1991 Gti - Complete Overhaul

[mintaka]

G’day All,

 

Perhaps you fine people can help me.

 

I am the owner of a 1991 GTi 4AGE (100kw). In fact I have owned it since new (yes, I’m that old!)

It was my first car and is still used on a semi-regular basis.

 

However, with 250,000 klms on the clock she is getting a little tired and frayed around the edges. We investigated getting another second car and putting the GTi out to pasture (we are NEVER going to sell her, too many memories). We have rejected that idea as there is little in today’s small car market (Feista, Yaris, Polo, etc) that would match or even come close the GTi in performance.

 

So we have decided that the GTi will get a complete overhaul.

 

And that’s where I hope you good people may be able to help me.

 

What I would like is to use your experience and knowledge of workshops and suppliers. Also what would be the best combination of products, etc. In a way, you would all get to design this overhaul.

 

The outline of what needs doing goes as follows;

• Full repaint in original colour – Red. This will include a little panel beating and minor rust removal

• New front seats, re-trim rear seats

• New carpet

• New sound system – but not huge boot filling woofers!

• Engine – Try to keep as much of the original engine as possible, but it would need to be stripped and rebuilt. Not looking for massive increase in power (just getting back what the years have taken would be enough), but could explore mild turbo / super charging.

• Most likely new exhaust – but would like to keep original look at rear

• Most likely new gearbox – the old one is feeling the years – could explore 6 speed if there is such a thing

• Cruise control

• Electric windows

• Retinting the windows – if it is still legal in NSW

• Sat Nav

• Trip computer if possible

• New shocks – but no lowering. Would like to improve handling some, but not at the expensive of ride comfort.

• Other suggestion welcome

• Tires and rims have recently been upgraded so nothing is to be done there

 

In summary, I would like to take the old girl back to better than “as new” condition.

 

She would still need to be a semi-daily ride, so we can’t go anything wild that would make her a bitch to drive on the street.

 

We live in the Western Sydney area, so any workshop and supplier pointers will have to be in that region.

 

There is a budget of many 1000’s, but I don’t wish to state exactly. However, don’t let that limit your thinking!

 

And if this has already been done (or something close) I would love to here from you.

 

I hope this will inspire some of you and any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

Mintaka

 

Corolla GTi 1991 4AGE

[Teddy]

Good Morning.

 

Sounds like quite a project.

 

Toyota still has limited stock left for the Ae92 era; If you give me a list of the exact parts you would like, The VIN number, Engine number and Year Date of the Corolla, i can check up and see if Toyota still has them new. Things like Carpet, Engine, Gearbox, Panels, Linkages, Interior Trims etc would be better of genuine, where as shocks, exhaust, sound are something the aftermarket - market can caiter for.

 

Id put money on the distributor is leaking oil from the O rind and internal seal; Long story short yes you can still buy a new dizzy for them - not too many left in the country; about $800 i think off the top of my head.

 

Good Luck

[rollaboy26]

Welcome!

 

Awesome project you are taking on and I am jealous you have owned it from new.

I would suggest keeping the motor n/a and getting it rebuilt to standard spec as much as possible or maybe just popping in some earlier 4age 'bigport' cams for a little extra. Just to retain the originalness you have. There are so few genuine, tidy original GTi's about.

 

Good luck and I look forward to following your progress