PROJECT DEL BOY

Hi all,

Well - where do I start?!

I'm Dave, this is my first post on the forum and the first log of my new project - a MK1 Cabrio GL which has been in my wife's family since new.

The car has been well used and mainly garaged apart from when my wife used it for Uni for a number of years. It's been sat in a garage for the last few years.

It's a straight car but is pretty tired and in need of a lot of TLC!  As I have recently moved and now have a garage I have taken the old girl on as a long term restoration

project.

This is my first big project so as well as hopefully posting an interesting story for you lot I plan to use this forum as record of the process and so I apologise in advance for

boring images/text!

So that people don't expect this to be turned around in a few months, I warn you now - this is a marathon not a sprint and at the moment I haven't got funds to put towards it

(having recently moved house and got married!). So initally at least I am just planning to get the engine out to rebuild and making a list of what I need to buy - when I have

money to put towards it I guess my first point of call will be Mr Crazyquiff!

Anyway - on with some pictures:

Work bench that I made for mate in return for his help in transporting the old girl home!


She still runs (just!)


Although the patch under the car is fuel - I think a hose has gone..





Current suspension is very tired, looks lopsided.

Worst rust is on back corner but the doors, sills, boot lid and other arches are all being munched by the old tin worm.

The last time she will be on the road for a long time - forgot how heavy the steering is..



Engine is pretty grotty - motor will be out for full rebuild.  Wanna keep this one as it has been so good through its life it deserves some love!








Grills off and cleaned up - a modest start I know!!

Well the current plan is to keep it standard as much as possible but do the usual improvements regarding suspension, maybe brakes, maybe steering (need more research to decide).

I want to do all the bodywork myself except for possibly the final prep and coat (full respray may be in the pipeline)

I am currently undecided of what to do with the interior - its a bit grotty and worn and I'm not a fan of the colour scheme so I may make some changes there (its all a bit

mildewy and damp at the moment so may need to be replaced anyway).  It all needs to come out anyway in order to check the floor.

The hood has been replaced fairly recently so is good (not sure about the inner lining) - need to check.

Shopping List (So Far)
Passenger side head light (main)
Golf badge

I will post more as and when I get time (including some decent pictures of the interior).

Thanks for reading!

nice project, and cracking reg.  It must be worth a few pounds itself.

I am taking on something similar to yourself, without the sentimental value, and wish you all the best.  It's great fun if a tiny bit frustrating at times.

Advice:

Any questions you have, someone here knows.

Crazy quiff is expensive, there is some stuff you can get there and nowhere else, in which case price isn't really an option, but anything i've found elsewhere, has been cheaper.

www.vagcat.com then "go to catalog".  Use this for getting part numbers and always try your local VW to keep everything to factory build standard.

Euro car parts and GSf are handy, but the parts are generally cheap made, hence the low prices, use them for consumables like filters etc.

Ebay is your friend, couple of great sellers on there like chubnut and tierrod to name a few, they have wads of brand new mk1 components you'll find nowhere else.

AVS Car Parts - [The VW - Audi - Seat - Skoda Parts Specialist] < excellent.

other than that, take loads of photos and enjoy it, looking forward to progress.

now go check my resto



Peace.

good luck the project! I love the plate, pure class 8)

Hi Dave, welcome to the forum!

Looks like you've got a bit of work ahead of you there, look forward to seeing your progress  8)

welcome alone

not seen green with a cream hood before but i like it!!!

is it your first resto?

Thanks everyone for the welcoming words and Weetony for the contacts - I'm sure these will come in very handy!

This is my first resto so will be needed your advice along the way I'm sure! I do have basic engineering experience including some welding but this is going to be the project to develop some actual skill!

Mini update:

Had half hour last night so just started removing the front bumper but couldn't work out what the thing attached on the end of a bracket held on by one of the bolts I needed to remove..  quick scan through the haynes and its the horn!

A few questions for you lot:

1.   Getting a compressor for Christmas which my old man has reconditioned but would anyone recommend the sand blaster boxes that you can get a Machine Mart?  They look quite handy for cleaning up components.  However other advice for cleaning up metals and plastics would be welcome (I've read vinegar is good to getting rid of crap and rust? WD40 for plastics.  How about tarnished Chrome i.e. the trim). What is the best rust killer?
2.   What should I budget for replacement wiring loom - or is it better to just repair the bits that are deteriorated?
3.   Do any of you stick weld instead of Mig?  I have done Mig but the set up cost compared to arc welders is quite substantial (also the faff of gas etc) and I actually preferred the process of stick welding when I had a go on my Dads.  I know people will say bodywork is to thin but I am told it is possible and if that is the case ideas on what welder would be helpful..

Well better get back to work.

Oh the Haynes restoration manual has just been delivered - wasn't expecting it before Christmas. Bonus!

i got a compressor but never bothered with a sand blaster but if you've got the room then go for it

i just use a wire brush on a grinder and other thing like that

as for arc welding then "bodywork is to thin" i would go for a mig welder the extra cost is well worth it. i've never seen anyone stick weld bodywork

i don't think you can buy a loom of the shelf new, but you can certainly buy most of the stuff to do one. i've not round to that bit yet so i'm not sure

i've found the best paint to use is POR-15 for paint parts and things

hth

Welocme aboard!, great little project. And good she is being restored.
Are you keeping the original colour?, not too many GL`s left really
especially in that colour. Keep the updates coming, I will be following
this, any questions fire away, whatever you come accross someone
on here will have tackled it before, so there no worries there.

Best of luck

Dibbler.

Thanks jellybelly, dibbler.

Recon I'm gonna keep the standard colour - I like the green and cream hood look.  Maybe new alloys (although again stick like the originals) change some of the interior (advice on availability of carpets would be helpful) to cream I think (don't like the current brown carpets and trim but need new colour to match the brown dash which looks nice).

Its not going to be radically altered in anyway just some gental improvements!

Love this forum - been reading many of the other projects on here and it's really been great for getting my head round what I need to do.

Nice one, original is always best (in my humble opinion)
Colour is Papyrus Green,  interior will be light brown (XC)
and hood will be sand (V3) thats if the reg number is correct
(eg: related to the age it was made) well thats what they
look like from the pics, I may be wrong ops: either way
it looks great.

Best of luck

dibbler.

hey scamparelli,

newton commercials for your carpet bud, how about all cream interior, would suit nice in my head?

deffo love the colour/hood, car hoods northern for any hood requirements.

for both of these companies there's a tab on the left of this website, join the club for discount from both.

when you were describing the bumper removal i was like "horn, it's the horn!" haynes manual is brilliant, while the restoration manual is just alright, I haven't used it much since i got mine.

be careful on ebay….it's addictive.

peace.

Lovely number plate buddy and good to see an orignal car being restored.

Will be good if you keep her orignal.

Good luck with the resto buddy and keep us posted with pics

Cheers

A bit of progression; the following has now been removed:

Battery out and on trickle charge
Radiator drained and removed
Front bumper unbolted, disconnected and removed along with horn
Windscreen washer and headlamp washer pumps removed from washer tank

The milage is a bit more than 100k that I had thought - its actually past 150k! Top little car!

Following are some more images including some of the interior:


Horn (or more accurately the bumper bolt which holds the horn on) is easier to remove with the rad out of the way


















It's all looking a bit shabby!

Well done girl!!

Vinal around dash vents has peeled away - seen some plastic inserts on e-bay for £20 (bit steep) but I understand crazyquiff does cheaper versions.




Checked out Newton Commercials (thank you Weetony) and they do the following carpets: http://www.newtoncomm.co.uk/_uploads/library/large/CK5500MKI_full_carpet.jpg

in the following colours: http://www.newtoncomm.co.uk/_uploads/library/large/Carpetcolourswatch300px11.jpg

Now, few more questions people:

I believe the engine is 1457cc so is this classed as 1.5 (not seen much info on these if so!)
I want to keep as standard as poss but the colour for the above replacement carpet looks to differ from the orginal (but should work with the colours of door trim, dash etc).. soooo what should I do with the seats..
From the above pictures do you recon the front end is worth restoring or replacing (I see this panel replaced a lot in other peoples threads). My feeling is to try and save it.

Shopping list (continued..)

Radiator
Possibly horn - will see if I can repair it first

Thanks for reading and for the input I have received.

Dave

looks like a good project, i have the same 1457 engine in my lhd lx - cant find much about it either!

another bournemouth mk1 owner!!

there are plenty of us around here now!!

if you need anything come and see me at TPS, stanley green road, poole, you'd be surprised how many mk1 bits are still available new genuine.
also paul at coltech classics, holton heath - he is a fountain of knowledge for all things mk1 …

good luck with the resto, good to see a local car getting the treatment.. if you need a hand give me a shout, i'll gladly help if i can..

and get yourself to the tidyvag meet on the 10th of this month, dfs holes bay 2pm.. there will be loads of mk1's to inspire you..

richie

Cheers Richie - I'll try and get down on the 10th but depends on if I get back in time.  

Milky; as we have the same lump if I can help you with anything (checking wiring etc) then let me know.  I'm sure I will have a question or two in the following months/years!!

After a lovely Chrimbo of eating/drinking too much have had few chances to get out in the garage and has mainly to fettle what is already off the golf;



Spent some time wirebrushing and rubbing down this sorry looking fan cover. Used some Kurust on it but where there was deep pitting it struggled! Thinking of making myself a larger vinegar bath as you will see..


This started like this and…



All the brackets left in some vinegar for 48 hours (19p per bottle from Sainsburys!) and…

…they come out like this! nice!

Then on to the grill - these are just some before shots for my reference..






Back at it tonight!

Mini update:

Horn reassembled - much better


Moved on to front bumper - I need to strip out the metal bracket as its pretty corroded and needs sorting - however after removing the headlight washers I'm struggling to get the main bracket out (bumper doesn't seem to be designed to be removed once its popped on to the bracket!).. any ideas??







The number plate bracket is pretty grotty:




Someone was enjoying the central heating while I was busy getting cold in the workshop!!


Right I'm off to check out some other VW's at the Tidyvag meet. May get my answer there. Then I need to start stripping the interior in order to check the floorpan (hope its ok but I know it has got damp in the past).

i'll see you at the meet then hopefully, i'll be in my girlies purple mk3 cabriolet..

richievr said

i'll see you at the meet then hopefully, i'll be in my girlies purple mk3 cabriolet..

Hi Richie, I did pop down and have a look around with my mate.  We had a chat to a chap called Peter and another guy with a Mars Red Gti (can't recall his name sorry).  I had to shoot off so sorry for not finding you but I'm sure I'll meet you at future meet!

i don't blame you for shooting on, 'twas a bit nippy!!    

the mars red gti was a Y plate yeah, with a 16v in it..
pretty tidy, but i don't know whose that is either unfortnately..

with a bit of luck next months meet will be warmer and Much busier.. we usually fill at least half the car park!!

richie