I've been meaning to make a 'project log' of my new MK3 1.4 since I got it but didn't really have the time. So a few changes have taken place since I've owned the car in the last year.
Anyway, this is my first VW and at first wasn't that keen on the MK3. I was after a MK4 if I'm honest but couldn't really find a decent one on the budget I had in November 2010
After a bit of searching I came across this Golf MK3 1.4 with around 84,000 miles on the clock for £750 I think it was.
Here are a few photos of when I got the car:
A few problems with it, firstly, a dent in the grill and smashed number plate where a previous owner had a bump in a car park and the engine was abit tappy if I'm honest.
Moving on, I drove it like this for several months right up until around March-April time before I did any work on it at all.
Had a small accident in the snow last year causing me to scuff the bumper slightly and this has been something I've been meaning to fix...for an entire year
though I have been putting it off because I want to smooth the front bumper and I'm going to repair the scuffs at the same time.
Since I've owned the car, mechanically it's had:
- Set of new cam followers (tappets)
- Brand new oil pump
- New cam belt and tesioner (more on this further down)
- Full service (plugs, air filter, oil filter etc)
- Wheels re-tracked and new CV gaitor fitted
- New CV joint fitted
- New brake pads
Off the top of my head that is all I can think of, but mechics alone I've spent at least £700 on it. I may aswell just get rid!
Debadged Grill, MK4 Style Lights and smoked side repeatersMy original plan was to change the damaged grill on the Golf to a GTI/VR grill that has the two slats rather than the CL grill which has three but while browsing the forum during early 2011 I found someone selling a debadge brand new grill for something pretty cheap like £20 so I snapped it up!
At the same time, I saw some brand new smoked side repeaters on here for £7 delivered! Because I loved the look of the MK4 I thought about changing the headlights to the chrome MK4 style ones so I picked these up on eBay for £50.
Indicators/Fogs/Blanking Plates, new plates and VR6 SplitterWhen the previous owner bumped the car in a car park I presumed they must have caught the front blanking plates because they were all chipped and one had a slight crack in. I brought some clear indicators from a GTI model on eBay and after a day or so of having those on I tinted them black. (A bit too much to be fair but I've not had any trouble with the law about these)
At this point, I decided to chuck on some new number plates because the old ones were very dirty and the front was cracked!
I hated the CL,GTI splitter on the mk3 and after seeing some VR splitters around I browsed the classifieds for one and thankfully a real one cropped up! Due to it being slightly scuffed underneath I got it fairly cheap aswell!
Crystal Rear Lights, stickers and rear black VW badgeI didn't like the look of the pov spec CL lights, so I changed them to a set of crystals. I'd always been on the look out for a set but they were really expensive new and I didn't fancy paying the money for them! Picked these up for £15 on eBay, love those bargins
Must admit, now though I really dislike them and I'm thinking about change.
I brought this sticker set for <£10 and chucked those on the rear window while I was at it. I have painted the rear VW badge matt black though I took this picture before doing that :embarassed:
New radiatorPicked my girlfriend (now ex) up from work one day and road workmen had decided to leave piles of grit and stones all over the road so when I was driving down the road on the way back a stone must have flicked up from car in front or something and hit my radiator causing it to leak everywhere when I got home and turned the car off. A trip to GSF and the help of my grandad this was soon resolved!
Cambelt scareI didn't bother changing the cam belt when I first got it, foolish I know. After changing the tappets at my dads garage I drove it to Alton Towers which takes about an hour from where I am. On the way back, I was pushing it to see what speed I could get out of it and I managed 102mph roughly
Suddenly, at a round about I hear clunking in the engine bay and rattles. Obviously, I paniced like hell and found a petrol station to pull over in on the A50 and had a quick look round. Didn't really find anything until I got home and took the cambelt cover off!
A nut inside the casing had managed to come lose and fall onto the belt then got lodged in the casing at the bottom where it slowly wore away the belt! That could have been a huge problem if the belt went!
What else have I done?I don't have pictures of the bits and bobs I've done but I've:
- Cleaned and sprayed the steelies matt black
- Fitted a twin pipe back box exhaust with new exhaust pipe
- Fitted a new glove box handle and changed the fuses to make my electrics work
- Changed various oil pressure sensors in order to stop the oil light coming on!
The major exterior mods I've done, and I will get pictures of as soon as possible are vinly wrapping my wing mirrors and fuel filler flap with rat look sticker bombing which personally I think looks awesome!
What's to come:- Lowering the car (in the near future)
- Alloys, thinking OEM bottletops
- Up to date pictures of the mirrors and fuel flap
- Modding the dash with new leds and coloured needles
- Smoothed front bumper and repair it, vents in the bottom
- Rear tinted red lights Euro style!
- Oil pressure gauge
- Colour coded VR6 highline side trim (Has been ordered)
- Vento Front end with early grill if I find one
That's all I can think of right now, so any suggestions or comments are more than welcome!
Heres a picture of the front end after it had just been washed and I cleaned the engine bay/under bonnet area (not showing off my tiny engine
)
Thanks for reading
