Mk3 2dr Project Car (1.8t swap)

[Weeman]

Update: 04/05/2024

Well after much cleaning up, I finally got this thing in primer. Was so close to spraying then spotted a teeny tiny bit of rust above the windscreen... despite this being a "quick" close door respray, I couldn't help myself but to clean out and treat the rust.

So I removed the windscreen, and by remove I mean booted, and by booted I mean I BOOTED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF IT, hahahaha. Helped me get the stanley knife in there to cut it out easier. Windscreen also folds up quite nicely to fit in my rubbish bin too [emoji1787]

Spotted lots of rust once it was out, most likely as it was not the original windscreen so someone has hacked in there before and scratched it up.

Onwards with sanding!

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[guile]

looking good mate, looks like you had fun with the screen...

[Weeman]

looking good mate, looks like you had fun with the screen...

Haha I sure did, could've done it the right way, but why not do it the fun way.

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[Weeman]

Update: 10/06/2024

Not much to update but have spent a fair bit of time in last few weeks. Car is sanded, now ready for colour. Time to prep the remaining accessories like bumpers, spoiler, side trims, mirrors and handles, then will spray everything in colour in one hit [emoji3060] it's going to be extremely white lol.

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[Weeman]

Update: 15/06/2024

Primed.

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[Weeman]

Update: 29/06/24

Had some fun today, found my way to a VR6 off to the scrappers and really wanted some 5 stud gear. Managed to collect a whole bunch of spares from the shell with my mate, pretty happy with the take. Full set of factory BBS's, assortment of panels, all suspension parts for 5 stud and some random bits n bobs. Considering I hope to get this car on the track one day, its nice to have some spares now in the case of any incidences...

Ps. The silver VR6 in the background of one of the images was my donor to my mk2, good to see it back to life!

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[Weeman]

Update: 12/07/2024

Reprimed cos things didn't go to plan lol...

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[Weeman]

Update: 23/07/2024

Christmas in July! 4" --> 3" downpipe and charge pipe from Trackslag. Lets hope for good fitment...

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[h100vw]

Got these pair of pipes on a MK2 we are building at TTY Euro. Got some refining to do under the bonnet still, turbo inlet piping is the main issue currently

[Weeman]

Got these pair of pipes on a MK2 we are building at TTY Euro. Got some refining to do under the bonnet still, turbo inlet piping is the main issue currently

Cool, I'll be interested to hear how fitment goes.

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[Weeman]

Update: 30/07/2024

Woohoo we are sprayed, with no major problems! Now just to give it the ol' light sand and polish and happy days. Threw the wheels on to see what they look like, looks absolutely RIDICULOUS without tyres on them haha...

[Weeman]

Update: 11/08/2024

81 pieces of sandpaper later and a cut and polish, I've gone from a a faded, peely, creamy white paint job to a candy white, mirror finish, almost dust free paint job lol. Pretty chuffed with myself, definitely a better job than the mk2! Solid colour is the way to go for amateur/underhouse spraying haha.

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[Weeman]

Update: 07/09/2024

Tackled the engine out this morning. Other than burying the engine crane wheels into the dirt and having a little sook about it, all went quite smoothly...

Now, what to do while its out? ECU sent off to Gavin for immo delete, might do some general servicing and rip off all the SAI junk. But this car is being built for track, so it definitely won't be the last time its out.

Thomas

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[Weeman]

Update: 25/09/2024

Swapped some mk2 gear with a fellow 1.8t enthusiast for some fresh parts, will be very handy! Oversize inlet pipe, pinion brace, 02J short shift, aluminium coolant flanges. Also picked up another 1.8t, the head was removed from it and said to be in good condition. I don't think the block looks very happy, especially sitting outside for a few years, hopefully a decent gearbox. Picked up another 02J shifter tower as well, all for cheap. This is all AGU, so if I ever reach big power figures one day (I won't cause I'm broke), the big port head will come in handy. K03 turbo so tiny lol [emoji33]

The 1.8t engine loom is finally out. I pulled all the wiring through the fire wall into the cab, only to realise this section of the loom disconnects from the rest. [emoji22] Removing wiring is zero fun. Anyways. The long task ahead of merging this into the mk3 loom. Wish me luck... time to send myself crosseyed with wiring diagrams and RubJohnny's rundown on how to go about it. Here's to hopefully not setting fire to everything.

Cheers,
Thomas

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[Weeman]

Update: 22/10/2024

The wiring is basically done, just yet to fire up the motor yet... waiting for a few more goodies first before doing so, engine mounts being one of those lol. Could risk firing it up just floating in the bay, but na, really don't need a belt smashing into the chassis leg lol.

Took a break and mounted 02J shifter tower, which replaces the 020 tower that was in it originally. Pretty straight forward:


- Take out studs in 02J tower and add longer ones (about 25 mm longer).



- Drill two holes for studs to be inserted through in tunnel, as the 020 tower just had a single stud.


- Carve out left side of tunnel so shifter mechanism is able to fully move to the left side (1st gear and reverse).



- Slog out two rear bolt holes on the tower so can reuse welded nuts in the tunnel that the 020 used to mount to.


Easy peasy. More to come, slowly making my way through things... money is a big problem, time even bigger!


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