Link to discussion thread HERE

Well, here it is the day my brother bought it. Was only back in November 2005. It was sat under a cover on my grandads drive for 6 months really quite unloved as the clutch had gone at 99989 miles. As the pictures show, its pretty grotty after its quick blast with the jetwash.

Its still on its original plates too!

The small bumpers look nice, definitely going to keep them on, although they need steam cleaning and some serious nourishment... Bring on the swissol!

Grandad fitted a towbar to take his little trailer to the tip. But it will be coming off. I also want some OEM tinted lights to smarten up the back end, and fit the rear wiper so it lays flat.

The mileage... grotty dash pod including suspect OAP hair on dash.

Pretty grotty, but still tidy interior...

And the original P slot wheels. Think they will be staying if they clean up nicely. If not will source some BBS replacements...

I had a new clutch fitted at Mr Clutch, and a new battery as it wouldn't hold charge. The auxilliary drive belt was squeeling, so that got replaced too.

Grandad had fully serviced it not too long ago including fitting a replacement cambelt. This needed tensioning as it was flapping about making a right din, so did that too.

Although it flew through the MOT, I'll get a few things I've picked up done at the earliest opportunity. Been quoted

Things have come on a little since.

Things have come on a little.

The gear shift repair kit has now been fitted. The shift housing had worn so much you could see through it! It resulted in getting reverse instead of first far too often. The car feels so much safer to drive now!

The heater matrix and feed/return hoses have now been replaced. Alas I now have a heater!!

The resistor pack for the heater fan has been changed, so the blower works on all settings now. . The dash is now all back in, with replacement switch surround, and a new rev counter too... the interior looks respectable again.

Next on the list is a new ignition barrel and steering lock/housing... then I'll be able to turn the steering wheel and start it with the key rather than a screwdriver. I can't wait! :P

Update: Just ordered an ignition barrel, steering lock housing and some door membranes from gsf.

So I should have a fun evening next week trying to code the new lock to the original keys... can't wait

Hmmm, not much progress, other than:

The steering lock housing arrived from GSF. The casting was broken and the top bearing very rough, so I sent it back and bought a new one from VW yesterday, much better. The ignition lock cylinder hasnt arrived yet - cant wait as when thats in it will be drivable on the road again!

I took a wee pic of the engine bay - overall not too bad for a 20 year old car.

However - the cold start injector (on the right of the inlet manifold) appears to have a bodged plug, so until I can be bothered to head over to VW again to source a replacement, 2 spade connectors will have to do...

And the vacuum hose from the inlet manifold to the cam cover is way oversized in diameter, and held on with a silly sized jubilee clip - so I'll be stopping at my local motor factors on the way home tonight for some replacement hose - and I've just ordered a replacement breather bung for the rocker cover, as it doesn't attach very well at all...

Fingers crossed it will be back on the road by the weekend - just need to insure and tax it - then off for an MOT :eek:

I know it will fail on:

• Perished CV boot
  
• Perished brake flexi hose

I bloody well hope that's it though!

Well, had it insured and on the road for a few days now, and a few problems have reared there head... so I'm taking a no-nonsense approach - full resto coming up.

Need to get everything ordered and start fitting it all so it can be MOT'd end of Sept and on the road pukka for when my vRS goes back first of October...

Got a hell of a lot to do before then though...

Can't fault it really - but its someway off being a reliable daily hack. Trying to get it mechanically perfect. Basically overhauling the whole cooling system inc water pump and new heater matrix, going to recon the oil pump and clean pick up pipe and sump etc, will be cleaning the old tappets up a treat, need some vacuum hoses, a few senders, clean the ISV, new cambelt and tensioners, oil and filter change etc...

Then I need new brake flexi hoses all round, will recon the callipers, new disks and pads, may give the callipers a lick of silver paint too.

Then the suspension - new bushes, shocks and springs all round, top mounts etc... Need new CV boots too.

The exhaust could do with replacing - wonder how much a genuine system is.

Then onto the interior - got a saggy drivers bolster (material is fine), needs a good shampoo, get a leather gear gaitor and sort out a stereo system - but need door pods, dash speakers are pants. Gonna convert to bee-sting aerial too.

Then the exterior, got a new screen to go in, new seals all round, refurb the wheels with new tyres, and a possible partial respray too. Got to attack the bumpers with a heat gun and remove the towbar.

And after a total spend including the car of probably close on £2500, i'll have a car worth around £1000... lol. Should be good for another 100k of pretty reliable motoring, so will be worth it in the long run!