Mars Red GTX Restoration

[Roxylife]

Mine has 100mm shafts. I was surprised, as the gearbox FAQ I checked said the 9A code boxes had 90mm shafts.

Sounds promising! I'll look forward to finding out, always makes life easier with 100mm shafts!

I really need a dashboard too.. Anyone got anything!?

[Funky Diver]

might have to look at seom OEM 15" wheels. to cover that!

Always been a bit partial to G60 steelies mesel, for an OEM look. Obviously they will fit the brakes too!!

[Roxylife]

Just what I was thinking really! - Might have to space them out slightly with 'proper' hubcentric spacers to get my desired look, as they are only 6" wide!

But fits all the critera for sure!.. Easy to clean to! Bonus!

[Roxylife]

Right! The car is now is my hands, many thanks to Jon for hte smooth transations. He looked pretty gutted to see it go, and i dont blame him its certainly a gem.

Having driven 170 odd miles this weekend in the car, reliably i might add! Certain things have become apparent. I needs some suspension TLC. Nothing that a full set of brand new std OEM bushes and some powdercoated wishbones of course.






These are all Febi-Bilstien replacements, so the qulaity will be tip-top. I was supprised at the quality for a std item. Having fitted more sets of Powerfles, and SuperPro bushes than i car to mention, non of them come close to the quality of these standard items. They feel just as 'firm' as any aftermarket bush ive fitted.

So I look forward to getting these fitted. Im ordering some new track rods ends and arms and ball joints to do at the same time, and a lower strut brace. The Next phase of the suspension will be powdercoated hubs and new bearings. Then a fixed platform suspension kit. (Everything with new nuts/bolts/washers).

As the parts turn up, i'll keep this updated.
Some pics of the car next weekend when ive given her a wash and polish etc..

Henry

[GTXcess]

Really pleased to see the plans for this as hopefully it will now get the mechanical refresh I was never going to get the time to do - keep us posted.

[Roxylife]

A few pics of racing from Donington this weekend just gone, finished 7th and 6th with a grid of 34 cars, quite chuffed!





More Rocco bits on order too

[Reverend Frog]

I'm working at Autosport for the week and just saw the report come in, well done!

[Roxylife]

Thanks,

Ok, so some new SACHS advantage gas front dampers inserts arrived for me in the post this morning along with some Lemforder ball joints. To go with the rear that i have ready to fit... All will be matched up to some new GMax -25mm springs.
Also won a pair of hubs on ebay which will of course get powdercoated and new bearings. Im going to get new bolts ordered this week for everything too.

Pics to follow! Progress has slowed down to a crawil with te start of the race season, however i do keep buying stuff to keep the project going! Steady progress is the key!

[Roxylife]

They say that car restoration isn't a hobby, its a way of life.. I tend to agree when I find myself being anti-social to my long suffering girlfreind when I'm surfing eBay all evening for those local bargains!...

Also having discovered the Crazy Quiffs Mk1 breakers yards is about 300 meters from my front door! (Ut ohh!) - Having had one trip there this week to collect some front strut platforms to put my new Sach inserts in.. I can see many more on the horizon!

Its difficult to find a lot of money to spend on this project, but having it on the road and running nicely, there isnt a great deal of hurry about it, its not taking up room un-usable and broken, which is refreshing! - So until i have ALL the parts I need, and I get a week off work, im not going to start it!.. It going to be a roll in roll out restoration of the WHOLE underside in 1 week.. Anyway enough rambling, hers the latest collection of random parts, new and in need of restoration!

First up, some front hubs (eBay bargain) that I stripped down and removed the bearings from, ready for vapour blasting, zinc priming and tough blacking.. New bearings on order along with all relevant bolts.


New Sach Gas filled front inserts.. OEM really is the aim with this project with a few modernising touches.. These will be mated to the blasted, zinc primed powdercoated front strut casings that I aquired this week.. Top mounts on order, and new spring caps and bumpstop/dust seals to follow. These will all be held up with some of Eibachs finest springs..




New ball joints - Nothing special, just OEM quality fitted with new nuts bolts etc.


And lastly a rear beam to re-furbish, This will be a mini project in itself. Powdercoated, everything replaced (retaining the drums), new bushes (standard) and anti roll bar fittings, new brake lines, cylinders, bearings, drums and shoes. All new bolts and so on..






In other news, had 2 podium finishes last weekend at Brands with the Golf

Podium of race 2


Paddock Hill with Mike Thurston and Jamie Packham in hot pursuit



Bit lairy!


Start of race 2


Celebrating after race 1 (2nd)


I'll keep you all updated as the parts and progress happen!

Henry

[MacColl]

Amazing stuff, recognise your cars from other forums. I feel quite intimidated by your skills and no doubt knowledge. I'm still very new and green to all this restoring malarkey. Well done on the podiums I've actually got a White Mk2 Golf GTI stripped in the shop which I will be welding some day.

I'm hoping to do what you are doing on my GT replace running gear/inserts etc and have also bought a rear beam. I'll be going budget with a twisted knot wire brush on the grinder and some rustoleum paint if I can ever get organised.

Can I ask where you purchased the bushes? I was going to go poly but your comments have made me change my views. I am thinking of these bump stops:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-SCIROCCO-GOLF- ... 2eaed769c6 because I believe they are Bilsten but don't know what to do about the rest of the bushes? going round in circles looking at sites. Or do I just go to the vw dealers?

I have sourced possible Boge inserts with the GSF 40mm lowering springs but no rear shocks sourced, not sure whether this will work with standard shocks/ bump stops, heard about people trimming bump stops but not sure? This is also just for road use with a bit of lowering.

Sorry to pollute your thread with questions just thought it would be interesting to get your views.

[Roxylife]

Hi mate, thanks for the kind words

With regards to the bushes, these can be sourced from GSF or Euro, if you specify you want some Febi Bilstien ones they can normally sort them out easily enough. I can guarentee the ride quality will be better than polys without any harsh crashy suspension antics! Thets be honest, are they really necessary for the road!? - Especially for a daily used car.. A lower front strut brace will be my only modification other than -40mm springs. It makes a massive difference to how the car handles! Top strut braces make a negligable difference (bearing in mind the cars got rubber top mounts! which will flex anyway!). Which people seem to forget!

Good quliaty -40mm springs on standard new shocks will be fine.. I wouldnt want to go anymore than that as it throws the suspension geometry out to much, and will drive like a turd! And any more than that and you will need shortened dampers (as the spring will float around under full suspension droop) (MOT fail).

Standard bump stops/dust shields should be fine at that level too, maybe a small amount chopped off the top for good measure..

The most important thing when lowering a car is to get the geometry setup properly afterwards, CAMBER and tracking.. I normally run 0 toe and -1 camber on my road cars, but some poeple differ.. If the car has a rear brake compensator (Mk2 golf for e.g) then this will need to be adjusted to suit as well, to avoid the rear locking as they think there is extra load on the rear axle..

Henry





ASKJDHadskjhasd

[Roxylife]

New front top mounts arrived today.. little by little as they say!




Dropped the front struts at Jtech Automotive for powder coating so I can get them made up as soon they return and the dust covers/bump stops arrive..

Henry

[GTXcess]

Any more progress on this as I keep looking in?

[Roxylife]

I'll do an update tomorrow mate lots off little bits and bobs! - Some bigger news to come too!

[Roxylife]

256mm 16v Scirocco carriers! Ooooh Sh*t!!


I was hoping to do a big update today, but the powdercaoter hasn't done all my bits yet! Boo!

I have also bought a full rear disk conversion, and 16v servo off a mate who was scrapping a mk2 gti. - Which will all be restored accordingly!

BigBoysToys can supply the remaining rear bushes i need (All STD OEM rubber) rear bushes and housings, rear inner ARB and out ARB and shock bump stops and dust covers.

Sorry for a bit of a weak update, as soon as I have all the bits back here I will be able to do a bit of a better update!

IN OTHER NEWS!

I am doing the Britcar 24hr this year at Silverstone with Ian and Rob Carvell (VW Cup veterans). We were supposed to be doing it in a 16v Mk3 gti. But as it turns out this is more than likely to change to a Mk2 Scirocco, not dis-similar to the one Rob won the VW Cup in a few years ago!.. I will obviously keep you all in the loop with pics and reports!..