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Owner: Diamond Hell
Location: Bristol
Model Golf Syncro CL
Year 88F
Motor 1.8 GU with GTI PB head
RHD
Extras: Weber Carb, 4pence – single pennies in injector ports in the head, to facilitate fitting of the carb, rather than injection, Rallye anti-roll bar, Seat Toldeo front and rear seats (they were free, OK)
Estimated bhp 100ish
Brakes 280mm rotors at front, drums still on back, although discs waiting to be fitted, 16v master cylinder
Suspension: replacement OE dampers to rear and gas dampers to front, GIII VR6 Syncro springs, which may, or may not be cut, depending upon who you are [
]. most of the mounts have also been replaced in the last year, too.
g/box drivetrain: Shelf-mount cable change gearbox and fitting kit.
Bodywork: reasonable for age.
Future plans: Although it is currently ‘resting’ further to the birth of my daughter, it is anticipated to be next-in-line for attention after the quattro-engined T25 pick up is on the road and the T4 has a camping interior – late 2008 then [
]Some time ago:
More recently:
I’ve now stripped this out for track use. I have sensible cars, so why not go dumb-assed with this one?
At rest:
At play:
That ‘headlight missing’ modification in full:
The main modification is this:
I’ve even vacuumed out all the crap left in the bottom since then.
Removing all that weight has made a huge difference to the way goes – it’s much MUCH faster and fun to drive. Unless you really need all that stuff in the back (for boring things like passengers ‘n’ stuff) get rid of it!
Next up (probably not until next year now) – further track modifications, aimed at improving handling, strength and stiffness of the shell.
Cheers, chap.
A cage is high on the list, but not a BS 3 point ‘show cage’ (what’s the point in that, eh?). It’ll have to be a properly specced one and will probably be welded to the shell in more places than when it comes out of the box.
I don’t want to add too much weight back in, now, do I?
I wouldn’t mind getting a cage in mine, but, as you say, no show rubbish. Something that’ll do a good job if the worst happens!!
I know a guy, who’d be able to do us custom cages, if you’re interested – Paul ‘Botch’ Venners. He builds cages for drag racers as well as various other disciplines, so they won’t be under-specced! Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll look into it further.
Just got a quote – £800 for a basic 6 point cage, hand-built by a well-established and high-spec cage builder, who built this one: http://www.coupehaus.co.uk/richardT_project.html .
OK, I’ve done it – I’ve cut a section out of my transmission tunnel – I hope the car isn’t going to hate me for it! I got the bit between my teeth this evening and went into it with the air hacksaw and mini-grinder thingy. I was then able to crack on and start fabricating up the ‘other’ downpipe – the difficult one that will be living where the transmission tunnel was.
Pics are here: http://diamondhell.com/component/option,com_rsgallery2/Itemid,29/catid,17/
Hopefully I’m not making too much of a pig’s ear of it. I don’t think it’s coming along too badly. I have one section of the downpipe left to weld into place and then the joins between the sections to finish. Before I do that I need to hoick the motor out once again, as my original cut out isn’t quite big enough – better that the than other way around!
Once this is done I’m going to struggle to find excuses not to finish this conversion and put the car back out on the road to try it out [
].Can’t wait.
Looking very good, dont forget that the 2E motor is a tall block and the exhaust manifold sits 15mm higher than your old GU motor, I trust you have allowed for this? yes I thought you would have. [
]I picked up a crossflow head from PoloV8 on Friday night, which means I now have to decide bike carbs, or chipped injection? I’m leaning towards injection at the moment, but we’ll see.
Busy day today. Pictures are here: http://diamondhell.com/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&Itemid=29&catid=18
I’ve finished the downpipe and made further cut backs to the tunnel. I’m thinking I’m going to plate around the hole now, then shape some plate to cover it and add a couple of stiffening ribs that I’ll use to make a clutch footrest (something the Golf’s been missing anyway).
This evening I’ve taken the dash and heater out completely and then heated up and stripped back the sound deadening panels around the hole, ready for cup-brushing and then welding prep. The cover for the LHD pedal box was also hanging off, so I’ll plate that up while I’m in there.
Once again I’m pleased with the progress.
Next up? Y-pipe to complete the exhaust, then I can plate over the hole, when I’m happy that the exhaust won’t easily make contact with the other bits.
]
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