Project Postman Pat

So now the Golf has sold and i have some cash in my hand, i thought i would do the sensible thing and pay off the remainder of my credit card, put some cash away for decorating the new house, and build myself a practical toy but on a strict budget.

THE POSTMAN PAT PROJECT




The van has been abused by my old man for a few years and its taken its toll. Mechanically sound with hardly any rust, but the bodywork is mullered!
After a bit of research i have found that the Caddy Van shares the same subframe as many Seats, a Polo Classic, but more importantly a Mk3 Golf, meaning in theory a VR6 engine and running gear should fit straight in with no work.

So tommorow im taking the trailer down to my mates where he has a written off Mk3 VR6 sat waiting for me.
I will be breaking what i can from the Golf, selling most of it to re-coupe some money, then scrapping the shell. All i will be using is the Engine, running gear, wheels, suspension, brakes, and possibly the front seats.

So if anybody wants any mk3 Golf parts let me know.

another cool project, keep the pics flowing lol

This wont be very spectacular im affraid dude as funds wont allow.
Just want a low and wide van with 200bhp and a colour change.

I am strapped for cash but there will be bits I require off the golf. let me know when you have it and I will pop over and reserve some bits.

Gungemyster wrote:

I am strapped for cash but there will be bits I require off the golf. let me know when you have it and I will pop over and reserve some bits.

yeah ok matey. Let me know if theres anything in particular and i will take it off for you. Theres no immediate rush but the sooner i sell some parts, the sooner i can tidy the postman pat wagon.

I think i have already decided on the new colour for the van... as i have a few litres on VW Alpine White left over from my old Caddy project i thought i may aswell use it up on this one. So maybe Black roof too just to set it apart from the rest of the White vans?

where is the damage on the Mk3?

I will defo need a drivers side widow motor,
the rear window dash control.

I will have a look round Yvonnes tomorrow and make a list.

Gungemyster wrote:

where is the damage on the Mk3?

I will defo need a drivers side widow motor,
the rear window dash control.

I will have a look round Yvonnes tomorrow and make a list.

i may have these dude ill check in me workshop tomoz and let you know

The damage on the Mk3 is on the passenger drivers door / rear quarter. I think the car is the same colour as yours aswell mate. So if you need any panels let me know?
Got the car home today, started the strip down. *note to myself... must label where things go!

Started to strip the doner car. For all parts see my seperate for sale thread.

im looking forward to watching this thread

Think this will be a bit special, looking forward to seeing it come together. Whats going to go in the back?

Cleverchap wrote:

Think this will be a bit special, looking forward to seeing it come together. Whats going to go in the back?

A false ceiling with down lighters and built in speaker pods. Carpet the sides, floor, etc and keep it usable as a van to keep tools in etc. But also will be handy to kip in at shows, etc. Im gonna be keeping a toe bar on the back also as i will be needing the van to tow the track car and trailer.

Thats my vision anyway, but it might all change by 2mrw knowing me.

Bit of a boring update im affraid, but thought i'd better keep the thread up to date.
The doner car is pretty all much all stripped except all the running gear. So it still runs and drives. I wanted to make sure the engine is top condition with no faults at all before i remove it. So i plugged the car into VAGCOM, and there is no faults. The engine sounds so sweet and no tapping, knocking etc. So yeah im well happy.

So tommorrow the doner car will be put aside in the lockup and at the weekend i will whip the diesel engine and looms out of the caddy. Reason i am leaving the engine in the doner for the moment is so that i dont forget where everything is plugged in, as i need to prep and paint the caddy engine bay before the VR lump is installed.
As from the weekend im hoping the updates will be getting a bit more exciting for you.

That is all for now!

nice one, im looking forward to seeing this take shap!!!

I'm mildly moist just reading this, gawd knows what I'll be like as you progress!!

Bit of update. Still not very exciting im affraid.

Removed the dirty diesel lump along with all the pumps, ect.
Spent bloody hours de-greasing the years of cack in the bay, havent finished it yet but this is how far i am with it





Made a start on removing te dash ready to remove the engine looms which sit behind the dash.




Tomorrows menu is MORE cleaning, and more removing parts

nice one, keep up the good work!

you have a wet floor

dubberatlast wrote:

you have a wet floor

Yeah i know. I was blasting the steam cleaner in every corner of the engine bay and forgot i had half the holes in the bulkhead exposed. The floor is soaked inside!! Im removing all the seats, dash and carpet anyway to dry it all out and give it a proper clean.

Love the gearshift gaiter, don't forget the Mexican blankets for the seats.


This should be ace when you've got the engine in and running.
Have you seen this on eBay Simon?

1995 Seat Ibiza WHITE (R32 3.2 24V)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270538079824&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I likey that Ibeeezer.
Nice little sleeper that....

Yeah ive seen that Ibiza at TSR. Mine wont be anywhere near that kind of standard so dont get too excited. lol

I wish i could stretch to a 3.2 motor instead of 2.8 but they fetch silly money.

Ok, due to new house i havent done much on the Pat wagon.
Although at the weekend the misses let me have a day off from hanging doors, and grouting the bathroom so i carried on with the van.

I spent bloody ages removing the dash... horrible job. Not looking foward to removing the Mk3 Golf one either. I think fitting it all back in again will be a challenge! eeek!
But when i eventually did get it out in one piece i removed the steering coloumn, pedal box along with the Flyby throttle wire system, engine loom, and dash loom.
I also got underneath and removed the exhaust system, heat sheilds, and gear selector unit which i will be replacing with a cable change one instead of the caddy rod type one.
Whilst underneath i loosened all the subframe bolts ready to remove it.

I did take pics (although they are a bit boring) but cant upload them until our internet is connected at home. (im writing this at work).

Next job is to start stripping the Mk3 Golf down.

Bloody hell Si that looks like a right head fuck!

ARCANE wrote:

Bloody hell Si that looks like a right head fuck!

Actually things are going pretty well. And touch wood no problems yet. Compared to converting my old Mk2 Golf this conversion should be a piece of cake!