A Golf GTi Midi - something different

[Kartracer47]

The Locost site is kinda slow right now so I thought I would post about a project I "basically" completed last year. I wanted a project after ageing out of racing my SkaytR6 sports racer project. I saw an article from Smythkitcars.com of a sports car they developed from a 4 dr Golf/Jetta TDi called a G3F (Go Fast Go Green). They used the center chassis to get the doors, dash and front suspension. They designed a space frame that attached to the door pillar, lower chassis, braced to the front of the foot well that moved the engine to behind the front seats. That was followed by a nice glass body using Toyota headlights. https://www.smythkitcars.com/gallery
I liked the VW Golf and making it a midi appealed to me and gave me another project. I found a Mk4 Gti VR6 6sp that had a fried engine (PO lost coolant but kept driving) so the project began. I had built something like this when in high school (60's !!) by putting a Corvair engine in the back seat of a Renault 4CV for a customer at the shop I worked at.
I bought 2 front sets of Neo aftermarket spring/struts and started measuring, designing and a whole bunch of cutting. I used a pair of front hub carriers from an Audi TT to get the bigger brakes and moved the original front hub carriers to the rear. Also used a faster steering rack from a TT. I originally thought I could use the front subframe and build structure to support it in the rear but that did not work out. So I built a crossmember to bolt to the chassis that took the lateral suspension load, tie rod mounts, engine torque mount and sway bar mounts.
A bit of design work to get the rear strut mounts and engine/trans mounts into the chassis. Designed the lower control arms and used the original rear axle mount location for the forward mount of the control arms.
The cost of rebuilding the original VR6 engine was going to be ridiculous I found out. I thought about using a 1.8 turbo but that would have meant a different dash because of the tach and different trans so I got a used Taureg 3.2 VR6 and a tune on my original ECU.
Then 40 some wires had to be brought from the front to the relocated ECU behind the drivers seat. The battery was relocated to inside the engine box behind the driver.
Another solution that caught my eye on the Smyth car was the shifting setup. Relay levers out of the front of the shifter enabled the use of the stock shift cables with extension rods from the levers to the new mount to hold the cables. Shifting is perfectly normal.
To keep costs down I built a new aluminum fuel tank to mount where the engine/trans used to hang out. Made an aluminum ring to mount the original pump/sender into the tank. Thought the original engine cover made an interesting touch to the compartment. On a hot day I took a long drive and had some serious engine cut out issues. The direct radiator heat was boiling the fuel!!!! Allowed the fuel to cool and drove home in the cooler evening. Styrofoam insulation is now around the tank with a thin aluminum shield to protect it!!
The original Turbo muffler that I used was way too loud so a larger Turbo one was put crossways across the back - better but still not enough. Final muffler is from an Econoline Van!!
I screwed up and did not take enough pictures (too busy building???) but I can put up a few more pics if there is interest.

[seven13bt]

Sweet. Love the engine "trunk".

[Kartracer47]

Thank you! There is useful storage behind the box. My daily driver

[anduril3018]

Love it! Thanks for the post.

[kabuku6]

Cool little "sleeper". How many people freak out when they see you filling the engine oil with gas?

I need to get back into my build. A lot going on in my life, but should start having time again soon. Thanks for doing your part to keep this board alive.

[RTz]

Super cool!

Curious on your thoughts about handling. Is it easy and tame to drive hard/fast through the twisties or is it more of a challenge to keep it under control?

[Kartracer47]

I basically swapped spring rates front to rear with 6k springs on the front and 8k springs on the rear. This matches pretty closely with the new front to rear weight ratio. The Audi TT hub carriers locate the ball joint about an inch lower so overall the front roll center is lower than the rear (this is a good thing ). I also added a 1" rear sway bar.
I have driven "spiritedly" and have not found any quirks. Recently bought a 2000 Porsche Boxster (latest project) with the thought if the engine was bad to swap in a 1.8 turbo VW. The engine was good so have just been enjoying it. However I find that I enjoy driving the Golf more than the Boxster! In short the Golf is a blast to drive and is now my daily driver with over 3k miles since conversion. I also put a platform over the passenger seat with a big dog pad to take my Doberman with me in comfort.

[Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F]

Nice! I'm guessing no parking brake. I don't have one on the 4.3l/F23 5spd fiero either (Pontiac 6000 spindles and full size gm front brakes and bearings on the rear).

[Kartracer47]

Bungee to hold in 2nd just in case the dog bumps the shifter when shopping. Could not find a parking brake caliper of suitable size to balance the brakes. Careful when parking