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1.1 driving experience

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Hi,

I'm thinking of putting the original 1.1 engine back in my car along with none servo assisted brakes so that's its back to factory spec. My question is what are the 1.1 small blocks like to drive? I'll be going from a 1.5.

Thanks

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Suppose they are alright on roads with the 20 mph speed limit, never driven one really.

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1.1 driving experience

When I were a lad my mate had one for a first car.

We used to scream the knackers of it up through the wye valley from Chepstow to Tintern.  As you can imagine the handling was fine but it took some winding up.

I had a 1.3 cavalier which handled like a boat so our rac…. Erm drive outs we a case of me pushing him on the straights and him leaving me on the corners.

Personally I couldn’t live with it today, especially if driving it on motorways to shows. If trailering it everywhere and driving local roads only then guess it’s kind of nice to make it original again and probably add some sort of collectors value.


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I had a 1043cc polo (mk2) as my first car. A massive 40 bhp, no brake servo. Was a hoot to drive - had to anticipate everything, get it wound up for any overtakes. But I was a lot younger then, and most small cars didn't have the power output they do now so it didn't feel like it was too far behind everything else. Used to plough it up an down the motorway at a steady 70 (+ on the downhills!). These days I think I'd struggle to cope with it as a regular car - but that's because I've got used to more modern cars. Kudos for taking it back to orignal though!

My rebuild thread I will try and keep up to date: here

K-Jet fuel pressure test guage How-To

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Back in the day my brother and myself had 1.1 Golf C and then 1.3 Golfs as daily drivers. Friends had similar inc a 5dr '80 Golf L with a 1.1 and no servo brakes. So outputs of 50-60hp, apart from the L they had servos.

They only weighed around 750kg so the 50-60hp went a long way esp with the low geared 4spd box. This I'd say is the main differnce you'd notice, at motorway speeds then engine is reving itself to death, compounded by the minimal sound deadening (again compared to moderns)

We went on long trips back then without noticing but I wouldn't like to now on a regular basis.

Also as mentioned above that was normal mixing it wirh 40-50hp minis, festers, metros, escorts etc so fitted in. These days the roads are festooned with gormless yummy mummys piloting 2.5ton 4x4 SUVs with 400hp motors….



1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.

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Early-1800 said

…gormless yummy mummys piloting 2.5ton 4x4 SUVs with 400hp motors….

 :lol:


My rebuild thread I will try and keep up to date: here

K-Jet fuel pressure test guage How-To

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1.1 driving experience

Thanks everyone for your help advice and stories, some useful points there. Minds an N spec which I believe is the same engine as the L model. I dont want to be having to thrash it everywhere just to get it moving. I guess if I stick to the 1.5 then at least it's still golf carb engine from the correct year. Guess that's as close as I'll get to original without changing the engine

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mk1newbie said

Thanks everyone for your help advice and stories, some useful points there. Minds an N spec which I believe is the same engine as the L model. I dont want to be having to thrash it everywhere just to get it moving. I guess if I stick to the 1.5 then at least it's still golf carb engine from the correct year. Guess that's as close as I'll get to original without changing the engine

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It's fine pottering around town and country roads, the light weight and low gear means it sets off and keeps up ok. Its the lack of high cruising speed thats the pain.

Its not only the engine you'll need but the GB, drive shafts, exhaust, cooling system parts, engine mounts, etc etc Mega load of pain to lose 20hp, buy a small block car thats not been molested?

1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.

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1.1 driving experience

That's a very good point about everything else which will need changing, I just assumed it would all swap over. Didnt really think about that to much. The only main thing on mind which isnt factory spec is the engine as I fully restored the shell about 8 years ago and swapped out most of the incorrect stuff

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My first car was a 1978 Golf 1.1N, basic spec and no servo. I always thought it went quite well, used to be as quick as any other 1.1 on the road and quicker than the 1.6 diesel Astravans we had at work :lol: . It was quite happy on the motorway as long as you didn't expect to drive continuously at 95mph. The brakes were also ok if you spent the time to adjust them up.
I could be looking back with rose tinted spectacles mind.

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1.1 driving experience

Hi, thanks for the reply. I'd be interested to see any pictures of the car as there doesnt seem to be that much info around regarding the N spec

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I don't have that many pics of the car but I can dig out what I have. When I got it it was virtually factory standard and had no intermittent wipe, no rear wipe wash, the dash had a speedo and fuel gauge only and it had the houndstooth seats. There was a blue one at the AGM this year exactly like mine was back in the day.

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1.1 driving experience

If you could that would be great and thank you for the extra info

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