1989 UK GTI Engineering Golf Syncro - new wheels p5

History
GTI Engineering was originally founded by Richard Lloyd in '78. He was racing a Mk1 GTi and went on to win classes in the British Saloon Championship in '77, '78' and '79. These wins also attributed to the launch of this car in the UK. They developed and produced a range of sports conversions. In '82 VAG appointed GTI Engineering Official Audi Volkswagen Conversion Specialists, which meant conversions could be undertaken without affecting the warranty. They became dealer #315.

Standard GTI 8v RE2000 Conversion
tuftrided EN 24 crankshaft with 94.5mm stroke
machined cylinder block of 82mm bore
lead-idium heavy duty cranshaft bearings
lightened and balanced crankshaft
alloy autothermic pistons
gasflowed cylinder head with enlarged port diameters
gasflowed inlet and exhaust manifolds
42mm inlet valves (40mm on the carb head due to space limitations)
35mm exhaust valve
276 Schrick- (im still deciding between a 276 and 268 as mine had a standard cam fitted)
uprated valve springs
uprated oil pump
windage tray and sometimes an Oettinger baffled sump
modified distributor and injection system on the GTI
Compression ratio 10:1
Power 8v GTI
152bhp @ 5500rpm
158lbs/ft @ 5500rpm
0-60 7secs
0-100 20secs
Max sped
130mph

Cars
The first Syncro conversion was a LHD Syncro Gt 2 door 90bhp injection model, fitted with a Recaro interior and ABS. A more detailed review can be found in Volkswagen Audi Car magazine Aug '88 or Car magazine May '88. This was also the car featured in the later GTI Engineering brochure and was fitted with their Aero Tech body kit.
I have contacted a former employee and they say that 4 conversions were carried out on Golf Syncros, but there is no further information of what spec they were. I only know of the above car an my RE2000 Syncro. Any more info is always appreciated and I would like to meet any others owners!

My car




It was converted by GTI Eng 10 days before the registration date. When I bought it, it had covered 100k and was almost standard apart from a set of multi-spoke alloys and 16v rear clusters. It was still running on the original re-jetted Pierburg 2E2 carb. It was in reasonable condition and was fitted with the Syncro CL Sports interior.
It is keeping the original interior along with a few touches and a late GTI Eng steering wheel that came from a Rallye. I have also pinched the anti-roll bars, exhaust manifold and downpipe. The d/p with have to be modified to fit and Ill have a custom stainless exhaust system. I have fitted FK Konigsport suspension. Im awaiting a Powerflex bush kit, except for the trailing arm bushes. Im fitting a set of eccentric bushes instead. The front brakes have been uprated to 16v spec with a Goodridge brake lead set. The fuel system has also been upgraded with pump and filter/regulater. I am also waiting for a full Missinglinkz tramsmission set and MJ Interiors to do a couple of jobs. There is also a set of VDOs fitted. It was painted up at Volkskraft. Also fitting a Chromalux rear screen

Wheels
old wheels were ATS motorsport 6x15


new wheels are VW Calmaster from a Golf Country Chrome





Paint prep and final finish

 

Final ride height


A few bits and pieces










Twin carb teaser
These point up!


Ive had this car since sometine in 2001. Ive spent all I can when I can and only driven it for 2 months when I first bought it

I also contacted the original owner a couple of years ago. His only interest was how fast i get it to go! It came with the original crappy pierburg carb, so the engine was never strained either over its 100k miles

I also got a back issue of Volksvagen Driver with the re-released article on the Golf Syncro. It was interesting to see that they mentioned the original LHD GTI Engineering Syncro, and then stated that the conversion was available for RHD, but as far as they know there werent any done.

 

lovely car, and its good to see something different under the bonnet IDF's??

was the car originally a re2000 running the pierburg? sounds a bit... odd

 

nice to have a rare car - esp with an interesting history

 

love the country wheels too

 

seen your car at andys i think

 

hi drunkenalan
yes it was a bit odd to have the pierburg and ive no idea why the oruiginal owner never fitted a weber ?????? especially after all that engine work. They are 40 DCNF's

Hi gazwold
yes you did. Its back at volkskraft having the damage repaired to the paintwork. Some theiving ****s robbed the exhaust out of it and damaged just about everything too

I never knew who GTI Engineering were when I bought it- i just though golf syncro + 2 litre engine =

 

im sure dcnf will let it breath better and give it that weber thwaaaaaaaap!

 

I dont doubt it
and it should also make much better power than a DCOE conversion too. Ive had the gearbox strengthened by adding the diff bolt kit plus its got a Helix organic clutch with the Sachs Racing pressure plate. If I did this again then id use a cable change box but Rallye boxes were very rare when I sorted that out and i like the feel of a rod-change box

 

sweet ride mate , any vids ? I would love to see/hear that thing in action

 

what did you do for a manifold??, i was looking at doing a similar thing a while back but could find a suitable manifold, so abandoned the idea!

 

Nice ..very nice

 

drunkenalan-
i got lucky and found something already made in germany. A proper cast item. Ill post more pics as i get on with it

there are no vids as its been in bits for the last 3 years. It need a visit to a RR and a zorst and im going to refurb the bottom end etc too

 

Very cool.

 

Cooool mk2

Neil.

 

Looks like a nice resto, indeed.

 

You have seen the custom gearnob i made. Remember the ill fated show at Donnongton a while back and a silver Mk2 Driver being ragged around the tyre test circuit

 

i havent ever seen one of these...like it

 

mate those rims look plush, get them on the car now, a must see!!! good job.

 

nicest 5door mk2 ever