A Mk1 1.6 GTI was my first decent car back in 1983 (Yes that does make me a lot older than most of you lot).
Great fun! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Initially it had a problem and felt a bit breathless at high revs in the lower gears and at fairly high speeds would initially stop accelerating at certain revs before eventually accelerating again.
Local VW dealer no help for sorting this out (sort of rolled their eyes when I told them what speed it occurred at /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif).
Then I heard about GTI Engineering.
Took the car to them and when I explained the symptoms they immediately said it sounded like a broken or soft valve spring causing valve bounce. Sure enough with a new set of valve springs no breathlessness or high speed hesitation.
Unfortunatelly this introduced me to their range of modifications. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Decided I had to mod, but thought I would buy a newer car so in 1985 bought one of the last MK1s a 1983 GTI 1.8 Campaign. Fairly soon I had a GTI Engineering big valve head and cam fitted which with a new manifold gave 135 BHP (None of that nancy boy chipping in the 80s). Back in 1985 this was pretty competitive! With an uprated suspension kit and a modest ICE upgrade this was just how I wanted it and faster accelerating that the MK2 16V I had as a company car.
In fact I still have it and my wife still uses it regularly mainly around town.
To be honest it is now a bit tatty around the edges, but it is still reliable and has always sailed through its MOT every year.
By today's standards it is a bit raw, but it is still fun! Have to say I do tend to choose to drive my S4 though.
David
Great fun! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Initially it had a problem and felt a bit breathless at high revs in the lower gears and at fairly high speeds would initially stop accelerating at certain revs before eventually accelerating again.
Local VW dealer no help for sorting this out (sort of rolled their eyes when I told them what speed it occurred at /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif).
Then I heard about GTI Engineering.
Took the car to them and when I explained the symptoms they immediately said it sounded like a broken or soft valve spring causing valve bounce. Sure enough with a new set of valve springs no breathlessness or high speed hesitation.
Unfortunatelly this introduced me to their range of modifications. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Decided I had to mod, but thought I would buy a newer car so in 1985 bought one of the last MK1s a 1983 GTI 1.8 Campaign. Fairly soon I had a GTI Engineering big valve head and cam fitted which with a new manifold gave 135 BHP (None of that nancy boy chipping in the 80s). Back in 1985 this was pretty competitive! With an uprated suspension kit and a modest ICE upgrade this was just how I wanted it and faster accelerating that the MK2 16V I had as a company car.
In fact I still have it and my wife still uses it regularly mainly around town.
To be honest it is now a bit tatty around the edges, but it is still reliable and has always sailed through its MOT every year.
By today's standards it is a bit raw, but it is still fun! Have to say I do tend to choose to drive my S4 though.
David
