83 Gti set to get full resto

With regards to removing the wheel tub, the chassis rails that you have just welded in along with the rear beam mounts will hold the structure straight So the shell shouldn't move in any way. But if you're still worried, just make sure that the shell is supported on that side, either end of where the tub would sit. So somewhere near the back of the sill, and the rear-most jacking points under those new rear chassis rails.

Just a tip from when I remember stripping my old underseal -
When you drop the old wheel well off and before welding the new one on make sure you scrape off all the old underseal on the underside of the boot floor. (I assume you are renewing the under seal)
I found it really difficult to get in all the corners of my boot floor with the scraper because the wheel well and lower valance was in the way which limits the amount of angles you can attack the underseal from with the scraper.

Good work on the chassis rail

Phataz1 said

With regards to removing the wheel tub, the chassis rails that you have just welded in along with the rear beam mounts will hold the structure straight So the shell shouldn't move in any way. But if you're still worried, just make sure that the shell is supported on that side, either end of where the tub would sit. So somewhere near the back of the sill, and the rear-most jacking points under those new rear chassis rails.

Cheers for that Phataz1, I thought that might be the case, I just like to make sure as I've never worked on a car before lol. Learning all the time though!!

Cheers, Andy

Yomp said

Just a tip from when I remember stripping my old underseal -
When you drop the old wheel well off and before welding the new one on make sure you scrape off all the old underseal on the underside of the boot floor. (I assume you are renewing the under seal)
I found it really difficult to get in all the corners of my boot floor with the scraper because the wheel well and lower valance was in the way which limits the amount of angles you can attack the underseal from with the scraper.

Good work on the chassis rail

Good Idea Yomp, in-fact you've just give me another idea, I think I'll remove the spare wheel well before I start the tub so I've got another place to stand. I'll just stand in the hole where it was lol. I will be fitting a new genuine rear panel once the car is back on axle stands, so I've already cut the bottom half of the valance off to ease access.

I love this forum man!!

Melteddrummer said

Phataz1 said

With regards to removing the wheel tub, the chassis rails that you have just welded in along with the rear beam mounts will hold the structure straight So the shell shouldn't move in any way. But if you're still worried, just make sure that the shell is supported on that side, either end of where the tub would sit. So somewhere near the back of the sill, and the rear-most jacking points under those new rear chassis rails.

Cheers for that Phataz1, I thought that might be the case, I just like to make sure as I've never worked on a car before lol. Learning all the time though!! Cheers, Andy

I was and still can be exactly the same It's difficult to know how the structure holds itself together before cutting it apart to find out.  But these mk1s are SO well designed stucturally, never mind the fact that they were designed probably 40+ years ago!  If you study how each and every panel is joined together, the direction of pressings, rain drip routes, etc its obvious just how many years of thought, testing and ingenius ideas have gone into them   It's no wonder mk1 Golfs were so ahead of their time when the were released.

So aside from cutting out an entire side or end of a mk1, it will never move out of shape

I still think they are ahead of the times, much better than a new car, any day!! Granted, it can take a lot to get them back to standard, but once there, they are amazing cars. Guess that's why we all love them so much

Got a bit more done after work tonight. Managed to remove the spare wheel well and the n/s arch tub. The tub took some getting out but got there in the end    

Here's some pics







Here you can see the new chassis leg running under the boot floor.


Out with the old and the new ones waiting to go in!!


Cheers, Andy

     

wow.

I can see why you're saving it. The scrap man wouldn't have given you anything as it was all rust

Inspirational stuff mate.

E  

Andy, good idea about leaving the wheel well out, that way you can sit inside it and weld to your hearts content, that's how I did mine, but I had both tubs to do and a floor ! Takes me back ..

borednow said

     

wow.

I can see why you're saving it. The scrap man wouldn't have given you anything as it was all rust

Inspirational stuff mate.

E  

Cheers mate. Yeah, there is/was plenty of rot to have a go at, getting there now though.

Cheers, Andy.

Good thread mate just read all of it looks like mines pretty much same. Just about to order panels for mine and cant decide where to get them from, do yours fit well?specialy the front wings and where did you find a spare wheel well ive searched everywhere. Keep up the good work
Matt

Cero said

Andy, good idea about leaving the wheel well out, that way you can sit inside it and weld to your hearts content, that's how I did mine, but I had both tubs to do and a floor ! Takes me back ..

Yeah Cero, it definitely helped getting the tub out tonight. Still got the o/s tub to do too, if Heritage ever get any more in stock, that is! cf_emoticons__BangHead:Cheers, Andy.

lobbers said

Good thread mate just read all of it looks like mines pretty much same. Just about to order panels for mine and cant decide where to get them from, do yours fit well?specialy the front wings and where did you find a spare wheel well ive searched everywhere. Keep up the good work
Matt

Hi Matt, I bought all of my panels from VW Heritage. I've done a trial fit with the wings and they seem ok for now but I haven't tried them with the doors back on, I reckon they'll need a bit of work to get to fit properly, but after everything else it will seem easy I guess lol  

With regards to the wheel well, I got really lucky, I posted a 'wanted' ad for a quarter wheel well and a member on here had a whole wheel well for sale. My guess is that there aren't many around

Let me know how you get on mate.

Andy

Great read so far will be following this thread, great fabrication skills too! Hats off  

Awesome work drummer. Credit to you for putting in all this work. I think most would have sent her to the scrappys.

   

Melteddrummer said

lobbers said

Good thread mate just read all of it looks like mines pretty much same. Just about to order panels for mine and cant decide where to get them from, do yours fit well?specialy the front wings and where did you find a spare wheel well ive searched everywhere. Keep up the good work
Matt

Hi Matt, I bought all of my panels from VW Heritage. I've done a trial fit with the wings and they seem ok for now but I haven't tried them with the doors back on, I reckon they'll need a bit of work to get to fit properly, but after everything else it will seem easy I guess lol  

With regards to the wheel well, I got really lucky, I posted a 'wanted' ad for a quarter wheel well and a member on here had a whole wheel well for sale. My guess is that there aren't many around

Let me know how you get on mate.

Andy

That was abit of luck. Sounds like those panels should do the job. Keep the photos coming love to see how people attack it

Strong work man! 

AaronGTI said

Great read so far will be following this thread, great fabrication skills too! Hats off  

Cheers mate  

smudger1980 said

Awesome work drummer. Credit to you for putting in all this work. I think most would have sent her to the scrappys.

   

Cheers Smudger, it's reading threads like yours that's keeping me motivated to get the job done!!

Brad. said

Strong work man! 

Cheers Brad.

Thanks mate. Can't wait to get mine finished now.  

I bet you can't mate, she's going to be a beauty too!!

On a side note, look what I've got sitting in the lock up…



It was never meant for this car and I may still not use it, but it keeps looking at me lol.