Common Mk1 mods & upgrades

[pedro]

Hey guys,

Apologies if there is already a common thread for this stuff (if there is please feel free to direct me to it & call me an idiot).

But what are the common modifications done to Mk1's? I'm talking stuff anything from installing late model golf parts that easily bolt in with either no mods or little mods.

I notice a few people remove the water catch tray in the engine bay as an example.

After anything really, I got a blue slip for my mk1 diesel yesterday, so will be looking at doing some mods now that it will be registered.

[GTI4ME]

Hey mate, congrats on the blue slip. Common mods seem to be later model engine conversions, or just the good old fashioned 16v. As a reference, mine is going from auto to manual, full rust repair and respray, coilovers, strut braces/swaybar, carby upgrade, exhaust, cam, and larger front brakes/booster. Hope this helps, theres a million different ways to mod your car, pick the ones that best suit you and your car! Goold luck with it, got any pics for us?

[pedro]

Thanks for the reply, apart from potential suspension mods using the cheap coilovers I'll be keeping my car fairly standard in the mechanicals department, purely for (hopefully) reliability. Mine seems to handle like a boat at the moment so hopefully some low will help there.

Front and rear strut braces will be on the list, and I just saw a bonnet gas strut conversion which I think I'll definitely do just purely for convenience and it's cheap.

I'm halfway through making my own luggage rack to, hoping to finish that within a couple of weeks;

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f22/diy-luggage-rack-87019.html#post963803

Anyone done a US taillight conversion?

[pedro]

Will start a project thread once I get it registered to sorry!

[Stanton]

If your car handles like a boat, lowering with cheap coil overs will do nothing for it, probably make it worse.
Don't get sucked in.

[Stiggy_21]

mk1 tend to roll a bit on standard shocks (especially if they're 30 years old), freshening it up with new shocks or coilovers will help, but some sway bars will help the most.
upgrading even just to a mk3 booster on standard brakes, makes a huge difference. but GTI brakes even better!!
if the steering and subframe bushes a worn and a bit sloppy, steering will feel a little loose. polybushes (powerflex etc.) will tighten things right up.
and a lower control arm brace will help stop a bit of flex down there