Andrew's '92 Clipper Cabriolet

Hello all, after the introduction I guess it's time to start a project thread!

So the car is a 92 Clipper Cabriolet, with the 1.8 carb motor. It's got an electric roof with a glass rear screen.

Jobs to do:
- New rear hub (urgent!!)
- Remove tow bar and wiring
- Remove malfunctioning alarm (in progress!)
- Repair bad drivers door handle and lock
- Remove nasty tints
- Replace old front tyres
- Get some pressed metal (legal) plates for it
- Put OEM rear lights on it!

Yesterday I began to rip out the alarm system - it wasn't a very nice install. Got the car started and working without it though, so good start. Lost central locking though - that was controlled by the alarm.
I can't get the roof to work either. It's got fluid in it, and the relay clicks. I read last night that it only works with the key in position 1, so i'm desperate to try that - i think i've been trying with the ignition on!

Pictures

Welcome to the MK1 mad house!

As for the roof.
All you should have to do is put the key in.
DO NOT TURN IT!

It's a safety feature so you don't try to drop it on the move!  

similar reg to mine…
Check fluid with the hood in the down position.
Open boot look to left hand side card, should see the little key, undo undo anti clockwise (it doesn't unscrew off the unit) this allows the hood to be manually operated.
Check for leaking rams, so fluid on floor or other areas.

Level should sit between min and max.

If all ok tighten T screw up.

Yup as  Mike says key in only..Guess how I found this out lol.

Ditto on the key!  

Roof works!! My girlfriend nearly ran a mile though - there are so many spiders living between the roof skin and the headlining!!

         

I think our cars are similar in plate wise.

Heres mine when we did the rear bumper.

That's awesome! "UC" = Central London dealer?

I really do need to get rid of the tow bar too - yours looks so much cleaner without it, and the OEM rear lights too!

Ah ha didn't know that. Can we pressume from the same place maybe?

Any details of the Garage?

Just a thought..

Keep up the great work.

Chortle - i've got some information for you with regards to the garage the car originally came from!

Of course, the number plates are registered at the London DVLA office, not the dealership, so I can't guarantee it'd be the same for your car. But as they are so close, one can assume. Anyway, ours had this on the original service book case:



There is plenty other bits of history with the car too. Not that I was worried, but it's comforting to see when the car has covered 177k!

Hey nice cabrio. If you want to sell the towbar please let me know.

Cheers. Sent you a private message.

Another weekend gone, another 2 days wasted. Only got the door handle and locks apart on this - need a bit of help working out what replacement parts I can buy?

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=technical%2Fbodywork-fittings-and_2%2Fcabriolet-door-handles#first_unread

Also require the bumper irons that connect the bumper bar to the car! Can anyone help?

Cheers!

I could not find any rear bumper brackets for the big bumper as mine rusted away so found someone to make me some out of stainless steel using what was left as a pattern.
I belive the small bumper brackets are differnet but not sure maybe post up the question in the technical section.

Those bumper brackets look great! Some skills there.

Big blow to this yesterday - I think the head gasket is gone. Mayo under cap, blue tint to exhaust smoke, coolant leaking from a lower pipe and hissing from the expansion tank. Really not cool.

Might not be the head gasket, short trips or just running the car for a few minutes can all cause mayo under the filler cap at this time of year as its cold and damp out there.
My car always hisses when I remove the expantion tank cap even when its cold, its a pressurized cooling system.
As long as there is no oil in the water (in the expantion tank) or water on the dip stick you should be fine.
As for the hose try nipping up the jubilee clip if fitted or could be the hose is old and about to go.

Try taking the car out for a good long run and once the oil is warm (80 degrees upwards) give it some revs, and get the engine nice and hot and the mayo should go away…