series 1/2

Hi there,

I have a thread running in the projects section but in hind sight perhaps this was not the best place to ask it.

What i need to know is regarding the cabriolet model, when did the chassis change from being based on a tin top floor pan to what ever they used on the series 2 cars. What year was the change?

My other thread can be found here

ww.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p
=691234#691234

Both the hatchback and cabriolet are monocoque construction, so there's no separate chassis. The cabriolet, naturally, has many different panels than the hatchback. As well as the more obvious ones, there's lot of differences underneath which add strengthening, eg extra sill section, A pillar strengthening, other extra supports and cross bars etc.

What do you mean by tin top and series 2, in terms of years? The tin top was available 1974-1984 in the UK and until very recently elsewhere. The series 2 is not significantly different than the series 1 in construction, although there are a number of minor bodywork differences.

There was a change to the fuel tank in around 1986 which means the exhaust is also different. There was a change of driveshafts around 1986-1988. There were other small changes over the years too.

So Then as a donor.

If I can find a pre 86 car with a good fuel tank then this would be the one to buy?

If I can't are the lines, pumps, engine and box mounts all the same all the way through? Therefore any year will give me these parts all except the tank of coarse?

Thanks

The fuel lines differ according to the older/later fuel tank style in around 1985-1986, and also if its a fuel injected or carburettor car.

The fuel pumps differ in a similar way.

Fuel tanks - there's 3 kinds:

pre 1985 with carb
pre 1985 with fuel injection
post 1985 (either carb or FI)

Engine mounts vary according to small block (1.1 and 1.3) or big block (1.5 and above). No cabbys were available in the UK with small block engines though. Through the years, for the same engine, the mounts are the same.

Gearbox mounts (the brackets on the bodyshell) are all the same through all models and years, although the small block bracket (ie which bolts to both bodyshell and gearbox), 4 speed big block bracket and 5 speed big block bracket are different. There are no 5 speed small blocks, although its a possible modification (and needs a custom bracket anyway).

Sorry its so complicated but you did ask about 4 different components in the one post!

You could get a Mk2 Scirocco also for powertrain and fuel parts. Cheaper and more plentiful

they changed in 1984/85 to the larger tank etc as above. its not just the tank thats different, filler neck and zaust is a bit too. apart from that its still mostly normal mk1 based though

I think the early tanks still fit the later cars, with the right filler neck and straps?