RMDavis

Sounds awesome bud! It's what powers the VRS addiction! 😂 Don't be too disheartened about the coolant flange. I see that you've purchased a SAI blanking plate? You'll need to remove that flange in order to fit the plate anyway so it's not all bad news. Makes sense to renew it at the same time as it's a common failure. I'd replace the coolant sensor and rubber o-ring at the same time also. 👍🏻

Great effort mate, makes me happy seeing another MK1 being cared for and improved upon!

Combi update! Firstly I appreciate these photos are not the most exciting, just parked up in front of a load of bins... 😂 But the weather is awful today, and I only just managed to take these whilst dodging rain and wind. I will of course be taking some much better shots, but for the meantime I just wanted to take these as a way of updating the project. It's been back together and on the road for the past two weeks and apart from a few niggles like the Forge intercooler hose popping off its been faultless. The timing belt, water pump, and aux belt were all replaced last week along with new injector seals and cups as 3 of the 4 were sweating around the inlet manifold. A new coolant bottle has been fitted also to replace the very tired original one. I finally got round to fitting the Whiteline rear adjustable anti-roll bar after hearing so many people say what a difference it makes and I can now only agree with everyone else! I've currently only got it set on the softest setting as I wasn't sure what difference it would make, but it's completely tightened up the rear end and taken away any wayward handling. Before I fitted the front bumper and Forge intercooler I tackled a few jobs in and around the engine bay. SAI, N249, N112, and EVAP all now deleted and the PCV system simplified and now running through an oil catch tank. My next plan is to refresh all the suspension components with polybushes and source Audi TT lower arms, hubs etc to enhance the handling of this old barge further! It's booked in at Badger 5 next Friday for a session on the rollers and hopefully to take advantage of the stage 2 mods that are currently fitted, and to map out the deletes I've done. I'm really looking forward to getting out to as many meets, and shows as possible this year and once I've sourced a second set of wheels with some sticky rubber I will also be venturing out on track!

Got a few bits fitted, and out of the paint booth... First time it's seen daylight in 3 months! 😍

That's a very kind offer mate, and one you should definitely take up! 👍🏻 Cheers bud, I can see the light now! 😁

Hit quite a milestone today... Bodyshell done! there's a few runs in the lacquer, and some minor imperfections, but overall it looks incredible! Although it's been painted in a automotive spray/oven it's mainly used for scenic painting (I'm a set builder) so it's not perfectly setup for cars, but the preparation has really paid off on this one, and straight out of the gun the finish is pretty damn good! I'm over the moon and can't wait to get it back together and out on the road enjoying it!

Slow progress, but here's a few photos of the first bits to be painted! Both the front and rear bumpers took quite a while to bring back to a respectable condition, but I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. The front bumper now sporting the Milotec vents which I really think suits the Mk1 perfectly. Seeing the painted bumpers has really lifted my mood as all the prep work and looking at a stripped car covered in dust, including the interior! Is a little demoralising... Whilst the interior has been stripped I've also been busy improving the audio. 17cm Hertz components for the front, 6x4 Hertz coaxial for the rear. Connected to a Alpine headunit with an inline Alpine amp for the speakers. A Subwoofer will follow but that can wait until everything is back together! I also picked up a Forge front mount intercooler secondhand, which I was chuffed with as they get good reviews, but unfortunately no longer avaliable brand new. This will get fitted whilst the front bumper is off. There's other bits and pieces I've ordered and will be fitting/replacing whilst all this is going on, but I will update as I go. Finally when it gets back on the road it will be getting a new timing belt, and water pump so it's all ready for next year!

It's far too easy! Just read through the 'furby' on your project thread bud! A cracking little car and its great to see another Skoda getting some well deserved TLC. Upgrading my speakers is another item on my very long list...

Just spent a small fortune on www.skoda-parts.com X2 Smoked side repeaters (broke mine trying to remove...) X40 Arch liner fixings (couldn't remember how many they're were and figured 10 a corner would suffice!) Front mud guards Rear mud guards Alloy wheel centre caps Front wiper arms Octavia VRS tailgate badge VRS radiator grill badge Radiator grill and tailgate Skoda badges Both front and rear arch liners The two caps on the wiper arm scuttle panel 1X door card clip Both front bumper air duct trims that attach to the wheel arch liner There's lots more that I want/need but this will certainly do for now! P.S my Milotec front bumper vents arrived today, I can't wait to get them fitted!

Cheers bud! 😊 It's a while away from completion yet but I know the effort will be well worth it! I've read many mixed reports of fmic installation and I forsee much swearing... However it's something I really want to fit prior to mapping next year. That and doing the 1.8t 'deletes' PCV etc is also on the list, another fun job!

Thank you for all the suggestions chaps. Thinking about it over the last week I've decided to keep it original and stay with the black! Managed to get the rest of the car stripped yesterday and it's now ready for paint preparation. Removing the rear windows with the fixed pane of glass was a little tricky on my own as was trying to remove all the rubber window seals and roof strips without deforming them... Got a shopping list for bits I want to replace when it goes back together and also want to upgrade the speakers whilst all the door cards off. Ordered some Milotec vents for the front bumper as I really think they suit the car and add to the budget RS4 Avant look! 😂 I've also been looking at the Pro Alloy FMIC something that can easily be fitted whilst the car is stripped. It's a single pass intercooler and doesn't require any extensive cutting to the bumper which appeals to me. Here's a few photos as the Combi currently stands, notice the orange box filled with individually marked bags for all the fixings! 😎

Yes bud that's the one. Found this lovely Vectra GSi which looks awesome in that shade. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-S-Vauxhall-Vectra-B-GSi-2-5i-V6-24v-a-c-GSi-Phase-1-Immaculate-Car-/294411121928?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0 Works well with the black bumper/door strips which the MK1 has also.

Yes exactly the same.

I got the mirrors from this website mate. https://thewingmirrorcompany.co.uk/searchresult.aspx?make=skoda&model=octavia&year=2000-to-2004&mtype=wing-mirror-glass,wing-mirror-glass-with-base Very well packaged and quick delivery also. I'd highly recommend having a good clear out behind those arch liners! I do like Race Blue but not sure whether it would like right on a MK1? As it's a colour I associate with the MK2 and a much more modern car. I fancy a change to green albeit a darker shade? Maybe Audi 'Cactus Green' or Vauxhall 'Jungle Green'

I've been busy with the Combi and got some jobs done over the last few weeks mainly trying to getting it up together for the colder months. The nearside door mirror didn't de-mist and upon inspection found the previous owner must of fitted a MK4 Golf mirror glass as oddly the connecter for wiring is at the opposite end and wouldn't reach. Both of the mirrors must of been replaced at some point because they didn't have the OE blue tint so I bit the bullet and replaced them with the correct versions and now work perfectly. The rear window de-mister also wasn't working, I checked the fuse first which was fine so I stripped down the tailgate trim and followed the wiring finding one of the tabs had broken away from the glass itself. I managed to secure it and is also now working as it should! Finally I got round to wiring in the heated Recaro seats courtesy of loom from Kufatec. I'd sourced a 255 relay and the correct Skoda control switch from a L&K Octavia and got cracking. It's a fairly straightforward and with the use of a voltmeter you can easily work out what wires to splice into from the headlight switch. Well worth the effort and it's great to have a car with heated seats again especially with winter looming! Now onto the big update:- I've finally started the process of getting the car ready for its respray! Today I got the rear bumper off and tackled something that's been bugging me for ages... The tow bar bracket IMO is hideous and I have no intention of using the car for towing. I removed the crash bar and cut the bracket off with a plasma cutter - a little over kill but such an awesome bit of kit! I bolted the bar back on and offered up a secondhand bumper I picked up without any cutouts and I'm bloody chuffed with how much better it looks. I continued stripping and got the front bumper off, all four arch liners, headlamps, taillights, side repeaters, and the tailgate trim. I didn't find any horrors when removing the arch liners etc with bodyshell in good condition, even the tailgate only has minimal corrosion a well known issue with the Combi. The only corrosion I do have to deal with and treat is behind the window rubber on the offside rear door and the bottom of both the wings. One note on the wings, if you haven't already I'd remove the arch liners and take a look behind them as I must of had about 2kg of earth/sand back there! absolutely horrendous, I can't imagine why the wings are suffering with rust! 😂 Plenty left to remove and I've got a ton of paint preparation to start but I'm really enjoying this process. Without even thinking I was just going to go over again with 'Black Magic' but my colleagues (also petrol heads) have suggested a colour change and its got me thinking... Granted its a little more prep work etc but I have access to a spray booth at work and will be doing everything myself and have plenty of time to do it justice. Obviously Red, Silver, and Yellow are off the table because I could just buy a Mk1 in those colours anyway but maybe a nice blue or a green would look smart? It needs to be the right colour and sympathetic to the age and style of the Octavia, basically I don't want a bright orange or a TVR inspired flip paint! 😂 Perhaps a VAG based gloss or metallic colour? Any opinions or suggestions would be most welcome, even if it's to keep it black which at the moment I am leaning towards as I'd like to keep it original. Sorry for the long and tedious post!

Thanks for the suggestions chaps, I will be updating my project thread shortly! 😀

In the next couple of weeks I will be taking my Combi off the road to treat all the bodywork issues. Corrosion in the usual places and various marks, dings etc - The cure for this is going to be a full respray. I've got an uncut non tow bar rear bumper to replace my current one and I'm also considering some Milotec front bumper vents if they're still available? Without even thinking I was just going to go over again with 'Black Magic' but my colleagues (also petrol heads) have suggested a colour change and its got me thinking... Granted its a little more prep work etc but I have access to a spray booth at work and will be doing everything myself and have plenty of time to do it justice. Obviously Red, Silver, and Yellow are off the table because I could just buy a Mk1 in those colours anyway but maybe a nice blue or a green would look smart? It needs to be the right colour and sympathetic to the age and style of the Octavia, basically I don't want a bright orange or a TVR inspired flip paint! 😂 Perhaps a VAG based gloss or metallic colour? Any opinions or suggestions would be most welcome, even if it's to keep it black. 👍🏻

I've never done one before but maybe I could try and put together a guide to help people installing heated seats to their own Mk1? So far I've got the heated Recaros from a Mk4 Golf, and the heater control switch from an L&K Octavia. on order I have a '455 Relay' and the Kufatec wiring loom. Will update once I've figured out how to do it myself! 😂 You should be fine with the conical step bits mate, I haven't used them myself but from what I've seen they are pretty accurate. I picked up one of these automatic punches from Halfords and has done an excellent job. You don't need to use a hammer just push it against the surface until it clicks. https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/all-hand-tools/halfords-automatic-centre-punch-124628.html Cheers Dean, most appreciated! 😁 it's getting there, atleast passes the 10ft test... 😂 Hopefully over winter I will be respraying it ready for lots of events next year to show it off at its best! Thanks for moving the thread I was going to ask whether you could for me! 👍

Thank you mate I'm giving it the TLC it's been long overdue! I'm certainly not somebody that rushes things and I spent a morning to strip it out and get the new one in, but I'm fortunate I have a large workshop to do it in so I needn't worry about poor weather etc so I can take my time. The front seats and the front section of the carpet will be coming out again soon as I have ordered the loom and relay needed to wire in the heated Recaros. With winter looming I thought this should be a priority! 😁

Haha I get that bud! It's certainly doable with everything in place but much easier with two people. With the shock absorbers removed I had lots of access!

Thank you mate, Another fellow black mk1 combi owner! 😁 The drilling isn't too bad, just make sure you get everything in the correct place and I would highly reccomend using a centre punch to assist the initial drilling. Both for the strut brace, and the k brace.

Thank you for the kind words bud. It's great sharing our projects with like-minded people who are also on their own journey! If it helps I don't think you specifically need a 5 door carpet as mine originally came from a Mk4 Golf Anniversary which was a 3 door and I didn't have any issues with fitment. I'm unsure what to do with the door cards at the moment 🤔 I will either re-trim them myself in a suitable material to compliment the seats whether that's leather or alcantara. The second option would be try to source some leather door cards from an L&K Octavia combi for a direct fit, although nothing has come up recently on ebay etc. I'm really pleased with how the wheels have turned out and that extra inch certainly adds a little more presence in the arch! There's plenty of 'for sale' groups on Facebook and 17" spiders often come up. Recently seen a set for a £150 I think? As for speedo discrepancies I haven't noticed anything major. I'm pretty sure when I put the details into willtheyfit.com the variation between the two wheel/tyre combos were minimal. Happy to chat about the exhaust mate, I paid £550 and that included the fitment of the downpipe I supplied. I lucked out with that also and bought it brand new via ebay for £250 from a chap that never fitted it and had since sold his Mk1. 👍🏻 I did take a photo of the downpipe actually which I'll include here.

Well overdue update on the barge! Since fitting the seats (which truly are awesome!) I ordered a few bits and pieces and have just been waiting for them to arrive, and also finding the time to fit them as work has been rather mental! Literally worked for nearly 24 hours straight last week... 😳 So the weekend just gone I had all the parts ready and I had the time to fit them, so here we go. Firstly I fitted a Baf Motorsport rear 'K brace' as the Combi's don't come with any bracing in the boot like the hatchbacks. IMO it looks great and certainly should stiffen the rear end much better than before! I also replaced the rocker cover gasket as I found that was pretty worn and the plugs were wet with oil when I carried out my initial service a few weeks ago. Nothing major but it needed to be done and has given me piece of mind. The suspension was next and I removed the very tired front and rear shock absorbers and have replaced them with some KW V1's and Poweflex front strut top mount bushed. I had previously bought a secondhand Mk1 Audi TT front strut brace, cut the unneeded brackets off gave it a coat in gloss black and fitted it whilst the suspension was out with some nice stainless cap head bolts. Not bad for £40 all in! The wheels went back on along with some huncentric H&R spacers 12mm up front and 8mm on the rear which has really improved the overall stance and I'm very happy with how they sit. I kind of guessed the ride heights when putting the coilovers together, obviously measuring each side equally and it turned out okay. Although I'm going to let the suspension settle for a week and then adjust it to suit. On Friday I drove to my local Longlife Exhaust centre and had a 2.5" system made no centre silencer but with a rear silencer. At the same time they fitted a MP Developments 3" downpipe with sports cat. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out! I couldn't find an off the shelf system that I liked and I knew that Matt would be able to build something that I would. I've know him for years and this is the 6th system he's built for me and he's never disappointed! It has a lovely deep note and no noticeable drone whilst on the motorway, the downpipe had definitely improved the pull under load. Overall a bloody good step in the right direction! I'm sorry for the lack of photos of the various parts and progress of the install, but I get carried away and just crack on with the work! I have much respect for the people that catalogue every detail of their build. 👍 I've got a long list of things I want/need to do but I'm just really enjoying modifying a car again, and I'm growing really rather fond of this one! 😁

Great to see another black Mk1 Combi being looked after and given the TLC it deserves! Keep up the good work bud. 👍🏻 Haven't updated my own build thread in a while but fitting KW V1's, along with a few other bits this weekend. Having a stainless steel exhaust fitted along with a 3" downpipe/sports-cat on Friday also! Will post my own trials and tribulations once it's all done.

Evening everybody! I've got a set of KW V1's on order from DPM and received a shipping notification to say they should be with me by the end of the week! Eager to fit them as soon as possible I started searching for any guides regarding fitting etc and I stumbled across this thread:- The OP complained of a crashy ride due to setting the coilovers to their lowest setting causing issues with the rebound. Now I have no intention of 'slamming' my combi but I certainly want to rid the huge arch gap especially at the rear. Fitting the 17's helped cure it a little but I'd just like even it out more and make it look more purposeful. Any help or advice reassuring me on my purchase would be most appreciated! Or have I bought the wrong set and should of gone for the V2's instead? I've also got a set of huncentric H&R spacers to go on 12mm up front and 8mm on the rear as used on @Bowders1 lovely MK1. Cheers, Rob.