Seeking Mk1 Enthusiasts in the Hampshire/Surrey/Berkshire Area

[Victorialou]

 
FYI Alex, its Blonde.  Back to being natural. 

[brother10]

I think the fuel pump relay fuse was a sign of things to come. Bypassed the relay and the jumper that I used got red hot so it looks like the pump is drawing too much power.
Have now removed the pump and will test it with my fluke.

I think there are a combination of problems. Fuse box has been getting wet (common mk1 problem as we all know) and the fuel pump relay and contacts are in a bad way. Battery voltage plummets as soon as I disconnect my car (jump started) so either the battery and/or alternator are f*****d too.

Will pop back on Monday with a spare battery, alternator, some wiring and hopefully a good fuel pump and see what happens.

Got a Saxo VTR clutch to replace tomorrow/over the weekend. Don't know if I'm getting more popular or more cars are breaking down, but I seem to be snowed under with work at the moment! Got an Escort clutch to do after that, 3 timing belts (all VW), a gearbox change on a Rover, an idle problem with a Fiat, an engine change on a mk3 Golf and a head gasket on a peugeot 306 all waiting. Not to mention a few pre-MOT inspections and services that I slot in whilst doing all this. Busy, busy, busy 

you sound like a handy man to know!!?
(love the avatar too!)

[richandhazel]

thats funny! A few months ago some idiot tried to break into it, left the door open. Luckily car still remains and nothing was taken. Has this been a problem around the area lately?

Rich you really have to stop trying to take others peoples cars for your collection....!! haven't u got enough cars already! 

Funny you should say that because...............guess whats in my drive
There are quite a few problems with the car so Victoria has brought the car to me. Easier to sort them out here than travelling all the time. Hope to have it running sweet ASAP

[Redbaron]

ooooooooooooooooooooo blonde is it, im a natrual brunette myself.......

good luck with the car, are you planning to sell it? if so how much are you after as i may be interested?

cheers

alex

[Domma]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to this forum, been on others but missed this one!  Interested to see the local Mk1 groupings though. Always got my eye out for budding MK1's in the area.

i'm in Sandhurst so Victoria i was intersested in your post when i saw my area. Like you my MK1 is laid up waiting some Engine changes and a full mechanical restoration. About 70% there so far.

I to was was hammered by local hoodies of smash and grab so sorry Rich the area is getting worse. Mine was done Christmas eve to boot!

What cars are you driving around the area in then Rich and Hazel?  Are you the couple with the gold MK2 and black G60 Corrado?

I recognise you Red baron from Club Gti, did'nt know you were a local guy though. What you driving?

Hope you get the car sorted Victoria, amazing how you can park up a MK1 leave it for a short while and find it has so many things go wrong with it when you come back to it!  I'm trying to get mine started at least three times a week to keep things ticking over.

Give me a shout if i can help in any way when it comes to MK1's had afew now, know a couple of well practised MK1 owners in the area not yet mentioned,

Cheers Domma...........

[Redbaron]

Domma, alright mate!  My folks live near Farnham but im away most of the time at university in bristol doing motorsport Engineering.  Im currntly driving a Helious blue mk2 16v but am also half way through restoring a black mk1 gti.

Im on the lookout for a caddy tho to replace the 16v as its a bit pricy to run and i want to get back into riding my dirtbike again so the caddy is ideal!

What are you driving about in?

Need a front panel cutting off/welding new one on and some arch repairs if you know anyone handy!

[Domma]

Hello Mate,

I know what you mean about running the 16V as well as other cars. Petrol prices are a right pinch at the moment. i'm driving around in a 2.0 16V celica at the moment while i restore the Mk1 and it gets through it if you drive it the way you want to

I my Mk1 was a champage Gold 1.3 Driver on brand new standard suspension, looked like it was on stilts!! Taken it off the road now so hope to start stripping it soon.

I have been lucky so far with rust on my MK1 so hav'nt needed any welding done, can't help you with anybody to graft you a front end but i'd suggest you get sombody good to do it.

Good luck though, does your Black Mk1 need lots doing to it?

Cheers  Domma..........

[Redbaron]

Yeah a fair bit, it was sat outside unused for 3-4 years and has done 219k miles. BUT it is completely original, not a modification in sight! Also its not got any of the usual rust mk1s have.  Front panel is a bit scabby and so im replacing, archs also bit rusty under the trims. Its a project that im doing for my old man to say thanks for all the support hes given/giving me at university.  So far its had:

Stripped shell - glass out
New rust free tailgate - primed
New front wings
Brand new gen front panel and arch repair sections
Rear beam rebuild - new rear shoes/cylinders/brake lines/wheel bearings
Poly rear axle bushes
Re-undersealed arches and underneath.
New springs/top mounts (front + rear)
Brand new gen.standard wishbones/track arms/balljoints/disks/pads.
Gear linkage rebuild
Gearbox and engine removed - 'box cleaned and enameled in silver, new green cap on end
Engine to be stripped - new rings/shells poss rebore
All new engine/gearbox mounts
Glass out respray
Original 9 spokes refurbed.
Brand new exhaust (standard system).

Thats about it so far! need to get cracking this summer, seem to have stalled a bit!

Hows yours progressing? know anyone selling a caddy?

[Domma]

Sounds like a nice present for the old fella!!!!

I used to try and repay my old man with favours when i lived at home and left his driveway looking like a scrape yard with mini's, Beetle's and then Mk1's. They love it really.

Motor Sport engineering! not heard of that one before Mate, how envolved does that get? Is it hands on or more design orientated?  Be hitting the local F1 teams in afew years will we???

Things are going slowely on my MK1, i stripped my old GTi about two years ago, labelled it all up and have started restoring it bit by bit at work and at home when i get the time. While doing it i looked for a mint donor car and as always they are the lesser model MK1's. GTi's always get ragged and abused in the early days and then fall apart in future years in the hands of enthusiasts like us!!!
I spent 18mths looking for it and finally found a late A plate 3door driver with a solid roof. My Gti roted from the factory sun roof down.

I'm doing nothing to my donor car untill i'am at the stage i have 100% everything ready to bolt straight back on in clean fresh paint. Ideas and plans change as time goes on but i'm sticking to an 8V 2.0 witha big valve head and lightened and balanced internals. I know i can manage this on an OK budget and get a really Torquey motor out of it. I hate driving the Celica as i have to be around and above the 5K rev band before it goes. No low down grunt.

Know anybody local good at balancing cranks?

Laters   Cheers   Dom.........

[richandhazel]

I to was was hammered by local hoodies of smash and grab so sorry Rich the area is getting worse. Mine was done Christmas eve to boot!

What cars are you driving around the area in then Rich and Hazel?  Are you the couple with the gold MK2 and black G60 Corrado?

Hope you get the car sorted Victoria, amazing how you can park up a MK1 leave it for a short while and find it has so many things go wrong with it when you come back to it!  I'm trying to get mine started at least three times a week to keep things ticking over.

Give me a shout if i can help in any way when it comes to MK1's had afew now, know a couple of well practised MK1 owners in the area not yet mentioned,

Cheers Domma...........

I've lived where I am for 13 years now and, touch wood, no-one in the road has ever had any problems, but I guess you can't take these things for granted........shame

I've got an 'oak green' mk4 Golf TDI that is the day to day work horse and a white mk1 Golf GTI cabriolet that you may see occasionally..........especially if the sun is out

Hazel has the red mk3 Polo GT. You're less likely to see that as she only comes up to stay when the kids are off school.

I've seen that black G60 Corrado a couple of times, last week I saw it on the Minley road.

Victoria's car is nearly there now. After pressure testing the metering unit to ensure that fuel was returning to the tank once system pressure was achieved I bit the bullet and purchased a new pump. Cleared all the fuel lines and changed the fuel filter and now, once warm, it is running as sweet as. Idle is still very low when cold and the idle screw is nearly all the way out so there's something still not quite right.
Alternator is now working, wiring was in a shocking state and the earth path was non existant!

So all that's really left for the moment is to tune it up, check the slow wipers (probably lubricate the linkages) and tidy up some interior trim bits that were broken after the muppets tried to break into it.

Its nice to be working on a mk1 Golf GTI for a change, quite enjoying it. I've been up to my eyes in Saxo's, Clio's, Ka's a Rover and an Escort over the last few weeks! If anyone asks you to look at a broken bonnet hinge on a Ka, run away! What a sh!tty horrible design and an absolute pig of a job to rectify