Hi Polo Gurus,

Looking to improve ground clearance on a 6N and my research has led me here.

I came across a couple of posts which have a lot of useful information in them:

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=224811

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=338831

** EDIT: also found a bunch of useful posts by doing a global search for "mongul". **

Please can you confirm that the following strategy will indeed work and improve ground clearance:

1. Swap out rear with mk4 mk3 Golf shocks, springs, and top caps

2. Swap out front with B4 passat shocks, mk3 Golf springs, and mk3 Golf top caps

Also:

3. Will I be able to fit 205/75/R15 tyres on 15x6 wheels? (looking at a set of Yokohama Geolandar AT boots)

4. Any other hints or advice you can give me?

Thanks in advance.

Mo

Edited 7 November, 201510 yr by MoBeats

What do you need the height to be and why? I've got an Arosa which I'm looking to road rally. I've gone for the mk3 Golf VR6 front end. The VR6 Golf and Corrado both run springs around 150lb/in and there's a bit of height choice to be had. You can't run the larger top mount which would add 15mm. At the rear, I'm looking at the Fabia VRS as a possible donor for the spring and damper. The Golf in the little picture to the left is usually sat on forest tyres but it has large wheel arches, the Arosa hasn't got the clearance. I don't know what the 6N is like.

mk4 golf rear springs and shocks? is the 4 a typo or?

as they have a seperate spring and damper so wouldnt fit at all

Thanks for your replies. Still looking for the definitive answer on how best to raise the 6N. Anyone able to answer this?

What do you need the height to be

An extra couple of inches above standard would be good.

and why?

Hoping to travel through some rough terrain, along bumpy / non-existant roads. Need a bit of extra clearance to manage obstacles and potholes better. Ideally I'd like to fit larger than standard knobbly tyres, hopefully without having to modify the arches.

mk4 golf rear springs and shocks? is the 4 a typo or?

as they have a seperate spring and damper so wouldnt fit at all

Yep that was a mistake, I meant to say mk3 Golf, not mk4!

Are you doing the mongol rally by any chance?

I was wondering too.....

I wish! Nah, I'm not doing the mongol rally. Did consider doing something like Mongul/Dakar/Banjul, but unfortunately couldn't get wifey to sign off :(

Hoping to convert the 6N to a similar spec as those that have done these Rallies in the past, as I will be driving in similar conditions. Abroad yes, but hoping to seafreight instead of driving all the way to West Africa, unfortunately :(

You can't run the larger top mount which would add 15mm.

Which top mounts would I be able to use?

Just the standard Polo ones. The limitation is the top cup, it's too large a diameter. If you don't mind attacking the Golf ones with an angle grinder or a lathe, then they can be made to work.

I'm not sure you will gain much in the way of lift at the front because you will need a soft spring but you can certainly improve the range of travel. My choice of the MK3 Golf strut was more to do with spring rate and damping, but they do allow more droop travel. If you have maxed them out by using a stiff spring, then the tyre will come off the ground all the time. Shorten the bump stop and you gain bump travel but the chassis might be on the floor. Forest tyres certainly help and the reinforced sidewalls make them almost puncture proof. A sheet of plywood from the front bumper to the back of the subframe will definately help you slide over obstacles. Ditch the anti roll bars, you want the tyres to touch the ground.

Have a google for the Africar. A 2CV based vehicle for Africa.

Legend. Thanks for the advice yeha.

Liking the idea of some kind of skid plate. Anyone got any picks of a polo with a sheet of plywood secured underneath?

A ply skid plate will do nothing. Light aluminium or like a road sign would stop flying debris but for hitting anything you're gona want thicker steel.

I duno about the fronts but I can confirm the mk3 rear shock mounts the same as I've 6n coilovers in the rear of my mk3 golf and the length difference is incredible

Have you seen how yachts just crack and fall to bits all the time? No, that's because marine ply is as tough as old boots. Plus there's some give in it. Remember the spring board at school? The lad isn't talking about a forest stage in a works Escort, just saving his sump on a rough track.

Fair enough but it wouldn't be my choice of material at all.

Fair enough but it wouldn't be my choice of material at all.

Checker plate ftw!! aha