Hello, I'm new to the forum and new to Polo's but I fell in love with with Mark 2F/Mk3 and when the opportunity to buy one came up I bought one, a 1.0L Genesis.



I bought it without tax or MOT and was so cheap because it had failed its MOT. Nothing to serious, just a few little bits, I'm a trainee motorsport engineer so I'm going to be doing all the work myself. I can't wait to get into it





There will be more photos coming latter on, also any information or things to look out for with these cars would be invaluable, thank you. It even came with your club sticker already fitted to the rear window

Edited 11 October, 201312 yr by JayeOFarrell

What are those wheels? Looks like the hub is just floating in the middle of the rim

Was that front tyre one of the reasons for the fail

Was that front tyre one of the reasons for the fail

haha i were just about to say front tyre fail

Yer, both front tyres are down to the canvas. 155/55/14, £40 each so not to bad given they have a little stretch. The wheels them selves are Revolution 5 spokes, they need a bit of a polish but in good condition over all.

Welcome along, good base to start with

Hi! Looks like a nice little coupe, will be good to see if get some love and get back on the road (:

I've got 10 weeks with a workshop and all the tools I could hope for. I should be in a very good position to get it finished and back on the road before then. Is there anything particularly to look out for or to check with them? Thank you.

Yeh loose/worn driveshafts and the track control arm bushes on them are prone to wearing out extremely quick due to the design of the suspension. Its a K reg so dunno if brake pipes been replaced on it or not. Follow all you are brakepipes. Check them. Clean them down with a cloth and rub them down with some emery paper. MOT garages have a habit of just looking at brake pipes and if their dirty they just say ok new brake pipe needed there n they fail the car on it. Make sure you are back brakes, brake cylinders and handbrake cables are all ok. Not loose and not overly tight. Check underneath it close to the back axle coz that's usually where they rot the most. If all them things are ok should be fine. Then theres the usual nonsence, bulbs n indicators all working etc etc etc.... hope that helps.

I've got 10 weeks with a workshop and all the tools I could hope for. I should be in a very good position to get it finished and back on the road before then. Is there anything particularly to look out for or to check with them? Thank you.

Thank you, that is very helpful. The shell looks to be very solid, but both track control arm bushes need replacing, you wouldn't know the best place to buy them would you?

Also both side repeaters need replacing along with new bulbs in the front. Ill make sure to go over the entire braking system but thank you for the advice, at some point I want to swap the rear drums for discs anyway, but in the mean time Ill do a strip down a replace any relevant parts :)

There is a hole near the heater in the engine bay that fills with leaves and gunk, this causes water to lie in the battery tray and rot.

The filler necks and fuel tanks rot

The hanger the backbox hangs off are prone to failure, but this is an easy fix. VW do a repair panel.

Bushes are soft as said above

Blue and black temperature senders fail and cause mpg and running issues

Mechanically they're pretty solid. Think the 1litres suffer from breather problems and the pierburg carb can be a bit tricky.

Enjoy, I've a 1 l myself and they're fun and very very easy on fuel

Edited 17 April, 201313 yr by DazzaG40

There is a hole near the heater in the engine bay that fills with leaves and gunk, this causes water to lie in the battery tray and rot.

The filler necks and fuel tanks rot

The hanger the backbox hangs off are prone to failure, but this is an easy fix. VW do a repair panel.

Bushes are soft as said above

Blue and black temperature senders fail and cause mpg and running issues

Mechanically they're pretty solid. Think the 1litres suffer from breather problems and the pierburg carb can be a bit tricky.

Enjoy, I've a 1 l myself and they're fun and very very easy on fuel

The whole rear section of the exhaust has collapsed and disappeared along with the hangers before I bought it, what is left is supported by chicken wire oddly. I've got a replacement exhaust that fits nicely of uncertain origin, I believe it was an old Alfa exhaust but I found it in the stores and as it fitted so perfectly I am going to fabricate up the brackets and hangers to fit it on. I'm sure I'll get scolded for fitting it from you lot :p

Sorry not better quality picture.

But thank you, your advice is priceless. I'm going to keep updating this thread with posts and images of the work I am going to carry out over the next couple of weeks.

lovely car mate, reminds me of my old parade

lovely car mate, reminds me of my old parade

Thank you very much, I would like to get it looking a lot more tidy and perhaps take it to some of the summer shows with you guys but that is still a little way off and a pipe dream.

After putting it on the ramp yesterday, I have discovered that it needs an entire front suspension re-build. Went for a little test drive and when you come off the throttle it pulls violently, or be with hilariously to the left. All the bushes in the front needs replacing, because they have all but collapsed it is changing the casting angle and scrub angle causing the violent pull to the left. Does anyone know of any bush kits for sale?

New tyres arrived today, Nankang Ultra NS2 Sports

Edited 14 May, 201313 yr by JayeOFarrell

I finally got her up on the ramp today and started working on the exhausts brackets, and the exhaust itself. I have ordered new top mounts, new wishbones, new track rods, and new bushes all round. Just waiting for that to all arrive so in the mean time decided to get on with the exhaust.

I ground off all of what was the left of the old silencer, the remaining piece being held on by chicken wire bizarrely.

And this is what was cut off.

Then I started work on the new hangers, the previous owner had decided at some point or another to ruin the original brackets so I have started trying to fix his handy work. I have had to work out the frustum of the diameter of the pipe because the back box has a different ISD to the original exhaust and that has been welded and sorted now.

Next week I am going to get the new exhaust mounted, but first I am going to have to cut a melted piece of the bumper away, firstly to tidy it up but secondly to allow for the new exhaust. Hopefully next week I am going to be able to fit the new suspension components time allowing of course.

Sorry it has been a while since I have left a post but I have been very busy. Over the last month I have got the exhaust mounted, changed out the wishbones, track rod ends, replaced the anti-roll bar bushes and also fixed the sun roof which now open and closes properly.

Today the new aero wipers arrived, along with new side repeaters diamond lenses and new Xenon bulbs all round, I have to say I am really enjoying brining this old car back, I am still struggling with a top mount issue but after that it is MOT ready.

Looks like you are doing a brilliant job so far, lucky to have the resources! What is your top mount problem?

W E LC O ME to CP

Looks like you are doing a brilliant job so far, lucky to have the resources! What is your top mount problem?

Thank you, I am lucky to be able to use my colleges resources. The problem with the top mount is confusing, the car was lowered by the previous owner who did all manor of terrible jobs to the car which have all needed to be rectified. So I am not convinced he has put the top mounts back together properly. When you turn the wheels the top mounts move with it suggesting the bearing isn't working properly. When you remove the cap the bearing is almost floating, not engaged properly with the turret like you would expect. And where I would expect to see a bush, there was just a powered rubber remain, the problem I have is having never seen a properly fitted top mount on this Polo before I do not know what it should look like. Next week I am going to take the whole lot off the car and see if I can not work it out myself.

W E LC O ME to CP

Thank man, some great lads with a lot of knowledge on here :)

Looks like you are doing a brilliant job so far, lucky to have the resources! What is your top mount problem?

Thank you, I am lucky to be able to use my colleges resources. The problem with the top mount is confusing, the car was lowered by the previous owner who did all manor of terrible jobs to the car which have all needed to be rectified. So I am not convinced he has put the top mounts back together properly. When you turn the wheels the top mounts move with it suggesting the bearing isn't working properly. When you remove the cap the bearing is almost floating, not engaged properly with the turret like you would expect. And where I would expect to see a bush, there was just a powered rubber remain, the problem I have is having never seen a properly fitted top mount on this Polo before I do not know what it should look like. Next week I am going to take the whole lot off the car and see if I can not work it out myself.

Definitely not right mate, as you say the bearing won't be turning, it will just be turning on the rubber causing it to scrape loads off.

Top mounts are easy enough to chance but you need a special socket for that castelled nut (chisel/mole grips works too!)

Ps I absolutely love the car mate

Thanks the advice man, I have bought new top mount bearings but I suspect I'll have to replace a few other parts. Thankfully we have all the specialist tools for jobs like that but thanks for the pre warning :)

Good work cracking on! Yeah can't tell 100% with the top mounts because of all the crap but looks like they're in upside down. A new set should be about £15 - £20. You will probably find it's quite obvious which way they go when you've got a fresh set. Also if your worried about your top caps having a big gap under them, go down to your local breakers and get some top caps off a 6n (mk4) polo. These are the same except they are a lot shallower so will sit flush.

Hope that helps.