1983 GL Barn Find
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Section for all vehicle and related projects. Please keep responses pertinent to thread.
Section for all vehicle and related projects. Please keep responses pertinent to thread.
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1983 GL Barn Find
So... I bought this GL on ebay... originally went to see it, thinking of buying it for bits. It was far too good for that though, so I bought it anyway.
£720 later and it's mine. Two owners, 60k miles, with every tax disc and MOT cert that it's had. The previous owner was an elderly lady who gave up driving in 2003 due to vision problems. The car is mostly pretty tidy, started up OK even on 10 year old fuel, and runs nicely now that it's got some fresh petrol in it.
The initial job list looks like:
- Grind down and seal up rear arches, which have a bit of surface rust on them.
- rust beater and paint on a few little bits of surface rust on the body.
- Fix a leaky fuel hose in the engine bay (perished rubber) - Done
- Cambelt (not done since 1996, according to the bills with it)
- Weld up a little hole in the battery tray - Done
- Change tyres over to some that hold air. - Done
- Oil and filter change
- Fix indicators and reversing lights (minor fiddling really)
- General check over and fettle for an MOT
- Possibly change the rear shocks. I have a spare pair of NOS VW ones.
- Maybe paint the wishbones and struts, and do tidy-up jobs like that.
- Fix the passenger's window regulator, which is sticky - Done, sort of.
I'm going to properly repaint bits of the body later, but for now I just want to get it sealed up for winter, rather than make it perfect. Once it's on the road I'll use it a bit to check it's all reliable, and it makes it easier to move the car around as well.
Headlight washers and massive washer bottle!
Sun visor trim
Very blue interior
Overall, it's a nice tidy car... it's had a bit of paint in the past, and the original side stripes are long gone, but the other GL specific bits are still there.
£720 later and it's mine. Two owners, 60k miles, with every tax disc and MOT cert that it's had. The previous owner was an elderly lady who gave up driving in 2003 due to vision problems. The car is mostly pretty tidy, started up OK even on 10 year old fuel, and runs nicely now that it's got some fresh petrol in it.
The initial job list looks like:
- Grind down and seal up rear arches, which have a bit of surface rust on them.
- rust beater and paint on a few little bits of surface rust on the body.
- Fix a leaky fuel hose in the engine bay (perished rubber) - Done
- Cambelt (not done since 1996, according to the bills with it)
- Weld up a little hole in the battery tray - Done
- Change tyres over to some that hold air. - Done
- Oil and filter change
- Fix indicators and reversing lights (minor fiddling really)
- General check over and fettle for an MOT
- Possibly change the rear shocks. I have a spare pair of NOS VW ones.
- Maybe paint the wishbones and struts, and do tidy-up jobs like that.
- Fix the passenger's window regulator, which is sticky - Done, sort of.
I'm going to properly repaint bits of the body later, but for now I just want to get it sealed up for winter, rather than make it perfect. Once it's on the road I'll use it a bit to check it's all reliable, and it makes it easier to move the car around as well.
Headlight washers and massive washer bottle!
Sun visor trim
Very blue interior
Overall, it's a nice tidy car... it's had a bit of paint in the past, and the original side stripes are long gone, but the other GL specific bits are still there.
Last edited by MikeH on Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1992 Scala ABF - SOLD
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
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Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
Nice find, reminds me of my first MK2 back in 1988.
If I remember rightly I had reversing light problems as well, I had to buy a new switch that fits onto the gearbox (you could buy these from the dealers back then!).
Same sun visor headlining in my Storm as well.
If I remember rightly I had reversing light problems as well, I had to buy a new switch that fits onto the gearbox (you could buy these from the dealers back then!).
Same sun visor headlining in my Storm as well.
1984 MK2 Havanna brown Storm
1989 MK2 Alpine white Scala injection
2006 Audi A4 3.0TDI quattro (the beast)
1989 MK2 Alpine white Scala injection
2006 Audi A4 3.0TDI quattro (the beast)
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- Posts: 782
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:39 am
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- Location: Nr Banbury, UK
Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
I've got a couple of spare reversing light switches of that type - the plastic one that includes extra connections (for the economy meter I think) ... hopefully one of them will work, or I'll pull them apart and see if I can find out what's not making contact the way it should.
1992 Scala ABF - SOLD
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
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- Posts: 3800
- Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:35 pm
- fill in the right answer: 15
- Location: Central London and Essex
Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
That's the one, mind the carbed model ones are different to the injection models.MikeH wrote:I've got a couple of spare reversing light switches of that type - the plastic one that includes extra connections (for the economy meter I think) ... hopefully one of them will work, or I'll pull them apart and see if I can find out what's not making contact the way it should.
1984 MK2 Havanna brown Storm
1989 MK2 Alpine white Scala injection
2006 Audi A4 3.0TDI quattro (the beast)
1989 MK2 Alpine white Scala injection
2006 Audi A4 3.0TDI quattro (the beast)
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- Posts: 782
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:39 am
- fill in the right answer: 10
- Location: Nr Banbury, UK
Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
Are they... I think the two spares are from an injection... will see what I can figure out. Thanks for the tip.
EDIT:
VAGCAT is suggesting a slightly different story - 9A is an injection box but 4T is carb I think. Looks like you're right that there are two different types though.
31 ---------
no longer available
/ FN,FJ,FK,6G, 7G
(31) 191919823
switch for gearshift and consumption indicator- back-up light
/ 7A,8A,9A,4T, 4Y
EDIT:
VAGCAT is suggesting a slightly different story - 9A is an injection box but 4T is carb I think. Looks like you're right that there are two different types though.
31 ---------
no longer available
/ FN,FJ,FK,6G, 7G
(31) 191919823
switch for gearshift and consumption indicator- back-up light
/ 7A,8A,9A,4T, 4Y
1992 Scala ABF - SOLD
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
-
- Posts: 782
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:39 am
- fill in the right answer: 10
- Location: Nr Banbury, UK
Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
So I've been fiddling with this, on and off... just general fettling and little repairs.
Rubbed down, sealed and zinc primed the surface rust on the bodywork (rear arches and windscreen scuttle mostly)
Changed the cam belt and tensioner (last receipt said 1996, so only 18 years old - thought it best to change it). Changed the cam cover gasket for a rubber one while I was in the area.
Welded up a 1" hole in the battery tray, sealed it up and painted.
Replaced a broken spring on the rear (changed both springs for some spares I had lying around - they were pretty rusty).
Changed the front top mounts for NOS genuine VAG ones. I think the ones on it were the originals.
Chucked some BBS 13" rims on it with tyres that hold air. They'll do to get it MOT'd and on the road.
Painted a few bits
- front and rear struts
- cam cover
- cambelt cover
- airbox and brackets
- wishbones are next.
Still to do:
- Fix reversing lights
- Give the brake pipes a rub down and re-grease
- Re-stonechip a few bits that are scuffed off (sills, mostly)
- proper paint job after it's got an MOT. Right now I'm just rubbing down, treating and sealing up the brown bits to stop it rusting.
Overall it's coming together nicely. Taking a little longer than planned, but I'm doing lots of things it doesn't actually need for an MOT.
Will get round to uploading more pics soon.
Rubbed down, sealed and zinc primed the surface rust on the bodywork (rear arches and windscreen scuttle mostly)
Changed the cam belt and tensioner (last receipt said 1996, so only 18 years old - thought it best to change it). Changed the cam cover gasket for a rubber one while I was in the area.
Welded up a 1" hole in the battery tray, sealed it up and painted.
Replaced a broken spring on the rear (changed both springs for some spares I had lying around - they were pretty rusty).
Changed the front top mounts for NOS genuine VAG ones. I think the ones on it were the originals.
Chucked some BBS 13" rims on it with tyres that hold air. They'll do to get it MOT'd and on the road.
Painted a few bits
- front and rear struts
- cam cover
- cambelt cover
- airbox and brackets
- wishbones are next.
Still to do:
- Fix reversing lights
- Give the brake pipes a rub down and re-grease
- Re-stonechip a few bits that are scuffed off (sills, mostly)
- proper paint job after it's got an MOT. Right now I'm just rubbing down, treating and sealing up the brown bits to stop it rusting.
Overall it's coming together nicely. Taking a little longer than planned, but I'm doing lots of things it doesn't actually need for an MOT.
Will get round to uploading more pics soon.
1992 Scala ABF - SOLD
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
- Risocco
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Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
Nice Mike. Found something quite similar myself, although not in as good condition as yours...
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=18106
Looking forward to updates dude.
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=18106
Looking forward to updates dude.
1983 GL
1986 GT
1994 Corrado VR6
1986 GT
1994 Corrado VR6
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- Posts: 782
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:39 am
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- Location: Nr Banbury, UK
Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
Well, there's been a complete change of plan on this.
I had it ready to go for an MOT, but the car has now been sold to go on to better things. I'll update on that later.
I had it ready to go for an MOT, but the car has now been sold to go on to better things. I'll update on that later.
1992 Scala ABF - SOLD
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
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- Posts: 1490
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:13 pm
- fill in the right answer: 15
- Location: Surrey
Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
Bugger. I was just going to offer to buy this from you.MikeH wrote:Well, there's been a complete change of plan on this.
I had it ready to go for an MOT, but the car has now been sold to go on to better things. I'll update on that later.
-
- Posts: 782
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:39 am
- fill in the right answer: 10
- Location: Nr Banbury, UK
Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
Really - any particular reason?
1992 Scala ABF - SOLD
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
-
- Posts: 782
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:39 am
- fill in the right answer: 10
- Location: Nr Banbury, UK
Re: 1983 GL Barn Find
Bless... needed painting first before polish, really.
1992 Scala ABF - SOLD
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!
1989 Scala track toy. Dormant
1986 GTX - Lunar mileage but still a good un
Mk1 Classic Touring Car Project...slowly does it
1984 1.6 GT Project. 69k In progress
1.6GL. 2 Owners, 60k. SOLD
1.6 GL - 100k miles -Back on the road!