78 2-Door Build Thread

[GeorgeMK1]

Call me a young'en, but the lower the better Paul hehe. I'd say 16 is a bit big on. Mk1. However if this were a daily, then you'd have no choice. I think 15s with 50 profile would be perfect!

[sports racer]

OK young'en, I've got all 3 sizes to play with so first step is to see which feels the best on our roads and lower the car to suit.

Then I'll fit the ones that look the best.

I do like the pic above and this one but it's a bit too low.

[Mk1DUB]

My mk1 is lowered on JOM coilovers with just a tiny bit of camber, enough to fit my wheels which are 15x7 Autostrada Pirelli Conturato's with 195/50/R15 tyres. They fit well, I get no scraping on speed bumps or anything, just very stiff ride feel from the cheap JOMs.

I'm thinking of going with something with a smaller wall but they look good for now.

If you want an idea of fitment, use this site - Tyrestretch.com that'll give you an indication of how they will look on the wheels.

Here's my current setup.

[sports racer]

This is how an Aussie spends Australia day.

Out with the old .



Even the cows were interested.



Not a happy little motor.



Picked up the 9a from a mates. Needs a good cleanup before going in. I'll probably take the head off and make sure she's good inside before putting it in next weekend.

[ericcs]

love the workshop paul!

[stiffy]

I like those white 7 spokers, what are the plans for them?

[sports racer]

I like them too.

[sports racer]

love the workshop paul!

You don't know the half of it.



There's no room in the stables (where have I heard that before) so any serious work has to be done on the horse wash. It's the only decent surface to work on. Check out the size of the wheels I want to try and fit on the MK1. 16x8 Contras.



Flat battery in the Ford so I tried to jump start it but ended up using the horse truck to get the spare motor.

What? Doesn't everyone have a different vehicle for different things?

OK, the Ford (and the other Ford - parts car) and the MK2 have to go (way too many cars) and I've got to do a full refurb of the horse truck so we can use it to take the horses away for weekends. I still have to get rid of my old Mazda MX6 and the wife's Passat needs the aircon fixed.

I think once that is all done my wife will start smiling again.

Things are so different when you live in the country.

[ericcs]

looks like it will be a while yet before she starts smiling!!

[Preen59]

Hey, Paul.

That knackered 16v has an INA Eng. alternator conversion kit on it. You should hang onto that. They're a good bit of kit.

I like what's going on here. I think you're a bit ambitious about the ride height, though. Those cars posted are pretty bloody low. Mk1s, thanks to the shape of the lower body, are deceivingly low for how they "look". You should know though, I guess. You've owned as many as I have!

What's the plans for the 16v?

[sports racer]

Thanks for the update on the alternator, it's going on to the 9a, together with everything I can swap from the KR. The KR block and head will be tucked away just in case something can be done to save them.

I want to cheat with the ride height and fit the biggest wheels I can to fill the arch so it looks low without having to go low if you know what I mean. I've still got the wide arch kit coming so there should be a bit of aesthetics to play with.

[sports racer]

I've had a good look at the KR block and there are no scratch marks on the bore, still can see the honing marks so it's worth keeping.

Having lots of problems getting a complete gasket kit for the 9a motor. The kit I got with it is marked 1984 (engine size) Seat/Passat but nothing matches so it's probably for an 8v motor. I rang Repco and they can source a kit from the States. It will only take 5 months to get to me and the cost would be $1000 + Repco's add on. I don't think so.

Brian at GTI Imports has some gaskets and I'm trying to get them sent in time so I can do the engine swap this weekend.

[RedMk2Gti]

$1000 for a gasket set !!! no wonder they're called ripco.

[sports racer]

I went to see about bigger brakes for the MK1 today. 280mm disks would be nice on the front. Even behind 16s they look big.



Plus disks for the back to replace the MK3 drums currently fitted.



They were still attached to this Seat Ibiza Cupra 2.0 16v used as a track car.



Those of you who know the story about me buying the MK2 and then the MK1 will know my wife was seriously pi*sed off when I got them without telling her. Of course I could never do that to her again.

It has a dash that would look good in the MK1. The cable shift gearbox and gear change would fit straight in too.



It's also got an ABF 16v that needs a rebore and new pistons.



So now I have a KR (1.8 16v) with a hole in one piston and a damaged head but the block is good, a 9a (2.0 16v) that I have no idea what condition it's in and an ABF (2.0 16v) that needs parts but has a good head.

Plus a Seat Ibiza Cupra 2.0 16v that was used as a track car.


.

[Stanton]

The best head to use if choosing a standard one only is the kr.It has superior inlet flow and less on the exhaust side which is no big deal.
If its a true kr use the kr inlet cam as both 9a and abf are pretty ordinary.Keep this to yourself,don't want to tell everybody.