[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

I’ve run into a few troubles in getting the chrome bar molds made. The company I first spoke to that was going to do the job have now said they don’t have the proper equipment to make them., this is after visiting them and showing them the rear mold. The molds need to be made by an extrusion process so I’ve gone back to finding someone that can help.

The Commodore badges have apparently come out nicely but I’m yet to see these in the flesh.

As for the car, It’s now in primer. The only other it of rust found on the car was a small section in the lower drivers door that has been lead filled. There was also some pitting on the bonnet, boot and roof that got taken care of as well as the front apron. As for the colour. I’m sticking with the original Indigo blue and white pin stripes. The engine bay is not getting touched at this stage. It’ll get work done later when the engine is ripped out. (hopefully to make way for a something stroked).

Of course mandatory photos are included below.

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Nice. Good to see another VH restore in progress. Going through the same thing at the moment with a SLE 253.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

SLE355 wrote:

Great work mate, will be so much nicer when you get the fresh paint on. Good to hear your going with the molds and pin strip too. Regarding getting the front bar molding made up, how many bar’s would that minimum order cover? I reckon there would be plenty of people interested in getting them, I’d probably grab one for the front. Great idea though, wouldn’t have thought of getting something like that made up.

I figure that the minimum order would cover enough for 100 bars. Have to still talk to a manufacturer to confirm.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

I thought about going with a different blue (AC Cobra blue).

 

Still tempting but I think I’ll stick with the original colour down to the original pinstriping and door molds.

 

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

I’ve also spoken to a rubber manufacturer about making the VH SLE bumper rubber molds.

I was told it can be done but there’s a minimum 500 mtr order. That would equate to a cost about $150-$250 per bar. Not sure if that includes the mounting clips though.

It’s a lot of $$$ for me to hand over to get them made so not sure if it’s feasible yet.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Boot is being repaired by cutting the rust out and fabricating a new strip. I’ve been told it’s not too difficult. Same is being done with the bubbling in the door. Rust is cut out and plate is welded in.

 

I have all the original badges, including the bumper Commodore badges. They’re all plastic apart from the Holden boot lock badge. I’m using my original badges to make molds and going to try get them cast. Fingers crossed they work out and I don’t stuff up my original badges. I’ve seen the commodore bumper badges made out of perspex sell for over $100. I’m hoping that I can get them done for cheaper than that. I’ve told a few manufacturers that I want to have the two of them done for less that $150 a pair. They’ve said that that’s achievable. If so, I’ll get a few extras made and ask around on the forums if anyone else is interested.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Bit of an update.

Diff and engine and brake upgrades have been put on hold for a little while. I thought the smarter move would be to concentrate on the body to make sure it doesn’t rust on me.

Dropped it off at the body shop a few weeks ago to give it a full respray. going back to bare metal but sticking to the original colours. Door molds and pin striping are all going back on too. Also replacing all the body rubbers and getting as much of the chrome redone as possible. I’ve also managed to but a newly re-chromed front bar. Unfortunately the original bar rubbers will need to go back on as no one remakes these.

I’m also getting all the badges remade in metal, including the “Commodore” front bar badges which are almost impossible to find.

I’ll try keep you guys updated with it’s progress. It should be finished at the body shop before Christmas and back on the road.

 

Now for the pics.

Body rubbers, locks, bolts and trim bits! All from Kingswood County. They’ve been excellent to deal with.

Also ordered a Holden decal for the rear window. quite ironic.

Apart from some minor bubbling on the driver’s door this is the only rust found on the car, even after the windows were pulled out. pretty happy with that.

 

 

An this is how she sat last time I  saw her a week ago.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

A mate of mine (when he was 18) was doing a service on his car and forgot to put the sump plug back in. He only realised after pouring in 5 litres of oil that it was all over his garage floor.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Thanks guys.

I might just replace the power steering  rack for now and change everything over when I eventually do a 304/308 engine conversion.

 

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Nice build.

Who did the hidden wiring in the engine bay?

Looking at doing the same to my SLE with the seats but in leather (Leather seats were an option on my car from factory but were swapped out for the velour by the dealer)

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Nice SLE.

Don’t sell it. I made that mistake a few years ago when I sold my shadowtone VH. I ended up buying another VH SLE a few months ago and even though I don’t drive it much, it’s nice knowing it’s sitting in the garage if I ever wanted to drive it.

I’ll be pulling the 253 out of my car eventually and running an injected 304 like I have in my shadowtone. Easy conversion and a mean sound to it. I like the carby look too instead of the banana manifold, that’s why I’ll also end up running a carby look manifold.

 

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

I have a set of FR19s on my VH  whuch has been lowered 2 inchs.

The rear rims are 9 inches wide with 255 rubber. They fit in the rear with no rubbing but I had to roll the rear guards. I am currently running the standard VH disc brake diff which is about an inch shorter than the VL diff.

I also have a VL turbo diff that I’ll be rebuilding and shortening to suit the rear and will be able to fit 265 maybe even 275 without rubbing So I don’t see why you shouldn’t be able to. You’ll definitely need to shorten the diff and maybe even run modified upper and lower control arms for clearance.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Do you have an adjustable pan-hard rod installed?

Is it rubbing on both sides or just the one?

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

210K kms

Shift kitted Auto, Extractors to 3inch single exhaust, VT front brakes

Never had structural damage, still original panels

 

 

 

 

 

 

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by  SLE-881.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

TUFGMH wrote:

The VLT diff owner also has a VS 304 long motor with heads for $350 ;)

 

You know I’m going to have to take that too then.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Well since buying the car it hasn’t really moved from the garage apart from an oil service last week and getting the rear guards rolled. I recently changed the front headlights and indicators to clear ones just to give it a cleaner look. I’m still in two minds about changing the mirrors to the VK/VL style.

Also been doing some searching for a 304/308 engine and T700 gearbox to do at a later date. I’ve decided to keep it to the correct period and go with a GMH 8. As it’s a cruiser and I’m not looking for big HP (I have a Golf R that fulfills my speed need) I’ll be keeping it as a 5L but make it sound lumpy and tough.

As tempting as it is to buy the engine first I thought I’d sure up the diff and brakes first. I bought a VL turbo diff from a forum user and hope to pick it up in the next week or so. Plan is to get it shortened and perhaps throw in some 3.9 or 4.11 gears since I’ll be using a 4 speed box, can’t wait. Should help wake up the car since it’s currently running the standard 2.78 diff.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Great topic!

I have a 2012 VW Golf R with some mild work that I use as a daily driver. It’s got about 240kw @ the fly and can run a mid-low 12s quarter mile and reach 100km/h in close to 5.2 secs. I absolutely love it. It’s a fun and fast car that’s big enough to fit my wife and 2 year old kid in with the stroller and all the other kid paraphernalia.

I also love my old school V8 because it’s raw and unrefined and nothing beats the sound of a V8, no matter how slow.

I think what journalists often overlook in these types of articles is the size of cars now compared to 10, 20, 30 years ago. I  don’t think people have really turned off the large family car in favour for a hot hatch, it’s the large family car that has grown to be a larger family car and some manufacturers (read as Holden/Ford) have forgotten to fill the void. (Biggest mistake Holden made was not releasing the “Torana” mid sized car in 2004).

Today’s VE Commodore is as long and wider than a 1994 long wheelbase VR Statesman and weighs more.  In comparison, my VH SLE is only 200mm longer and 20mm wider that the 1999 Holden Vectra I used to own. That’s a 1980’s “large” family car compared to a 2000’s mid-sized car. Yes there are more safety devices and extras in today’s cars but VW, Audi, Renault etc have managed to fit them in their hot hatch so there’s no excuse. The only reason I won’t buy a current model Commodore or Falcon is that they are unnecessarily big and Holden/Ford don’t offer a smaller RWD alternative.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Nice project. I’m a VW fan myself. My wife has the Passat Alltrack and I own a Golf R.

Let me know if you need help sourcing parts as I know a few people in Sydney and Rockhampton Qld that may come in useful. Also with the engine, I’m sure I’ve seen people fit a Subaru EJ20.

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Yeah have to get rid of the mud flaps. Might do it this weekend. Ordered a new set of headlights and VK blinkers to clean up the front end. All pretty standard upgrades to a VH.
The passenger rear rubs on big bumps but only minor. It only happened to me twice in 45 mins of driving. Once I get the guards rolled she’ll be right. Might even be able to fit 255 rubber.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

[SLE-881Participant SydneyDaily - 2012 VW Golf R Weekend - 1981 VH SL/E View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 81]

Cheers.

Here it is now 2 inches lower

 

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Daniel
Instagram - @SLE881

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