vwthomas

2011 (2l 16v swap)

Engine and gearbox installed and the car back on its wheels.

Mega squirt setup, despite this not being my final solution i was really happy i had a crack at this. Really taught me that all wiring looks horribly daunting before you start but after going through and labeling and sorting out each little bit step by step its nothing a good system cant fix 

There was a nice useful pin out so i actually made the megasquirt loom just connect directly to the existing factory loom for easy removal.

Head cleaned up very nicely with a bit of a diy parts cleaning bin and some elbow grease.

A fresh selection of parts from the UK, i struggled to find new valves anywhere else.

The old 8v lump removed, made for a good paper weight. Took me so long to get this out maybe a couple of days. Having had the new engine in and out a couple of times now for clutch replacement etc, i reckon i could do a full removal in a couple of hours.

Struggled with breaking the cam gear, could not figure out why the engine would not turn over and then the cam gear would snap its tooth off. Turned out to be bent cams, which set me back a long time cause trying to find another set was proving a mission.

Found some new Cams in the end and it all went back together nicely.

Build Thread:89 Mk2 Golf Project

Discussion: Link

I bought Rolf (the golf) as my first car back in 2007 when I was 15 from a family friend. It had a damaged water pump and a broken radiator, and no oil in it. I found a water pump and a Haynes Manual on trademe and set to work, turns out the radiator was fine and no damage had been done to the engine due to the lack of oil. Its an awesome first car i drove it to and from school and university for a fair while on its standard 8 valve. Im filtering through all the previous build threads i made to try and create a bit of a timeline. This was always a learning experience and looking back on it some of the things I did I look back now and am a little concerned with. In saying that Ill probably do the same thing in 10 years time as well.

2010 (2l 16v swap)

$500 engine with bent valves was all i could find but at the time it was a good excuse to learn how to rebuild the head.