Polo G40 oddball

[Skizzer]

Absolutely love this story. Outstanding job sorting this one, and for keeping one standard (and the other looking standard).

 

I had a K reg one the same colour around 1999-2000 and it was brilliant fun. I'd forgotten about the oil buzzer thing - I hit the limiter on the A52 going into Derby once and thought the world was about to end.

 

It had aftermarket OZ alloys and even after I'd had it de-lowered it was undriveable on concrete motorways: over 50mph it would scamper about from lane to lane like a puppy with a chocolate biscuit.

 

I'd love another. Magic little cars.

[4wheeledstool]

that looks amazing great job and full credit to you for doing a full and thorough resto to a car a lot of people wouldn't bother with and s good to see a standard one but one question with that speedo how do you know your doing 30 to avoid gatso trouble

Its not too bad - you get used to the cramped scale pretty quickly!

[4wheeledstool]

Well if it wasn't concourse when you got it, it certainly is now.

Great to see a proper job being done. Gives us 'normals' something to aspire to with our motors.

I might take the new wings off my maestro and give them some of that por 15 treatment (or cheaper equivalent).

Cheers man - I don't know about concourse though! I'd like to think of it as quite tidy but built to be driven - concourse standards are far more anal than mine!

[Pillock]

Wouldn't have been hard to find a badge, there's one in my cupboard somewhere! I had mine debadged (as it was so rusty around the holes) and kept them when I sold it.

 

Mine also had leccy windows which seemed a bit extravagant, dealer option by the looks of it. Switches went under the radio next to HRW and rear fog switches.

 

I still miss it losing traction when changing up to third in the dry, my rectum doesn't twitch nearly as much these days.

[4wheeledstool]

 

That looks fantasitc, It's a really nice colour too. Is that speedo really in MPH though?!

Cheers - the colour looks really well in the sun! The speedo is indeed in MPH thanks to the reduction gear fitted by the importer - compares favourably with GPS too.

I don't think there's a hill big enough to see the needle through the 12 o'clock position though!

[4wheeledstool]

Wouldn't have been hard to find a badge, there's one in my cupboard somewhere! I had mine debadged (as it was so rusty around the holes) and kept them when I sold it.

Mine also had leccy windows which seemed a bit extravagant, dealer option by the looks of it. Switches went under the radio next to HRW and rear fog switches.

I still miss it losing traction when changing up to third in the dry, my rectum doesn't twitch nearly as much these days.

If you ever feel the need to sell your badge give us a shout! My grey one has electric windows and central locking - both dealer fitted options - the switches sit next to the cig lighter.

L.S.D. cured the problem of losing traction in dry conditions but made it proper arse clenching in wet conditions!

[Pillock]

They'll probably turn up when I've finished clearing out all my "I'll need that some day" car bits from my mothers. Turns out my demand for E36 indicators and Mk3 Golf instrument clusters was lower than I imagined.

 

Yeah, mine had central locking too. Must have been "official" since I think the boot had an extra position on the lock to isolate it from the doors? I dunno, the insurance made me put a Toad on it which did the locking anyway. No sunroof, no fogs. If you took the caps off the door trims you could see a toothed belt turning the window winder

[Sigmund Fraud]

L.S.D. cured the problem of losing traction in dry conditions but made it proper arse clenching in wet conditions!

 

Limited slip in FWD ? NEVER AGAIN ! You still lose traction, but in a far more unpredictable way and doing 20mph more..

[4wheeledstool]

Limited slip in FWD ? NEVER AGAIN ! You still lose traction, but in a far more unpredictable way and doing 20mph more..

It's good fun in a white knuckle kinda way - certainly need to change driving style to accommodate it!

[4wheeledstool]

Superb job you've made of it. Well done.

 

Always really liked the G40 (the G60 was a bit OTT for my taste), super little Q-car. About 2-3 years ago I was searching for one as a keeper, but all I found were either expensive, rather unloved/poorly mod'd, leggy and needed alot (ALOT!) of work or stupidly overpriced, nice looking but still in need of a good deal of expensive body & engine work.

Thanks! - you're right,sadly it seems that the majority of these that you see for sale are pretty tired now. There's still the odd gem that turns up every now and then though so its worth keeping your ear to the ground if you want one.

[Forty-two]

Cracking effort!  Lovely looking motor.

[Hertz]

Enjoyed reading/viewing what you have done, a cracking job. Thanks for posting it. Someone else I know recommends POR 15, is this the stuff that's put on oil rigs? Is it fairly easy to apply?

[4wheeledstool]

Many thanks for all the pleasant comments - much appreciated!

 

I believe POR15 is used in many marine applications. Its not particularly easy to apply as its very runny and must be built up in several thin coats. It can be sprayed if thinned a little with a specific thinner. If done correctly with the recommended preparation process its a tough,shiny and corrosion resistant coating. If not done correctly it looks like proper arse and will flake off over time. If you get runs in it it sort of reacts with itself where the paint is too thick. Probably best to do a test piece to perfect your technique. (That's what I did anyway!)

[4wheeledstool]

Found a few more pics of it when it was last cleaned -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Asimo]

Does the supercharger really pressurise the cam-cover? Presumably there is a tube through it.

 

Lovely job by the way; I wouldn't have put the battery back ,I would want to see that pristine transplanted tray!

 

*VW batteries belong under the seat.

[4wheeledstool]

Cheers! Yeah - its just a tube through which the boost return travels. A neater solution than a pipe going over the cam cover I reckon.

[4wheeledstool]

Was out and about in this today - not seen any action for weeks! Saw another one too, in white. Don't think I've ever seen another on the road unless going to or coming from a show.

 

[Pillock]

To be fair, you probably own about 5% of the remaining ones so you won't see many!

[4wheeledstool]

This has been out of action over the winter - just been starting it up and running it up to temperature every couple of weeks to keep the battery healthy.

 

 

 

 

Gonna dig it out soon now that the weather seems to be getting better.

[4wheeledstool]

Managed to track down a new scuttle cover from VW Heritage - the plastic goes brittle over time and they end up splitting all over. -

 

 

They also supplied me with a proper Leistritz back box to replace the badly fitting pattern one I bought last Spring - not been available at the stealer for a few years now. -

 

 

 

Had these parts since early October - need to get my finger out!

[4wheeledstool]

Been adding to the collection of parts to fit when its back in use again - recent additions include floor mats, rubber mounts for the fuel pump bracket, and a blank key to cut as I only got one with the car. Considering fitting a spare pair of fog lights too.

 

 

Undecided as yet about the foglights.....

[4wheeledstool]

I had intended to fit my new back box last week but took it out for a drive instead. Plonked the new scuttle cover on when I put it away though.

 

 

No more splits! Need to get my finger out and fit that exhaust next.

[4wheeledstool]

Was at my unit today and was offered some time on my mate's ramp so I could fit my back box. The thought of doing it on my back has been putting me off the job for months, so I went and fetched the car!

 

Pattern part -

 

 

Genuine part -

 

 

I'm digging the OE satin black finish - looks just like the cars in the brochures!

 

Had a good look around for oil leaks while it was in the air - pleased to report that its all still good and dry under there!

 

 

Finally put it away after a good drive around in pleasant weather. (About time it got better!)

 

[Jim Bell]

That really is a lovely car.  Loving the thread.

[4wheeledstool]

That really is a lovely car.  Loving the thread.

Thank you kindly! I must admit, I've got a bit of a "pan handle" for it since its been back in use!

[dugong]

Stunning. Everyone in the office at Kelsey has a soft spot for these cars.

[DodgyBastard]

I've had a few of those polo's coupes, breadvans and saloons but never a g40. My saloon needed a new back box once, it turns out a coupe one is £20 cheaper than the saloon. I bought it and welded some extra pipe on the end as it was also shorter...

[Pillock]

I bought some spares off a chap that had G40ed a breadvan. He'd used some steels that were wide enough without being sticky-outy and the rest of it was pure grandma-spec apart from the engine - ported charger, little pulley, modded throttle body, ECU remap and a new exhaust. 150-odd on the dyno, still had the "Fox" stickers and white wheeltrims. Great for upsetting folk in posh cars.

[Aston Martin]

it looked nice to me in the first pictures. But it looks even better now, this is a great thread.

[4wheeledstool]

Stunning. Everyone in the office at Kelsey has a soft spot for these cars.

Cheers!

I bought some spares off a chap that had G40ed a breadvan. He'd used some steels that were wide enough without being sticky-outy and the rest of it was pure grandma-spec apart from the engine - ported charger, little pulley, modded throttle body, ECU remap and a new exhaust. 150-odd on the dyno, still had the "Fox" stickers and white wheeltrims. Great for upsetting folk in posh cars.

Aye - there are a couple of G40'd breaddies about - top sleepers!

it looked nice to me in the first pictures. But it looks even better now, this is a great thread.

Cheers! It didn't look so good up close when I bought it - the pictures just don't show how shonky it was. (And I guess I'm a little bit anal about paint!)