Nice find tav, now the magic tree is sorted the next item on any new mk3 owners list should be the all important task of strengthening the n/s chassis leg.

Forget about waiting for the G40 engine to go in, the 60/40 kit alone could and has been known to kill a chassis leg which will leave you with a pretty looking, nice smelling, useless polo.

It's a simple mod but yet very effective. I was running 195/45/13's on rock hard 60/40 suspension with 170+bhp for a fair while with no signs of any fractures/cracking/fatigue on the chassis leg so i can't recommend doing this enough

Gregg

EDIT: The PSD 4 branch is worth it's weight in gold, mine is finding it's way onto the mk1 lol

What is this about strengthening the chassis leg? I've never heard about the need to do this before! Is it easy to do or do you need to take it to a garage?

Pedal "covers" or "extensions" can be used to bring the throttle pedal a little closer to the brake pedal to make heel toe braking a little easier.....

How much was the VAG window?

il be so pleased when you drive this car. then you can have an opinion!

ha ha - only build thread i seen that consists of no building!!!! only buying parts!

Pedal "covers" or "extensions" can be used to bring the throttle pedal a little closer to the brake pedal to make heel toe braking a little easier.....

You don't need it on a Mk3 Polo though as the foot well is already cramped. Mk3 Polo is one of the easiest cars to heel + toe in I have driven...you just roll your foot a little to the right. Imrie's car came with pedal cover/extensions on and they just get in the way, so he sacked them off.

How much was the VAG window?

£117 + VAT

il be so pleased when you drive this car. then you can have an opinion!

ha ha - only build thread i seen that consists of no building!!!! only buying parts!

I've driven this car plenty...the opinion is it's crap just now. I've also driven other Mk3 Polo GT/G40's all of which were flawed in some way...main issues being the brakes and ride/handling.

I've done a few little bits here and there on the car...lights, wiper blank and sorting out various niggles here and there...servicing yadda yadda. I'm not fitting the suspension + brakes until I have every last part. If you are going to do something well you should go the whole hog...anyone can buy some cheap shocks + springs and throw them on the car, but that's a little half arsed. No point in fitting the H&R Cup Kit just to then remove it to fit the powder coated struts with new hubs, bearings, disks, callipers, pads and braided lines. Likewise I wouldn't fit the suspension without having the alloys back from being refurbished and the new tyres on.

I've got a week off coming up towards the end of this month when it'll all go on the car. Between us we've fitted plenty of suspension kits so my fingers and crossed that it'll go quite smoothly...but these things never do.

Edited 23 February, 200818 yr by Tav

Nice find tav, now the magic tree is sorted the next item on any new mk3 owners list should be the all important task of strengthening the n/s chassis leg.

Forget about waiting for the G40 engine to go in, the 60/40 kit alone could and has been known to kill a chassis leg which will leave you with a pretty looking, nice smelling, useless polo.

It's a simple mod but yet very effective. I was running 195/45/13's on rock hard 60/40 suspension with 170+bhp for a fair while with no signs of any fractures/cracking/fatigue on the chassis leg so i can't recommend doing this enough

Gregg

EDIT: The PSD 4 branch is worth it's weight in gold, mine is finding it's way onto the mk1 lol

What is this about strengthening the chassis leg? I've never heard about the need to do this before! Is it easy to do or do you need to take it to a garage?

One of the main objectives of the subframe is to reinforce the chassis legs and front end of the car!

Blog 10: Powder-coated Wheels & Subframe

Just picked up the subframe from the Finesse Finishing in Aberdeen. Nothing like getting to unwrap new bits for the car:

Subframe unwrapped. Coated in durable gloss black. Should stay mint for years to come. Good book there on modern Japanese interiors there :

Close up showing the finish. A little dusty but that just wipes off leaving a flawless coating:

Gearbox mount received similar treatment, tasty flap jack in the background:

Wheels were also powder coated. This time in a nice gloss silver so as too look as close to standard as possible. All curbing was removed and the finish is fantastic. Del has been running powder coated wheels on his Civic for months and they have stood up well. Really really happy with them:

Before:

After, shod in 195/45 Toyo T1-R's thanks to a friend for fitting:

Ordered center caps from Volkswagen. Expected to receive replacements like those which were removed from the wheels, not so! Instead I was given a totally different style of cap...but I'm not going to complain, pimp:

Edited 6 March, 200818 yr by Tav

I'm looking forward to seeing this finished with all of the effort you are putting in Tav it looks like it will be one of the best GT's on the road :biggrin:

Dan

GT yes - for a short time

GT yes - for a short time

just what i was thinking. get some forced induction in your life sonny jim.

GT yes - for a short time

just what i was thinking. get some forced induction in your life sonny jim.

Don't worry Giorgio it's on the to do list...just keeps getting nudged down.

I love those threads! Keep on, I want more. :-D

awesome job so far dude, inspiration :)

Those powdercoaters have done a mint job there mate. Very well prepped and coated, top job

mm those ra's look lush. are they 15's?

when are you gonna fit them?

they are 14's

nice! what did they come off. 14's are the rarer of the ra's no? mine are from the bbs edition mk1

Looks good.

How much did the wheels cost to have powdercoated if you dont mind me asking?

TAV...looking great mate! loving the project thread!

wheels look excellent

They are 14x6J BBS RA's. They came off a Mk2 Golf. They aren't VW factory wheels as the bolts you need to use are longer...so I think they must be aftermarket/dealer fit options? The G40 RA's have "VW" on them I think...where as these just have "BBS."

Cost of powder coating = £60 for subframe and gearbox mount. Wheels = £45 per/wheel inc. VAT. That's for acid dip, bead blast, repairing curbing, coating, baking and finishing. A little more than I'd like to have paid but hoping to strike up good relationship with them and get some better prices in future. Del got his done by someone who goes there regularly and paid quite a bit less than I had to, said person wasn't available when I needed the wheels done...gutted.

Going to fit them as soon as I sort out my leaking rear brakes...might just get a couple of new cylinders to tide me over before the rear disk conversion. Current rear tyres are down to the wear indicators...so ideally get them on ASAP. Shouldn't look horrendous as they are the same rolling radius...that or wait till all the suspension is on...decisions decisions...

Looking good.

185/50/14 is the same rolling radius as the stock G40 wheels btw.

185/50/14 is the same rolling radius as the stock G40 wheels btw.

Yah and 195/45 is pretty damn close too, especially in the flesh.

nice stuff TAV. did you know that you can get audi tt and any high spec vag car clutch and brake pedal covers from vag for about 18 quid. they fit just as those do but look better and have the metal on them... i have been using them for years. the accelerator ones dont fit though but i had mine powder coated satin black..

looking forward to some real graft though i must admit. these are the easy bits. fitting the bastards will test your patieence but will be worth it.

also be careful with wheel cleaning solutions on powder coated wheels it bleaches them really bad. i know cos i had a set of bbs ras powder coated once for my first mk3.

looking forward to some real graft though i must admit. these are the easy bits. fitting the bastards will test your patieence but will be worth it.

I'm looking forward to it...and in other respects I can't wait to get it over with.

Helped fit a number of Mk3 suspension kits, stripped two entire cars (G40 ) and serviced + fixed loads of parts on various Polos. It never goes smoothly. Ever. I detest old bolts, things that break and rust.

Main benefit of the way I am doing it is that everything that is going on the car is new or refurbished...so with fingers crossed it should go smoothly.

also be careful with wheel cleaning solutions on powder coated wheels it bleaches them really bad. i know cos i had a set of bbs ras powder coated once for my first mk3.

Will be careful. Del hasn't had any issues...I think he just sponges them down making sure they never get too dirty so as to require harsher cleaning solutions. They are getting some Poor Boys wheel sealant love before fitting.

P.S Added some pics of the center caps...sexy!

Edited 28 February, 200818 yr by Tav