[Body_Work] 1991 Gti Steel Grey Detailing Progress Thread

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Brill good to hear bud !

[Wallby 48]

I read it! Its difficult to reply to something like this, but its interesting to see what people are doing to their 205s.

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Yeah not expecting replies as such as some of the updates are pretty boring but good to see people still on the forum, quieter since facebook groups popped up and all that!

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Gave the Pug a well overdue coolant drain and flush this weekend, and solved my coolant leak - the thermo to rad hose was split slightly. New one fitted from Baker BM and all is well...for now!! 
 

it’s also the cars 30th birthday this month so treated it to a full machine polish! 190k miles so far on the clock

 

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

MOT time yesterday and all well, aside from an advisory for rear fuel rubber pipe starting to corrode, so need to sort that.

 

Few other little jobs need looking at as still got a bit of a leak and I think it might be coming from between the block the thermostat housing.

 

Also got a bit of a rattle from the cam backplate which has been there for years which I need to have a look at!

 

And also clearly need to drive it more as only did 245 miles in the last year!

[Banjo 1]

She's a beauty mate. Would you consider selling please? This forum used to be great now it's dead and covered in adverts?

Edited May 17, 2022 by Banjo

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Thanks bud! Hah, this one is staying with me to the grave I'm afraid!

 

Few jobs done this week that were well overdue:

 

- New thermostat housing cap, new thermostat and seal. Had a minor coolant leak for pretty much the last 6 years - now finally solved, really should have done this before!

- Replaced rubber hosing from fuel pump to pipes under car. Old ones were perishing and definately needed doing!

- Replaced oil tower and oil filler pipe. The filler pipe had split at the bottom, did an oil change, chatting away to my mate and didn't notice oil was pissing out over the floor! Baker BM to the rescue with a new pipe and all is well again.

 

Just about to hit 190K miles.

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Time flies, new MoT last month and a pass with no advisories - washer pump decided to conk out just before but just needed wiring stripping back.

 

Need to do more miles in her this year but a Mk1 Golf GTI Cabriolet I bought last year is stealing some of the 205’s miles!

 

Edited February 4, 2023 by ATK

[barneys66 126 1 Cars]

On 2/4/2023 at 8:34 PM, ATK said:

Time flies, new MoT last month and a pass with no advisories - washer pump decided to conk out just before but just needed wiring stripping back.

 

Need to do more miles in her this year but a Mk1 Golf GTI Cabriolet I bought last year is stealing some of the 205’s miles!

 

 

Nice!  I had a two year fling with a 1.8 and thoroughly enjoyed it; better built but nowhere near as fun to drive (but then it wasn't a GTi)

 

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Not much news in 205 world! Booked in for MOT early Jan, and cambelt time as it was last done 10 years ago, so better had I suppose!

Added a Clio 172 Cup to the fleet this month (previously had a 172 back in 2009) which is a great mix between 205-style rawness and more modern (ish!) build. 
 

 

 

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Few jobs done this week after failing the MOT - first fail for about 9 years, so not bad.

 

- New cambelt, waterpump and aux belt

- Rear wheel bearing

- Rear brake hose

- Oil and filter change

- Coolant flush and change

- Handbrake adjustment

 

Advisory remains for a slight oil leak but not bothered about that. The MOT tester was very picky - so pretty pleased with the fail list as could have been alot worse! Had a good look underneath on the ramps and some light surface rusting here and there on the sills etc but nothing major.

 

Since my initial restoration from 2014-2016 I've not really had to spend a huge amount on the old girl, so the few jobs above we not unexpected - as I say every year, must use her more this year....!

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Oh and also replaced the rather crusty metal coolant pipe in the drivers side arch! 

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

And she’s finally back out for some daily duties! Forgot how much of a hoot it is to drive! 
 

Recently got a 16v MK2 Golf Gti which I’ve been daily driving which is great - but the Pug feels incredibly more nimble and much faster, despite them being comparables at the time!
 

 

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

So the Pug has been on daily duties rain or shine since 1st Aug and has done great apart from a soggy rear footwell and some rainwater in the boot!

 

Fitted a new door seal, boot seal and rear quarter window seals from youngtimers so let’s see if that cures it!

 

also got it up on my new ramps, and treated all the underside with Lanoguard. Not looking bad underneath for a 192k mile car!

 

 

 

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

All done! 
 

 

[Leslie green 130]

Looking great ,those ramps are excellent for working underneath and don't take up much room, they are on my wish list  The golf looks nice too 

Edited October 8, 2024 by Leslie green

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Cheers leslie, yeah the ramps are really great, should have got them years ago! 

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Back out of the garage, waxed ready for daily duties

 

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Lots of use over winter and off to her MOT last week. Failed on a sticky caliper on the rear. Fixed but still had an advisory for "steering system slightly rough" whatever that means - the garage who arranged the MOT couldn't find anything wrong and nor could I. The MOT tested is very picky from past experience, so not a bad result all round!

 

Also treated it to a new radiatior and coolant flush, new sump gasket, oil and filter change, rear discs and pads, rear nearside caliper.

Good for another year!

 

Still my favorite car by a fair margin, despite having a few old classics in the collection at the moment (MK1 Golf GTI Cabriolet, MK2 Golf GTI 16v, Clio 172 Cup).

[Tom Fenton 1,576]

Steering rough could be if tested when the car isn't on its wheels, rather than the top mount bearings doing the turning, the struts hang off the top hat washer visible from under the bonnet, it is there to stop the strut falling out, but isn't intended to give a smooth turning (steering) motion. Not much you can do about that one other than explain to the tester maybe.

[Leslie green 130]

Good result and a few quid spent then oh  and might be time to get another tester who isnt too picky 

Edited January 22 by Leslie green

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

1 hour ago, Tom Fenton said:

Steering rough could be if tested when the car isn't on its wheels, rather than the top mount bearings doing the turning, the struts hang off the top hat washer visible from under the bonnet, it is there to stop the strut falling out, but isn't intended to give a smooth turning (steering) motion. Not much you can do about that one other than explain to the tester maybe.

 

Brill explanation thanks Tom. Sounds like that could be it, as both myself and the garage (not the MOT garage) couldn't find any issue and steering components are less than 15K miles old and it drives great. Explanation next year to the tester methinks!

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

5 minutes ago, Leslie green said:

Good result and a few quid spent then oh  and might be time to get another tester who isnt too picky 

 

Came in at under £400 for everything so not too bad considering I haven't really spent much on it the last 8 or so years

[ATK 143 1 Cars]

Tucked up in the garage after almost daily use since August last year. Not huge mileage as my commute is short but it’s an easy car to park on the school run, even if it means it’s picked up some (more) car park dings and also some idiot in an SUV scraped the front bumper - and left an garbled unreadbale note with a fake number! Never mind - been enjoying using it which is the whole point! 
 

Performed really well rain or shine and jjst about to hit 192k miles.

 

Still leaking a bit of rainwater underneath rear windows and in passenger footwell, but better than it was! 

 

Changed gearbox oil this weekend and the Lanoguard protection I applied underneath has done a great job protecting it over winter etc. 

 

Had the old girl just over 11 years now…!