We bought this about a year ago and apart from doing the usual servicing and changing a rotten exhaust, have not really done alot to this.

Needs a bit of tlc on the paint and a few little dings, and someones idea of colour coding is crap and intend putting the colour back to original. The front seats are worn on the edge of the drivers side. Glove box has been ripped out? no idea why. Have no parcel shelf and one of the wing mirrors is held on by a jubilee clip.

Plan on doing this over a period of time as we run www.futbus.com and really busy repairing volkswagen T3 (type 25`s) as our day to day thing. The idea is to do the brakes and upgrade. Bigger engine and different gearbox, make a subframe and stiffen the shell. We have a couple of 20v engines lying around so maybe fit one of them.

Have a few questions we have is, how can we change the front shocks to put different top strut mounts as we know that these are a weak link and we would like to fit later mk3 golf calipers and the struts have numerous options of inserts.

Fitting the 20v either n/a or turbo and would like to mount all the dash to include the full abs. I`ve not looked into gearbox for this, but assume that a box from a golf or similar would be the best match. Not looking at building an out n out screamer, but a fast and reliable daily that we can have some fun with.

Is there any issues with lowering and steering. I`m used to old vdubs where you have to invert the track rod ends to avoid bumpsteer.

Apologies for a few questions but were just getting back into cars as we normally drive T3 syncro vans which we raise up and get real muddy.

Thanks in advance for responses,

Dave

I think you'll find it's VW's idea of colour coding! but I agree it is a bit much!

The rear support for the glovebox often breaks, making the glovebox fall down. Best fix is with a cable tie and drill a hole through the back of the box, the standard mount is too weak.

The biggest/most powerful engine that'll fit without major work is the 1.6 16v

VWII calipers are a direct swap for the originals and allow for vented discs.

How low do you want to go? The only other top mounts you can get are the salzmann camber adjustable ones.

We have made a bit of progress with collection of bits turning up.

A visit to the local breakers sourced a set of calipers for a bargin price of free, as they had been on the shelf for so long and would need a complete overhaul.

Discs and reconned calipers will be ordered soon along with pads.

Managed to get a set of bottom arms from Lemforder as needed to replace all the front suspension bushes but wanted to keep a bit of suppleness with rubber and not go to polybush, and the arms replaces the anti roll bar bush, inner bush and ball joint all in one.

Top strut mounts have also arrived but are standard and will be replaced with something else at a later date. A cheap set of springs and shocks with a 40/60 lower should be here next week and today a set of polybush front anti roll bar bushes arrived, was looking for rubber but NLA with my usual supplier so went for polybush.

Be ordering front wheel bearings next week as these also have a bit of a rumble and the MOT is due in about 4 weeks, so be good to get all this on before then.

Try to get more pics up next week as parts turn up, and part numbers if anyone interested.

So a bit of time has elapsed and we have managed to get some work done.

Fully stripped the front end off and changed the springs and shocks, lower wish bones and bottom ball joints, wheel bearings, anti roll bar bushes. Changed the front brakes to 239mm vented discs and new calipers and pads with stainless flexi pipes. The rear end was treated to new springs and shocks.

Then time for the MOT and passed with no advisees which was good news so treated the car to a new set of wheels and rubber.

Car has now been lowered 40mm all round and with the 185/60/14 rubber is now just catching on the arches on full bounce on the front, so next job will be to remove the arch covers and roll the wing arches to make sure nothing touches.

Pictures taken today and more updates soon.

Like it! although it just needs a little detail...

Love the bottletops in white

Not been doing much to the car recently apart from driving it. We have changed the windscreen, replaced the glovebox and sorted the locks out so that they all work as they should.

But we need a bit of help.

We went down the local shops earlier and parked in quite a tight spot, although enough room for us to get out the car, came back to find this.

Slightly pissed off as now have to find another mirror.

Anyone got a spare cheap mirror that we can replace this one quickly. It has a manual knob and the 3 cables to adjust it, but would like anything that bolts on properly.

We will report this tomorrow to the police, but to be honest I dont think that anything can be done as no witnesses and I dont have a number plate of the car that was next to us.

Nightmare. I had someone kick my wing mirror off before. I have an adjustable mirror cassing. No glass and the cables are stiff. £5 + post?

Edited 6 January, 201313 yr by prankstar2003

I do have another mirror at the workshop, but from memory was no good, but i`ll have a look tomorrow, but I may take yours just to have another body, as I should be able to change the mounting casting.

I`ll let you know tomorrow how we get on, and get your details so we can sort out payment including p&p.

I'm looking forward to seeing the 20v plans materialise.

Gutted to see another polo mirrior being smashed off, some people just don't give a sh1t about old cars and think you won't be bothered!

Like already has been said, the 1.6 16v out of the Polo GTI is about the biggest engine you can get in without major welding and subframe fabrication skills. Even then you have to moddify the near side chassis leg to fit in a 'big block' gearbox and make custom drive shafts! A cheap engine would be an 1.6 8v out of a mk3 Golf/Vento/Ibiza code ABU, AEA, AEE. The ABU would be the easiest in terms of a drop in plug n play conversion for the wiring etc.

If you can get 55 profile rubber on them bottle tops, then you'd be happier :-D

We have scrapped the 20v idea due to a bit of time spent with the tape measure and not wanting to cut up the car to much. So a bit of surfing on the web and found that a small engine with turbo would be a better idea, so we have a spare 1300 from a polo we scrapped car, and over the next year or so as there is no rush for this, to rebuild the engine with a lower compression and fit a K03. Not much cutting involved and should produce similar power. Lots of other work before that tho with suspension and strengthen to shell. This is not our only project so may take some time, as were trying to get our syncro sorted for a trip to Morrocco next year, so alot of time and money going to that first. If any time left then the polo will get some attention, but for now just keep it on the road and enjoy driving it.

It`s a sad time but due to not spending much time on the polo, and too much other work on, I have decided to sell the car.

The car will come with a few spares including spare engine and box, pair of doors, bottle top wheels with new tyres, original wheels, car now on mk1 golf gti wheels. I have a set of 600cc carbs from bike.

Car is moted but no tax, not really used since tested, but started and driven round yard weekly.

Looking for about £1200 for everything or i`ll put on ebay soon.