Project: '76 Golf GL - the resto begins!

[Celestine]

Thanks must go out to Donny for helping us angle grind our floorpan! He did a wonderful job and he was more than avid to help us out in all aspects.

Unfortunately due to the Easter break, our progress has been slow. We have a template that's currently being tested to ensure we have a perfect fit when we actually start chopping away at the sheet metal.

Jarred: thank you for having pointed out that our MkI is actually a swallowtail. Its surprising that it's kept in my garage, and I've been looking at it so much in the last couple of weeks, I honestly havent even realised that it was one (not to mention I too was under the preconcieved notion that a swallowtail only existed in a 3 door form). That comment has just boosted Jon and my moral to ensure this car gets what it truly deserves.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day cleaning out the remaining interior surface rust and removal of glue residue and other general grit. The interior is ready to be rust converted and primed (with the exception of our missing 'Flintstones' footwell). Jon and I honestly hope that at the current progression, we can have this car restored to it's former glory in hopefully under a year's time. However, we wont rush things as I'm also obsessive, compulsive, when it comes to cars, so I dont want the same problems appearing again. *Photos will go up once the interior is rust converted and primed.

Stay tuned...

[Preen59]

Candy White is also the same colour as Justin's Polo

Yeah its the mk4/mk5 white thats on all of them. (except the commercials- you can get them in off road white, which looks crappy)

[Typ53]

G' day!

I'm a new member here, and my home country is Germany. So first I apologize for my bad English I'm very glad to see that also in OZ exist many people who have a thing about old Volkswagen.

It seems that you have still a lot of work with the rust from the MK1, but I think it's worth it, even in my country many cars in that conditions are often will be restored. Anyway I wish you good luck with the restoration and never give up

greetings
Mario

[Jarred]

Yea, that's the spirit boys. It's good to have a friend to do something like this with, helps when you hit the boring and hard parts! so make sure you have some fun along the way too!


Welcome to VWW Mario! There defiantly is a few of us that love the old Volkswagens, that's for sure! and like most germans, your english is fine!

[Oneofthegreats]

and, I'm surprised to see the rust in the A pillars, from what I know, not many 76's rust in the A pillars, but all (well most) or that later ones do, or are at least more prone to rusting there!

Nice to see anther mk1 being brought back to life. It's just that some mk1's take a bit more work than some of the other's.

All mk1's unfortunately rust here. Doesn't matter what year it is.

The 76er's are IMHO the worst for rust due to the lack of seam sealing from the VW Aust department. But saying that, here in VIC, there the best to do engine conversion's with eg. 20VT, ABF's etc. as they don't have to comply with pollution requirement's.

Your right to Jarred. Mine is a 4/76 5dr LS.

The more & more I work on my 76er, the more & more I find is different to the German built mk1's & also the last of the mk1's.
Even the floor pan's are different!

Keep up the good work fella's. Look forward to seeing more progress.

[Peter Jones]

But saying that, here in VIC, there the best to do engine conversion's with eg. 20VT, ABF's etc. as they don't have to comply with pollution requirement's.

My two '79s were both GLDs originally, so they have no pollution control at all!

I'm not sure of the legalities of that though! There's no carbon canisters or anything else ever been fitted to these cars. I suppose whoever put the first petrol motor in there should have fitted all the pollution kit but it's never been picked up because it all looks factory.

Pete

[Oneofthegreats]

My two '79s were both GLDs originally, so they have no pollution control at all!

I'm not sure of the legalities of that though! There's no carbon canisters or anything else ever been fitted to these cars. I suppose whoever put the first petrol motor in there should have fitted all the pollution kit but it's never been picked up because it all looks factory.

Pete

I forgot to add, that's if you want to fit an aftermarket ECU like Microtech, MoTec, Autronic's etc without a cat. convertor too. You could fit say a 20VT out of a 98 Passat into a 80 GLS, but you'd also have to fit every bit of factory engine managment, pollution gear etc. that the Passat came out with.
Then it would also have to have a very expensive pollution test too! This isn't only just for the exhaust, it's everything from fuel vapour's, carbon canistor's etc.

My info comes from a very well respected engineer. I was speaking to him about engine conversion's & he said as long as it's badged a 76 you could fit one of those engine's with an aftermarket ECU.

Hope this clear's it up alittle.

[Jarred]

Hope this clear's it up alittle.

It does for me. I've been wondering what the difference in the laws was, but I've never been sure. Thanks Tim.

[572]

Quick pic of the 'workshop'



Todays progress:

Cleaned, degreased, rust converted, etch primed & filled rear hatch area, backseat and rear footwells.



One of the madmen! Justin's pretty good with a spray can so I let him do that job, and I've landed the job of restoring/making new door trims


Getting artistic...(after primer filler applied, hence the yellow finish ). Plans for these areas will be a matt black finish, with the carpet stopping in the rear footwells. Thinking of crafting up a rear strut tower brace when we get there


Found whats broken in the indicator stalk - any ideas? Repairable or chase up a replacement unit?

Cheers folks!

[Jarred]

wow! you have a garage! lucky! and I cant believe you didn't get in on the spraying action! I love spraying stuff on my car, unfortunately, it's all been resprayed, well most of it has, so I've still got some room to play!!

Indicator stalk shouldn't be too had to get second hand. I geuss you could always super glue the broken piece back on and test if it would work first..?

[Water Boy]

Lookin' good mate... This is what having a Mk1 is all about

[572]

Jarred: Yea, we've got a lengthways 2 car garage to use. He does a much neater job with the painting than I do; I'm much more at home with the electrics!

[Celestine]

I havent taken the photos yet, but after you left Jon, I spent a bit more time spraying (I'm not high off the paint fumes yet as I've been wearing a mask - however, I need another filter as the one for my decent one is shot). Both the rear passenger footwells have been etch primered and also coated with the primer filler. I'll post up photos tomorrow morning as it's a bit too dark to get a reasonable photo at 11 at night.

All I need is to create a small isolated booth in the back of my garage/our workshop, for spraying. Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? If so, suggestions and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Jarred]

Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? If so, suggestions and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Well, what do you need to know? I painted my car in mum and dad's garage last January!
So talking about a doing full respray or just something to cover up the other half of the garage when you are rattle can-ing?

[Celestine]

I'd be talking about a full respray and of course, NOT with a rattle can. I'd be there after 20 cans still trying to get things right. I'm getting a compressor and I've already got a spray gun I'd like to use in mind already. However, just need to be able to make a 'clean' environment to spray in...