Finally- mk2 deam begins

[mk2DREW]

Hi all, I bought a 91 GTI from Adelaide a few weeks back, and since have had a decent trek to get it manual converted, blue slipped and registered in NSW.



Super stoked to drive a manual mk2- feels like such an awesome little go-kart. It came with a genuine 125 000kms and a few little bits and bobs that i'll need to fix up- including the front grille- has a crack, back seat- doesn't clip into its upright latch, bonnet paint, breaks, springs and shocks- all being replaced next week.

Once i recover from the cost of the conversion, plans are: spaghetti manifold (does mk3 manifold fit with the rest of the exhaust?), engine upgrades, repaint wheels, give it a full detail, long term- I'm thinking a rainbow interior might be on the cards in a year or two, also a close-door white respray eventually. Planning on keeping it relatively stock. SUPER keen to put some effort into it and make it mint

HUGE thanks to Matt for the awesome golf, Sports racer for all the help and advice. And cheers to Matt from Camden GTI for hooking up the manual swap

[Tom93]

looks nice man once mines back up and running have to meet up, also from wollongong

[mk2DREW]

looks nice man once mines back up and running have to meet up, also from wollongong

Heck yeah! definitely mate

[sports racer]

So good to see you've got it converted and that you've been converted.

See Matt about a Euro manifold. It's a standard 2 litre MK3 manifold but flows better than the strangle manifold normally found on the MK2's and definitely needed if you're going to modify the engine.

What shocks are you getting?

Cheers

Paul

[mk2DREW]

so a 2 litre mk3 manifold definitely fits with no problems (other than a new gasket)? if so i might have a wander through the local pick a part and see whats up.

Matt had already installed rear KYB shocks installed with 16v springs- i'm getting the same fronts put in on wednesday

[Tom93]

There was a mk3 in dapto pick a part pinched a couple of bits off it but the manifold was still there im pretty sure

[sports racer]

There are 2 types of MK3 "Euro" manifolds, one is easier than the other to match the end with the MK2 exhaust pipe but both fit with some cutting and welding.

The standard MK2 manifold has only 1 downpipe, the Euro has 2 which is why it flows better. I've got one which I never got round to fitting because the 2 litre engine in mine pulled really well (and I was too lazy to fit the manifold).

[mk2DREW]

There was a mk3 in dapto pick a part pinched a couple of bits off it but the manifold was still there im pretty sure

cheers! will look there sometime soon

[mk2DREW]

cheers Paul, will get onto it sometime soon.

Newest exciting development is some loose fog lights one fully fell out and was scraping along the asphalt for an unknown period of time... lens and cover still intact, although cover has chips and cracks, is salvageable.

Any ideas on filling gaps in a glass cover??

Also has anyone else had the problem with their back seat not locking into upright?? the latch works it's almost like it itsn't meant to fit... will get pics tomorrow

[sports racer]

Tilt the seat forward and clean out any crap that's under it which is stopping the seat sitting in the correct position to lock down.

Not sure how to fill gaps in a glass cover. Clear 2 part glue?

Cheers

Paul

[Matt P]

i have a spare set of fogs that you're welcome to have, the lenses don't match completely though from memory.

In sydney in a couple of weeks and will have my black one (with no fogs and no working back seat latch haha) registered so can show you her

[mk2DREW]

Been a while, so i thought i'd post an update.

The past month or so has been filled with classic temperamental mk2 problems. I can't help but laugh at how much has gone wrong recently hahah.
So:
- Back left door handle is almost impossible to open
- New tyres
- Holes in the water resovior lid spray water all over the engine bay/ battery when the jets are turned on
- 2nd gear crunches and 4th gear is temperamental - has to go back to Camden GTI for a diagnosis
- Key barrel got progressively fiddly/ harder to turn until it refused to move at all (definitely wasn't the steering lock)

So i got the steering wheel off, control stalks off and drilled the hole to slide out the key cylinder.... played with the key, reassembled and then she worked fine! not sure what i did or how i did it, but the key turns- works the car fine.. i'll play my luck with the barrel so i don't have to remove/ repair it.
I FORGOT A SCREW.
Disassembled everything, put the screw in its home, reassembled everything.

THE MFA STALK SNAPS. LEAVING THE WIPERS ON FULL WITH WATER JETS BLASTING.

The best option at the moment is to leave it alone till my new stalk arrives, and set her right.

Don't get me wrong, i love my car- she's just playing hard to start although i'm a complete car noob, the amount i'm learning through all this trouble is awesome and am loving working on my little nugget!

[Tom93]

ahh the joys of owning a mk2 hahaha. if you ever need a hand with anything man give me a message and if im free ill come round.

gearbox still under warranty ? might be the syncros in the gearbox are a bit work and tired.

[mk2DREW]

Cheers tom! Will do mate.

Not sure, there wasn't much talkabout warranty but I'm sure they'll sort me out, it's only been about 2 months since the swap

[Tom93]

ahk , most second hand places will have 3 months or something. but matt is pretty good and will help out.