Mk1 Classic Touring Car - Bodyshell Prep and 'Bottom Scraping'

[MikeH]

Got these back to the Man-Cave on Saturday morning, with the expert assistance of Lizard Logistics. I've been bolting suspension and wheels to them during the last couple of weeks, and getting them to the point where they could actually roll onto a trailer. Here are some pics of the move. Thanks also to my mate Gurds for the loan of his set of wheels!

'79 GLI dragged out, towing up the drive with my GTX


'77 GLS ready to roll out.


One loaded in the covered van, 2nd one ready to go on the trailer.


All loaded up - I just love the shape of these things!


Original dealer sticker


Back at the Man-Cave - the rusty one is nearest the door, for an early exit!



There probably won't be much happening with these for a few months, other than getting the red GLI stripped and moved on. It's pretty rusty, but a source of some spares, and maybe a few bits to sell. A very brave and expert welder might take the shell on, I suppose...

[monzajake]

Good job mate, two mk1's in a man cave is porn regardless of condition...

[GTXTRA]

i know that brown car - certainly the rego' looks familiar.

[MikeH]

It's been off the road since 2000, so you must know it from a long time ago.

A previous owner was Adam Bloom, of Londonshire, if that rings any bells.

EDIT: I wonder if it was this Adam Bloom
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en ... 4&aql=&oq=

[Winston]

Subscribed sir.

+1

[Funky Diver]

EDIT: I wonder if it was this Adam Bloom
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en ... 4&aql=&oq=

Send him an email and ask him

[MikeH]

So... not much happened on this for 18 months, but a move of barn, 'other priorities' and the arrival of some other cars. Meanwhile the guy who moved into my old barn is an ace panel beater, so I set him to work on the damaged rear quarter, to make sure it could be salvaged before any serious money is spent.

'The Good Side' as it stands - wheels on long term loan from My Mate Gurds of rapid Mk1 Golf fame. Old door in the background - already replaced, as a better one was needed to line up on the rear quarter.


Digging the filler out of the rear quarter - comes out easily with a bit of heat and a LIDL electric paint scraper - using the blunt blade. It's a bit like sheep shearing ;)


Lots of filler in this panel!


Filler removed - looks even worse than expected. More wrinkles than an old fella's old fella.



Half a day's work for Simon the tame panel beater, and at a very reasonable price for the work done. Needs a skim of filler, but the panel is totally transformed. Amazed! He's saved the panel for less than the price of buying a decent 2nd hand one.



Next steps... I've done some of the stripping out already, so need to take the engine and suspension out, then get it on the rollover jig to clean up the shell. Need a driver's wing too!

[Winston]

What a transformation on the rear quarter!! Wow!!

[mark83]

That is a amazing job on the rear quarter! how long did it take ?

[Mr Funk]

Nice.

[Reverend Frog]

Superb - I love to see a craftsman's work

[MikeH]

That is a amazing job on the rear quarter! how long did it take ?

Took him about 4 hours or a bit over - 4 hours of concentrated work, rather than lots of cups of tea and a bit of tappy tap in between. He did it at my barn, as his was full, so it was interesting to see how he did it.

If anyone needs a bit of panel work in the Berks, Hants, Surrey border area, they could do a lot of worse. Very sensible money too. Happy to pass on details by PM if someone needs a job doing.

[MikeH]

Made some more progress this weekend. Took the bonnet off, and dropped the engine and box out yesterday, then today I got the doors and hatch off, pulled the loom and heater out, then got the chassis roller built - took a bit of trial and error, as it was the first time I'd done it since I bought it. I then lifted the car up with the engine hoist, and dropped the wheels and suspension off. Once the car was up in the air, it was really easy to roll it round and strip off the remaining bits - brake pipes, cables loom, etc.


The shell is pretty good for a 36 year old Scirocco. Never been welded. Needs tickled in a few places, but nothing serious.


Some bits are like new....


Little bits of rot...




Little bit of accident damage


Rear beam mounts are original, and pretty good.



3 bolt rack mounting - that'll need to change. I didn't realise early cars had and even more weakly mounted rack. I have the rack mounts on the Mk1 shell I cut up - I bought another, rustier car with this one, and chopped it up for spares.



Brake lines on early Sciroccos run inside the car - bizarre! I think these lines are original too.



Old stickers!
Brazil Brown Metallic, apparently



Had to trim down the chassis roller so it would fit inside the barn...

[MikeH]

BTW, if anyone wants the original GLS block, although I might keep the head (engine turns over nicely but I haven't run it), or the original brake lines (look pretty good to me) or the 3 bolt rack (can't see myself using that) then let me know.

[MikeH]

Did an hour or so of 'bottom scraping' last night - with a heat gun and a LIDL Electric Paint Scraper. Seems to work pretty well on the flat bits, not quite so well on the curves - will need a quick blast of wire brush on grinder to finish it off. Will bag the 'shavings' and weigh them when I'm done - expecting 15-20kg of this stuff, including the inside.