Project Low & Slow: '83 GTI

[boostin20v]

The following will be a (regularly??) updated log on my project.

Project details/goal:
Have a reliable Mk1 which will be avaliable to use when ever and go where ever (height allowing). Car must remain mostly stock and only fixes be to keep it going. Project goals will allow for MINOR changes in performance to make it as much fun as possible while keeping it simple.

To Do List:

Grind down front calipers so that 5mm spacers are all thats needed to mount wheels
Install new head unit (current tape player isnt cutting it)

Parts Needed:

Parts Yet to Install:

Sony CD Head Unit


Modifications to date:
Exterior:

ATS Classic 13x7 & 13x8 Wheels w/ 175/50-13 tires
H&R Ultra Ultra Low Coilovers

Interior:

VW '84 GTI 120mph Cluster
VWMS Shift Knob

Engine:

A/C Delete
Autotech Adjustable Cam Gear/276 degree Cam/Sport Heavy Duty Springs
Coolant Overflow tank deleted
Dual Outlet Exhaust Manifold
Kent Valve Spring Retainers
Techtonics dual downpipe w/o cat
Techtonics 2" exhaust w/Dynomax Muffler
VW OE Windage Tray
VW Non-overflow Rad
VWMS Skid Plate


http://monty.syr.edu/vw/mine/rabbit_rat/IMG_0727.JPG

[meatwad!!]

car looks awesome :thumbup:

[car_whore]

does it run yet?

[useanimagination]

does it run yet?

last i knew no, the mk2 is getting all the love right now.

[car_whore]

last i knew no, the mk2 is getting all the love right now.

that sucks. i think i have an idea of what's wrong with it. i just had a similar experience on my sisters car as to what you were describing was going on before.

[boostin20v]

dude I'm all ears...as Sara said I've not really dont anything with it. It currently sits in the garage unloved. I was able to get it into the garage under its own power, but because it will not idle its hard to deal with. Since the last time I touched it I put fuel stabilizer and filled the tank with about 5gal of new gas (had gotten down to ~1/8th of a tank which was there since around sept last year.

[car_whore]

even though vinny swears that the timing is right it sounds like he is wrong. we had the same exact problem with my car, and it ended up that we were using the wrong timing mark on the cam gear. you have to use the one on the inside of the cam gear that is closest to the valve cover not the one on the outside of the gear. off the top of my head here is a step by step of what you should check.

take out plug 1 and put a long screw driver in the plug hole.
turn the motor over until the cylinder is at TDC.
at this point you should be able to see the flywheel timing mark at the to of the bell housing where it's suppose to be.
if you take off the cap the mark on the distributor itself should be pointing to plug hole number one as well as the rotor.
the timing mark on the inside of the cam gear should be lined up with the top of the head.

if i'm wrong and all of that is already correct you might want to check your coil, becuase i have been told that a bad coil will also cause the same problem adn it will seem like the car is starved for fuel and run strange.

[boostin20v]

I'll check the coil, we've verified timing (thought not with a light) numerous times.

[car_whore]

which dot your using on the cam gear is where i think the problem may be.

[boostin20v]

well the gear didnt have a dot so McShane lined it up iwith the OE unit and made a mark....thats the dot we're using

[evolveVW]

hell I could be wrong, Im just using what we know of as the marks. I just really want to get it figured out and the car running, even if it makes me look like an idiot.

[car_whore]

i know that you guys have spent quite a bit of time on it, but it sounds exactly like what i went through not to long ago. do you have a stock cam gear to try? ryan do you remember which one you lined it up with? i ended up changing the coil, cap, rotor, injectors, cis block, etc. chasing this problem and after working on it every day for over a week we realized that we were using the dot on the wrong side of the cam gear and it fired right up and had good power again like nothing happened.

[Shiftn4Dubs]

That is one fricking cool looking GTI, I dig the front end!!!!!

EDIT: That gives me an Idea, I think I might just make a modified front Bumper, I have an extra 1 that is cracked, So I think I will fiddle with it and come up with a diff. & unique look.

[boostin20v]

Thanks. After a snafoo with the hood latch this summer I'm actually running grillless.