May as well with the flange whilst the carb is off

Carburetor arrived yesterday and the flange arrived earlier in the week which i'm happy about. My brother is coming over tomorrow so hopefully we'll get the engine started!

Bought a new warm air pipe today and tried it on for size this evening. I also grabbed my straight through centre pipe from my parents today and popped the flexi on to try it for size. I took a pic of the original centre pipe - I can't believe how restrictive it is! I may even go the whole hog and pop my 4 branch on which i've got tucked away for the Derby.

Pics below...

Things have moved quite slow with this over the festive break.

I've stopped with the paint removal for the time being and i'm focussed on the engine & getting her running.

After a bit of confusion i've ended up with 2 carbs - long story short, the car didn't come with a throttle cable linkage so when I had a new carb me and my brother were scratching our heads thinking that the linkage was supposed to be on the carb (it is for the golf throttle cable but not Polo). It wasn't until I bought another carb from MikeyMK that I realised that the linkage attaches to the carb flange - thanks to Kwijibo_Coupe for posting the new linkage in super quick time.

Anyway, got the carb on and plumbed in - went to start and nothing! I haven't got a meter out yet but it looks like the hall sender is goosed (connector is hanging out) so i'm awaiting a replacement before I move on. I was getting a spark, very weak though but hopefully the new dizzy should sort it.

I've also bought a Coupe S steering wheel and some new air vents as the previous owner had painted them blue! I also found a 5 speed gear knob tucked away under my bed.

So... Once it's started and everything works I will endeavour to get the bumpers back on, give it a once-over, change the wheels and book it for an MOT - only then I will I know what I need to do to get her on the road!

I'm really pleased this is progressing. I'll be waiting to see how your get on with the running issues as its not long before I move on the engine on mine.

Update: She lives!

Fitted the new dizzy and still nothing. Tested the coil yesterday using the Haynes manual and it was faulty. Luckily I had some spares arriving in the post from Liz... Changed coils and after a few mins of cranking here and there it fired up!

It's currently 4 degrees and without an airbox on I guess this would be normal for the carb to take a while to get going, and it's got old fuel in as well.

Next steps - fit centre pipe and backbox, fit airbox and get her idling for a while to ensure everything works.

Brilliant news Martin, can't wait for it all to take shape. Will you be using it as a daily when it's done?

Kind of yes, I cycle to work every day so a bike is my daily! But yes, i'll be using this for pootling around in as and when :)

Come a long way with this in the last week or so. Some may have read in the engine section that i've been having starting problems...

I was getting a spark only when i'd stop cranking and then it would only occasionally start. With thanks to Vic I have traced the problem back to the ignition switch and after 10 mins yesterday afternoon i've learnt that the ignition switch has a bit of a knack to it - engage the key in the normal position to start, ease off slightly and it'll fire up. I can live with this so i won't change the ignition switch - unless it actually breaks!

So, bumpers are on, exhaust is lashed on albeit loosely (needs a fettle), grille is on and it's looking more complete.

Next steps are to put some legal wheels/tyres on and try and make her idle as she has idling problems currently. Will check for air & vacuum leaks and tweak the carb a little to hopefully get her idling nicely.

Checked the MOT history for her this morning, she's done less than 3k miles in 10 years which is good to know!

Had an entire afternoon of Poloing yesterday (a rarity these days!). Helped my mate Simon get his mk2 breadvan ready for sale which meant that I now have a double headlight grille - used to belong to my brother then he gave it to Simon so it's come full circle. I also have a set of Hockenheims on loan from him as he isn't using them.

I decide to change carburetors to the first one which I purchased which had been recently serviced with new gaskets as I couldn't get an idle with the other carb.

What an absolute difference that made! Had her idling on her own for about 10 minutes last night - a big milestone.

Today will consist of fitting the Hockenheims and tweaking the ignition timing to hopefully get a good idle on her...

As promised!

Not much left to do now...

Looks good on the Hocks, I think a 60mm drop at the front and 20mm spacers on the rear would finish it off lovely :)

Looks good on the Hocks, I think a 60mm drop at the front and 20mm spacers on the rear would finish it off lovely :)

I'm thinking similar regarding the lowering. I have some wheels already, they're a bit camp but I think they'll suit it!

Getting there. Love the original 'Champagne' colour

As promised!

Not much left to do now...

Would your mate consider selling the Hocks? I'm after a set :)

Hi there,

They are my friends - he's lent them to me to get through an MOT (whenever that'll be, not too soon I hope!). I'll mention it to him and see what he says.

Martin

Reverse light & horn issue fixed (hopefully) - just need to fit a new reverse light switch

Next job: Investigate why battery isn't charging

Currently waiting on new battery to arrive before I can make a decision on the alternator (could be goosed).

Also, I got sent the wrong reverse light switch despite giving my reg & engine code to the supplier. grr.

Once these issues are sorted then I can seriously consider the MOT :)

Seems like nice little issues now! Hopefully if it is the alternator it is just the regulator part.

I never just go off the numberplate now, had so many wrong parts lol

Reverse light switch is on its way to you Martin...

Reverse light switch is on its way to you Martin...

Top man, thanks!

Went on an impromptu holiday for a week a fortnight ago and spent a few weekends cycling so the Polo has been neglected.

Anyway, I made use of yesterday's gorgeous weather by devoting a few hours to her. Wired in my new reverse light switch and a new live feed for the horn & reverse lights (never got to the bottom of it but there must be a break in the wiring somewhere as they're on the same loom).

I also removed the door cards and parcel shelf to remove the tacky camo fabric, i've also removed the rear seats and passenger seat and cleaned these up, they were already in really good condition which is a bonus. I will either recover with some black fabric or buy some new cards.

Whilst reversing off my drive and turing round at the hairdressers next door I realised that I haven't got 1st/2nd gears - looks like the linkage needs a fettle. I assume this was from when the previous owner refitted the engine and didn't get round to doing so himself as he never had it running!

Popped out earlier today to fit my spotlight grille which makes the front end look a lot better too. Also fitted a new voltage regulator the other weekend as well, couldn't quite get the screws tightened as much as I want doe to the manifold being in the way but this can be remedied when the four branch is on!

Also fitted a three spoke steering wheel & rev counter clocks.

Jobs I need to do:

Gear linkage

Fit exhaust properly

Re-fit interior

Book MOT

Pics of progress below, also a video that I made for the hell of it!

Don't worry - I have new dash vents!

Another quick update: The Polo will be transported to my Brothers place within the next week (all being well). He lives on a farm which means I can give it some test driving and get the linkage and other little niggly bits sorted. My old GT is there (as is my Derby) so grabbing any bits will be straightforward!

Vents look wicked mate

I remember when I saw the ad for this and cringed at the vents lol. That was going to be one of my first jobs along with removing the camo until you got there first! [emoji6]

Am I the only one who liked the camo? :P

I do like the direction this i going though

Edited 31 March, 201610 yr by xumado