89 Golf

[Prez]

I'm going to look at an 89 Golf for a beater.

Has the 1.8L SOHC and 5spd.

new clutch cable, new speedometer cable, compression test showed 150psi on all 4 cyl. new spark plugs & wires, distributor cap & rotor, new thermostat & waterpump

Is this an interference motor? Anyone point me to what I need to look for as problem areas? Besides the obvious electrical and random car starts on fire issues. ;) j/k.....

[MurA1]

mk2s didn't really have a fire issue, its the 1.8T's when upgrading the turbo there can be some problems.

Being the 150psi I'm guessing its one of the lower compression motors, so it would NOT be an interference motor. Actually, most 8V's are non-interference, unless modified to be (i.e. shaved head, decked block)

Check for rust where the rear axel beam attaches to the body and the front strut towers, more specifically the DRIVERS side tower. (seen several of these rusted through)

I had an 86 GTI beater last year that I bought from the jy and between me and the buddy that bought it from me we put probably 6-10K miles on it at MIN. and this was with a rusted out strut tower and many of the bushings and motor mounts SHOT! It was a blast to drive and got beat to death, but never quit until my buddy cut it up for parts for his MK2 coupe.

[Prez]

Thanks. Thats what I need to know is all the litte hidden gotchas like the rear axel beams.

Good to hear it's not an interference motor, means t-belt issues less likely to be a huge problem.

[justin]

heater cores and door handles.

Ive put on 60-70k between the 2 mk2's ive had, and those were the only problems that i had that werent regular wear items.

[Black86gti]

pull the front seats so you can lift up the carpet and check the floors. if they are good take the time to spray some bedliner etc on the floors if you plan on keeping the car a while. i had an 89 golf for 5 years and had i checked the floors it would still be with me today. they make good drivers and parts are cheap

[Prez]

Clutch needed adjustment, and the bad is it sounded like the motor was knocking.