Model: Mk2 Polo Coupe "Parade" Edition (5 speed non-sunroof)

Engine: 1.4 16v AFH on R1 carbs, lightened flywheel, 421 mani to 2" stainless. GT box. Dyno'd at 134bhp so far.

Suspension: 60/40 H&R cup kit, fully poly bushed, ARB blocks, brace bar, narrowed beam

Brakes: G40 vented discs and G40 calipers, Goodridge braided hoses, Raicam pads, Motul RBF600 fluid

Wheels and Tyres: Lotus Esprit Speedlines with 185 50 Yoko A539s

Exterior Styling: Dealership badge & sticker

Interior Styling: £2 gear knob and optional cigarette lighter

ICE and Security: Stereo now removed but I've left the wiring install in so i could put it back if I want to. alarm, immobiliser and period steering wheel lock



Comments: Right so I guess I may be a bit premature starting a build thread on a car I've had for a week that is totally standard, but I want this to be a documented progession of her over the years. My current plans are to keep the exterior completely stock. She's in such great nick and I want to keep the dealership badge and sticker, although I'm not sure if the delership plates will last as they're a bit tired after 20 years. The Parade pinstriping is staying too, it's a bit tatty but all original. The car has done 27,000 miles since new. One old lady owner who cried when I drove her off. Her husband says that the car has only ever been to the shops apart from once when they took her to France where she never skipped a beat.

My only modification so far is an 80's AA badge and I have some decent speakers in my basement which I'll be sticking in a stealth shelf if I can find one. I currently own a pretty modified Leon Cupra R which I am selling and once that's gone I will be investing in a new exhaust, some G40 brakes, sensible suspension and possibly some G60 steels. Going from the LCR was a bit of a shock, but I've never smiled so much behind the wheel. Miss the power steering and the 4 pot Brembos though

Bored yet? Time for some pics:

Edited 5 August, 201511 yr by EmDee

Today I sold my Leon Cupra R and promptly shelled out for some brand new G60 steelies with centre caps and some 195/45/15 Toyo Proxes T1Rs

Hopefully I'll get them on before Sunday for the run up to Spring Fest.

I should also have my new parcel shelf (to be made into a stealth shelf) and my new orange indicator lenses (one of the standard ones has a crack in it).

Happy days.

Edited 7 April, 201016 yr by EmDee

That looks like a nice example!! :) Looks very orginal.. even the orginal dealer stickers!! :)

I will get my G60 steels on Saturday but sadly the T1Rs won't turn up till Monday. shame as they will miss Spring Fest, Camskill let me down for the first time. Oh well.

The auto-reverse tape player and the blown paper 6x4s were driving me mad, so I dug out my old Alpine head unit. Installed it today along with my Pheonix gold amp and some Kicker 6x9s. I bought a parcel shelf off eBay and cut the holes for the 6x9s, covered the top with some black felty cloth stuff and made a stealth shelf. It was all going really well until I tried closing the boot... Turns out the shelf was out of a mk3 I think so there was no indent for the huge wiper motor. Hey ho, a quick stint with the jigsaw and some precision dremeling and she fits like a glove lol. Not quite as perfect as I'd hoped, but it does the job and looks stock if you dont open the boot. I'm hunting for a retro head unit, a Becker Mexico would be nice but I dont think the pennies will stretch that far, I'd rather have an exhaust and some suspension! Took some pics in the dark after I'd finished:

Put on my new indicator lenses which showed up yesterday, they're just the stock orange ones (I like it like that) but as you can see from the pic the ones on the car werent up to the job! Forgot to take a pic of the new ones.

Right now I'm refurbing a rusty old classic AA badge my Granny gave me. Lots of sanding and some white Hammerite and soon she'll be ready for the Yellow. Got the chrome bit all polished up and it's looking minty.

More coming soon...

Got the old girl a leather gearknob and Mountney steering wheel at the Spring Fest jumble (£12 for both, can't go wrong), but after seeing a few polos there on G60s I think they'll look WAY TOO BIG!!!!

Mine still haven't shown up dispite being told I'd get them Saturday but the tyres came this morning.

I've been stressing about it since yesterday morning, I really don't think they'll look right. I think on the smaller bumpers of the mk2 14" is about as big as I should go.

doh

I think I might just fit them anyway, lower it 60/40 and see how I feel. Trouble is that after they've been fitted they're not worth what I paid for them

Edited 12 April, 201016 yr by EmDee

okay so they're huge, but I quite like them...

now where's that lowering stick?

What size tyres you got on them mate? I reckon with some lows it'll look pretty good, It would be nice to see a polo sitting down on some big rims for a change!

195/45/15 Toyo T1Rs, I'm not really a fan of stretch because I want as much tyre on the road as possible, I like doing trackdays etc. Unfortunately they might rub a bit once it's lower but I dont really care lol

I'm going for some H&R struts and springs to maximise comfort and handling as opposed to getting coilies and slamming it since it's my daily. Maybe not a popular decision or very "scene" but I dont really care, I want it to drive well. I dont think I'll go more than 60/40 but we will see what works best.

Edited 13 April, 201016 yr by EmDee

the G60's wheels looks good but your right 15's might be not great for track days. you could keep these as your road wheels and pick up some light weight 13's/14's for track days :)

195/45/15 Toyo T1Rs, I'm not really a fan of stretch because I want as much tyre on the road as possible, I like doing trackdays etc. Unfortunately they might rub a bit once it's lower but I dont really care lol

I'm going for some H&R struts and springs to maximise comfort and handling as opposed to getting coilies and slamming it since it's my daily. Maybe not a popular decision or very "scene" but I dont really care, I want it to drive well. I dont think I'll go more than 60/40 but we will see what works best.

HnR cup kit for the motherfucking win mate, youll honestly love it and the wheels look really goods, 194/45/15 is the proper tyre you want haha and always good have some decent rubber on your motor.

was good gettin stuck on the way in behind you at sspringfest

yeeh boi

If you want it to handle well, (as well as a polo can handle) without spending money, go and speak to Phil J

Get yourself some H & R cup kit, 60/40 and some of his new anti role bar blocks, plus polybush the front track control arms and replace the top mounts and rear beam bushes for standard VAG ones.

Just had phil do this to mine and it has transformed the ride completely. Had the cup kit on my mk3 GT before, and they were harsh, and the turn in was slow and heavy, now on the mk2 and with the other bits, the turn in is so much better, and the steering isn't too heavy. The car is totally transformed and not that harsh.

Its a few quick, but certainly worth it, if you are keeping the car!!!!

Oh and when you get an exhaust, get a 4 branch manifold as well. You would not believe how restrictive the exhaust is on a mk2, even the mk 3 GT system would be a big improvement. Again speak to Phil, as he can help you out with this too.

If you want it to handle well, (as well as a polo can handle) without spending money, go and speak to Phil J

Very helpful post. This is basically what I'm planning, been looking at 4branchs and bushes today. Thanks for the advice, although I'm not sure about the "without spending money" bit - that must be a typo.

I'm sorting Phil out with loadsa money to order the bits and in the next few weeks I should have:

Stainless exhaust

4 branch mani

H&R 60/40 kit

powerflex front TCA bushes

rear axle bushes

ARB block

top mounts

I'd better get back to work now so I can pay for it...

Sorry meant a shed load of money!!!

Think you will be impressed at how well it can handle then

I have also got on mine a GED brace bar and a weitec brace, not sure how much they help as they were stuck on all together, but can't do any harm!!

i was thinking that the 15's may look too big but they actually look alright. i reckon a 40/40 drop would look spot on!

love the plans you got too, looking forward to updates

excellent example there.

you should check out my parade coupe , exactly the same colour :)

Looks like it is gonna be very similar to mine, just a different colour!!!

Though mine is currently runnning the 14 version of your steels!!!

It looks fantastic in the first pictures,shame only about the resolution.

I tried bigger wheels but didn't like the feel of it,so it now proudly wears the same alloys yours came with.

Having seen yours on original suspension,it will soon proudly stand a bit taller than it does currently,too (though not that tall!).

I might even give it a pin stripe and a polish - if your first pictures are anything to go by,the scene look doesn't compete with standard factory fresh!

The original stereo (with a small amp) is proving sufficient for me,but id like an aux input.

bugger, i was just getting into this when...

no more pages!!!

lol

lovely motor mate, like what your doing to it too.

fuck following trends, set your own mate

hehe thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated - helping me keep the mojo strong with this one.

Not much to report really, other than she is off to PhilJ soon. The parts should hopefully be with him in the next week or so and I'll be rallying off down to Redhill.

First I'd like to whore out a springfest pic of her before any mods:

aww yeah minty polo fresh

Secondly, I took a few pictures today of various bits:

I'll start with my favourite part of the car - although that number is alarmingly larger than it was a few weeks ago

one of my sticky new tyres (theres soo much room up that arch lol)

My new £2 knob! actually for the record it looks more black than grey in real life, not sure why it came out like that (insert £2 black knob joke here)

My Grandad's old AA badge after a coat of laquer:

and my £10 Mountney wheel - still not sure if this is going on as i like the standard one and this was a bit of an impulse buy

Check out that old skool typewriter! I forgot I had that!

Can't wait for some proper suspension components and the 4 branch and exhaust.

I keep promising myself I'll keep it as standard as possible but I'm really struggling! I apologise to the purists now!

Edited 16 April, 201016 yr by EmDee

Not much to report today, finished my AA badge after what seems like years and gave the engine bay a proper going over. Found some interesting stuff in there. Never had to hoover an engine bay before in my life lol.

Time for some shameless picture whoring:

That looks really nice!!!!

That is all

'Bout time !

needs slamming on some rims!

Marts.. get it sorted

*btw.. Puggs sends his love

Edited 22 April, 201016 yr by Benny Fitz

I'd recognise that Brummy accent anywhere

hehe

Tell da Captain I says hai

Pile of new bits, already fitted the rears and an axle bush when Martin asked me to grab some pics, forgot the new top mounts for the pic too, but thats most of them.

Thought it be a shame if I didnt give the front struts a 20 minute makeover...

Looks a bit better under there!

Lovely clean car this one!

Suspension rebuild is pretty much done, just got to finish fitting the manifold and making the exhaust... :-)

Hope your enjoying the loan golf gti!