This is another great wee thread on the go here. Can't wait for the end of summer to get on with mine

Progress is rather slow at the moment, just started a new job and lots of stuff happening! Wish I could spend more time on the engine because it needs a lot of TLC. Previous owner had snapped a lot of plastics and the oil should've been changed a long time ago. It will need changing again after about 3k miles no doubt. I have bought some plastic trim from VW to replace the missing/broken pieces.

So currently doing a quick service, after taking the flywheel off I noticed the crankshaft oil seal was leaking so it will be replaced tomorrow afternoon :) Pic from today's oily endeavours:

Just noticed the nice birdshit on the crane. Beautiful.

Edited 2 June, 201016 yr by Narrow_Lane

Well turns out Euro Car Parts supplied me with the wrong crank oil seal so I am delayed even more :( really pissed off at the moment nothing is going well.

The new seal (on the box) is too wide to fit inside the cover plate. Trying to get part numbers in the FAQ section if anyone can help?

Pic of the new plastics to replace broken/missing bits:

Been doing bits and pieces to the engine during evenings and weekends now and again. Renewed the crank oil seal a week ago, then cleaned up the block gave it a lick of paint and set about fitting the alternator. Used the Mk4 one, with a couple of bolts (one M8 one M10 lol) and sleeves etc. Pulleys line up pretty much perfect now, and I have a plan in mind for the tensioner bracket using the Mk2 tensioner.

Then I got it ready for gearbox, with clutch all bolted up and Mk3 flywheel.

Moved it down in front of the garage ready to be dropped in. Gearbox bolted up and starter motor fitted. Turns out the one I used on my GT engine was a late Mk3 item (at least I think it will engage the flywheel..).

Chucked it next to the scrap metal bins, might put as well put a 1 litre in now they rev better right???

lol.. should be dropping it in tomorrow evening all going to plan!

Just remembered - I noticed a slight oil leak in the gearbox, possibly coming from the selector rod seal? Bit worried cos I saw what happened to Saf's box.. Could also have a leak at the reverse light switch? Looks around those two areas..

Edited 20 June, 201016 yr by Narrow_Lane

wikid fella, keep it up

As far as I aware the selector rod seal isn't too hard to change, mine is also leaking but its effort to change it

How much longer you reckon til its all done? Would like to see the difference between a valver mk2 and GT mk2

Pff I dunno there's still a fair bit of work like fuel lines/pumps and interior wiring. Hoping to pick up an unmolested interior loom from a local scrappy so I can just tape off all the unused connectors behind the dash. People are wanting silly money for the looms on this forum :( Might be able to get away without changing the handbrake mech to a late one, I'll see...

I'd say a couple of weeks though if I pull my finger out!

I forgot how much work you still have to do, defiantly can't do it in a day

Can't remember if you said or not, you gonna be using mk4 clocks or stick with the mk2?

Will be using the mk4 clocks if all goes to plan!

Lots to do yea, might need some coupe rear arch sections as well in the future...maybe!

Paycheck from work meant I got this:

Jessie the cat oversaw the work:

Pikeytech gasket alignment:

Test fit to mark up rest of ARB mount for grinding:

Tomorrow evening I will be grinding the mount, bolting up driveshafts, starting the tensioner bracket, plumbing her up and maybe starting the wiring unless I decide to fit my new gfx card to my PC. Or too drunk if England win. Which is unlikely!

Woop finally

wikid, fella, shall be keeping a close eye on this one. What are you having t do to the arb mount and why?

Have to grind some of the metal off to give clearance for the alternator belt. I will take some detailed pics tomorrow to help people and illustrate it. Basically it's extremely thick metal so needs grinding in at least two places (won't affect structural integrity trust me).

I think grinding that mount has been the most fun part of my conversion so far!

Keep up the good work!

Got pissed off today cos the alternator belt I bought is too small (673mm) and generally slow progress... thinking to myself - why the fuck am I doing this?

My old man suggested scrapping it as well which didn't go down well since I'd just had a shitty day at work.. very close to chucking it all in right now..

Stick with it man! Just take a break from it and come back with a fresh head!

woooo please dont, but if you do( which I genuinly hope you dont, dibs on the engine and mani!)

but please dont

you have given me the balls to look for a 16v now..... I've always thought it a great engine for the mk2 breadys....

and dont give up...... i have never argued with my old man as much as i did when respraying my bready and I wanted to jak it in too.. but stick with it coz once its on the road then you can finally enjoy all the hard work and it totally pays off....

must be worth it coz it was the second time i did a big mod/job on my car and now I'm thinking of a third thanks to you lol

and anyway you need to finish it so i can follow how to do it

thanks means a lot to hear encouragement right now. I think its partly due to work that I get like this..

you have given me the balls to look for a 16v now..... I've always thought it a great engine for the mk2 breadys....

and dont give up...... i have never argued with my old man as much as i did when respraying my bready and I wanted to jak it in too.. but stick with it coz once its on the road then you can finally enjoy all the hard work and it totally pays off....

must be worth it coz it was the second time i did a big mod/job on my car and now I'm thinking of a third thanks to you lol

and anyway you need to finish it so i can follow how to do it

this rings home so well.... I decided to carry on, my dad said he has spent 2 months just doing the pop-out windows in his 67 split.. and spent 10 years building a house while he worked for me and my family so it made me feel a bit stupid getting pissed at an alternator belt...!! I know it feels good when its all done but it seems so far away, I still need to find a fuel system and handbrake stuff, and an interior loom from a 6N.

one of those days I think. got some pics for you after getting stuck in again, but slow progress...

Ok this was after I abandoned all hope, had a beer and meal to calm down, played some BC2 and generally chilled out a bit.

Didn't have the correct belt so used some ghetto measuring devices:

ARB mount before (ignore the fail grindage at teh bottom.. all will be apparent):

After grinding, I lifted the engine twice to check clearance:

Just a quick note to stress that I haven't fully checked with a correct belt - the 673mm one I thought would fit is slightly too short, so I think the next size up 697mm is what I will test it with...

Here's a diagram for the benefit of those that will do this in future:

Remember that if you use a Mk2/3 alternator and pulleys (V-belt ones) the belt location is likely to be further down the mount.

On a side note what is this connector for? It was damaged when I received the engine (the green/brown earth pin was pulled out):

It has 3 wires: Green/brown, White/blue and Grey/black (I think).

Edited 28 June, 201016 yr by Narrow_Lane

lmao at the paint fail, made me giggle, I can remember doing this do Dans engine, cant wait to do mine

Respect for the work here mate, I've been there losing my mind trying to keep my scabby mk2 on the road. I have a mk2 Golf with so much work needing done on it that today I was starting to think about breaking it. Uni and the poverty that goes with it seems to prevent any momentum with any of my plans with cars. I know when I'm qualified and working I'll need to be almost selfish about making time to spend on projects.

Threads like this (and Katpolos) make me look forward to my time off to get stuck into some shell stripping and welding

get this belt mate

Halfords HB680G - even thats a snug fit but perfect for the job

you cant really fit it with the engine in situ, without taking the front engine mount off and dropping it slightly, or raising it.

youll get there with the grinding mate, just trial and error, but you can cut a hefty section out to alleviate any clearance issues.

dont give up anyway you mad man the beige hailer is sickasfurks

glad your not giving up mate, i've been kinda like you recently but more through working stupidly long shifts giving me little time to work on he polo and when i do have time i feel fucked, and even after all the over time i still have no spare cash to spend sorting out the last bits.

Just try your best to stick with it mate, brighter days will follow

Good work mate, i'm watching this one very carefully!