Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos (Read 3616 times) previous topic - next topic

Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

So, earlier this year I gave in to family pressure to sell a car. I had a mk2 small bumper 8v GTI that was a lovely base car but did require a lot of work to get it nice. It was the most expensive car to get from wreck to "that's nice" so I sold it.

I listed it a few times but pulled out but finally let it go. I regretted it and almost immediately started looking around for a big bumper model as it would be nice to have something different to before. Plus I preferred the later interiors (campaign aside). My friend has a 16v mk2 but I thought it would never happen now prices have rocketed until a bit of man maths and this '91 Oak Green 16v was advertised on a well known auction site.

I spotted it a few days before the end of the auction and discounted it. Too expensive and it looked a bit too stanced for my liking. I looked at an alternative 8v model fot about £4.5k. It was rough but honest. I then came back to this on the last day of the auction and looked at it afresh - 16v, some wheels I could potential sell to reduce the overall cost, a 16v Corrado I have no real use for that I could sell - so I contact the owner asked very few questions, checked the MOT history and since it was 200 miles away I decided to be completely stupid and whack a decent bid on in the last 30 seconds.... madness.

Any today it was collected



and delivered to my house (more on that wet t-shirt on floor later)



I am super luckly and really happy with my purchase. It is every bit as good as it looks in the photos. The floor pan and sill are great. It has had nice repairs to the front jack points. The wishbones are new. The suspension is new. Wheels are lovely. Paint seems to be original - no dodgy masking etc.

Some pics

Floors

<a href="https://ibb.co/02KLP9r"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/QQkVsHM/20211006-161623.jpg" alt="20211006-161623" border="0"></a>

Engine bay (note t-shirt and some rusty water staining under header tank..)
Engine seems to have had a lot of work. I believe it has an ABF bottom end but need to investigate further.


Boot


Car itself





Now onto the coolant. Something is amiss - it's bubbling over when the fan kicks in. Top hose on left hand side always seems to have water in (when cooled down/off), bottom hose doesn't appear to get hot. Temp dial reads just below the middle (I know not particularly accurate). My friend said maybe the thermostat is stuck.

I tried to bleed the system tonight with cap off but as soon fan kicks in it bubbles over. Some investigation needed and any thoughts please shout. I think i will change the thermostat and sensors and flush the system to be safe. In the back of my mind is a head gasket problem but we shall see. Better to deal with that than loads of rust anyway.

The other not so good part is at one point this car had custom interior. The rainbow interior inside is missing the door cards (they are the blue yellow version instead) and the drivers seat is out of a 5 door. A pain to find replacements but better than dealing with copious amounts of rust!

I don't plan to keep those wheels. It will be heading back towards OEM (plus) with BBS RAs, eibach/bilstein combo.

More updates to come. Possibly the best car I've ever owned actually - I don't think I've got this excited on a car ever. I love my Corrado VR6 and it currently is a more sorted car but this 16v is not far off.








 

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #1 –
That looks really nice even if it is a 16v  :D
It does sound like there is an issue with the thermostat based upon the fact the bottom hose doesn't get hot.
edit re wheels. I like easy to clean wheels. Hence I have estorils.
1991 Tornado Red BB 8v GTI Moredoor
2008 Skoda Octy Scout aka dirty diesel

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #3 –
Estorils are a really good shout. I do like the 8v as well, I would happily have one of them as well but I may get into trouble with the wife.... this one was a little difficult to get past her but I have to sell the wheels and the 16v Corrado...

Ordered a new thermostat, cambelt and waterpump. Belt looks old.

I've just been out there again - I am missing the ARB. Is that some sort of stance scene plus points at the cost of fine handling upgrade? Why - I don't get it?



Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #4 –
Does seem to be a great purchase, like you say, it's got all the important parts in place.
Just need a little fettling to bring it up to standard.

I'll agree with the above thermostat comments, also just double check you have flow coming back into the header tank, I had a blocked on once and it fooled me for hours!

Mk2 Driver
Mk2 Silver 8v
Corrado G60 Turbo
Mk2 Red 8v
Mk2 Grey 16v
Mk2 BBM ABF
Bora 20vt
Mk2 Green VR6
Mk2 Green ABF
Mk2 BBM 20vt
3.2 TT Roadster
Mk2 Red 16v
225 TT Coup
3.2 TT Coup
Mk4 Anniversary
Mk7 Red GTI Performance
Mk2 Red GTI Restoration
Mk2 BBM R32
911 Carrera 4S

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #5 –
I assume the lower part of the 16v block is the same as an 8v, as in the water pump is the same?

From personal experience I find the plastic thermostat housing warps so reusing an old one is  "uncommon" ly successful, you didn't mention that you've ordered one of them.  Glad to see you've ordered the water pump, from more personal experience I find the bolts sheer and for the price of a new pump it's hardly worth the effort of removing them.

No idea why you wouldn't have an ARB, has it been lowered that much that it would be in the way? crazy people

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Eddypeck on
I assume the lower part of the 16v block is the same as an 8v, as in the water pump is the same?

From personal experience I find the plastic thermostat housing warps so reusing an old one is rarely successful, you didn't mention that you've ordered one of them.  Glad to see you've ordered the water pump, from more personal experience I find the bolts sheer and for the price of a new pump it's hardly worth the effort of removing them.

No idea why you wouldn't have an ARB, has it been lowered that much that it would be in the way? crazy people

Yeah, it was a scene thing to do to get the car a little lower.
I'm surprised your sump is still intact if they've been running it that low!
Mk2 Driver
Mk2 Silver 8v
Corrado G60 Turbo
Mk2 Red 8v
Mk2 Grey 16v
Mk2 BBM ABF
Bora 20vt
Mk2 Green VR6
Mk2 Green ABF
Mk2 BBM 20vt
3.2 TT Roadster
Mk2 Red 16v
225 TT Coup
3.2 TT Coup
Mk4 Anniversary
Mk7 Red GTI Performance
Mk2 Red GTI Restoration
Mk2 BBM R32
911 Carrera 4S

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #7 –
I could order a thermo housing actually to be safe. Looking at the car it looks like it was probably a nice original example, fell into the hands of a stance lad, they did a lot of work tidying the engine bay - the subframe, wishbones are new and look unused (wishbone bush still has the green pen marking) but i reckon this coolant issue prompted him to flip it. The coilovers on the front look brand new and actually one of the top nuts was only finger tight. There are Koni's on the back but I guess stance super lows were put on the front.

I don't believe the head and block have been apart any time recently as the cambelt itself doesn't look particularly new (that will be changed as soon as I have figured out what's going on - if head gasket i'll leave it till then but no other signs like oil mixing or exhaust smoke). The block and other bits have been painted black and the head painted silver along with the gearbox so that does point to engine coming out at some point.

There was mention the bottom end was an ABF but I haven't been able to confirm as i don't currently know what I am looking for.

The chap I bought it off only had a few days before listing it as he was after a swallow tail mk1 from a contact and timing meant he had to sell his cars to get.

Sadly the front arches and trims have been cut to accept those wheels. All can be fixed, I might get a set of pattern wings and get my welding contact to put them on the wings on the car - they seem to be original and a good colour match otherwise.

I cannot wait to get a set of Eibach springs and bilstein dampers (or equiv), BBS RAs with some rubber and a slanty exhaust.



Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #8 –
If I were you, I'd do a quick compression and leak down test to ascertain the condition of the block.
Should tell you if you have any head gasket issues too.
Also, if it's an ABF, it'll have 2.0 stamped on the back of the block.

Great choice for the suspension too.
Mk2 Driver
Mk2 Silver 8v
Corrado G60 Turbo
Mk2 Red 8v
Mk2 Grey 16v
Mk2 BBM ABF
Bora 20vt
Mk2 Green VR6
Mk2 Green ABF
Mk2 BBM 20vt
3.2 TT Roadster
Mk2 Red 16v
225 TT Coup
3.2 TT Coup
Mk4 Anniversary
Mk7 Red GTI Performance
Mk2 Red GTI Restoration
Mk2 BBM R32
911 Carrera 4S

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #10 –
Never forget B&B Tierod on ebay.
I've been really impressed by their prompt service and you can even ring them up to verify you are ordering the correct part.
1991 Tornado Red BB 8v GTI Moredoor
2008 Skoda Octy Scout aka dirty diesel

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #11 –
Thanks guys. I have bought the housing now. I've bought a few other things to refresh - rad looked tired, waterpump, timing belt kid, aux belts x2, rad sensor and the 3 temp sensors on the side of engine.

I haven't got a compression tester sadly but might be worth having one in the tool kit actually. EDIT bought one as they are less than £20

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #12 –
Looking at your jack kit you have the double spanner slot like L90E!

Noted Darren Dawson on the MK2 Owners Club Facebook page has a full red ultraviolet interior for sale. Location is Huddersfield.

1991 Tornado Red BB 8v GTI Moredoor
2008 Skoda Octy Scout aka dirty diesel

Re: Matt's Mk2 16v Oakie + other occasional VW cameos

Reply #14 –
So a little tinkering today but have not received the parts to address cooling issue yet.

I have mainly been inspecting: removed the wheels in prep for sale and raised the coilovers to something more sensible ( i hate coilovers - wind wind wind and many hours of ocd measuring). Of course they have their place but I'm not a racing driver needing perfection so give me a modest fit and forget spring and shock set any day.

So what did i find today?

- minror scabbage on edges of things like the inner arches, the rear panel corners. I will likely have to get the welder out for a repair on the driver side suspension turret seam once suspension out the way.

- engine - it is a 2.0 16v ABF bottom and top end. i was suprised at the top end as thought the KR injectors were not compatible? It is running K jet still. No history of the engine but it sounds just as smooth as my mk3 16v with 78k on it.

- a small weap from the o ring in tne underbody fuel pump. Pump looks new

- front subframe and wishbones new and look unused. I will want to drop this again as mounting areas have pealy underseal and would benefit from wire wheel, hydrate 80, epoxy prime, new gravitex to prolong their life. Assume I just need an engine support that braces across the wings and undo the engine mounts and steering rack to achieve this.

- sills appear to have been repaired or are very good. New jacjing points intalled but only primed rather than proper protection.

- stance crew cutting of front arches and plastic liners. :( . I plan to buy patteren wings and will weld the lips back on and repair the rusty bit down the front bottom corner.

If you're reading this and fancy a set of 5x100 OZ Futuras in excellent condition with very new tyres - i mean fresh refurb'd and a hardly any mileage good and have loads of pictures - and would like to part ex some BBS RAs in great condition then message me.

I liked this pic of the two 16vs. The mk3 needs to get to completion before the mk2 makes its way into the garage for a strip down - winter 2022 I plan to do this and I hope to use and enjoy it prior to that.