MK2 Golf GTI Trackcar project
Discussion
Well after a few years of ring trips etc with expensive cars its now time to have fun with a much cheaper alternative as I dont want to risk my new Exige on track. Recently bought a MK2 Golf GTI that had been turned into a trackday car. Although the previous owner thought the car was complete really it was only 3/4 of the way there so me and my dad who's an ex mechanic are finishing the car off ready for some trackdays and potential racing in the Golf GTI series.
Picture below just after picking the car up.
First Job was to remove the old stickers and generally give the car a good once over. It had no MOT when we bought it but had been tested just over a year ago. The previous owner had the car completely stripped with the following added:
Full Cage
Coilovers all round
Toyo T1R's
2 Bucket seats
Harnesses
Full stainless steel exhaust system manifold to backbox.
New discs and pads
Goodridge braided hoses
A number of issues came about when giving the car a once over, it was obvious from the expansion tank that it had been boiled at some point and they had tried many ways to stop it happening fitting new radiators etc when in fact all it turned out to be was a leaking expansion tank cap for £1.98 so very happy about that!! Other issues were a completely shot front engine mount, a snapped temperature switch on the engine, selector rods worn, spray for wipers not working, no reversing lights and persistent stalling and running far too rich, front strut not fitted correctly
and a very loose rear wheel bearing oh and not forgetting the stop for clutch pedal was missing allowing the pedal to rise too much and giving the impression the clutch was shot!
2 Weeks ago it sailed through its MOT after sorting all the issues and i have to say I was amazed getting the car up on a ramp at the condition of the body and chassis, there is no rust at all underneath apart from the odd bit of surface rust, amazing for a car of this age..Struts are absolutely rust free!
I was given some BBS wheels with the car that didnt look like they've seen a sponge in years so decided to clean them up, primer them and spray black with some new centre caps now ready for some new R888's and straight onto the car!!
New steering wheel fitted:
View from the drivers side:
Drivers seat:
View from passenger side:
Cage from rear:
We are now moving on to the cosmetic side of things and deciding to either vinyl it up again like below or have it painted white then add vinyl stickers etc. Will try and get some better pictures when I get a chance and when any new jobs are done!
Picture below just after picking the car up.
First Job was to remove the old stickers and generally give the car a good once over. It had no MOT when we bought it but had been tested just over a year ago. The previous owner had the car completely stripped with the following added:
Full Cage
Coilovers all round
Toyo T1R's
2 Bucket seats
Harnesses
Full stainless steel exhaust system manifold to backbox.
New discs and pads
Goodridge braided hoses
A number of issues came about when giving the car a once over, it was obvious from the expansion tank that it had been boiled at some point and they had tried many ways to stop it happening fitting new radiators etc when in fact all it turned out to be was a leaking expansion tank cap for £1.98 so very happy about that!! Other issues were a completely shot front engine mount, a snapped temperature switch on the engine, selector rods worn, spray for wipers not working, no reversing lights and persistent stalling and running far too rich, front strut not fitted correctly
and a very loose rear wheel bearing oh and not forgetting the stop for clutch pedal was missing allowing the pedal to rise too much and giving the impression the clutch was shot!2 Weeks ago it sailed through its MOT after sorting all the issues and i have to say I was amazed getting the car up on a ramp at the condition of the body and chassis, there is no rust at all underneath apart from the odd bit of surface rust, amazing for a car of this age..Struts are absolutely rust free!
I was given some BBS wheels with the car that didnt look like they've seen a sponge in years so decided to clean them up, primer them and spray black with some new centre caps now ready for some new R888's and straight onto the car!!
New steering wheel fitted:
View from the drivers side:
Drivers seat:
View from passenger side:
Cage from rear:
We are now moving on to the cosmetic side of things and deciding to either vinyl it up again like below or have it painted white then add vinyl stickers etc. Will try and get some better pictures when I get a chance and when any new jobs are done!
Edited by TOENHEEL on Thursday 10th February 13:17
The quality is really good and basically looks and feels the same as an OMP wheel for a fraction of the price. Remember you need the Boss as well standard fitment like OMP. The Boss on his site below is for citroen,Peugeot so source that yourself 
http://www.manicmotors.co.uk/product.asp?strParent...
http://www.manicmotors.co.uk/product.asp?strParent...
Matt_N said:
Cool project.
Just to let you know that if it has a 4-1 or 4-2-1 stainless manifold as your description hints at, you'll have to change it for a standard one in order to race in the Golf GTI series.
Have you seen the series website?
http://golfgti-racing.co.uk/phpBB3/
Yeah looked at it a few weeks ago, there's a couple of things that will need putting back to standard, plan is to get a few trackdays out of the way with it and see how it copes etc then get my race licence done Just to let you know that if it has a 4-1 or 4-2-1 stainless manifold as your description hints at, you'll have to change it for a standard one in order to race in the Golf GTI series.
Have you seen the series website?
http://golfgti-racing.co.uk/phpBB3/
. 
Well quick update ordering some Federal RSR tyres after hearing good things about them and the fact they are a lot cheaper than R888's now. Have a guy coming to look at the car on monday to get it all stickered up. Anyone with any good ideas for how it should look stickered up please post up
On wednesday I managed to take the Golf down to Teeside Autodrome to give it a first run out on a test day. Sun was out all day and red hot, perfect day for hooning round the track. First impressions are very good managed 57 second laps consistently along with Craig on here (the BMW E36 trackcar build craig). Federal RSR tyres were great all day very similar to R888's, Managed to hit around 103mph down the short straight which was quite suprising so a bit nippier than I first thought. Really looking forward to getting some track days booked and enjoying the summer with it.
Some pics below of today hope you like them
Some pics below of today hope you like them
Yeah 16v, it's not too bad on the standard engine I'm not hammering it into the redline so changing gear just over 6k revs but having looked at a power chart it seems to drop right off at 6k anyway so pointless taking it any higher. Im going to add an oil cooler as temps do get a tad high on track. If I was going to give any advice it would be to buy a car that someones already added a lot of things to such as the cage and brakes etc will save you a few £. Once it's stripped and caged with good coilovers, tyres and brakes and a healthy engine you will love it, fantastic little chassis and im sure it's going to upset a few bigger and more expensive cars in the bends.
Willber said:
I'm building a fast road/track MK2 at the minute with a 2.0 16v engine and lots of chassis mods. If I were to do it again I would look into getting one that's been ready built, although I am glad I have taken this project on as I have learnt a lot of skills.
Main thing is getting a solid shell, they have some funny rot spots so be careful.
What chassis mods have you got, im debating whether or not to fit a strut brace?Main thing is getting a solid shell, they have some funny rot spots so be careful.
iguana said:
I've spent waay to long tracking Mk2s, yes gaywheel drive & utterly prehistoric old things, but I love 'em nonetheless.
My 'ring golf- 2.0 abf & all the normal track bits & bobs, pretty much lives there in the season, prob wont do tht many laps in '11 but will still rack up a few.
For yours I'd advise getting some door cards put in- you will lose yr hand if you spank that, & some proper cage padding not pipe lagging.
Ref oil coolers, yes well worth it, esp when you up the power.
First thing I did was get a set of door cards as the water was pissing in when raining, also got the cage covered! Old but one helll of a chassis even after jumping out of my exige s! Love it to bits now!My 'ring golf- 2.0 abf & all the normal track bits & bobs, pretty much lives there in the season, prob wont do tht many laps in '11 but will still rack up a few.
For yours I'd advise getting some door cards put in- you will lose yr hand if you spank that, & some proper cage padding not pipe lagging.
Ref oil coolers, yes well worth it, esp when you up the power.
Well a few more bits of tinkering and its been out for another test day at Teeside, please see video below and a pic where I was clearly trying to take off ha!
Link for video of today here: http://youtu.be/W66nch1aS0Q
Link for video of today here: http://youtu.be/W66nch1aS0Q
Cheers for the info, I actually sorted them out around 3 weeks back and they seem a lot better. Really surprised me this car great chassis. Just put some 10w 60 in and it sounds sweet as a nut once up to temperature and it's lost the top end cammy rattle it had. Seems to sit at 114c and 116c on track. Can't believe how much fun it is for the £!
Cheers for the info, I actually sorted them out around 3 weeks back and they seem a lot better. Really surprised me this car great chassis. Just put some 10w 60 in and it sounds sweet as a nut once up to temperature and it's lost the top end cammy rattle it had. Seems to sit at 114c and 116c on track. Can't believe how much fun it is for the £!
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