I bought this car in February as an ex PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) car needing a gearbox. My original plans were to quickly fix it up and drive away at it. Finding a 6 speed gearbox was difficult and took a while - ended up having to get one brought across from England. During the time it took to find a gearbox I came across some cheap VRS bits and bobs and so it began.

No longer was this to be a "cheap and cheerful fix" but a full blown VRS replica. I bought the alloys, bumpers, spoiler, fog lights, grills, badges and side strips for a VRS.

I fitted the new gearbox to the car in one evening - a very easy job to do even by myself. Once the car was rolling again it was time to get it resprayed. Because it was an ex PSNI car there were holes in the roof and a hole on the rear quarter for the aerial nevermind the numerous dents and dings all over it. I welded up the holes in the roof and quarter panel and then dropped it off for a full respray.

The respray took longer than expected and about two months later I got the car back.... in absolute pieces! It has taken me about a month of my spare time to put it back together and bring it to the stage you see it at now.

I still plan to find a genuine VRS interior for it. I have VRS springs to go into it and I'll hopefully get a chance to get them in tomorrow.

Anyway... here's some photos...

As I bought it...

Fitting the new gearbox...

During it's respray...

And the final result (as it sits at the minute)...

And a wee bonus desktop image for you guys with my arty camera...

Edited 3 October, 200916 yr by rushhour

No Photo's matey.

That's them sorted now.

The Vrs wheels at the back look too small,could it be because of the ride height ,or are spacers needed to get the wheel out or is it just the picture ???

The suspension has settled down a good bit now - it had been jacked in the air at the rear in the bodyshop for weeks so it took a while for it to sit back down at it's proper height.

I have yet to put the VRs springs into it and see how low it sits then. I have to carry around a full boot of kit for my work so that helps to lower it!

What size brakes do you have on it, I have a nice shiny set that will fit it from a vRS

I'm not actually sure. I must get the a wheel off and measure them. I'm hoping that they were upgraded by Skoda for use as a Police car. They're certainly very sharp.

Some more photos after I fitted a new wheel bearing and gave it a good wash...

http://www.rushhourtechnology.co.uk/bryan/octavia/front.jpg

Rear suspension seems to have settled down a bit after being jacked in the air at the bodyshop for weeks...

http://www.rushhourtechnology.co.uk/bryan/octavia/side.jpg

http://www.rushhourtechnology.co.uk/bryan/octavia/side2.jpg

Oh and brakes are only bog standard 288mm.

Nice project. Suspension still looks odd though

Steve

Just found out something interesting about the suspension. Today when I was fitting the wheel bearing I took the opportunity to check the part number on the front suspension strut. The part number was 1T0 413 031 DN. I looked this up on ETKA and it turns out that this part number relates to the shock absorbers from a VRs "sports suspension".

I am now wondering if it also has VRs springs fitted meaning the ones I have won't lower it any more than it already is.

Photo...

http://www.rushhourtechnology.co.uk/bryan/octavia/lowering_before-after.jpg

Finally managed to get the VRS springs into the car today. Took three hours - 2 hours for the front and 1 for the back. Total nightmare and I didn't even need the M14 spline bit - ended up just taking the whole strut and hub assembly off as I couldn't get the shock seperated from the hub.

The pictures don't really show if there is much of a difference - might take a while to settle down but the back is definately lower.

I'll have to hunt down a set of VRS rear brake calipers so I can get the ventilated discs to push out the wheels if that's what makes the difference - they really don't seem to sit as far out as a real VRS.

What size brakes do you have on it, I have a nice shiny set that will fit it from a vRS

Hi, can you PM me with the details of these please.

Sorry, my bad. If its the set from the A3 I think I have that information.

Edited 16 October, 200916 yr by k.young
I have a head like a siv.

Looking good matey 10/10

Just thought I would update this thread with some more photos...

This is what my car currently looks like:

Spent most of last weekend swapping the dials from a set of genuine VRS clocks into my original clocks because they simply can't be swapped over due to the fact that they're coded to the car.

Here's my old clocks:

And the new ones:

My car has also had a new engine and a brand new turbo over the past few months!

Did you get a Vrs engine for it?

Where are you based? I must look out for you.

Wow, good looking project indeed.

Spent most of last weekend swapping the dials from a set of genuine VRS clocks into my original clocks because they simply can't be swapped over due to the fact that they're coded to the car.

Yes they can

Great project! Have you remapped it yet? I also have a full set of vRS brakes kicking around.

Love the arty picture too!

Would be interested in the brakes definately.

Car may already be remapped due to it being an ex cop car. It certainly goes well anyway I will have to get it on the rollers once I get the steering sensor calibrated.

Would it not have been cheaper to buy a VRS in the first place ?

If you can find me a diesel MK2 VRS for the money I have spent on my car I'll buy 5. I'd make a fortune selling them on. I have spent more than my car is worth, admittedly, but not as much as a genuine VRS. I could have bought a MK1 VRS but I really don't like them as much for some reason.

I've done a lot of the work on the car myself which has kept the cost down. The only real expensive thing was the respray because that was something I couldn't do.

Edited 9 March, 201016 yr by rushhour

Looks well, and a credit to you

Nice work M8...Looking to start doing a similar sort of project on my own, nice to see it can be done and in such fine style. Side strips,bumpers and spoiler will be my first port of call providing I can get them at a good price...(ebay hopefully). Keep up the good work !!

I bought most of the parts I could second hand off ebay. I couldn't get the side strips second hand though as no one will split them from the doors. They cost £25 each (£100 odd for all 4!!) so beware!! It was stupid things like this that bumped up the price - the rear reflectors for the bumper were also pricey enough for all they are - again had to be bought new.

Front bumper fog lights are expensive but I found a compatible set for less than half the price of genuine Skoda ones. To fit the VRS Front bumper properly you will need the inner splash guards to line them up properly with the bumper. I haven't done this but it's something I plan to do as it bugs me. Quite fussy when it comes to things like that.