CAT S project complete, now AWD conversion ??

[FranticG]

Hi all,

Mid last year, I brought myself a project in the form of a CAT S 3dr 2006 Golf GTI from a well known auction site. I brought it blind for a little over 1k with a theory if it was a lemon, I could sell the good bits.



Fast forward 12 months and its pretty much complete. I have decided to keep it standard even though i've been under pressure from the kids to do stuff that would not be fitting for my age bracket  "I cannot take the credit for the spraying, a friend did that for me"




Part of the project, I convinced the wife that I needed some lifting equipment, something I have always wanted ever since working on a E61 BMW, trying to fix the exhaust with a mixture of axle stands and multiple jacks 



I've not got a massive garage, but it has been very handy.

Anyway, to the point. I had thought after this, I would move onto something more complex. I've been looking for a RS3 or RS4 (RS5 is too big for my garage), but after browsing various forums, I saw that some people had done a AWD conversion and thought, hmm, that would be an interesting project.

I've done my research, created browser favorites to quite a lot of posts include on this forum and have a fairly good idea what needs to be done. Hardest bit for me is the welding of the boot floor and the prop mounts as I haven't done any welding since my teenage years on my mk2 golf's exhaust, but hey, I can learn that as I don't have any time constraints.

My question is really what donor car could I look for? I have in my head I could get a salvage Audi S3 and take all what I need, including the K04 and injectors.
What about a TT, mk6 golf r even a A3 Quattro ?

Many many thanks.

[pudding]

What lift is that?  Looks great and goes nice and high.  I did look at the Quickjack a while back but £1000+VAT for the smallest one is a bit steep.

As for your project, maybe drive an S3 or 6R first to see if it's what you want.  Yeah you get a lot of traction but the extra weight makes them less nimble than a GTI.

Something else to consider is getting a Cat D R32 with minor frontal damage as per your first pic?   You could sell the R32 engine and gearbox and you'd be left with a complete 4WD MK5 to play with.  Transfer the GTI engine, exhaust, wheels and bumpers over and you'll have a legit, OEM 4WD GTI!  No need to weld anything 

[FranticG]

Its this one https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-7230a-scissor-lift/

If I put it full height, the car would end up in my sons bedroom, but I can get it high enough to get under stooping.

Been handy already as I maintain both my wifes dog walking cars, so much easier on the neck and back. I really wanted a 2 or 4 post, but no matter how I tried to figure it out and the best man maths I could work with, it just would not fit. Only downside I have found is the sill access. To replace the fuel filter, I needed to yank out the supply line as it was jammed which broke. Fine, I could replace the line to the tank, but the screw holding in the filter was so badly corroded, I could not get it undone. It was also right where the ramp was. Couldn't reposition the car as the connector had broken and could not start the car and I had fuel running out. Catch 22. grr. Not very good forward planning.

Anyway, back to my big idea.
As it turns out, I messaged someone today about getting the boot floor from a s3 and ended up buying all the parts bar the gearbox which i will pick up on Thursday

So just need to source a gearbox. That leads me to a question, should I get it refurbed before fitting it? Head says I should, heart says just put it on. Also, are there different versions, revisions, years?

Many thanks

[pudding]

It's a great lift    A bit rich for my blood and I don't have a garage, so not practical really.  Maybe I can come up with my own design of 4 trolley jacks linked to one central pump    It's mainly the twisting of the body shell I don't like about floor jacks.  I don't have an assistant on hand to do a nice bit of syncronised jacking with because she's either at work, or on the couch glued to Love Island.

Probably worth a refurb if you don't know the condition/history of the gearbox.  It's also a good opportunity to stick a wavetrack diff in it.  They still help even with the Haldex because it's a reactive system rather than permanent as I'm sure you already know.  Another worthwhile upgrade whilst it's apart is fitting these - https://www.akstuning.co.uk/gearbox-parts/529-genuine-02m-02q-steel-selector-shifter-forks.html

You will also need a clutch if you're planning on future mods. This works well - https://www.akstuning.co.uk/clutches/373-helix-orgnic-clutch-kit-for-vag-tfsi-engine.html?search_query=helix&results=16

[FranticG]

Thanks for your reply, thats has actually been very useful. I picked up everything bar the gearbox last night from a nice guy who was breaking a S3. He has already sold the engine and box, but I have the transfer box.

So I now have the complete rear axle, tank, all drive shafts, abs pump, esp, prop and heat shields. I have ordered the two prop shaft mounts and he cut out the rear spare wheel floor for me. Not sure how i'm gonna fit that yet, gotta have a think about it.

I'm sure you have, but I did quite a lot of research about the lift. They do do some portable ones, but I suspect they are still heavy to move and you would have to store it somewhere.