Another VW Golf Mk2 16v
Discussion
We are close to finishing the first round of the restoration. 
Oil problem traced to a dip stick that wasn't seating properly - now fixed and a bit of excess oil drained out - problem gone. Car was slightly overfilled.
Refurbed BBS RAs (option for this year of car, but OEM) in place with 15" rubber.
Stock exhaust (Novus Line) onboard and as close to OEM suspension on as we could manage. Still riding a little high, but is settling in. Tracking adjusted and a few minor niggles dealt with.
Car now goes, stops and handles as it should, with the bonus of being civilised to drive as well.
Stuff still to do includes:
Tweaking the ISV or replacing, occasional weird idle fluctations.
Proper tune
Door hinge angle adjustment
Tidy interior paintwork and trim.
Getting close to how it would have looked back in 1988 though.
Cheers,
Drew.
Oil problem traced to a dip stick that wasn't seating properly - now fixed and a bit of excess oil drained out - problem gone.
Car was slightly overfilled.Refurbed BBS RAs (option for this year of car, but OEM) in place with 15" rubber.
Stock exhaust (Novus Line) onboard and as close to OEM suspension on as we could manage. Still riding a little high, but is settling in. Tracking adjusted and a few minor niggles dealt with.
Car now goes, stops and handles as it should, with the bonus of being civilised to drive as well.
Stuff still to do includes:
Tweaking the ISV or replacing, occasional weird idle fluctations.
Proper tune
Door hinge angle adjustment
Tidy interior paintwork and trim.
Getting close to how it would have looked back in 1988 though.
Cheers,
Drew.
Edited by drewwa on Sunday 12th July 13:24
I had a similar smoke issue on the 1st 16v mk2 I had about 20 yrs ago. Turned out the guide wasn't seated fully and the stick was reading about a litre out. I remember topping it up and the first time I hit 6000rpm it filled the bypass width with smoke.
As above Stealth racing are the go-to for setting them up, in Southam, Warwickshire.
As above Stealth racing are the go-to for setting them up, in Southam, Warwickshire.
Abandoned this thread a bit - apologies!
In between the gaps of lockdown we managed to get the Golf out and about a bit. Successfully run in and running well, it's classically "zingy" at the top end as all 16v engines should be.
We replaced the rear wheel bearings and then found the front ones were starting to grumble too. Given the car is running its original 239mm discs, we decided to break with "standard" for this one and are assembling the parts to convert to the later 256mm setup (needs different hubs). Top tip here - the Seat Ibiza has these hubs as standard and these don't attract the "scene tax" quite so badly.
However, we've also picked up an oil leak somewhere along the line, so that needs investigating too. With winter almost upon us it's time to put the car away for a bit, assemble a few parts and wait for spring. She'll be back, but for now she's earned a rest.
Almost a year to the day since "Florence" joined the fleet.
Cheers,
Drew.
In between the gaps of lockdown we managed to get the Golf out and about a bit. Successfully run in and running well, it's classically "zingy" at the top end as all 16v engines should be.
We replaced the rear wheel bearings and then found the front ones were starting to grumble too. Given the car is running its original 239mm discs, we decided to break with "standard" for this one and are assembling the parts to convert to the later 256mm setup (needs different hubs). Top tip here - the Seat Ibiza has these hubs as standard and these don't attract the "scene tax" quite so badly.
However, we've also picked up an oil leak somewhere along the line, so that needs investigating too. With winter almost upon us it's time to put the car away for a bit, assemble a few parts and wait for spring. She'll be back, but for now she's earned a rest.
Almost a year to the day since "Florence" joined the fleet.
Cheers,
Drew.
Edited by drewwa on Wednesday 24th March 10:19
Speedgelb said:
chrismc1977 said:
Needs working harder than an 8v without doubt
One of those oft quoted internet clichés. The 16v motor makes more torque than the 8v motor throught the rev range - even at idle 
golfmk2power by ash_ashy_mo, on FlickrTommie38 said:
I thought 256mm was standard.
Regardless, if doing hubs, why not go 280mm, if your wheels can accommodate.
Early 16vs like mine have the 239mm discs, they were swapped to 256mm at the end of 1988. Mine was built just before the cutover. I want the option to run the original 14" bottlecap alloys as well, 280mm is too big for those. Regardless, if doing hubs, why not go 280mm, if your wheels can accommodate.
Cheers,
Drew.
Edited by drewwa on Monday 9th November 15:11
Gallons Per Mile said:
Looking great as always, Drew! Looking at yours makes me pine for another one of my own...
Is your storage container heated or insulated at all? Surely it would get quite damp in there over winter?
It is ventilated and we take the cars out every so often anyway. I always put some of the moisture absorbing crystals inside the car. Keeps quite snug - my mx5 has been in there for the last two years with no issues - that's now in my garage at home - because "track car" prep over the winter. Is your storage container heated or insulated at all? Surely it would get quite damp in there over winter?
Cheers,
Drew.
Edited by drewwa on Tuesday 10th November 19:01
drewwa said:
My son came out in his mildly tweaked 1.6 CL (head skim, weber carb, GTI cam and exhaust) and we had a little drag down the bypass from 2k to 4.5k in 3rd gear. Cars were neck and neck! Needless to say he was quite chuffed with that. 
End result looks like this, very happy with progress!
Cheers,
Drew.
Golf is looking good !!!End result looks like this, very happy with progress!
Cheers,
Drew.
So nice of you to give him a chance by being in 3rd gear, holding the 16v at 4000rpm in 2nd gear before letting rip would have been far far far more entertaining and given your son a reality check... can't have those non GTI owners thinking they can keep up
From my years on ClubGTI there were always people who'd spent a fortune/time/effort trying to get a 1.6 8v to circa 100hp and trying to convince us it was as fast or faster than a standard GTI 8v. There was a funny pecking order of 16v owners having to contend with 8v owners who modified their engines to nearly standard 16v power, 16v owners with 2.0l lumps running 180hp upsetting VR6 owners who also had G60 owners with more power to deal with long before people were doing 20vt/r32/r30T conversions!!
It's one of the things I love about mk2 Golfs, the number of options available to create something original or unique is incredible. I'm very much into the more OEM+ resto mod style with a few upgrades but nothing major that cannot be reversed these days , in the past though i've done a few Frankensteins.
In the next few weeks/month im having a mega garage clear out so there could be all kinds of mk2 GTI related parts going on ebay so feel free to let me know if there any odd bits/bobs you or your son might be after.
Tommie38 said:
Speedgelb said:
chrismc1977 said:
Needs working harder than an 8v without doubt
One of those oft quoted internet clichés. The 16v motor makes more torque than the 8v motor throught the rev range - even at idle golfmk2power by ash_ashy_mo, on FlickrSpring is beginning to ...er.... spring I suppose and thoughts are turning back to the old classics in the garage.
Been assembling a few bits and pieces.
I have a bunch of new rubber gaiters to replace old worn stuff.
I have a new speedo cable, because the old one was rattling like mad.
I've got a sunroof deflector and risers (expensive, but good condition) to go on which should fix the sunroof itself.
Managed (eventually!) to source the right parts to upgrade the brakes from the standard 239mm on these early 16vs to the later 256mm spec.
This is not merely a swap because the 239mm setup has the caliper integrated into the hub assembly, which is what limits the size of the discs you can use. The 256mm (and bigger) setup has the caliper installed on a carrier, which then bolts to the hub. The two systems are completely incompatible.
Genuine 16v 256mm hubs,carriers and calipers are quite rare now and attract a bit of a "scene tax", but there are quite a few "compatible" version from different VAG cars from the 90s into the 00s.
However... these are not all quite the same, there are variations on the bearing sizes, the carriers and the calipers. As a result it's taken me quite some time to get compatible bits together mostly by trial and error based on what I could find!
I've ended up with Passat B4 hubs, with 8v spec wheel bearings, Girling calipers and carriers from a Seat Ibiza.
Here they are, ready to replace the current set up.
Quite looking forward to getting those on the car and seeing what difference it makes. The standard 239mm brakes were pretty woeful and certainly not enough for a 139 bhp hot hatch.
A few weeks before we get that done, but a bit of progress.
Cheers,
Drew.
Been assembling a few bits and pieces.
I have a bunch of new rubber gaiters to replace old worn stuff.
I have a new speedo cable, because the old one was rattling like mad.
I've got a sunroof deflector and risers (expensive, but good condition) to go on which should fix the sunroof itself.
Managed (eventually!) to source the right parts to upgrade the brakes from the standard 239mm on these early 16vs to the later 256mm spec.
This is not merely a swap because the 239mm setup has the caliper integrated into the hub assembly, which is what limits the size of the discs you can use. The 256mm (and bigger) setup has the caliper installed on a carrier, which then bolts to the hub. The two systems are completely incompatible.
Genuine 16v 256mm hubs,carriers and calipers are quite rare now and attract a bit of a "scene tax", but there are quite a few "compatible" version from different VAG cars from the 90s into the 00s.
However... these are not all quite the same, there are variations on the bearing sizes, the carriers and the calipers. As a result it's taken me quite some time to get compatible bits together mostly by trial and error based on what I could find!
I've ended up with Passat B4 hubs, with 8v spec wheel bearings, Girling calipers and carriers from a Seat Ibiza.
Here they are, ready to replace the current set up.
Quite looking forward to getting those on the car and seeing what difference it makes. The standard 239mm brakes were pretty woeful and certainly not enough for a 139 bhp hot hatch.
A few weeks before we get that done, but a bit of progress.
Cheers,
Drew.
Edited by drewwa on Wednesday 24th March 10:22
chrismc1977 said:
Tommie38 said:
Speedgelb said:
chrismc1977 said:
Needs working harder than an 8v without doubt
One of those oft quoted internet clichés. The 16v motor makes more torque than the 8v motor throught the rev range - even at idle golfmk2power by ash_ashy_mo, on FlickrI'll take the 16v every time myself. Hot hatches were built to be driven hard, not lugged at low revs.
CousinDupree said:
Yep exactly. Read the contemporary road tests, still available on Trigger's retro site for a slightly different story
I'll take the 16v every time myself. Hot hatches were built to be driven hard, not lugged at low revs.
The 8v felt torquey but ran out of breath whereas 16v came alive above 4k but felt pretty ordinary lower down.I'll take the 16v every time myself. Hot hatches were built to be driven hard, not lugged at low revs.
For the best of both worlds a 2L block gave the 16v some proper muscle across the range.
chrismc1977 said:
The 8v felt torquey but ran out of breath whereas 16v came alive above 4k but felt pretty ordinary lower down..
The whole 8v an torque feeling is purely a reflection of the lack of top end power so you're only left to get excited about mid range power.
16v is hands down the better engine and far better suited to the Golf
aka_kerrly said:
The whole 8v an torque feeling is purely a reflection of the lack of top end power so you're only left to get excited about mid range power.
16v is hands down the better engine and far better suited to the Golf
Don’t forget the 8v motor was used to great effect in the Slick50 championship years ago. 8v with Pack D head & hot cam. Plenty quick. The competition wasn’t anywhere close. I’ve been on track with a Slick50 mk2 & it was a very quick & well sorted car- despite only 8 valves.
8v has less valve area so stock cam profile gives a broad range of power on the road that ultimately tails off sooner than a 16v
The 16v breathes better (probably too well as stock) therefore doesn’t really get into its stride until 4k+ when the gas speeds are higher.
Having been there & done it along with friends with various mk1 & mk2’s in various states of tune then both engines are very tuneable.
16v has more power potential but a worked 8v is still a cracking engine on the road
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