found a site that sells them (http://e.dominohosting.biz/dca/BMF01.nsf/ModelListt!OpenForm&RestrictToCategory=VOLKSWAGEN) but they're quite pricey (about £130 after VAT!) is there anywhere else i can get one from? GSF only stock the 8/84>9/90 ones do they fit the early mk2's aswell?

any help would be great

I had the same problem 2 months ago, go to your local INDEPENDANT car spares place and they should be able to source a replacement for under £70 don't bother with the bigger but failing that you can get one from The GSF website for about £7o too.

the bigger tank wont fit without replacing the handbrake mechanism and exhaust from a later car.

so the pre 8/84 ones are smaller?

thanks for the help

Yeah the mk1/early mk2 tank is 36 litres, after that the are 42 litres

so it's a mk1 tank i need? really confused now.......

In a word, Yes! The mk1 (36L) tank was also used on all mk2s until 1984. Then they fitted the larger (42L) tank to all mk2s after that. If you see it listed anywhere it'll be described as something like "sutiable for all polo 86/86c '75-'84"

Do you know for certain which tank you've got? you can tell by looking at the handbrake cable underneath the car. If there is a pulley system near the passenger side rear axle mount, you have the early handbrake mechanism and the smaller "mk1" tank.

it's on an A plate, so registered early 84 meaning it must have been built 83/early 84

the bigger tank wont fit without replacing the handbrake mechanism and exhaust from a later car.

Not only that.

When I fitted the 42 litre tank from GSF to my 1984 model (assigned A plate when officially re-registered as import in 2006) I had to angle grind part of the underfloor handbrake cable support near where the pulley went too and also file a small part of the tank's seam exactly where the bolt for the pulley goes. I could n't source the later handbrake cable splitter that replaces the pulley... nearly bought a replacement rear axle to get one. Eventually I fitted shortened (-13.5cm?) Mk2 Golf twin cables and piping and a Golf 3(4?) handbrake lever and Golf3 mount (which I spot-welded).

I did change the exhaust but keeping pipework from an older mk2 to a new rear box.

So I think an early Mk2 exhaust could just about fit with the 42 litre tank. There is a triangular cutout fot it.

I like my increased range between fill-ups and the chunky leather handbrake but the bigger tank was loads of work. I cycled to work for nearly 7 weeks.

If you can get a mk1 polo tank do so.