JonL's 8v budget track toy - now going to be a race car! ;-)

[JonLeeper]

Mew, thanks that saves me a job.

I finished the doors yesterday.  They now have new mirrors, plastic liners and lightweight door cards. 

A question to the GolfGTi cognoscenti;

Exactly what should I be looking to do to the engine?  On a long run, before I striped out the seat and belts, the oil light was flickering on over about 2500 revs, but the temp didn't rise over 106 on the motorway, I checked the oil level and it is good.  The water temp light also comes on occasionally but there is no signs of overheating or low coolant levels.  The HT leads and spark plugs look very new, no dirt or oil at all, and the rest looks as I would expect for a 170k engine.  The cambelt is not new but not worn or showing signs of distending or stretching but the alternator belt has frayed ever so slightly.  There is signs of coolant leaking from the water pump but it is not excessive, a couple of small drops on the floor over a week, and the level stays good in the expension tank. 

I have a new oil filter, some oil, a fuel filter, and will be changing the brake fluid when I fit the Passat callipers, spacers and bigger discs.  I am happy to get a new water pump, cambelt, thermostat and anything else I need but only have next week to get everything ready for a track day on Sat. 

All advice welcome,

Jon

[Horney]

I'd change the cambelt and tensioner for piece of mind, the mileage on the clocks isn't right as I changed them and I'm sure been changed them when he had it as well while trying to flush out the flashing oil light issue.

On that subject I had it pressure checked and the oil pressure came back as spot on factory spec so I just ignored the flashing light as I tried swapping sensors and the clocks and it still did it. Probably best to pick up a pressure gauge for the dash for real time readings on track which is what I'm doing.

Water light is a common fault. They flash for overheating and level, normally they get a bit dodgy with age and start flashing when the level and temp is fine.

Nick

[JonLeeper]

Well it's the day before Brands Hatch and the car is, very nearly, ready!  I have just added the coolent flusha d the engine is colling down so that I can flush that through and we are done!  The seats are in, harnesses in, engine serviced, front brakes converted to  late 16v ones, rears completly new (including calipers (i'll tell you later)), new springs and struts (to me anyway) fitted, engine fully serviced (but not tuned) and I'm ready to go!

Wish me luck......

[Horney]

Good luck mate, you'll have a ball. Look forward to hearing all about it upon your return.

Nick

[VeeDubGTI16v]

have fun mate, i wish i was out there as well

[JonLeeper]

Well I had a great day, I am now officially hooked and looking to do a bit more work on the car and get back out as soon as possible!

The old girl worked really well for the entire day and I have no complaints.  I did have a brake bias issue and one with a bit of oil surge, see my post on the Track Days and Motorsport forum, but other than that it was perfect.  The day started off a bit damp but dried out very quickly.  Some plonker decided that the perfect car to take round in the afternoon was a Dodge Ram and, surprise surprise, it broke during the first session of the afternoon.  It was so heavy that they could not recover it and so the afternoon went to an “open pit lane” and I managed to get at least 30 mins extra time as lots of people had gone home and the car was so reliable I just came in every 20 / 30 mins to check the fluids and tyres and went straight back out again.  Very tired by the end, but happy, oh so happy!

Now thinking about what to do to improve the car before I next go out.  The budget is pretty much blown but I do have 8 Toyos sitting in the garage, just couldn’t resist at £28 a pop, and discovered that the rims I had bought were 4 x 100 but the spigot was a fraction to large so I could not use them, trust e-bay to get that wrong!  I will have to investigate new spigots, or just machine a new one from some ali plate.  I will continue to strip out the sound deadening material from the front as and when I get the time and will have to drop the rear beam, refurbish and fit poly bushes.  The front will get the wide track fitted, I have all of the parts now, and will be poly bushed when I put it back together.  Other than that I am thinking that saving for a set of dampers that I know are good should be the next thing?  I will investigate making an adjustable ARB, I have a spare in the garage to alter, but everything else seems to cost a lot!  I investigated an LSD but the only one I can find is the Quaife unit and that is over £500, glass or carbon bonnet and boot are expensive, if you can finds them, and I could not find a plexi kit for the windows.  Someone suggested just making a set from sheet, it’s not expensive, so I may have a got at that.  The glass looks flat and that makes it quite simple, in theory.

Overall a very good day and I have some photos to sort and will post as soon as I can.

[Horney]

Glad you had a great time and the old girl did you proud. It's a slippery slope from now on!

Look forward to the pics

Nick

[Diamond Hell]

My polycarb windows were from: http://acwmotorsportplastics.co.uk/default.aspx

HTH

[Mew]

Over on ed38:

http://www.edition38.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=245086

As above polycarb windows(not cheap perspex ) with all seals supplied from a 2dr golf gti, fitted but never used. They include Rear window, Both Rear Windows, both front window quarters and passenger side window, i will also supply the drivers side glass window with the manual regulator, i paid a lot of money once upon a time but now surplus to requirements. If interested best to contact me on 07974889901

They owe me �200ono







Bump i need the space now so im giving them away at £70 collected anytime this week

[Diamond Hell]

Errr, aren't polycarb windows supposed to be transparent?