What would you do first?

[the_stink]

So its just to see what you guy s think, mines just hit 150k on the clock and apart from the odd cold morning have had no problems at all with the car, well once i replaced the starter motor that is haha

Just thinking about what to do first? do i sort out the bodywork and get it looking how i want or look at a rebuild of the engine give it a bit more poke?

at what point on the other hand would you say the engine would need a rebuild?

[jeremybarker]

I'm considering exactly the same question for next year, do you spend 2-3k putting the body right with a total repaint? I know my car will need two sills, a rear quater panel to sort the filler cap/wheel arch and another rear arch on the other side.

On the engine side do you put a G60/VR6 in.

I think for me it'll be the bodywork first depends how bad yours is at least you'll know you'll have a structurally sound car and it'll look the nuts, if the engine were to expire, 8v's and 16v's are cheap enough to just do a straight swap.

What i wouldn't want to happen is for the body to get so bad it becomes uneconomical to sort out and you're left with a nice engine and the thought of finding another car to put it in.

Body first
Engine second
Interior third

[the_stink]

I'm considering exactly the same question for next year, do you spend 2-3k putting the body right with a total repaint? I know my car will need two sills, a rear quater panel to sort the filler cap/wheel arch and another rear arch on the other side.

On the engine side do you put a G60/VR6 in.

I think for me it'll be the bodywork first depends how bad yours is at least you'll know you'll have a structurally sound car and it'll look the nuts, if the engine were to expire, 8v's and 16v's are cheap enough to just do a straight swap.

What i wouldn't want to happen is for the body to get so bad it becomes uneconomical to sort out and you're left with a nice engine and the thought of finding another car to put it in.

Body first
Engine second
Interior third

yeah the body work isn't to bad need to replace the front passenger wing or see if a body shop can sort out the dent on the front corner that aside few little bits of surface rust, got a new rear bumper and a standard tail gate to go on

managed to find a replacement PAS pump today for £20 so thats another thing i need to replace

[tony_ack]

I agree that the bodywork, engine, interior order makes more sense when you think about it, but practically the interior is going to be a lot cheaper to put right than the bodywork, and you can do it yourself. It's also something you can do bit by bit over a long period of time.

If your engine is at 150k, is clean, has no problems and still feels strong, I wouldn't bother messing with it unless you want to put something bigger in. I've often seen 150k quoted as the point that a valver needs a rebuild, but I have seen some on 200k+ on the original engine, and mine is at 170k with no problems.

It also my be worth getting it rolling roaded to see how much it is putting out at the moment - if it is close to, or exceeds the factory figures then it becomes a lot harder to justify an engine rebuild.

[Horney]

If it's not smoking or rattling leave the engine weel alone and get the body sorted first. once that's done you can drop an ABF in there.

nick

[X4MGS]

Been there seen that & done that!!!

If you dont have any Engine issues I would do it this way;

Body - Cos you look at it every time you go to it!
Alloys - As above!!
Interior - Cos you use it every time you use the car!
Engine - Cos you can't see it - Fix it if it goes wrong & Keep on top of the servicing!!

This is how I have done mine!!

[A7 UFO]

If it's not smoking or rattling leave the engine weel alone and get the body sorted first. once that's done you can drop an ABF in there.

nick

that's exactly what I was going to say.  There's no point in a rebuild when you can fit a far stronger engine in there for less money.

[the_stink]

Body - Cos you look at it every time you go to it! -
Alloys - As above!!
Interior - Cos you use it every time you use the car!
Engine - Cos you can't see it - Fix it if it goes wrong & Keep on top of the servicing!!

This is how I have done mine!!

Yeah the engine as far as i can tell is fine just needs a service really!

Body - shouldnt need to much work, but bodyshop needs to have a proper nose around
Alloys - Replaced the knackered RA's recently with fully refurbed ones
Interior - just the door cars really and rear cards that need doing better -  would like some recaro front  really

[A7 UFO]

would like some recaro front  really

I've seen mk3 or mk4 recaros in mk2s.  If you or somebody you know is handy making up a sub frame, it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than mk2 recaros.

[clipperjay]

I've allways done it Engine, body, then interior very last. WHY?

The engine work always ends up with some sort of bolt damage or tools being dropped and what not, so I tend to do mechanical and repairs first as you don't know what you might find under those hidden areas!
Once engine is good and have loads of time and money I would have a bare rolling shell, if the body needed some serious welding, filler and sanding etc. The last time mine went in for complete respray so much dust due to wet and drying it was everywhere!
Finally the interior goes in after new paint, new engine. Final touches should be interior to go in.
I find the easiest jobs should be done last, as I would prioritse in that order. Plus alloys refurb in between finshed paint and interior.