petrol tank - advice needed please

I'm a newbie to all of this and on a bit of a learning curve with all the problems that I've had with my car of late.  I'd really appreciate some advice with this latest prob.

I recently bought a second hand petrol tank which was in really nice condition.  Unfortunately it isn't the correct one - it won't fit around the rear axel and some of the cutouts are not in the right place.  I was told by two people that a MK1 tank is the same for all and only differs depending on whether it is a injection or carb.

My car is MK1 GTI 1.8 cabrio, 1989.  The tank I bought was from a GTI 1.6 Cabrio 1986.

The man who I bought the tank off seemed to know what he was doing as he was restoring / breaking about 5 or 6 Mk1 Golfs and came across as genuine enough.

Can someone tell me if I've been misled, and if so which of the Mk 1's will have a tank that will fit my car?

thank you
Angi

You have to remove the rear axle to get the fuel tank in or out. Even then, its a tight fit in the place it goes!

All mk1 tanks are the same - the connection points differ depending on injection or carb model but all tanks should physically fit. So unless, as
Paul suggests, you haven't dropped the rear beam, sounds like you've got the wrong tank. Just to clarify VW didn't make a 1.6 GTI cabrio after 1982. Have you got a pic of the tank - is it steel or platsic?

Cheers

Thanks for the help.

I found out the same info today - Gutted - I was basically taken for a ride!  The guy who sold me the tank knew his stuff, he has a barn with 4-5  projects on the go and is a serious GTI ebayer.  Well thats one less customer he will have to deal with from now on.

Apparently they were the same from 1984> so I am thinking that this tank would have come of a GTI pre 84.

Anyone who needs a tank, you are welcome to let me know (i'm in Surrey)  it seems a shame to let it rot away when these parts are so expensive. I'm happy to send pics of it to anyone interested.  It is in good condition and will end up in a skip otherwise.

Tintop and cabrio tanks were different I beleive. Probably have one for a tintop... :dontknow:

I beleive all Mk1 Cab and tintop have the tank type up to end of '83 - Carb is a different tank to Injection.

After '83 all cab tanks are the same for both injection and carb.

If the tank you were sold was wrong - get your dosh back

Cheers

Rich

He insists he has taken it off a cabrio 1.6 1886 - I am not wasting anymore of my life dealing with him. I drove a long way to get some parts and he messed around a potentially good customer and know hasn't got the balls to admit he is wrong.

Live and learn.

Anyone want a tank - poss. for a cabrio or tin top, poss. pre 84? MK 1 who the hell knows!?

-don't want any money -

sitting here in surrey.

As mentioned above there wasn't a 1.6 Gti cabrio '86  

angi said

Live and learn.

 … & keep smiling!

 :wink: