Finally converting my GLS Jetta to GLI body style

[STiGuy06]

EDIT: Lips & skirts are installed!


So, im going to have extra cash leftover from my other mk4 jetta part out and i wanted give me daily some love, and convert my 02 GLS into a GLI, at least body style wise.

Also getting a used stock GLI catback sooner or later.

[cbirgl]

GLI's are the same body as the regular jetta. You can just swap out the lips front and rear and add the sideskirts. I always use OEM parts for best fit, but there are some other companies out there.

Coilovers are always the best choice to get perfect fitment and dampening to your liking. H&R springs are a good substitute, and if you aren't using the 2" drop stock shocks are okay, but it is always best to get shocks that are made for lowering.

[STiGuy06]

thanks man, i figured but i wanted to be 100% sure. I want to get the GLI body parts 1st then i'll figure out if i want to lower it or not.

[AutobahnRacer]

Slightly off topic, but have you gone from 02A to 02J yet? Make sure you post some pictures when you are done. I had an 03 Jetta GLS and would love to see what it would have looked like had I gone the route you are.

[STiGuy06]

Originally Posted by Carministrator

Slightly off topic, but have you gone from 02A to 02J yet? Make sure you post some pictures when you are done. I had an 03 Jetta GLS and would love to see what it would have looked like had I gone the route you are.

nah dude, i'm just doing the GLI body style swap. I'm also probably lowering the car and adding a 2.25" Magnaflow Catback. Then i'm done. It's only a DD so i don't want to waste most of the leftover money from my partout on it.


Picked up Replica Skirts brand new off a local for $100 today

[AutobahnRacer]

I posted a poorly constructed sentence haha. Those were two different thoughts that sounded like one. Post pics of the body when your done

[STiGuy06]

Will do....probably within the next few months.

[MattBear]

the 02 should be a an O2J, the O2a was only used in 99/00 iirc

[AutobahnRacer]

You sure (not saying you are incorrect)? When I was going to build my trans on Jetta the shop offered to do O2J or dog gears and said what I had was the O2A

[ein]

AFAIK 1.8T's and VR6's got O2J in the MK4 unless they were 6 speed. I'm not sure if the 2.0's were upgraded from 020 to 02A.

[AutobahnRacer]

I had an MK4 5 speed 2.slow

[RuhRohh]

my friends got an MK4 golf 2.slow hes trying to convert to a 20th
so far hes got the aristos a 20th front lip and he just picked up a 20th rear lip
he bought the car completely stock a year ago

crappy cell phone picture


keep us posted on how your car comes out. i would love to see some progress

[STiGuy06]

^ looks good.....


I'll be ordering the GLI Front and Rear Lip Kit this week hopefully. Can't wait, the side skirts won't be lonely anymore haha!

[STiGuy06]

Lips have been ordered today! Should be on the car and painted by end of April

[STiGuy06]

Lips came in today! I will take pics tomorrow. I'm going to install them unpainted to get the fit and mounting holes drilled correctly. I'll probably rock them on the car for awhile unpainted until i can get a hold of my buddy to paint them.

[STiGuy06]

Update: Finally got time to install the kit & take pics. Not bad for $397 total...Should be around a month until they get painted. I'll just get laughed at & deal with it for now. Used stock GLI Catback is coming shortly as well (really don't feel like blowing $550 on a Magnaflow for a daily beater).

I already scrapped the front underneath, so no go on lowering it. I have to plow through snow in winter so if i lower it, it'll be instant death to the front lip.

[SvicksTc]

looks good but why not just keep it off until its ready for paint? or at least flat black the sides to match the front and rears

[STiGuy06]

Originally Posted by SvicksTc

looks good but why not just keep it off until its ready for paint? or at least flat black the sides to match the front and rears

I didn't want them laying around and someone accidentally stepping or dropping something on them since a few people go in and out of my garage daily that are either family or the rental business's handy man lol.

I thought about flat blacking them but i don't feel like it, it'll be done in about a month or less because i have the paint already from before, just not the money for my buddy to do it

[STiGuy06]

Well to speed up the process of painting the kits and some other bits, i absolutely will have it painted by end of the month/1st week in June. I hit my garage pillar so the rub strip on the passenger side as well as fender is all mangled lol. I'm an IDIOT. But at least the lips fine

[motorvated]

Can I suggest that you buy my GLI sport springs? They are the stock GLI springs, but they should lower your car a touch. It will reallly improve your look but wont effect your drive-ability. They have 3K original miles on them. Let me know...I'll let em go cheap.