if not all of the work yourself.
That must be a demon to drive.
Have you got any plans of doing motorsport events with it?
You definately have to bring it to the DOVW in Nov.

[Satanstoenail]

Congrats mate, it looks amazing. Reading your resto thread almost singlehandedly renewed my enthusiasm for Golfs, and has made me really want to do a mk1 project of my own some day. Top work.

[joshyd-mk2gti]

well done valver!! it doesnt need to be said, but thats one hell of an achievement. the best mk1 in the country for sure, up there with the best in the world too. it must feel great to finally drive it around.

[Valver.]

it must feel great to finally drive it around.

For sure! Monday is my only full day off, so I did just that today. Drove by myself down to the Nubeena/Pirates' Bay area. For the mainlanders, it's about a 180km round trip from Hobart and a nice mix of high speed corners with a few tighter sections that are great fun. I didn't get stuck behind a single car!!

Took another round of pics, of course! The first few are at the Tuna Fishing Club in a small bay 10 mins from Eaglehawk Neck:

[Valver.]

A week ago now, the underbody shots were taken too. These are going in the break-out boxes for the feature. The main photos are getting done this weekend at a couple of locations by a local photographer, so I'll have to finish the interior...



The brakes are more than up to the task! Almost scary!!