Filthy Cabrio..... (and not in the good way)

[maaarcooose]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to come on and share some pics of my newly acquired project car. A 1992 MK1 Clipper Cabriolet 1.8.
Picked her up for all of £600, only 82k on the clock and runs sweet.
Paintwork is still really good for the age and it has sat in a barn since 2004 so no MOT.

Now comes the bad stuff.....

The roof is shot and looks like it has been for a while. Got to get a new one and looks like it needs new headlining too unless I can clean it up. Best quote so far £550.

The seats are covered in green growth, mildew and rusty water stains. I do want to try and clean these before I replace them because they still have great padding in, and they are pretty comfy.

Most of the rest of the interior plastics and door cards are covered with a layer of dirt and green mould.

The front offside hub needs replacing as the thread has gone in one of the wheel holes. I suspect the reason for this is that the wheels are th incorrect spacing for the hubs, not 4x100's and as such have got spacers on them. I have been informed that this will of course put too much strain on the bolts and this is why it's gone probably. I tried without the spacer and the wheel grinds on the caliper. Also I think the calipers need to be replaced, as they are a little on the rusty side.
So I'm thinking, hub, disk, calipper, flexible hose, wheel bearing and pads replace on both front wheels.
The back doesn't need spacers as they are drums, but the drums don't look great, and I dread to think what the shoes are like. Probably replace all them too.
This still leaves the wheel issue. I think I should change them and dump the spacers.

I fixed the rather slow closing power roof by filling up the hydraulic fluid but then discovered that the spare wheel hole was full of water and hydraulic fluid. I think one of the pistons is leaking, but can't be sure where.

At this point I was thinking, 'Oh crap. WTF have I bought.' but the body work is in such a good state, and the engine runs so well, I can't think it's a dead loss.
Where it counts, the engine and bodywork, this is in a far better condition than my old MK2 GTi, but the interior needs a lot of work.

Here come the pics and any suggestions as to good places to get hoods done would be great.











I look forward to using the forum again too, everyone in the MK2 section were great and I'm sure here will be no exception.

!m!

[Dinky]

Hey...

If your removing the hood yourself, or have a garage to store it in so you can remove it, I would try scrubbing the liner first with some cleaner.. check all the hoods "stuffing" no dampness and its all in the right places and then get the hood fitted, unless your doing that yourself? Looksee here for a how to.. http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=34662.0
Looksee here for a new hood.. http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=73524.0

Because its been stood that long, Id be inclinded to replace all what you mentioned and bleeding the system too..also check your handbreak cable if that has been stuck on for over 3yr...
Im also assuming you'll be giving it a full service? plugs, air/oil/fuel filter, oil change and I'd probs drop your water and get some new water & coolant through it.. 

Interior - rag it out and give it all a good cleaning! Cleaning advice here.. http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?board=56.0

I would also take off the bodykit, and wings, check behind the windscreen (if you want to take it off) and the rear window as these are all prone to rust on mk1s - inner wing rusting is usually at the top corner, left - hand side where the aerial usually is..

It also looks, from your pics, that your lower dash is a different colour to the top half?

Also, favourite this - http://www.cabby-info.com/interior.htm

Your missing trim can be sourced from Gpcaudi (i think) ebay, forums and crazyquiff does a few bits too..

...enjoy your cabriolet ownership

Dinx

[maaarcooose]

I have thought about trying to fit the roof myself, but after finding the fitting instructions, all 31 pages of PDF file, I think I'll get someone to fit it. There's a guy near where I live that has been recomended to me and apparantlly he's really good. I was thinking about removing the outer skin and cleaning first before I get the new hood fitted. That place looks like a good one to get it from, but I have found someone else who will come out and fit just the outer skin for £280.

I'm certainlly gonna do a full oil and filter replace. Also the plugs, points, leads and probably the distributor cap and rotor arm.
I hadn't thought about changing the coolant but I think I will. Probably change the rad too while I'm at it and all the hoses.

The bottom of my dash is a different colour. Should it not be? The rest of the interior is grey so I just figured it was normal.

!m!

[Village Idiots]

I have some P-slot wheels off a Mk2 if you are interested, need a good clean and polish. Tyres are OK.

[maaarcooose]

I have some P-slot wheels off a Mk2 if you are interested, need a good clean and polish. Tyres are OK.

At the moment I can't really afford any wheels but how much by the way?

I've got my old beemer to sell that should raise me about a grand and thats gonna get spent on the golf.
I'm gonna try and get some old BBS's later and spray them black in the center with silver rims. I think I'll see what's available at the GTi fest on the 13th at Santa Pod.
Either that or I'm gonna see if I can get 2 of the wheels on a CNC machine and just remove a little metal from where it grids.
First thing though is to replace the hubs and wheel bearings.
I changed the spacer on the grinding wheel and the whole hub and disk moves a couple of centimeters top and bottom. Not good.
I thought the wheel was gonna come off when I moved it off the drive. Christ knows how I got it home in the first place.


I also gave the interior and the headlining a good clean yesterday which made the world of difference. Loads of windowcleaner and a nailbrush brought everything up lovely. Lots of spiders had taken up residence in the hood frame and made it their hatchery.

Starting to think I should replace the master cylinder too.

I'll stop rambling now....

!m!

[Lee_dub]

Im so green! I wish I had one of those! is that a GTI? excuse me for my lack of knowlege but I normaly reside in the MK4 section. 

good luck witht he project!

Lee

[10:27]

lower dash is correct if its a later model i think from 1990 h i think or could be 1991 as they came with different colour bottoms to the top! it looks a really good fine fella even with the messy interior! plus you can pick up another interior for quite a cheap price! who are you going to get your hood done by as i see your fairly local to northants and i could do with getting my outer skin done for my cab cheers jeff

[maaarcooose]

Im so green! I wish I had one of those! is that a GTI? excuse me for my lack of knowlege but I normaly reside in the MK4 section. 

good luck witht he project!

Lee

Thanks dude. It's not a GTi, pity really. I loved my old MK2 GTi. I have been thinking about puting twin carbs on it though. Is this possible on the standard 1.8?

plus you can pick up another interior for quite a cheap price! who are you going to get your hood done by as i see your fairly local to northants and i could do with getting my outer skin done for my cab cheers jeff

After a weekend of cleaning, the interior is looking much better. I do need the top door trim though. the driver side one is really bent for some reason. Seats will come up with a carpet cleaner.

I was going to get my hood done by a local guy in Bedford who runs a garage and does upholstery but now I'm thinking to save money, I'm going to do it myself. I got the guide from the Golf MK1 owners site and it seems pretty comprehensive.
The guy does all the seat repairs for the school I work at and has also done a replacement hood for one of the maintenance guys who has an old escort cabrio.
I can PM you the guy's number if you want and he also said he can source the hood too.

!m!

[Dinky]

You will find the mark one brakes pretty poor tbh..
looksee.. http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=81459.0

Dinx

[maaarcooose]

Yes, I noticed that they were pretty bad when I drove it home. To be honest, they are as bad as my old MK2 was before I put new pads, disks and a master cylider in it.
I was thinking about replacing the master cylinder and that has convinced me.

Can the MK2 MS & serve just bolt straight in?

!m!