Hi guys, I'm a long time lurker , first time poster.
I've always wanted to build a sleeper, and now I'm going to try. This Mk2 syncro popped up on ebay so decided to watch it, perfect sleeper base in my opinion, 5 door old man spec car but it's a 4wd mk2. Bidding went above what I was willing to pay but it didn't meet reserve so didn't sell, dropped the seller message offering what I'd pay and said that if the car was as he said when I viewed it, I'd give him that without any haggling. He agreed so after sitting stationary in traffic for over an hour on the way to view it I left a deposit and returned a week later to bring it home, although I do think I paid over the odds.
As you can see it's far from a minter. It's got some pretty bad rust on the rear offside wheel arch and in the door shut. The scuttle, A-pillar and fuel filler surround are rusted as well (all the places the buyers guides warn you about
). There's also a fair amount of surface rust all over the place, however the underside and the sills are sound and surprising so is the inside of the front wings (Haven't refitted the passenger wing properly yet, this is why there's so much panel gap). It did however come with repair panels for the scuttle, fuel filler and the rear arch. Also included were 2 new front wings, a new rear door, a brand new ecp big bumper set (as well as the ones on the car) and syncro specific coilovers (fronts fitted, rears not for some reason). Taking the wings I discovered the battery tray is pretty far gone as well.
Inside it had an GTI interior, Momo team 280 and snap off boss, ipod headunit and an alpine amp in the boot. A previous owner has made a few suspect styling choices, it came with a GTI twin lamp grill and chrome look door pins. Someone's also fitted big bumpers on the old small bumper brackets, smoked rear lights, chrome look valve caps, chrome look bonnet lifters, a windscreen mounted aerial, funky coolant pipes in the bay and poorly fitting pull out door handles from another vag car. Apparently it also has a police drugs marker that may or may not have been removed
.
The engine idles terribly but doesn't stall and drives fine, not really fussed about it as it won't be staying.
Current plans are currently to do things in stages. Stopping the rot is obviously the first priority, I've managed to get a NOS battery tray repair panel and the car will be going into GM Bodycraft after I've stripped it out to have all the repair panels put in and any MOT worrying rust sorted. All body work is only going as far as keeping it safe and road legal, the dents, mismatching paint and surface rust are all staying to keep it sleeper. I will be swapping it back to small bumpers however
Stage one of the sleeper conversion is going to be an ABF engine swap , possibly on weber carbs depending how my impulses take me. Will also be putting G60 discs up front and swapping the rear drums for a Rallye disc setup. The syncro drivetrain will be swapped for a Rallye one which I've already secured although I may be buying another gearbox with a Vr6 1st and 2nd plus TDI 5th. I've also got a Rallye rear ARB to fit and suspension will hopefully be some premium shocks and springs.
Stage two will be turboing the 16v. It'd no doubt be much more cost effective to just fit a 20vt but I'd much rather fit something that suits the car and is slightly more unique.
I'd also like to get some BBS e30's, overkill on a sleeper you might say but I think they'd look great with gold centres once they've got dirty.
It's worth noting that this is all new ground to me, this is my first proper project so I'm learning as I go. This also isn't my daily so there's no real rush.
So far I've just done a few little things. Replaced the Momo with a 16v wheel as I don't like them and sold it, swapped the snap off boss with a mate for some standard front shocks and springs which have been fitted (syncro coilovers will be for sale soon if anyone's interested). He also gave me his old 2 lamp grill although most of the tabs are broken so will need another one and a set of clear rears. Currently looking for somewhere to strip it down as I've already got the Corrado and the Mk2 16v at home so if anyones got a bit of spare unit space in or around Milton Keynes I'd be very interested
.
Some of you my recognise my Mk2 16v from the Retro cars readers rides section a month or some ago and I've currently got a Corrado G60 as a daily.
I've always wanted to build a sleeper, and now I'm going to try. This Mk2 syncro popped up on ebay so decided to watch it, perfect sleeper base in my opinion, 5 door old man spec car but it's a 4wd mk2. Bidding went above what I was willing to pay but it didn't meet reserve so didn't sell, dropped the seller message offering what I'd pay and said that if the car was as he said when I viewed it, I'd give him that without any haggling. He agreed so after sitting stationary in traffic for over an hour on the way to view it I left a deposit and returned a week later to bring it home, although I do think I paid over the odds.
As you can see it's far from a minter. It's got some pretty bad rust on the rear offside wheel arch and in the door shut. The scuttle, A-pillar and fuel filler surround are rusted as well (all the places the buyers guides warn you about
). There's also a fair amount of surface rust all over the place, however the underside and the sills are sound and surprising so is the inside of the front wings (Haven't refitted the passenger wing properly yet, this is why there's so much panel gap). It did however come with repair panels for the scuttle, fuel filler and the rear arch. Also included were 2 new front wings, a new rear door, a brand new ecp big bumper set (as well as the ones on the car) and syncro specific coilovers (fronts fitted, rears not for some reason). Taking the wings I discovered the battery tray is pretty far gone as well.Inside it had an GTI interior, Momo team 280 and snap off boss, ipod headunit and an alpine amp in the boot. A previous owner has made a few suspect styling choices, it came with a GTI twin lamp grill and chrome look door pins. Someone's also fitted big bumpers on the old small bumper brackets, smoked rear lights, chrome look valve caps, chrome look bonnet lifters, a windscreen mounted aerial, funky coolant pipes in the bay and poorly fitting pull out door handles from another vag car. Apparently it also has a police drugs marker that may or may not have been removed
.The engine idles terribly but doesn't stall and drives fine, not really fussed about it as it won't be staying.
Current plans are currently to do things in stages. Stopping the rot is obviously the first priority, I've managed to get a NOS battery tray repair panel and the car will be going into GM Bodycraft after I've stripped it out to have all the repair panels put in and any MOT worrying rust sorted. All body work is only going as far as keeping it safe and road legal, the dents, mismatching paint and surface rust are all staying to keep it sleeper. I will be swapping it back to small bumpers however
Stage one of the sleeper conversion is going to be an ABF engine swap , possibly on weber carbs depending how my impulses take me. Will also be putting G60 discs up front and swapping the rear drums for a Rallye disc setup. The syncro drivetrain will be swapped for a Rallye one which I've already secured although I may be buying another gearbox with a Vr6 1st and 2nd plus TDI 5th. I've also got a Rallye rear ARB to fit and suspension will hopefully be some premium shocks and springs.
Stage two will be turboing the 16v. It'd no doubt be much more cost effective to just fit a 20vt but I'd much rather fit something that suits the car and is slightly more unique.
I'd also like to get some BBS e30's, overkill on a sleeper you might say but I think they'd look great with gold centres once they've got dirty.
It's worth noting that this is all new ground to me, this is my first proper project so I'm learning as I go. This also isn't my daily so there's no real rush.
So far I've just done a few little things. Replaced the Momo with a 16v wheel as I don't like them and sold it, swapped the snap off boss with a mate for some standard front shocks and springs which have been fitted (syncro coilovers will be for sale soon if anyone's interested). He also gave me his old 2 lamp grill although most of the tabs are broken so will need another one and a set of clear rears. Currently looking for somewhere to strip it down as I've already got the Corrado and the Mk2 16v at home so if anyones got a bit of spare unit space in or around Milton Keynes I'd be very interested
.Some of you my recognise my Mk2 16v from the Retro cars readers rides section a month or some ago and I've currently got a Corrado G60 as a daily.
