Right I have just come back form one of the most interesting meeting ever, NOT, and thought I would reply before heading home. Firstly I have not yet paid anything, but will be handing over £360 to Jamie tomorrow or possibly Saturday whenever I can fix up an MOT so that I can drive it legally there. As for the state of the rear arches I would have thought that the sills might have been a better bet as they can rot from the inside out! Never mind better luck next time.
As for my plans I did, during my meeting, think a lot about plans and have jotted some notes down to share and get feedback on. Please bear in mind that I want to use this mainly as a Track Day Toy but it will have to drive there and back and may have to get me around in extremis when the wife has the other car.
Firstly it will have to be MOT’ed and that will show up any issues which will form Priority One jobs to get it road legal. Next I will do a thorough track day preparation, full service, and anything else in order to get out as soon as possible. I will then book a track day and go enjoy my new toy in its current state, hopefully this month but definitely next, Priority One Jobs not withstanding. I want to ensure that I get a little instruction on the day as well and if there is someone there who knows what a good GTi should feel like and they can have a play to tell me where to concentrate my efforts that would also be great. I will then attend to anything that breaks and sit back happy in the knowledge that I have now done the very thing I bought the car for.
Not withstanding anything that crops up from the track day the longer term plan is as follows:
Stage 1 – Brakes
Fit 256mm or 280mm discs dependant on advice or feedback from track day.
Fit hubs and renew wheel bearings from late 16v or G60.
Identify suitable wheels and tyres to suit track day setup.
If normal steels, for road work to and from track, don’t fit over new brakes get another set that do and adjust speedo to reflect new tyre rolling radius.
Stage 2 – Seats/Interior
Remove horrible tight buckets currently fitted.
Fit new buckets, if available for not much money, or ‘rocco, as they seem to be the best alternative.
Identify correct seat belts for seats bought – normal 3 points for ‘rocco or 4 point harnesses with some sort of brace bar if buckets.
Sort ergonomics of cabin – door cards, gauges, steering wheel, binnacle, etc.
Stage 3 – Handling
Source shocks and springs to make best use of handling.
Sort wishbones – seam weld?
Fit new bushes – poly?
Source new ARB’s or refurbish existing.
Sort steering rack, track rods anything else that sits in this area.
Look at roll cage – if costs allow.
Stage 4 – Power
Look at engine transplants. What, from where, why, etc
Look at getting the best out of the existing engine. Throttle bodies, exhaust, gearbox mods, etc.
These stages are a bit vague and parts availability or finances may mean that I end up doing something’s out of turn. Any comment gratefully received.
Jon
