Moved to Germany just to do a build thread(83 Golf rebuild)

[hinshu]

Ok so maybe i didnt move to Germany just to do a build thread, but when i heard that i got orders to Germany, i told myself i wouldnt leave without finding a eurospec mk1 golf. Two years and a deployment later, i got lucky. My buddy was due to return back to the states and had a mk1, but he didnt have enough time to get it running, thus he couldnt ship it, so i gladly took over ownership and began the cleanup and build up.

This car has a bit of history to it, that it has passed thru a couple military hands in the past 5-10 years. One of the biggest things done was an ABF motor and 020 tranny was dropped in. I've been told this car ran with the swap, but im still going to crack the head open and check for any problems.

I know one of the previous owners quite well and he said the guy he sold it to just f'd up the car left and right. One of the things he did was cut the rain tray out, but at least managed to leave the VIN sitting in the front seat. He did some ****ty bondo work and painted over the driver front fender that was rusted thru... needless to say when that fender came off, it folded like a taco.

Now my buddy that i bought it off of started taking good care of it, but like i said he just didnt have the time. So here we go, pics for clicks:


How i got her



Engine shot with manifold for carbs


Made in West Germany


New dash fitted


mk3 leather seats over mk2 seat buckets.


rain tray that was cut out. thats the only bit of rust i have on the entire car.


Various other pieces ive gathered to include some junkyard specials





Bad fender gone!


New fender on!


There's actually a short story to that fender. Spent the day junkyard crawling and found a pretty rusted out cabby. That fender was the only piece that wasnt rusted out... so took it off and went to pay. The guy at the counter spoke almost no english and wanted 25euro. I asked him if he took cards, he said yeah, but then asked if i had USD which i did, and he said $15. Quickly gave him a $20 he handed me back 5euro, asked if that was ok. I said yup! and quickly walked out. He obviously screwed up on his exchange rate math.





i know the offset looks rediculous. Those rims were only put on so the car could be towed to a place i can slowly build it up. I have roughly 18mo left here and in that time i hope to have it virtually restored.

Currently on the way are:

Dual Weber 45mm DCOE
Cable linkage
Jet kit
new black carpet interior
new door cards

I hope to have the car running in the next 2-3 weeks before it begins to snow.

[VWM4YH3M]

Looking good man

[hinshu]

Thanks man!

I'm in the perfect place to find period specific parts, not to mention a lot of Germans in the tuning scene stick to their roots of the mk1 & mk2. I'm lucky to have a bunch of German friends who are great at fab work, welding and painting. I hope to have this car nearly restored by the time I move back stateside.

[IRDangerDave]

Can't wait to hear that this little monstrosity is up and going

[VWM4YH3M]

You think you could find me a hecka rabbit or gti?

[hinshu]

Can't wait to hear that this little monstrosity is up and going

Got your PM just now... once everything is here the b!tch should be running!

You think you could find me a hecka rabbit or gti?

No doubt, i can find just about any thing out here. US likes euro style, and Europe likes US-spec style. I plan on shipping a container back with a plethra of parts/hatches & maybe a car or two.

PM me what exactly you want and ill see if i can make it happen

[GTrabbIt]

In for updates and more pics.

What part of Germany?

[chrissev2]

Nice car. I remember back in 1997 when I was over in Germany on a student exchange during my undergrad there were lots of those cars still being driven. I took pics with a disposable camera I had of all of the really old ones I found. I found a white two door swallowtail with the tiny metal euro-bumpers right near to one of the campus bars I used to frequent, a four door diesel that looked like a 77 or a 76 and a bunch of other old VWs, some just sitting on the side of the street rusting away. I found a "buy and sell" newspaper where I lived (Freiburg im Breisgau) that had a section where people were giving away old cars (labelled "Zu Verschenken") and found a number of old MK1 Golfs from the late 70's being given away along with a lot of Beetles. I was told by a German classmate that because most people in Freiburg rented their homes and had a single parking space, when their car could no longer pass the "TUV" inspection that cars need to do every year, if it was a really old car they would just try to give it to someone so that they could get a new car and have a place to park it. I guess now those old cars would be worth something if they still existed.

Anyway a bit of nostalgia from me, good luck with that build, looking forward to hearing if you are able to find a radio for my 1980.


Chris

[ineedavrcorrado]

what wheels are on the front ?

[hinshu]

In for updates and more pics.

What part of Germany?

Ramstein AB / Kaiserslautern

Anyway a bit of nostalgia from me, good luck with that build, looking forward to hearing if you are able to find a radio for my 1980.
Chris

I'll do my best!

what wheels are on the front ?

Schmidt's. Unsure on what style, I'm sure someone here more educated on rims can chime in.

[VWM4YH3M]

Euro spec metal bumpers an a plate

[vento86]

Got your PM just now... once everything is here the b!tch should be running!



No doubt, i can find just about any thing out here. US likes euro style, and Europe likes US-spec style. I plan on shipping a container back with a plethra of parts/hatches & maybe a car or two.

PM me what exactly you want and ill see if i can make it happen

well ill take some small tails and a hecka.. im serious. ive got cash, pm me

[VWM4YH3M]

^^^^^ small tails an hecka I also cash money

[hinshu]

weather was horrible today and didnt come home with much stuff. Only nice score was a gauge cluster out of a cabby.

[hinshu]

well weather is getting colder quick, and i unfortunately dont have a garage to work on her. This might be it for the next few months unless i get lucky with a semi decent day

[VWM4YH3M]

I'm in the same boat man

[Bwayne]

moar

[riddie]

in

[hinshu]

From a sudden halt to operation to back in gear.... Found a 3 bay garage equipped with a lift, air compressor, plasma torch, welder AND they are letting me build a paint booth all for 110€/mo.

Moving the car there in a couple weeks to get her all settled in before it snows. I think this just might be completely done by worthersee 2012!

[88Jetta350]

Figured I'd pop in and contribute a little more history on this car.

I bought this car back in 2008 out of the strip-lot behind the Grafenwohr craft shop: (as you can see, the bondo was there when I got it)






Threw a 1.6 TurboDiesel in it at the craft shop:




(THAT is a freakin' radiator, covered almost the entire front opening)


Threw some rubber on it, and dragged it up the hill to my house.



Complete CE2 wiring swap from the donor car:



Threw some other stuff into it:











Spent an entire weekend polishing it:



Got it running & driving



Threw some plates on it, and took it for a drive, then this happened (lifter seized):








Ran out of time, cuz I was in the process of being med-boarded out, so I sold it to a buddy in Graf, who sold it to another guy in K-Town, who sold it to you.

I can't wait to see how she turns out, I know you'll do good by her.

(PS I may still have the center caps to those 5-spoke Ronal wheels if you want to keep them, if not, can I have them back? lol)

[m.u.n.d.o.]

Yo! I think im gonna get some body work and paint done to mine... Do you know of a good place? Where did tom tom got the mini done at? ... AND, it better be done before worthersee!

[hinshu]

@Derek, wow memory lane right there.

@mundo, I should have the car at it's new home by the end of the month. I'm going to build a paint booth if you wanna go halves on it and then you can do some resto work on your mk1.

This place I'm renting has a lift, plasma torch, air compressors, paint guns, welders and supplied tools. 110€/mo

[IRDangerDave]

Get your box yet?

[hinshu]

Get your box yet?

Sure did boss! Thanks. Sorry been super busy with work.

The manifold is being CNC'd to work better... If that doesn't work, pierce manifolds it is

[IRDangerDave]

Not a problem, man. Just making sure. Let me know if you need anything else

Getting it machined should do the trick. I never got that fancy - just finessed them w.a grinder

[hinshu]

so due to the military's unrelentless ability to suck away my free time, ive sent the mk1 to be built by my good friend Jorg from JD motorconcepts. He's going to try and get it all running and ready to go for Worthersee 2012!

video candy:

http://www.youtube.com/user/JDMotorconcepts/feed

[hinshu]

UPDATE

Car is close to being done. A few odds and ends are still needing to be ordered. Still on track to being completed by Worthersee.

Pics to come, but for now here is another video of one of the biggest best kept secrets in the VW world here in Germany.

[hinshu]

Been a bit since the last update.

Engined being honed and intake channels being opened up a bit more. Everything should be back from the shop next week after being balanced out as well.

New internals going in, hopefully she will be worthersee ready in two weeks!

[oopseyesharted]

Would you be interested in shipping a set of sexy euro wheels to me?
My rabbit needs something badly.

[hinshu]

Would you be interested in shipping a set of sexy euro wheels to me?
My rabbit needs something badly.

Both the fronts and rears on the mk1 are for sale. I have all 4 corners for each.

Let me know if interested

[IRDangerDave]

Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet?

[hinshu]

Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet? Is it running yet?

20 days till worthersee... And no not yet.

[IRDangerDave]

20 days till worthersee... And no not yet.

Boo =( It's going to be a little beast when it's done! Are you bringing it back w.you?

[malonion]

Hinshu, did anyone ever figure out what those wheels were? They look widened.

[airbornejet]

good luck on your project, if you don't finish it before your DEROS, you can still ship it with you.