1986 gt 1.6 restoration / rusy mess

[GT Matt]

Yes, 55 litre tank on that. Just be awar you'll have to drop rear axle to fit though so will force your hand in repairing rear axle mounts and sill area.

Good luck though

[mark1gls]

Easy way to tell fuel tank size is the spare wheel, full size spare has the smaller tank, space saver spare wheel has the bigger fuel tank as it takes up more room underneath the car.

[connorj19]

Had the old girl up on the ramp on Saturday, stripped the nearside rear brake assembly down, will be dropping the axle off for paint and new bushes, and new brake pipes front to rear of course next weekend, slow progress after I smashed the rear camera on my galaxy s7.. the camera is £140 to replace, and id rather put that money in the rococo

[connorj19]

[connorj19]

So here's a little progress, rear beam dropped and new bushes fitted, got the bolts out that go through the bush no problem. Then there was the near side brakes to build up.

Take plenty pictures of the side your taking to bits if your not familiar with the set up. I hate drum brakes with a passion, but that's only because I've had little experience and much prefer the disc n caliper option as that's what I repair on a daily basis.

I found it easier to assemble the shoes & springs off the job then wangle them into the bottom, and slip the cable in, then put the wheel cylinder in the top. Probably not the best but it worked for me

[connorj19]

Well both sides built up, rear beam back in, just need to connect handbrake cables back to car inside, which is abit awkward even with the passenger seat removed.

No paint on beam as it will be coming back out again soon to replace fuel tank and exhaust so will paint then with the new tank. Not many pictures due to phone been broken

[steve bain]

Bet your relieved you didn't shear the bolts when removing the beam! I was terrified when I did mine...

[connorj19]

Bet your relieved you didn't shear the bolts when removing the beam! I was terrified when I did mine...

I used to work with a lad who loved his old volkswagons, he always used to say that you can have the rusty, dirty nuts & bolts that look like they have been down with the titanic just crack loose and wind right out.. of course I never believed him until experiencing it for myself. Not sure if I hit on lucky with the beam mounting bolts but feel confident that the wishbone & strut to hub will come out easy.. probably spoke too soon now

[connorj19]

she is no longer top less haha, with working brakes to an extent she was pulled out into the winter sun to gain some much needed vitamin D, then it rained and it got pulled back in.

[connorj19]

For some reason the handbrake no longer ratchets on, just pulls up with no clicking. So it's wedged with a 3/8th extention. Another job for another day

[connorj19]

Turns out the little tab what the ratchet hooks under was bent so the ratched would move with the handle insead of staying still hence not locking into place.

Next up is front suspension / wishbones / brakes

[connorj19]

Swapped the leaking cork rocker gasket for a new rubber one from heritage and it was pumping the oil out the back onto inlet and exhaus. Turns our the metal in the gasket wasnt letting it sit properly so knocked these out with a small socket & hey presto perfect fit and no oil leak

[mark1gls]

Did you change over the studs when fitting the rubber gasket?
Do the gaskets from VW heritage even come with new studs?
The new studs don't have a shoulder on them so the gasket fit's flat.
Your method has seemed to worked.

[connorj19]

Did you change over the studs when fitting the rubber gasket?
Do the gaskets from VW heritage even come with new studs?
The new studs don't have a shoulder on them so the gasket fit's flat.
Your method has seemed to worked.

The 2 gaksets ive bought from herritage never came with new studs, but anyway abit of bodge and sealent and shes dry as a bone

[connorj19]

Well i fitted the g60 brake setup to the scirocco thats having the 20vt engine fitted soon.. leaving a nice set of free brakes spare. Now the brakes on D511DEF were siezed up so they have been swapped over for the free set of J958TJH.. ALSO ive ordered new springs, top mounts to go with the new front shocks and a pair of bottom arms complete with fitting kit. Few small holes to weld up in the rear arches then its MOT time