Hello everyone!
On Monkey's recommendation, I thought I'd post some images of my project so far.
Car was bought blind via eBay in about 2014/2015. I had always wanted a LHD car, to me they seem more "natural" - Just seems in my odd head to make more sense driving on that side and with the layout in that manner. I've had quite a few MK2 Golf's over the years - This would be my fifth I think.
I had the car delivered but due to an unexpected medical issue - I was in hospital for a few days before and after the delivery so it was a real shock to meet the car when I eventually got home.
He's a GTI Special but is UK registered (and assigned an F plate) Specials do seem "uncommon" and had some nice features from new. I'm not a Special expert, but it's a similar spec to One in a Million.
Tinted glass
Black headlining
Central locking
Power steering
BBS RA's
Rainbow interior
Diming headlining light (also colour coded)
Looks quite presentable in the eBay auction photos - But that hid a lot of sins. All the standard places (arches, battery tray, airbox tray, wings etc...) but also the back panel. This had been slapped on with a good 6mm of filler and repainted. There was no saving that, or the boot. Both utterly rotten.
I'll add some pictures from my phone/PC etc as I can.
(http://mclannahan.com/Golfy/IMG_0758.jpg)
The eBay auction when I bought him. Sadly stripped of many of the valuable parts (Rainbow interior, BBS RA's etc..)
Nice and good buy! I have a helios blue 1988 model like yours but it's not one of the special editions sadly. Mine needs exactly the same panels as yours!
I do get what you're saying about LHD. Whenever I hire a LHD I always think it feels just right at the controls.
I used to have a job at Avonmouth docs driving all the jap import cars off the cargo ships. Once the ships were empty we had to reload them with all the export vehicles. Jag, Range and Land Rovers were always the best fun, you had to have been there a little while before they let you in those... apart from that there were the UK built Hondas and row upon row of bland Astras to put back on the empty ships. The docks were so big there's a proper road system with roundabouts and everything. Obviously all the imports were RHD and the exports were LHD. After a shift driving LHD felt so natural - although I never had to deal with car park ticket machines or drive throughs.
My 88 helios was unfortunately beyond saving, good luck with this one.
Thanks guys - That's an old photo now. Back panel replaced, rear arches done, new wings, interior all in, correct wheels.... Actually - easier with a photo!
(http://mclannahan.com/Golfy/IMG_2573.JPEG)
still LOADS of work to do - and presently he won't start and I can't figure it out :(
Arch trims to go back on, door trim too but in a much better state that a few years back!
Oh wow nice progress! Re non start have you got fuel coming through? I've had the underbody fuel pump seize from lack of use. Other wise check spark/distributor for corrosion.
Problem I have when I drive an LHD is I keep thumping the door with my left hand trying to change gear for the first few drives. In recent years I've not had that problem because we've taken our tourer caravan to France behind our Octy Scout.
That's a nice Golf you have even if the steering wheel is in the wrong place...However I bet its easier to fit MK3 aircon into it 'cos the bulkhead will be the right shape unlike RHD models!
Oh wow nice progress! Re non start have you got fuel coming through? I've had the underbody fuel pump seize from lack of use. Other wise check spark/distributor for corrosion.
Thanks for that - paintwork is not great and there's still lots to do and things I'm not happy with, but I don't want him to be a garage queen, I'd rather a bit rough but smart enough to use on a daily basis....that's the plan anyway!
It could be exactly that to be honest - lack of use. I re-built the bottom pump last year or so (possibly 18 months) but I've only started him once every month or so in that time, he's not driven anywhere. The same for the tank pump.
I can hear the tank pump prime, but if I pull the plug on the top tank, I don't hear the bottom one prime - can't really hear it at all? I've removed the plug to the bottom tank and with a multimeter it's getting the right voltages and the right times... but he still won;t start.
I've replaced the sparks, the ign amp (I had new sparks anyway and a spare ign amp) and I do get spark, so I "think" that rules out ECU and relays.
I've bought a cheap new replacement bottom pump though to put in the housing when it arrives later in the week.
Problem I have when I drive an LHD is I keep thumping the door with my left hand trying to change gear for the first few drives. In recent years I've not had that problem because we've taken our tourer caravan to France behind our Octy Scout.
That's a nice Golf you have even if the steering wheel is in the wrong place...However I bet its easier to fit MK3 aircon into it 'cos the bulkhead will be the right shape unlike RHD models!
Never thought of that to be honest. I've heard that braking is better/more direct but not sure if that's a myth! Aircon would be lovely....that and electric windows rather than keep fit ones. Especially in the car parks when you've got to do that graceful lean across the passenger seat to grab a ticket/pay in a machine! :)
Oh wow nice progress! Re non start have you got fuel coming through? I've had the underbody fuel pump seize from lack of use. Other wise check spark/distributor for corrosion.
Thanks for that - paintwork is not great and there's still lots to do and things I'm not happy with, but I don't want him to be a garage queen, I'd rather a bit rough but smart enough to use on a daily basis....that's the plan anyway!
It could be exactly that to be honest - lack of use. I re-built the bottom pump last year or so (possibly 18 months) but I've only started him once every month or so in that time, he's not driven anywhere. The same for the tank pump.
I can hear the tank pump prime, but if I pull the plug on the top tank, I don't hear the bottom one prime - can't really hear it at all? I've removed the plug to the bottom tank and with a multimeter it's getting the right voltages and the right times... but he still won;t start.
I've replaced the sparks, the ign amp (I had new sparks anyway and a spare ign amp) and I do get spark, so I "think" that rules out ECU and relays.
I've bought a cheap new replacement bottom pump though to put in the housing when it arrives later in the week.
That's the best approach re the paint. I had a car repainted - windows out and full works - that has some minor imperfections on the paint now it is done and I wish i just did the bits that needed doing on reflection. On the flip side if it came out perfect I'd not want to use it so getting it good enough to be smart but useable is the best approach on both cost and sanity!
When I was having problems with the underbody pump (for me it was on the corrado 16v) I was getting noises from both the tank and underbody pump. It wasn't until I took the underbody one off that I found it the noise was because it was seized. I eventually had a 12v on both connectors: there were other issues with that car initally stopping it starting - someone and cut the fuel pump wire from the fuse box and jammed it in the relay and it had been dislodged, causing the car to sit for 2 years before I got my hands on it but assume that won't be an issue on yours!
Have done more testing this afternoon and if I plug in my spare pump motor to the bottom pump it not only runs on prime but then runs on after as well and for half a second longer after ignition is off.
This sounds and looks to be the way it should work and the current pump motor is not acting in the same way.
So fingers crossed it might be the main pump motor. Hopefully arrives this week and I can fit it and test further.
Anyone know if I’ll loose a lot of fuel when I swap them over?
Cheers all!
There will be some fuel in the casing, maybe 4-5 mugs worth? It won't flow continually though. I can't remember myself if any will fall out on a pump change alone (probably is the answer). I took the whole unit off the car and drained it when i was investigating.
There will be some fuel in the casing, maybe 4-5 mugs worth? It won't flow continually though. I can't remember myself if any will fall out on a pump change alone (probably is the answer). I took the whole unit off the car and drained it when i was investigating.
Perfect, thanks for that. That was my biggest concern that it’d run freely. I’m not sure if I’ll need to remove it from the bottom of the car yet, I’m hopeful not as it was a swine to get all mounted and configured and not leaking!
Thanks again
Second that on getting it mounted again. I'll share my mistake so you don't do the same - for some reason I had thought I needed to bend the metal brackets to 90 degrees to allow the assembly to slide on the threaded bits welded to the chassis. I then thought i needed to push the rubber grommets on and somehow bend the brackets back.
I spoke to Vince at stealth about some other issue and dropped it into conversation and I had realised my mistake.... you simply leave the metal bracket with their rubber grommets and locate the assembly on the 4 welded threaded bits. Once you see enough to screw the nuts on the whole assembly will just screw up to the floorpan.
For me I had to drop the whole lot out as the bracket holding the fuel filter on that i wanted to change wasn't accessible in situ. I also renewed the rigid fuel pipes going from accumulator to pump with standard rubber fuel pipe.
Re braking performance. I recall multiple articles about RHD MK1 Golf brake performance being poor. That was because the brake pedal had a linkage across the bulkhead since the servo remained on the left hand side as per the LHD models.
Fitted some LED indicator bulbs as I wait for other parts to turn up.
I've left the original bulbs in sides and front so I'm not suffering hyperflash with them.
I figured if (read when) I break down I'd much rather be seen clearly from the rear.
Very nice and bright and a big improvement on the standard halogen bulbs fitted before.
Video shows new bulb in left and old in right. Apologies for the garage mess....I blame Golfy for that.
LED Indicators video (http://mclannahan.com/Golfy/LED_indicate.mp4)
They look nice those bulbs and nice idea to be seen. I wonder if there are any available for the brake lights. Where did you get them from?
Thanks PFN!
I asked my wife for them for Christmas (only guarantee way of getting car parts I need!) but they’re from eBay. Don’t think they were this much but they are decent ones and are meant to avoid hyper flash but I’ve not tried that yet and seen that stated before!
They do a stop/tail. They were also on my list but I only got the one set sadly in my stocking!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392519456576
In other news the replacement primary pump arrived and after an hour or so swearing it’s in!
And.....
Drumroll......
He starts again!!! Yay!! Sounds a bit rough and clearly exhaust needs attention but so so pleased he starts and runs again. A surprise a new pump failed so quickly (18 months) with no use, but I think as suggested that was the exactly the issue, lack of use!!
So please and everyone in the house is so grateful for the stink of petrol now running through the whole of downstairs....
:)
Have added a different head unit this week - I've gone for a Skoda Symphony CD/MP3 headunit. It blends in well with the dash (same green illumination) and looks quite standard. Nice simple layout and buttons and no flashy features. Does have a very subtle red security LED which is a nice touch.
I've added the pre-out lead to give me the possibility of adding an amp. I've also added a DIN aerial adapter too so I can reuse my existing aerial connection.
I'm intending too to add a Bluetooth streaming option. I'll need one that emulates a CD changer so the cheap mini-din don't do this (I've tried!) so that'll be next on the list. Then I should have a modern but not flashy standard looking headunit that I can stream to with all the cabling hidden under the unit..... That's the plan anyway!
Not quite finished fitting it yet - need to pull it out again to fit the pre-out cable which arrived. I like it a lot better than the Pioneer that I had - it was just too bright and looked too modern. This I appreciate isn't period or strictly VW either - but it's closer than my Pioneer was and if I can add the subtle Bluetooth stream...it'll be better than what I had! Apologies for the photo quality but you get the idea...
(http://mclannahan.com/Golfy/IMG_2856.JPEG)
(http://mclannahan.com/Golfy/IMG_2857.JPEG)
(http://mclannahan.com/Golfy/IMG_2858.JPEG)
That looks pretty good!
I was thinking about a Skoda head unit for the colour too
I'm sure there is a Bluetooth/aux in adaptor for it, I used to run a mk4 head unit in an old mk2 (I'd swapped the illumination to red) and had bluetooth on that. Can't quite remember how though.
There is, I did buy the cheap one and although I can connect to it there’s no way of telling the head unit to switch to that input.
Looks to be about £30 for the CD emulator version so a bit steep but I’ll probably still go for it.
I did consider a mk4 head unit too, but when I took it apart to change the illumination it’s got about a million SMD LEDs and didn’t fancy changing every single one! At least this one offers CD rather than the tape deck on the mk4.
That was the exact reason I changed all of my switch LEDs to red, was much less hassle!! :D