Hi,

We are doing the Mongol Rally 2017 in a 1985 Polo breadvan.

I started the thread to ask questions when we get stuck!

First question, our radiator is knackered, whilst we are replacing it we want to fit a bigger one to help with the deserts etc.

What other VW rads will be a cheap & easy fit?

My first thought was a MK3 Polo 1.9 diesel rad, but I've been out of the VW game for some years now so am unsure!

I've been looking doing this in 2017, look on ebay for a diesal rad like you say, but quite a few people have done it in polos with standard rads.

Thats good to know

Will mebbe stick cheap then and go standard, hope the fan holds out!

Just got to think of what spares to take really, i see a few people have had sticks and allsorts puncture the rad,

A few notes i took from another team is they fitted 14 inch steels amd larger tyres to lift it up as much as possible, obiously a sump gaurd using the sump gaurd bolt holes from factory would be ideal, I've aceen a few other teams ruin shocks and snap springs, snaping off exhausts sceems sceems very common maybe taking afew other spares would be a great idea, I'm looking for a white mk2 breadvan to do it in :) or maybe a 2f, best of luck

Id also take a few spare fuel filters and a spare carb base gasket/ ignition spares, the fuel qulity could go downhill in a few places.

First question, our radiator is knackered, whilst we are replacing it we want to fit a bigger one to help with the deserts etc.

What other VW rads will be a cheap & easy fit?

Nissens 651111 rad is 528mm wide and 32mm deep so larger capacity than the diesel which is same width but only 25mm deep.

Edited 5 March, 201610 yr by dvderlm

On 3/5/2016 at 11:20, dvderlm said:

Nissens 651111 rad is 528mm wide and 32mm deep so larger capacity than the diesel which is same width but only 25mm deep.

 

We went for this rad in the end thanks,

 

Any idea on the cowl part number to match?

Any photos of your build so far?

 

I'm sure @dvderlm will know :)

Fairly standard cowl 321121207J but with two extra long brackets 867121521A, and a strip to keep air flowing through fan.

http://etka.cc/vw/part_single/catalog/vw/markt/RDW/modell/PO/year/1984/drive_standart/9/hg_ug/121/subcategory/9000/part_id/3691350/lang/e

See (4) and (5)

 

Why not try a Golf mk4 twin radiator fan housing? It would overlap by a few cm each side, but some plastic and cable ties could sort that. Don't think it is too tall or deep. Or fit a two speed fan with a 250watt stage2.

Edited 11 October, 20169 yr by dvderlm

On 10/11/2016 at 13:44, Jake said:

Any photos of your build so far?

 

I'm sure @dvderlm will know :)

No not yet sorry, still just doing MOT jobs tbh, brake lines, steel brake hoses, new fuel tank, bit of welding.  Nothing spectacular!

 

 

On 10/11/2016 at 15:41, dvderlm said:

Fairly standard cowl 321121207J but with two extra long brackets 867121521A, and a strip to keep air flowing through fan.

http://etka.cc/vw/part_single/catalog/vw/markt/RDW/modell/PO/year/1984/drive_standart/9/hg_ug/121/subcategory/9000/part_id/3691350/lang/e

See (4) and (5)

 

Wow I nailed it!

Last night I decided to just weld some longer brackets to the cowl to get through MOT, then today I see that diagram!  

That's a permanent fix then, saves us buying anything!

Next problem,

 

I was changing the spark plugs, and found number 2 is solid.  

I managed to undo it about 1/3 of a turn before I chickened out. - It feels like its been cross threaded all the way in 

 

Has anyone managed to helicoil a spark plug?

Or has anyone got a spare 1.0 cylinder head knocking about...?