TomBarker1991

Had to do some work on the daily today replacing the fan belt and tensioner as she was squealing like a pig & getting some more prep done for it's trip to R-tech! But when I got that done I made a start on smoothing the bay first things first was to chop out the scuttle tray as I will be relocating the ECU and a few other bits behind the dash as well as fitting a shiny upper strut brace, sorry the picture is naff I ended up grinding in the dark by the end!

Finally got some more time off work to do a few more bits on the corrado, stripped the head off the engine to start rubbing down ready to fit new gaskets all in all its pretty clean on the inside so need for any major work so just going to be new gaskets clean up, paint and back together with new gaskets. Also find the set of wheels I was looking for, seen a few polo's running the 15x7 versions but they were just too small for the corrado so managed to find a set of 16x8J Pontiac's with adapters fairly local. They are going to take some work to get on but hoping its all going to be worth it don't think I have seen another set on a corrado.. The reason it's in black and white is that they are currently neon pink which isn't going to be staying for long haha

It's also warm 365 days a year haha

Another day of the corrado and the engine has had all its ancillaries stripped off ready for polishing and painting, for now I will be sticking with the standard K03 setup until next winter when it will be coming out again but the engine will still be having a good once over. I have a full new gasket set on order as well as a full set of black silicone hosing for it, I do plan on ditching the standard oil cooler set up in favour of an external one mounted somewhere in front of the rad/intercooler whenever I get those sourced, as well as opting to fit an oil catch can. Planning on sticking to a black and polished theme for the engine itself with a polished inlet manifold and crackle black rocker cover, I know it has been done before but love the way it looks. In pursuit of a clean and simple bay I will be going for an ally top fill radiator to get rid of the header tank its a wrist exercising up between sourcing one or having one made up all depends on what I can get hold of at work. Also made a start on one of the more daunting tasks for me which is the wiring looms I have got the headlight loom separated and the KR loom cut ready to start splicing the 20VT loom in. Anyway here is a few pictures of the engine ready to go for a degreases and small rebuild, it seems at some point it has sprung an oil leak from somewhere above the oil cooler... Over the net couple of months I need to start looking at sourcing a set of wheels and getting it all prepped for paint but the main aim is to have the 20VT built back up in and running by christmas...

Yeah I had planned on changing every seal in it as I'm guessing a majority of them are still the originals and it looks like it has sprung an oil leak somewhere in its life

Jokes aside my mates family own and run a massive nursery so pretty much I'm tucked in one of the half empty ones haha

Now I finally have a little of time off work I have made a start on stripping down the 20VT for a rebuild and a few upgrades, internals wise I don't think I will change much for the time being but had been toying with the idea of going for a BBT K300. But for now I will be putting all new gaskets and seals in and giving it a scrub down and get a few bits polished up and painted, sorting a FMIC set up and replacing all the old hosing for new silicone counterparts.

Ah great stuff mate I was only able to go off what it was sold to me as so that's good to know! :)

I have been having a look at those, but not sure quite what I want to do with it yet....

After a 6 hour round trip last night with a help from the old man and my mate Dan who is helping me throughout this build we managed to safely get the 20VT lump and other bits back in one piece. A lot of the stuff that came with the conversion won't be much use so I will sell it on to help offset the cost of it all but I will hopefully try and utilise the down pipe and straight through section of the exhaust and get a new rear silencer at some point. As for the rest of the car I am cracking on with stripping it down and pulling the loom out ready to be cut and spliced with the new one and will be imminently making a start on getting the bodywork sorted out and smoothing up a few bits here and there and getting it prepared for paint. I am planning on tidying up the scuttle tray as best I can by relocating the ECU behind the dash as well as all other wiring that feeds through there and doing something with the wiper mechanism as it has seen better days, hopefully by christmas the engine bay will be tidied up and the 20VT will be in and running it will be staying as it is for now but will still be getting stripped down, cleaned out and new gaskets fitted but for now here is a few more standard pictures...

Cheers for that advice I think I'll try a polybush front mount before I do anything and see how that goes

Spot on cheers mate, it's not a daily so I can live with that With regards to the sump I have learnt from smacking mine on my MK4 so I'll be going for a shallow sump!

Sorry worded that quite badly, was actually our build thread I was reading! I meant keep the existing Corrado clocks and ignition barrel With regards to the other mounts this is info I am unsure on...

Got a few questions I need some more direct answers too, I have given a few build threads and the definitive guide a glance over but still... I have bought a full AGU conversion for my Corrado main question is can I use the existing 16V engine mounts as it comes with a MK3 TDI box in the conversion I haven't found anywhere that says they won't fit, but I will stand corrected on that one... Also planning on upgrading to vibratechnics or anything else anyone can recommend? I am hell bent on keeping the early bonnet so will be going for a MK2 golf VR6 solid front mount which I have read should work... I do have the full loom, ECU and plan on keeping the original clocks and barrel so will be splicing the looms with the help of a few wiring diagrams I have been using the QPENG guide for most stuff but any other experience have with doing it and what they would do different would me much appreciated! Cheers, Tom

Well after doing some reading up on the whole VR conversion after some help from members on here I decided I could be getting a lot more bang for my buck by going for something I am more familiar with, so with a little help from @rabbit82 I managed to pick up a complete 1.8T AGU conversion with 80,000 on the clock including a load of extras for a pretty good price all thats left to do now is to make the 3 hour drive to go and fetch it. But in the mean time I have got the KR lump out of the bay and started to do a bit of degreasing and tidying up as well as getting the subframe dropped to prep some parts ready for sand blasting and repainting to get it all tidied up... I have also been looking through a few forums and have decided to give smoothing the front bumper and wings a go as well as relocating the washer jets to the underside of the bonnet. Found this corrado whilst I was searching and fell in love with the front end!

Definetly giving it some more reading up considering some of the advice I have had recently something lighter maybe a better option!

I do have the facility to get driveshafts made, the old Coilovers will be getting switched out for a new setup but do already have a loom sorted out but I'll definitely have a look into other smaller bits, I may take you up on the mechanism mate!

I'm going to get the mechanism out and have a look, I do have a whole Corrado front end waiting for the conversion. But sure I have seen somewhere that the 16v is the same and you upgrade to VR mounts of course?

Thought they did, mine you can lift up one side by hand but not with the other it feels like it has been forced

Had another day on the car today stripping some more down including the scuttle tray and disconnecting all the remaining pipework and wiring all thats left is to take off the driveshafts and undo the engine mounts and lift the engine out after. I have decided to drop a 2.8 VR6 lump in not really after big power but want that VR6 noise without the R32 conversion price tag, couldn't say no at the price I was offered it all for.. Also made a start on getting the rear stripped down to blank off the rear wiper and sort out the rear wing situation as I'm presuming mine has the raising rear spoiler? Started to give the sills a quick rub down with degreaser to prep again with waxoyl, but until the engine is out and I have seen pay day and I can start rebuilding the VR but here is a few pictures for now...

@seanl82 I am planning a trip to a few local yards that I know have Corrado's in to find myself a few bits so Ill have a look for a decent loom set, if I get an early finish again tomorrow ill give getting the bonding off a go just going to be a time and patience thing i feel, but I have set myself a deadline of ultimate dubs in march to have it somewhat ready haha @robrado974 Yeah having set myself a pretty tight deadline I'm trying to hit it hard early on as I fully expect there to be problems with stuff a little further down the line, but she is coming apart quite nicely for now. Soon be getting a stainless steel exhaust TIG'd up at work just need to source a rear silencer that suits it from somewhere

@seanl82 Thanks for posting that thread up mate had a look through so far no real nasty surprises car is solid! Well managed to get an early finish from my training course today at work so decided to take the opportunity to get an hour to two in on the car stripping the wings off and getting stuff piled up for paint prep. Only issue I had was trying to get the wings away from the bonding on the sills as it was well and truly sealed on there. Also carried out stripping the looms out ready for taking the engine out on saturday, decided on going for a whole new wiring loom as the current looks like Stevie Wonder has had a crack at it just reems of electrical tape everywhere, so if anyone knows if they can be sourced or made that would be much appreciated! Anyway a few standard progress pictures nothing special, the sills and bay need a real good strip down and degrease...

Yeah they weren't mine either!! I was not a fan of the red slam panel but it will be getting blasted and sprayed to the proper colour... Thanks for the thread mate I'll have look through

I didn't expect anything less from a 24 year old car from what I gather reading up on here there all pretty common faults but can't wait to get the ball rolling with it

Cheers for the replies by the sounds of it I'm going to be looking at 30-35mm spacers all round which is more than I would be happy using!