overhaul off front end

so time has come to do me front now mr rear is finished

so engine out, windscreen out, dash out, wiring looms out, suspension half stripped i ran out off time

just couple off questions

1. the scuttle panel (if thats wat u call it) is rotten so i removed will this affect the strenght off the car if so will a strut brace sort it?

2. the tin worm of the bit with the heater blower on is bad how do you think is best to repair i was going to clean all rot off and put a fresh panel over the top off the lot and there for making it smooth or you think it would be best to patch wat i got




got more pics i took on sunday will upload tonight as dont have time now

i will be removing all the sealing over scuttle soon on mines. i had same problem as you regarding the hole for heater. I got a donor part from another mk1 and hd rust removed from mine and the spare part welded over it.

only problem with removing the scuttle is you loose you chassis number.unless you weld it back in somewhere else on the car.
I have also been told that the engine temps get a bit higher but not sure if thats true or not.
Using a strut brace would help to put some strength back into the car.
Lots of people go for smooth scuttles though and i like the look of them.
Good luck

paul

paul_h said

only problem with removing the scuttle is you loose you chassis number.unless you weld it back in somewhere else on the car.
I have also been told that the engine temps get a bit higher but not sure if thats true or not.
Using a strut brace would help to put some strength back into the car.
Lots of people go for smooth scuttles though and i like the look of them.
Good luck

paul

 i have seen others with 'smooth' scuttles but always wondered what they do about the heater matrix as the loose the hile for it. another thing i'm worried about is the rain cover over the heater matrix is now unfitable so i will get water straight onto heater fan. i did ponder welding up grill on the bonnet or getting a 'scoop' like on dougelove's cab but never ever seen one up for sale

i have pm'd crazy quiff and he is willing to chop up a good shell he's got for parts for me so all i need is to draw on a pic for the cut lines and he's happy to do it

i got one off thiese scoops on the way thankx to adimk1gti

still need the cup off the suspension but all hammerited up and waiting for it and some new bearings will post some more pics up later

good old crazy has sorted us out with a panel off a scrapper to put in the place off the main rust spots just got to pay him for it now. its coming mate trust me

I can't see the point of cutting away the scuttle panel, there's so many problems if you do:

1. Can't fit rain tray - if you don't, then rainwater will get onto the heater blower motor and wiper motor. If you remove the grille from the bonnet, then you will have little/no ventilation into the car. And the air that does get in will be warm from the engine bay.

2. It creates a box section, adding strength. Removing it will reduce this, which can't really be put back by a strut brace.

3. As before, removal of chassis number - fail MoT?

Show cars tend to be garaged all the time and many are trailored to-from events. Also, many don't have heaters, or windscreen wipers!

alos ive heard that the scuttle panel creates a vortex creating downforce, if u take it away, all the air rushing in will cause another vortex, the air cannot be pushed away as quickly, and creates a turbulent pocket, at 130mph+ the front end of the car begins to lift and takes grip away from wheels,

i know ur prob not gna do 130, but may affect the downforce, as alot of air goes through the grill, imagine sticking ur head out of a window at 130 and think that that is going thru the engine bay…
just a thought

Also bear in mind without the scuttle panel there, a lot  of the air will be rising from the hot manifold!

the panel itself was more rot than metal so had to come off tbh

do you guys think i will be best off putting one back (cut off a rust free car) and my chassis number transfered across


all laquared and ready


suspension (one side) ready waiting for part for other (screw cap thingyfor top off shock holder)

Yeah, cut and transfer the chassis number from the rusty original panel to the replacement panel. Also make sure its done neatly and then you should have no problems with being misinterpreted as a ringer. If you swap the chassis number, you'll have loads of issues because it will a) show up as a different engine/number of doors/year car and b) probably be registered as scrapped by the DVLA, and you can't reregister it!!!