after 4 yrs wait the resto begins chassis legs 1st

decided that my mk1 that has sat at the back of my garage needs to go on the road, i have owned it for 4 years now and many mk1's have come and gone, but this 1 is a low owner non sunroof model.

my 1st job is both rear chassislegs/axle mounts, only 1 is really bad but im doing both due to the fact im planning keeping this car.

drivers side partially cut back rot


passenger side


rear panel cut 2 years ago oops.


spent a whole day cutting back chassis leg and drilling out snapped stud ,inner sill is good so drilled spot welds and spent some time cutting new hadrian panel to fit properly, once happy i tack welded chassis in place untill i get my pub bottle refilled

I'm soon doing the same on my golf..
How did you get the axle mount on the correct place?
Did you put the new piece on top of the old or did you have some measurement and referece points?

the actual axle mount is 6mm guage steel box and the chassis leg repair is a cover over this really, once you clean all the thin metal away from the mount you can't really go wrong. If you look at top picture you can see i have started cutting away rotten metal and the axle mount is visible. if the axle mount was loose or rotten i think i would give up.lol. i am doing the passenger side this week so i will take extra photos for you if you like.cheers

looking good mate keep the pics cumming  8)

dubhighland said

the actual axle mount is 6mm guage steel box and the chassis leg repair is a cover over this really, once you clean all the thin metal away from the mount you can't really go wrong. If you look at top picture you can see i have started cutting away rotten metal and the axle mount is visible. if the axle mount was loose or rotten i think i would give up.lol. i am doing the passenger side this week so i will take extra photos for you if you like.cheers

I didn't know the mount where 6mm steel.
Mine have the same rust as yours, but the mount feels pretty solid.
If you would take som extra photos, that would be great

i did this to one side of mine a couple of months ago, quite a big job but very satisfiying when it done, good luck with it buddy  8)

passenger side stripping back



 the 6mm (ish) guage axle mount, this is fixed to body and is usually solid


drilled out spot welds of original chassis leg



 i have decided to seam weld the upper part of the new chassis leg, but spot weld inner and outer sills to new chassis leg where it is visible.

i have to drill out the broken stud and clean up area ready for new leg, then trim new leg untill i am happy with fit then weld.

Thanks for the pics mate

Looks like fun, I can't wait to do this work to my car  

blimey….

out of interest, how much are the hadrian panels?

I don't to take that much out but might get the panels anyway to take the bits required from.

more pictures of the car complete please.... and lovely work on start of restor

ManicGTI said

blimey….

out of interest, how much are the hadrian panels?

I don't to take that much out but might get the panels anyway to take the bits required from.

about ?10 or ?12 each

next up is the arches, start on n/s and i cut the minimal amount away


once happy i marked the area and cut out, and spot welded



then flushed and minimal filler


 rear axle is getting shot blasted just now so i red leaded the near new fuel tank i aquired from the mk1 im breaking


 still have to fit a rear panel and a o/s arch then away for a nice paint job once i put rear axle together.

i also aquired a lhasa green mk1 from a mate for ?140 i bought it blind as a breaker but on close inspection it will be gracing our tarmac sometime soon 8)

keep up the good work mate.  I was going to take on a similar job with my first mark 1, but gave up and opted for a better shell.

Looking good though.

i did think about a reshell but its a known low mileage local car and i want to proove a few doubters wrong 8)  

The restos coming along nicley mate keep us posted on any ferther progress

dubhighland said

i did think about a reshell but its a known low mileage local car and i want to proove a few doubters wrong 8)  

People I know is allways "asking" if my mk1 will be finished at all.
I'm starting to get fed up by these people that barely can change light bulbs on their cars, asking me the same question all the time.
It's like they can't understand why people have other interest than themselves…
But I'm going to prove them wrong  :twisted:

Oldschool said

dubhighland said

i did think about a reshell but its a known low mileage local car and i want to proove a few doubters wrong 8)  

People I know is allways "asking" if my mk1 will be finished at all.
I'm starting to get fed up by these people that barely can change light bulbs on their cars, asking me the same question all the time.
It's like they can't understand why people have other interest than themselves…
But I'm going to prove them wrong  :twisted:

I know wot you mean mate. Every time i say that I am hoping to have the car finished for next year all I get are laughs.

decided not to try and patch rear under boot chassis



so on the phone to hadrian and bought a chassis repair panel




rear axle is nearly ready now, its been shot blasted and the brake back plates were done too, i polybushed the mount and bought new bolts at ?5 each :x .

hope to do o/s rear arch on sunday the drop her back on her feet

brilliant, keep it up mate  8) looking really good.

Is it possible to get to the rear chassis panel ends with teh rear panel still on?  or was yours cut off?

yes it would be easy enough with rear valance still on, it does not attach to valance, just to boot floor and inner arch area.