Caddy side project

[Tractor Dave]

Its all together now. I had to trim the top cover a little as well. As you say Kit, its a tight wide belt!
Interesting about the idler. Epytec don't give you that option on the tdi instructions but seem so on the 1.8t. Maybe there is slightly more space?
2026-09-03_16-10-02_241.jpg

[Jaswan]

I think that the mounts are the same as for a 1.8t into a MK1. The pulley is the same deal too. I used a 16v KR tensioner on my Scirocco.

[K Simmonds]

I like those mount's, I wasn't aware that anyone offered a PD into MK1 conversion kit, pity you need delete the idle roller but I can't see it being an issue either. The belt's are so tight on those engine's that it won't slap about, I suspect it's main function is get belt inside the cover to a make room for the bulky stock offside engine mount.

[Tractor Dave]

The paint is still a little soft so I'm going to leave the flatting for another week or so.
So, onto the engine. Pulled it out of storage. I have a new timing belt kit, the Epytec mounts and a new clutch and flywheel to fit.
2026-08-31_15-52-21_573.jpg I found out that the mounting brackets need some work to fit. The timing belt back plate needs a trim and you have to delete the idler pulley. I was a bit concerned about this but have been assured by the caddy conversion guru that its fine.
2026-09-02_15-45-06_721.jpg I won't be needing the pas or aircon pumps so this bracket can have a trim.
2026-09-02_17-00-16_381.jpg The water pump housing is nice and clean inside with fresh looking antifreeze.
2026-09-02_14-46-30_874.jpg

[K Simmonds]

Looks pretty good to me Dave, you'll be amazed at what will flat out once it's cured properly, as long as there's plenty of paint on there to play with and no serious runs you should be fine, the vast majority of currently visible dust will be in the very top layer.

And yes, UK 8V GTI's came with steel's as stock (alloys were an option) apart from the very last 1991/2 run out cars which basically got all the 16V extra's including BBS RA's.

[Jaswan]

Looking really good Dave.

Thanks for keeping us updated, great to see the progress.

Jase.

[sal_s2]

8v big bumper gtis also came on steelies

[Antsa]

I've had my fights with painting as well. It seems that that no matter what precautions you take, you will have dust or flies or anything on your fresh paint when not working inside a paintbooth

[Tractor Dave]

Looks like only on early mk2
Screenshot_2026-08-26-08-04-38.png

[Tractor Dave]

Did UKMk2 GTIs come with steelies? Never new that.

Apparently they did.

[fish]

Did UKMk2 GTIs come with steelies? Never new that.

[Tractor Dave]

It got moved back into the garage. I started to assess and clean the other parts that need prep and paint.
2026-08-25_14-35-22_312.jpg

The mk2 Gti wheels came back from powder coating and they are good

2026-08-24_14-44-34_755.jpg

[Tractor Dave]

The caddy was moved into the big barn for the final coats. I did this because there were too many flies landing on the fresh shiny paint outside. It seemed like a good idea but it turned out not to be. It was far too dusty in there and there wasnt enough light for me to see properly .
Anyway, three coats later it looks ok but lots of orange peel and dust.
2026-08-23_10-58-18_554.jpg Hopefully I can wet sand most of it out in a few days when fully hard

[Tractor Dave]

I had some more filling and sanding to do before two coats of Novol 320 filler primer. This was interesting as the spec sheet said to use standard thinners. What they really meant was to use Novol standard thinners which is specifically made to go in their two k paints. I quickly discovered that normal standard thinners causes their paint to set in the paint gun
Anyway, two hours gun disassembly and cleaning later I was back on track.
2026-08-23_08-49-31_801.jpg

[Tractor Dave]

2026-08-12_20-14-40_611.jpg After several days filling and sanding it's finally received a couple of coats of Novol protect epoxy.
2026-08-12_19-48-34_426.jpg