Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Topic: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989) (Read 24641 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #45 – March 23, 2021, 07:49:15 AM

Progress:

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #46 – March 23, 2021, 09:06:36 AM

I love it when everything looks so new and shiny.
Great work

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #47 – March 23, 2021, 03:16:22 PM

That looks awesome!
Hope I can get mine to that condition.

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #48 – March 23, 2021, 04:54:46 PM

Thank you @Eddypeck and @Monkey there has been a lot of sand blasting, rubbing down, rust conversion, plating and painting gone on. My objective is to fix it for the foreseeable so I will only have to do routine servicing in the future.

Honk, honk

Boiling caustic soda did a job here

New paint reacted with old but you can't see it so it's going back on the car

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #49 – March 24, 2021, 08:05:47 AM

Did you refurbish the oil cooler too? You know they're pretty cheap to buy new?
Also, they're prone to failure, that makes it look like your head gasket has gone.
I highly recommend changing it out while you have everything apart.
BTW, love the finish on the rocker cover!

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #50 – March 24, 2021, 02:51:58 PM

Quote from: Monkey on March 24, 2021, 08:05:47 AM

Did you refurbish the oil cooler too? You know they're pretty cheap to buy new?
Also, they're prone to failure, that makes it look like your head gasket has gone.
I highly recommend changing it out while you have everything apart.
BTW, love the finish on the rocker cover!

I did consider replacing the oil cooler. Seen reports of failures on our facebook page. Got one on order now.
The paint is satin black Smoothrite, it is fine with the temperatures. Takes about a month to fully harden though at this time of year.

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #51 – March 24, 2021, 05:52:41 PM

Thanks for the tip, it looks great, might have to order some.

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #52 – March 27, 2021, 07:51:36 AM

This was a rusty scratched mess. Had to use MK3 seals; will get it back om the car unscratched before the head goes back on.

Edit 13/05/21, don't bother with the MK3 gaskets. They do fit and will seal but they do not compress sufficiently so it is not possible to adjust the pedal position safely. I used the old original and sealed additionally with a smear of Tiger Seal.

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #53 – March 27, 2021, 01:44:05 PM

I like the finish on the rocker cover. I painted mine with high temp paint but it has crazed in places. I'll try painting with some smoothrite.
I refinished my servo when I had the head off a couple of years ago and I notice its looking a bit tired tucked away from any protecting spatters of oil! Time for some clear Bilt Hambler.

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #54 – March 28, 2021, 10:55:11 AM

Quote from: AndyBa on March 27, 2021, 01:44:05 PM

I like the finish on the rocker cover. I painted mine with high temp paint but it has crazed in places. I'll try painting with some smoothrite.
I refinished my servo when I had the head off a couple of years ago and I notice its looking a bit tired tucked away from any protecting spatters of oil! Time for some clear Bilt Hambler.

The cover was quite badly corroded when the the car was still quite new. Rubbed it down, rust converted it, undercoated with Finnegans No1 and top coated with Smoothrite black. It lasted over 25 years but was worn through to the primer in places and marked from repairs. Also the gloss black wasn't authentic.
I flatted it down and refinished it with a couple of coats of Smoothrite satin black.

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #55 – March 28, 2021, 01:09:34 PM

Splits and cracks repaired with black Tigerseal:

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #56 – March 28, 2021, 02:39:00 PM

I assume you used smoothrite spray on the rocker cover, either that or used a good quality brush?
Gordon is going to look fantastic when you've finished.
Mine will always have that "lived-in" look. Maybe when/if I retire I'll treat him to a full restoration. Meanwhile it's preservation with a few "mods".

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #57 – March 29, 2021, 06:45:11 AM

Quote from: AndyBa on March 28, 2021, 02:39:00 PM

I assume you used smoothrite spray on the rocker cover, either that or used a good quality brush?
Gordon is going to look fantastic when you've finished.
Mine will always have that "lived-in" look. Maybe when/if I retire I'll treat him to a full restoration. Meanwhile it's preservation with a few "mods".

I buy the paint in tins then thin it with standard thinners. I spray it using a cheep small spray gun. https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/tg2-professional-touch-up-gun/
The strange thing is that Gordon will look no different. Only me and the MOT tester will be able to see the effort that has gone in. I consider the effort preservation rather than restoration. I’m going to retake the pictures at the beginning of this thread. 7 years on the car will look the same.

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #58 – March 29, 2021, 08:08:24 AM

That's not true, we'll know the difference!

Re: Gordon the Golf (8v GTi 1989)

Reply #59 – April 05, 2021, 11:22:04 AM

Struts rust converted, painted, plated and ready as soon as the car has some minor rust spots sorted.