Ok, not long picked up my first polo, (already asked a few questions on the forum) and thought I'd do a build - progress thread.

6n2 2000 1.4 8v

current state: broken!

Here goes.. Picked this up a few weeks ago for a bit of a bargain price, but as ever things aren't always as good as they seem.

Expected to have to replace a ball joint and gear linkage, but has turned out the whole box needs replaced..

Also, whilst the box is out and work's being done, I thought I may as well do a few other bits that theres never really a good time to do,

So, on the list for the first few jobs:
- gearbox
- linkage
- clutch
- both front lower arms (don't need done but cheap enough)
- both ball joints, (only one needed done but may as well do both)
- both track rod ends (don't need done but cheap enough)
- battery (that was done in)

I was considering doing the brakes, but they're almost new on it so they can stay for now.

Also managed to pick up a set of used AP coilovers in good nic for £50, so they're going on at the same time.

It has a silly jap backbox, that's sure as hell not staying, I'm looking for a simple 3" box

As for the bbs, they may stay, they may not, I haven't decided yet, will see how it looks dropped, I've been considering a set of 16" steels.

The car will be a daily driver, but I do have to travel from Northants to London 3 times a week and back so has to stay comfortable and sensible(ish).

Any comments or suggestions are welcome, I'll get more pics when I can, and as and when the work is being done, we're working on my brother's 2f, my friend's mk2 golf and corrado, and a mk3 golf estate at the same time! So it'll all be as and when :)

Edited 20 January, 201610 yr by BrianJohnstone

Also forgot to add:

- Drivers indicator has broken clips, so a new pair of those on the way

- headlights are faded, so they need a polish,

- and of course a standard service, oil, filter, air filter, fuel filter, plugs and leads

Got a fair amount to do there! Good base to start you on, will be watching this!

Cheers mate. Yeah it's quite a bit, but like I said the majority isn't necessary, I just thought, why not whilst the front end is stripped

Managed to give her a quick clean today, mainly to see any bodywork that needed attention..

Also a few parts started arriving, but still a few more to come,

Have also decided to just do the brakes all around whilst it's in bits, would be silly not to really..

Grabbed a few more pics too,

Been a while since I started the thread, work and weather has got in the way..

But managed to get started today,

Started off removing the lower arms and ball joints etc.. All I can say is it's a good job I just ordered new at the same time.. The lower arms were absolutely battered and needed replacing,

Gearbox came out and was also completely shafted..

So ... New box is now in, fought us every step of the way.. New clutch fitted, lower arms, track rod ends, ball joints all done...

Lips on the wheels all had lacquer peel and were scruffy, I've given them a clean up myself, not perfect but 100 times better.

Headlights have been given a polish up and are now MOT passable.

Still to do on the front end:

- need to replace the offside drive shaft, and bolts as previous owner had attempted to get it out and destroyed the bolts, and the cv joints have seen better days so just replacing the lot!

- the linkage that's on the car is not connected up yet, as we want to start that at the beginning of a day, as the previous owner thought it was dead, I have another but would rather see if the existing one is ok first.

- brakes all round are still to do, parts still need ordered, the ones that are on are probably ok, but I'll be doing a lot of miles and may as well change them anyway.

- brake flexis need changed as they have been bodged on, so getting replaced.

- coilovers are still to go on, but they're cleaned up and ready to go on, that'll happen at the same time as the brakes.

- front indicators are knackered, have a new set in the boot ready to go on, no rush on that,

- one of the side repeaters had been super glued in as the mounts had broken, just ordered a replacement pair.

- new back box is here ready to go on, just picked up a 2.5" outwardly dolled cherry bomb as it has some 4" slash cut chavvy peice of crap on it

- discovered a bead leak on one of the wheels, so that needs addressed

I did manage to get a few pictures, which I'll add later, but we spent most picture time shouting, swearing and punching stuff!!

More to update as and when

Usual gearbox problem? Did you get a recon or just a second hand one? Well done on the other stuff.

Usual gearbox problem? Did you get a recon or just a second hand one? Well done on the other stuff.

when you say usual, do you mean 5th??? i've read about it but not too clued up on it...

the gearbox was literally annihilated... i bought the car knowing it had an issue? the top bracket was bent, and box was completely seized, couldnt select any gears at all...

i bought a second hand box from someone online, car was running and driving, so took a risk on it... if it goes again, it's getting a gti conversion lol

ok, if i'm honest i completely forgot about the thread and taking lots of pics as the weather was terrible and it was more just a case of get it done! 

 

however i'm pleased to say that everything listed above was done and she sailed through her MOT with only one advisory which was the handbrake cable was at max adjustment, i'll get round to changing that eventually..

 

but everything is running smooth, there were a few unexpected repairs that needed doing at the time, and i have to say from a safety aspect im really glad i took it off the lad's hands! the front calipers were on the opposite sides to which they should have been, the airbag wires were twisted together, amongst many more stupid and dangerous bodges!

 

also done a few subtle little mods / changes to the interior, it had the light grey door cards which were in a terrible state, i picked up a set of dark grey ones from a local breakers for a tenner, whilst changing them, i uprated the speakers in the front and rear for some vibes, and changed the head unit at the same time, also repaired the window switches which were knackered, so now the windows works as they should..

fitted a gti splitter and a HID kit, and replaced the fogs as they were corroded inside.

 

i also wanted to change the steering wheel for something smaller whilst it was off, but was on a tight budget (pretty much zero) and wanted to stay OEM, so a friend had a g40 one on the wall in his garage, so bought him mc donalds breakfast and it was mine!

 

whilst i was in the breakers yard i spotted a lupo and liked the speedo cover, so thought i'd have a go at fitting it, it's not perfect but looks pretty good, and well, i like it so thats good enough for me!

 

i hated the noise that the cherry bomb was making, so took that back off and put a standard back box on it, i'm doing about 500 miles a week for work, the drone was just unbearable.

 

finally, i came across a cup holder assemble that was broken in the breakers, so fixed it up and made a double holder out of the parts and fitted that..

i have some pics will upload now, but will get more later in the weekend when she's all shiny and clean!

busy day! swapped my 15" rx2's today for a friend's 16's, colour coded my interior door handle inserts, fitted wind deflectors, and fitted a new aerial so that my radio actually works!! 

Only thing is, the door handle inserts have made me want to paint the rest of the handles, vent surrounds, and centre dash!!

 

Just need to order some new centre caps now.. But need to decide on a colour, black and silver, carbon, red and gold, red and silver, or silver and gold!!