Mk3 2dr Project Car (1.8t swap)

**Weeman** · 23-01-2025, 12:55 PM

Update: 23/01/2025

Starts, goes, stops. Had to redo my gearbox linkage stuff as everytime I was putting it into 1st it kept going into reverse lol, almost took out the rear windscreen on the bench vice... haha.

Everything seemed good when driving, other than I lost both speedo and rev on the dash so that'll need some backtracking done.

Tyres I got were some Pirelli P-Zeros, too bad the tyre shop couldn't even wash their hands before putting the tyres on, absolutely disgusting after giving them freshly painted rims.

Rant over, very happy

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**Weeman** · 02-02-2025, 06:51 AM

Update: 02/02/2025

Steering wheel wasn't flicking off my indicators automatically. Pulling off the aftermarket steering wheel I quickly noticed this white tab, which needs to be pushed either up or down (depending on which way you have indicated), to release the indicator stalk.

So looking at the OG steering wheel, it has a nice fat plastic tab which hits it when the wheel is turned. My aftermarket steering does not...

So a drill and tap later, I put these M3 studs in and now works a dream.

In other news, my dash is working very intermittently, so that'll be coming out for some inspecting... I never lose the coolant temp but the rev and speedo occassionally dies and the needles just sit there bouncing at 0 RPM/kmhr.

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**Weeman** · 07-03-2025, 06:40 AM

Update: 7/03/2025

Next up is gauges, dabbled down the path of putting an acrylic sheet over the centre console storage bit, but hated it... acrylic bends very nicely though when sizzled with a heat gun!

Ditched that idea, googled around and noticed people 3D print up some vent replacements with 52mm holes in them. So decided to fix the neglected 3D printer at work, drew these up at and they look nice. Will print some of these for the mk2 as well, I like them that much.

Also printed a cute little bracket for my kill switch. Redrew the same tabs that the blanks used to have so it is somewhat original still and doesn't require bolting in.

Final product. Need $$ for some gauges. Thinkin I'll pickup SASS ones: boost, oil pressure and battery. Just not sure if oil temp is really that important. I might figure that out the hard way...

**HaydEn** · 09-03-2025, 02:57 PM

Kill switch blank is a good idea!

I like it.

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**sports racer** · 13-03-2025, 04:33 PM

Now add another kill switch but hide it. Slows down anyone trying to steal the car and we know no one in Tassie can be trusted.

Better yet, on/off pressure switch for the fuel pump hidden under a soft part of the dash.

Otherwise all good. Congrats.

Cheers

Paul

**The_Hawk** · 14-03-2025, 09:27 AM

I love watching builds like this, especially the Mk3's (which just makes me miss my VR6 that much more). Maybe one day I'll have to space/time/money for a project. Sadly my eldest (who still doesn't have his licence) seems to be into BMW's, but maybe that means I will get to work on a car I don't have to pay for! (but who am I kidding, I'm sure Dad will be suckered into helping out anyway

)

**Weeman** · 21-03-2025, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by HaydEn

Kill switch blank is a good idea!

I like it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks mate.

Originally Posted by sports racer

Now add another kill switch but hide it. Slows down anyone trying to steal the car and we know no one in Tassie can be trusted.

Better yet, on/off pressure switch for the fuel pump hidden under a soft part of the dash.

Otherwise all good. Congrats.

Cheers

Paul

Hahaha tassie is a bit dodge for theft, but the trade off is we don't need to worry about a cop defecting us everytime we drive to work

so far pulling the fuel pump fuse is easiest if ive parked it where things are a bit hairy lol

Originally Posted by The_Hawk

I love watching builds like this, especially the Mk3's (which just makes me miss my VR6 that much more). Maybe one day I'll have to space/time/money for a project. Sadly my eldest (who still doesn't have his licence) seems to be into BMW's, but maybe that means I will get to work on a car I don't have to pay for! (but who am I kidding, I'm sure Dad will be suckered into helping out anyway

)

Thanks heaps, certainly been a fun one. Haha working on cars without the expense is awesome! Your boy is gonna have a rude shock, gotta stick to them cheaper front wheel drives lol. I was in awe of a E30 the other day, bout the only beema that would tip me over the line into the rear wheel drive territory...

would look nice parked up next to the mk3. Had to leave a space between it and my van, not quite the same "stance"...

Mk3 2dr Project Car (1.8t swap)-20250110_094320-jpg

**Weeman** · 21-03-2025, 10:17 AM

Update: 21/03/2025

Bit of a quicky, mounted up a 1.5 metre kill switch cord to run to the key inside. Used one of the holes in the rain tray area to mount to. Sits nice and discretely to not draw tooooooo much attention... but a blue triangle will go in front of it eventually, but for the time being, hopefully the randoms walking through town don't keep killing it on me lol...

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Mk3 2dr Project Car (1.8t swap)-20250316_141728-jpg

Got GIVEN a 6x4 box trailer, so needed some space, lucky me. Goodbye junk Audi. And commissioning trip for the trailer was a goodbye to the original 1.8 from the mk3. Fun times!