1990 Jetta Coupe

[anonymous-user]

For reasons known only to myself.... (Or maybe not) I have wanted to one of these for years. After a string of mk2's in pretty much every year, model, engine and body configuration this was the one that eluded me. Popular opinion also seems to suggest that this is the stiffest body style available. I've always wanted to build a 6 cylinder mk2 so I finally decided this year to start looking for a suitable base car.

Having spent months trawling over mobile.de and planning a summer visit to Germany to collect one, one evening my eBay saved search pinged up a car just 40 miles away from home and in a town I was visiting that weekend anyway. So cue a short roadtrip, a p/x on my mk4 weekend snotter and some money changing hands.... And I've ticked a car off my bucket list, albeit not yet with the correct engine.




The lowered suspension is 'interesting' and no issue at all on smooth roads, but the washboard trenches that apparently pass for roads these days are not much fun, so I need to figure out if there is any travel or its just sat on the bumpstops! Then there's the rattle in the drivers door. After that, it's a full service, fluid change, new plugs and other ignition consumables.

Once that's done I plan to get some weekend miles on it while I decide on exactly what the future holds for it. I did have impure thoughts of putting a syncro floor in it and going 4wd but it's only done 117,000km from new and I'm not sure I can bring myself to do it. The work involved does put me off a little too. Money no object, an R36 motor would be going in but I have to be realistic (and pay for my beetle to be painted!!) I love the VR6 engine but I do accept that it's quite old tech now and there are better options. With this in mind, I am seriously considering the 24v VR6 from a mk4.

This is all just thinking out loud at the moment. For the rest of this year I'm going to run it as is (which I've just realised I haven't mentioned is a 1.3 injection motor, which I didn't know existed, and a 4 speed manual) get to some shows and maybe do a few cosmetic mods.

So as ever, watch this space... Advice, ideas and constructive criticism happily received!

[Cupramax]

Nice, thats quite unusual but it aint no coupe, 2 door saloon. Looks very tidy for its age.

[PlayFair]

I had a 4 door mk2 jetta with a G60 Engine - loads of work done - about 230-250bhp. semi slick tyres.

Great fun!

[amstrange1]

If it's the 55bhp multi-point injection NZ lump, then a camshaft from a 75bhp Polo GT (3F engine code) is a good upgrade for beer money.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks all. Polo GT cam upgrade is something I didn't know about, will look into that, thanks! Be good to perk it up a bit while I'm saving up for the engine conversion. Was surprised to see it had multipoint injection when I opened the bonnet.

I've got to do something about the ride though! I guess it's sat on the bumpstops. I need to find some sort of happy medium between its current 'stance' and stock GTI height.

Had a poke around today and found recent ignition components and a surprisingly good German VAG service history... Starting to feel guilty about the plans I have for this one!

[Zombie]

Never even knew such a thing existed. Aside from it's curiosity value, I can't think of much else to say about it though.

[aka_kerrly]

Cool car I have often considered a Jetta coupe as a next mk2 venture but i'm leaning toward a 3 door syncro with an engine conversion.

A 4mo or R32 engine conversion would be tremendous.

[KrisP]

You've done what I did many years ago. Converted mine to rhd and put the 12v VR engine in, 6 speed box and complete plus axle setup. Loved that car, no idea why I ever sold it, bah!

[samj2014]

Zombie said:

Never even knew such a thing existed. Aside from it's curiosity value, I can't think of much else to say about it though.

It's horses for courses, to each their own etc. (I happen to really like VW passats, who knows why...) but I find this thing almost offensively bland/boring, which is weird because I really like the early polos and golfs, and aesthetically they're fairly similar. I dunno. Maybe it's because it's white (looks a bit like a fridge?)

Like I say though, I like Passats, so I can see where the OP is coming from and it's always good to see passion for something, whether or not you share it!

[anonymous-user]

samj2014 said:

It's horses for courses, to each their own etc. (I happen to really like VW passats, who knows why...) but I find this thing almost offensively bland/boring, which is weird because I really like the early polos and golfs, and aesthetically they're fairly similar. I dunno. Maybe it's because it's white (looks a bit like a fridge?)

Like I say though, I like Passats, so I can see where the OP is coming from and it's always good to see passion for something, whether or not you share it!

I absolutely understand that I'm in a very niche minority but I do have form for liking stuff that divides opinion. Hence there being an ST220 and MX-5 in my car history, among many others.

Scouring ebay for a 6-pot and 6-speed combo....

[bmthnick1981]

I had a mk2 Jetta as my first car, absolutely loved it, such good memories. Must find some pictures out.

I remember seeing 2 door Mk2 Jetta's in the VW mags of the day, PVW, The Golf, etc and thinking how cool they looked.

Good luck with it!

[omgus]

A friend had a ropey Mk2 Syncho which he swapped for an equally ropey Jetta GTI.

I much preferred the Jetta and was gutted when he sold it, i had the cash to buy it a week later and by that time the scote who had bought it had already wrapped it around a tree.

[anonymous-user]

Not an interesting update by any means, but the car has developed a misfire at idle, coupled with hesitation on pulling away and being a total PITA to hot start.

Wasn't really planning on getting very dirty with this engine, but now that I need to, I'm really struggling to find any info on the Digijet injection system

Cursory googling suggest a fairly primitive engine map which uses little more than a coolant temperature sensor for input. Have ordered one anyway as they are peanuts while I attempt to find even a basic schematic of the FI in order to get my head round it.

Still not decided whether to go 1.8T or VR6/V6. Decision may come down to whichever engine or donor car presents itself at a sensible price first.

[Coakers]

Any updates on this?

[bmthnick1981]

Coakers said:

Any updates on this?

+1

[aka_kerrly]

MrBig said:

Not an interesting update by any means, but the car has developed a misfire at idle, coupled with hesitation on pulling away and being a total PITA to hot start.

Wasn't really planning on getting very dirty with this engine, but now that I need to, I'm really struggling to find any info on the Digijet injection system

Cursory googling suggest a fairly primitive engine map which uses little more than a coolant temperature sensor

Still not decided whether to go 1.8T or VR6/V6. Decision may come down to whichever engine or donor car presents itself at a sensible price first.

The digi system is largely the same as that on a mk2 golf gti 8v. Yes the blue temp sensor in the front water outlet is crucial for cold/hot starting and general running. A dirty throttle potentiometer will also cause similar poor running but do the blue temp sensor First(check it's wiring before replacing)

I know two people who have bought Audi TTs with the 3.2l vr6 engine in as light write offs for around 1500. The engines have gone into a mk2 5dr GL sleeper an another into what was a 8v gti. They both managed to sell enough of the left overs to take a huge chunk out of the conversion cost.

Your car being injection gives you a little headstart on engine swaps.

Edit to add. Please try and bring it along to the mk2 golf owners National meet next year regardless of what engine is in it!!

Edited by aka_kerrly on Monday 24th July 22:03

[anonymous-user]

Well I've been neglecting updates to this thread as much as I have driving the car

Replaced all the brake systems for the MOT, having already replaced several hard lines and the fuel pump housing which was leaking

Having had a 2nd child since buying it and with a beetle resto in progress (which I really must do a thread for!) I've finally realised that I'm not going to find the time to do the engine conversion and have reluctantly listed it on eBay

Here ends another of my Readers Car threads without a decent conclusion. Hopefully next time I'll manage to achieve my goals!!

Just got to stop looking at the classifieds now....

[5harp3y]

rare beastie, would be great with a R32 lump