The weekend after the European road trip was Retro Rides Gathering. I really do love this show because its just loads of different stuff so its always interesting.... even with the most epic downpour of rain.

Next up was Goodwood Revival.

Always a great event however this year Huyi decided to run out of electricity

Turns out that the 2 month old Lucas Alternator was foobard... Liz came to the rescue and lent a Alternator which I fitted at 10pm in the hotel carpark. With the bigger rad and oil cooler its certainly is a lot harder to get the thing out. But I was really glad that I changed the crank pulley as it made it 100x easier than what it could have been.

I did get the RAC out to check it all over in the morning and she was given a good bill of health! I now have a lovely new Bosch alternator!

Nightmare. But that's the beauty of these cars, so much is possible with simple tools and a trolley jack on the side of the road

Nightmare. But that's the beauty of these cars, so much is possible with simple tools and a trolley jack on the side of the road

Yeah totally, as there isn't much to the cars it was either the battery had died, the alternator was faulty or the wiring from the alternator to battery had a break in it. The car actually broke down on the way back from Goodwood so luckily I had a battery pack jump starter which I connected up to the battery and used that to drive to the nearest Euro Car Parts and purchased a new battery which got us 30 miles back to the hotel. The alternator was changed within a hour. Something that is now added to my roadside kit is a multimeter, I was a bit lost without it! The guys at Andrew Page who had a stand at Goodwood where epic though as they had one of their staff bring one to the show for me! They are now my go to people for car parts :)

Fast forward to now and this is happening

Yes that's right her engine is coming out again! And this is her original 2G 55bhp monster of a motor with an 8P gearbox which will be going in! If you are reading this and you are one of the people who don't know whats happening, well she is going to the US and to be imported she needs her original engine in. So after 8 years of sitting under a bench its being cleaned up, serviced and 'hopefully' running again.

So up in the air she went

and the engine strip down has started

Plans are all the service items oil, plugs, leads etc together with water pump, cam belt, thermostat housing and stat

Also to keep things simpler for my simple brain I'll be running bike carbs...

oh no, what a shame! So what's happening to the 16v? Can you take that with you and drop it in when you're there?

It is and it isn't.. I'm actually looking forward to getting the old engine up and running. I really should have invested in some webbers though!! :-D

The 16v will be stored for now :)

Also finding decent 13 inch and 14 inch tyres is proving difficult in the US!

It is a shame that...maybe see how much you can get out the 8v lol could go bike carb turbooo [emoji1]

noooooooooooooooo

how long you over there for? surely you can sell me that exhaust manifold now? lol

noooooooooooooooo

how long you over there for? surely you can sell me that exhaust manifold now? lol

Yeesssss :)

It's a permanent move, have my Green card. Nope... its coming with me and the car! :)

Just stick a V8 under the bonnet when you get there so you blend in 😂

well I wish you all the luck and safe travels. keep us up to date on instagram and here :)

:( I need that manifold.

Same here mark I wish you the best of luck when you leave, it's a pity I never got to meet you as i came to clubpolo so late, buy keep updating [emoji4]

Cheers guys!! :)

Have no fear I'll be stepping up the bloggins/build thread and instagramming :) @ma_croxford if anyone else wants to follow :)

More in this today. Starting to take more and more off the engine so I can replace all the service parts.

hummmm this doesn't look good..

Hummm .....

Hummm..

So this is what happens when you leave an engine for 7 years. I cleaned it all out and and underneath the gunk it all looks fresh. so I think a couple of quick coolant changes will be needed

to make myself feel better I gave the engine a paint!#

Water pumps are cheap. Think I've got a pipe somewhere, will have a look.

Cheers Mr Yeti but I did managed to get a new one. They are sold from VW Heritage and they are rather cheap.

Also got some more parts

New thermostat housing and stat. New VW Downpipe, fuel pump planking plate, Alternator bolts, clutch, and spare 525mm rad!

Waterpipe on.

Need to blank of the far right port

Stat housing and clutch on

Exhaust manifold on

Fitted the water pump then realised I had the wrong type of cam belt... so another one of those has been ordered

Really need a 4-2-1 manifold or the rest of a standard exhaust system if anyone has either!

Looks absolutely brilliant mark. I love how I have an engine in the garage for ages and all I have done if remove stuff and this one's practically finished already haha

I think practically finished might be pushing it a bit... I have no idea if it runs! :)

Still need to drop the sump to do the sump gasket as its easier with the gearbox off, fit the carbs and cable in the throttle pedal. Work out what I'm doing with the exhaust oh and actualyl get it in the car.. :) all in a few weeks.. eeekkk

I think practically finished might be pushing it a bit... I have no idea if it runs! :)

Still need to drop the sump to do the sump gasket as its easier with the gearbox off, fit the carbs and cable in the throttle pedal. Work out what I'm doing with the exhaust oh and actualyl get it in the car.. :) all in a few weeks.. eeekkk

You've done the engine in and out thing so many times you should be doing it in the time it takes to make a cuppa [emoji6]

This is all a bit weird. But good luck with it,. I think youll have a shock when the old lump is running it.

Mine has GT cam and the carbs and is quite spritely, but it is probably half your hybrid 16v in bhp terms.

Have fun,,,,

I dislike the lack of valves but good luck! If it was me I'd be shipping the 16v engine too lol

This is all a bit weird. But good luck with it,. I think youll have a shock when the old lump is running it.

Mine has GT cam and the carbs and is quite spritely, but it is probably half your hybrid 16v in bhp terms.

Have fun,,,,

This is all a bit weird. But good luck with it,. I think youll have a shock when the old lump is running it.

Mine has GT cam and the carbs and is quite spritely, but it is probably half your hybrid 16v in bhp terms.

Have fun,,,,

Yeah I'm not sure what its going to be like as I haven't driven the 55bhp engine for 7 years. Lefty my old LHD mk2 was actually rather nippy and I didn't mind it :)

I dislike the lack of valves but good luck! If it was me I'd be shipping the 16v engine too lol

Oh the engine is coming with... might make it into a table

I reckon good power can come out of the 8v, not always the numbers either as they pull better low down.

I'm biased and 8v is boss :)

I totally admit I would like to have an 8V running twin webbers making about 100bhp. I think that would be rather cool! :)

The US are big into engine swaps etc. Why not just pop it back in once paperwork sorted.

Saying that, my 8v is fun. Was just thinking that long highway cruising you will really miss the comfortable higher speed flexibility.

Have no fear about the engine... a big V8 on bike carbs will be fitted!! :-D

Have no fear about the engine... a big V8 on bike carbs will be fitted!! :-D

Now this I want to see.

Edited 30 October, 201510 yr by Saint Jimi