VW Golf Mk2 16 v trackday upgrades

[speedyellowrs]

Hi Everyone

I was originally going to blow a few quid on an E36 M3 or Elise for trackday work, but looks like funds needed elsewhere... so have decided to transform my tired but fairly original Mk2 16v into a trackday weapon...
Anyone out there with experience of this? I'm looking for recommendations for brake/ suspension upgrades, bolt-in cage suppliers, engine mods and good exhaust system that will liberate a few more ponies, without offending the noise police at Castle Combe... or looking like it belongs at the MacDonalds drive thru on a friday night

Any ideas as to how much weight can be removed? I'll obviously be removing the interior/soundproofing and fitting lightweight seats etc. Also, how much power can be achieved without spending big bucks on engine transplants.
Not looking for lap records... just want to have a lot of inexpensive fun.
Thanks for all advice

Edited by speedyellowrs on Wednesday 27th February 10:13

[Birdthom]

If you just want some cheap fun then stick to pads, hoses and fluid and get it out there. Should be quite good fun as it is - some decent suspension & tyres would help matters but if you get carried away with too much kit you'll just be pouring money down the bog!

[speedyellowrs]

Fair enough. The car's pretty tired anyway, and needs brakes/shocks replacing so I thought I could upgrade while I'm at it. Hoping not to spend too much and looking for recommendations of products.
Cheers

[iguana]

I've posted lots on this, if you use the search for this & VW forum lots with 16v track or golf 16v etc as the search then lots will come up, also join northloop.co.uk forum & loot at members motors section, lots of members run mk2s at 'ring cars to good specs & worth looking at.

Weight wise 850kg is faily easy to achive, sub 800kg not easy at all on 16v, easier on 8v.

This was my Golf spec, was great fun, developed over a few yrs & lots of trackdays, you'd not go far wrong doing something similar, although suspension wise go harder from the outset & I drove to a lot of euro trackdays etc so diddnt go mental with the stripping or suspension, so was 100kg heavier than it could be & slicked up wasnt hard enough.

http://www.clubgti.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1470...

[speedyellowrs]

Nice one, Iguana.
I'll start doing some homework.

[clubsport]

Why not use the 993RS on track?...they go well, fairly cheap to run and are a lot of fun!

[iguana]

Aha didnt spot the RS is his profile, rhd too, bloody hell few quid! well as fun as golfs are & do make make great DRTs (dedicated 'ring toys) its not really gunna be a patch on an RS for fun on regular tracks, I'd sell & put the dosh to something else, making a Golfy properly sorted unless you use all 2nd hand bits & do all work yr self will cost enough to buy a lower end elise....

[speedyellowrs]

clubsport said:

Why not use the 993RS on track?...they go well, fairly cheap to run and are a lot of fun!

Hehehe... I am!!! Saving it for special days... Spa... 'ring trips... lots of fun. I know the car can cope with it, the problem is, I need to perfect my track craft in something that won't bring tears to my eyes if I have a car/armco interface! Fancy doing 10 - 20 trackdays a year rather than 1 or 2. . I haven't become a full blown polisher... yet!

[speedyellowrs]

iguana said:

Aha didnt spot the RS is his profile, rhd too, bloody hell few quid! well as fun as golfs are & do make make great DRTs (dedicated 'ring toys) its not really gunna be a patch on an RS for fun on regular tracks, I'd sell & put the dosh to something else, making a Golfy properly sorted unless you use all 2nd hand bits & do all work yr self will cost enough to buy a lower end elise....

Thanks Iguana. Plan on doing a bit of the easier stuff myself but really just want to limit the improvements to brakes, suspension, couple of simple engine mods and stripping weight. will hopefully keep the costs to a minimum. I've been on northloop.co.uk and am pretty impressed with the lengths you guys have gone to with your Mk2's Didn't realise a hot hatch could have a BTG time of 8.45!!

Edited by speedyellowrs on Wednesday 27th February 19:30

[clubsport]

speedyellowrs said:

clubsport said:

Why not use the 993RS on track?...they go well, fairly cheap to run and are a lot of fun!

Hehehe... I am!!! Saving it for special days... Spa... 'ring trips... lots of fun. I know the car can cope with it, the problem is, I need to perfect my track craft in something that won't bring tears to my eyes if I have a car/armco interface! Fancy doing 10 - 20 trackdays a year rather than 1 or 2. . I haven't become a full blown polisher... yet!

I quite understand, it makes a lot of sense.
The only thing is I doubt an Iguana drive Golf will help you that much with the 911. In the past I bought a decent 968CS as I wanted to save the 911 for similar reasons....it just confused things, the only option was to get another track 911
Good luck with it

[speedyellowrs]

You're quite right, of course, Clubsport. As soon as funds allow, that's what I'll be doing. But for this year, I just need to get out on track!! Next year things may be different....

[GVK]

iguana said:

making a Golfy properly sorted unless you use all 2nd hand bits & do all work yr self will cost enough to buy a lower end elise....

Agreed, you wouldn't think to look at it, but my old shed has had 10k or more spent on it during the last 5 years (inc buying it for £1900 as a tidy standard road car)

Has been good fun though, and have met some nutters along the way, eh Iguana..

Edited by GVK on Wednesday 27th February 22:49

Edited by GVK on Thursday 28th February 07:26

[Wh00sher]

speedyellowrs said:

I've been on northloop.co.uk and am pretty impressed with the lengths you guys have gone to with your Mk2's Didn't realise a hot hatch could have a BTG time of 8.45!!

Hi there,

If you`ve looked on northloop, this is my thread : http://z8.invisionfree.com/Northloop/index.php?sho... ,I`ve tried to keep a tight grip on the budget and done a lot of work myself, keeping it reliable and rather than throwing money at it, I`ve saved that money to spend on track time and improving my skills before I improve the car anymore.

Another Golf is this one : http://z8.invisionfree.com/Northloop/index.php?sho... Thats had a 1.8T upgrade, taken weight saving to a much higher level and is very quick. It will suprise a LOT of cars on track (as it did at Bedford last weekend)

Some G60 280mm brakes, Solid vented front disks and yellow stuff pads will give you all the braking you`ll need for a long time to come. Regular oil changes and checking the oil doesnt get too hot and you should have yourself a reliable track toy which you can get out there and have some fun with.

[speedyellowrs]

I'm hoping not to spend as much as 10k on this project, but it would appear easy to get carried away!! Nice pic, GVK, looks like fun to me!!

Cheers WhOOsher... I'll check out the links this morning. G60 brakes seem to be a popular option.

[Adenauer]

Hi there, I'm what those people on the Northloop forum call "the old fart" and would just like to suggest that you do the suspension, brakes, stripping, cage, seats, braces etc. But please leave the engine alone, at least at first, having a 200bhp Golf is no good to you if it breaks down all the time.

PS: I know most of them up there ^^ and they're all a bit odd, just so's y'know

[speedyellowrs]

Thanks Adenaur! ... I'd prefer to be able to drive away from the track at the end of the day, rather than ride home in the cab of the AA relay!

[Wh00sher]

Adenauer said:

Hi there, I'm what those people on the Northloop forum call "the old fart" and would just like to suggest that you do the suspension, brakes, stripping, cage, seats, braces etc. But please leave the engine alone, at least at first, having a 200bhp Golf is no good to you if it breaks down all the time.

Thats exactly what I`ve done, the engine is untouched, a standard 2.0 16V ABF Engine with oil cooler. Flywheel lightened and balanced when I fitted the new stronger gearbox, but thats all. I could get more power if I started tuning it, but I want reliability rather than outright performance.

You cant learn anything sat in pit lane with a broken 200+ monster...

[GVK]

Adenauer said:

PS: I know most of them up there ^^ and they're all a bit odd, just so's y'know

Odd? Pot,kettle etc , Karl!!

[Adenauer]

GVK said:

Adenauer said:

PS: I know most of them up there ^^ and they're all a bit odd, just so's y'know

Odd? Pot,kettle etc , Karl!!

You in't sin me, roit?

[stueys]

Hi, on my car i have got a Spax RSX kit i bought second hand off of my mates track car (the adjustable damper one), 280mm front brakes which is quite simple, braided hoses, good fluid. It came with a 2 litre 9A bottom end, i have some new powerflex bushed wishbones for the front, and i have stripped most of the interior. It is fairly modest compared to some, but it does go well. I would recommend some uprated roll bars, as i had a lot of roll at Silverstone. As it still runs on the road, i couldn't have a rock hard setup like my mates car, so i reckon the rollbars would be a good compromise