Mk2 2dr Project Car (1.8t swap)

[Weeman]

I've followed your build from day 1. So proud of you.

Want to fix my MK1?

Thanks mate! You sure have.

Does it have any rust? Choose your answer very wisely...

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[Weeman]

Awesome summary!

Very rewarding to have put something together from scratch as you have to then get to enjoy it too.


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For sure! The VR6 power is just perfect.

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[Weeman]

Update: 03/08/2024

When you have taken apart all the fuel lines during the transplant and swapped them between cars, there's not a better feeling of having a fire extinguisher close by [emoji23]

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[sports racer]

Make sure you shake it every few months. Nothing worse than thinking you have a working fire extinguisher but don't.

[Weeman]

Update: 16/10/2024

Interestingly, took the scales home from work today. Boom, 1102kg, with 3/4 tank fuel. So lets rip off about 35kg in fuel from that and we sit at about 1067kg, driverless. Not stoked, thought it was less, dare I say it but I thought it would be below a tonne! It's about 30kg heavier over the front right wheel than it is the left. I'd love to get it lighter, but who can be bothered, it's already fun enough to drive

[HaydEn]

Sounds about right. My 4 door mk2 was in the 1050-1070kg range from memory.

They aren’t as light as people think haha!


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[Weeman]

Sounds about right. My 4 door mk2 was in the 1050-1070kg range from memory.

They aren’t as light as people think haha!


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Yea good to know. From your experience with the mk3, what was the quickest way you shedded off some kg's? You can't tell me to cut my floor out and run around with a 50mm hole saw lol!

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[HaydEn]

Yea good to know. From your experience with the mk3, what was the quickest way you shedded off some kg's? You can't tell me to cut my floor out and run around with a 50mm hole saw lol!

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Haha! For Mk3 they have pretty heavy sandbag mat’s under the carpet for sound deadening. You can also remove the crash bars at the front and rear.

Change alternators for a smaller one.

Lightweight battery. Otherwise everything else involves cutting or lots of money.


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[Weeman]

Haha! For Mk3 they have pretty heavy sandbag mat’s under the carpet for sound deadening. You can also remove the crash bars at the front and rear.

Change alternators for a smaller one.

Lightweight battery. Otherwise everything else involves cutting or lots of money.


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All body deadener removed already, crash bars are already replaced with the plastic junk bumpers from Heritage, alternator and battery would be my options. Don't think I'll make it!

[sports racer]

Mk1's weigh less than 800 kg wringing wet.

Just saying.

[Weeman]

Update: 02/03/2026

Well... long time no updates! Tbh not much has been happening until recently. Timing chains has been a massive concern on the VR6 for a while now so without getting too swallowed up in the "while I'm there I may as well" logic, the timing chain replacement has now become:

- timing chains
- head gasket (mk4 MLS one)
- 262 Autotech cams
- lifters
- valve stem seals
- front and rear main seals
- oil pump
- water pump
- oil cooler
- thermostat
- belt
- all new coolant flanges
- clutch
- and every single seal and o-ring under the sun that I come across

Engine came out happily.

Quick inspection showed I'd been dragging the sump across the ground hmmm... I've ordered some hockey pucks, think I might give the engine a little lift till I hit the bonnet.

A compression test on the engine showed around 165 psi across all 6 cylinders which I think is great, and still lots of cross-hatching on all bores. I haven't pulled the sump off yet but I really don't think I'll entertain pulling the crank out, maybe just pop a few caps off and a little inspection... It's not like I'll be sticking another 100,000kms on it, maybe 1,000 - 2,000 per year.

Engine now on the stand (that was a mission in itself), awaiting the first parts order. Everything came off very smoothly except a camshaft sprocket bolt which was superglued in surely. Drilled the head off of it till it sheared off and managed to save the sprocket and camshaft, so that's a win!



Head will go to the machine shop for a cleanup and face, I honestly cannot be asked to do any porting on this, unless someone can convince me to whip the die grinder out. I don't really want to make any more power, its fun as a little daily driver as it is... cheap and reliable. I think I will do a lot of backfilling on the exhaust downpipe and match that a little bit more... I've become less and less motivated to work on cars lol.

Hopefully hear from me in the next few weeks.

Cheers,
Thomas

[sports racer]

That sprocket won't buff out.

[Weeman]

Update: 04/04/2026

Well, I've slowly been ticking away! And I've changed my mind. Originally the block was going to be left untouched, but now I will do rings and bearings, as well as cleans and skims at the machine shop.

Head returned from the machine shop, looks delicious!!! I ended up coughing up a few extra hundred $$ to get them to do the valve stem seals and seat the valves properly for me. And yes in case anyone was wondering, I did leave the upper timing cover bolted to the head to get trimmed up as well... didn't want to make that mistake.



While I wait for extra parts to arrive for the bottom end, I've been doing the therapeutic task of spraying everything... It might make the job take 4 times as long, but it is ALWAYS worth it.



I do miss driving the mk2, it has been some time! Not too far away from getting back onto the road.



Cheeeeeers,
Thomas

[sports racer]

Good to see it’s still loved and used.