qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Jun 21, 2016 21:18:54 GMT
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Have you got a bit of bar or scaffold pole? A sturdy long piece of metal. Place the end of the rod or bar on the knuckle of the LCA where the ball joint passes through and curse word it like a lunatic. I know you've said you've hit it like this with a hammer, but sometimes under an arch it is fairly restricted for getting a man like swing. If you put a rod or bar (I have a long bit of 1" stainless bar for this exact purpose) it takes your contact point outside the confines of the wheel arch and you really can go full on bonkers at it and in turn the joint should split. I have had over the years every type of ball joint splitter, now I just go all cave man on it smash the granny out of it with a bar and I've yet to loose the fight! Just have a good aim, otherwise you'll end up with a nice dent somewhere you don't want it or a broken bone. Thats exactly what I tried, a bit of pole over my breaker bar. I've bought an old school hammer in ball joint splitter today which I'll try tomorrow. Ideally I want to get it sorted tomorrow night.
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BT
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,772
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Jun 21, 2016 21:29:02 GMT
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Hmmm odd. I use quite a substantial 4lb lump hammer with mine which probably helps.
If you are having trouble it may be worth smashing the splitter in a good way, then smacking it on the knuckle, then hitting the splitter and alternate, I've had to do that before. May also be worth throwing a load of penetrating oil on it tonight and again in the morning. If that fails get some heat into it, sometimes you just get a super stubborn fecker.
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Jun 21, 2016 21:36:42 GMT
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on rear lights i've usually found the earth at fault under the tailgate latch Pretty sure its the contacts as its only on the passenger side and when I push the bulb in it works. I'll give that earth a clean up though as it can't hurt. Tom i've got spare bulb holders if you wanna try another one
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Jun 21, 2016 22:11:41 GMT
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Hmmm odd. I use quite a substantial 4lb lump hammer with mine which probably helps. If you are having trouble it may be worth smashing the splitter in a good way, then smacking it on the knuckle, then hitting the splitter and alternate, I've had to do that before. May also be worth throwing a load of penetrating oil on it tonight and again in the morning. If that fails get some heat into it, sometimes you just get a super stubborn fecker. Yeah its been soaked so hopefully tomorrow some judicial hammering will have me sorted. Worst case scenario I have some replacement TCA's but the ones on there aren't that bad so I wanted to avoid replacing them until they need it. i've got spare bulb holders if you wanna try another one Cheers Guz, I'll drop you a PM if I get stuck. I think I have one somewhere as well. Do you still have a unit with Steve(??) 86c on clubpolo?
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Ah thats probably where I got confused. When I crashed my GT I sold it to Steve, then I ended up travelling down to pick up an ABD and a GT box for my mates mk1.
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Jul 18, 2016 19:10:44 GMT
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Got a proper update due just need to write it.
In short after a lot of worry passed the MOT first time with 3 advisories. Managed to get the temperature guage fixed and it sits at perfect temperature. Changed the oil and it sounds much healthier.
All in all very pleased. Just need to drive the wheels off it now.
Tom
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Sept 9, 2017 19:45:56 GMT
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Sooooo, over a year since the last update. I’d love to say loads has happened, but in reality it hasn’t really. After the last update I used it. One night I went for a quick blast down some lanes near where I live. After a particularly bumpy section I thought I heard some scraping. Thought nothing of it. Then after another quarter of a mile I definitely could. So I pulled over to be greeted by this: Busted Radiator by Tom Horn, on Flickr BUM HATS! So using a few bits and bobs I had in the car I managed to temp fix it to get home: Radiator repair by Tom Horn, on Flickr Chemical metal, a latex glove and some Gorilla Tape. Quick look on Amazon and I managed to get a Nissens radiator for £11.04 delivered! Bargain. So I fitted it : New Radiator by Tom Horn, on Flickr Worked well for a few months. Then took it to work for the first time. Was running pants. Broke down as I parked it. Got back to it and it wouldn’t start. BUMHATS AGAIN! So I called the recovery peeps and he diagnosed it as a bad fuel pump. Broken Down by Tom Horn, on Flickr I fannied about for ages and finally got a fuel pump and filter. When I was fitting that I noticed that the fuel tank sounded very empty………hmmm. Stuck a load of fuel in it. Still didn’t work. Rubbish! So it sat: Still Sitting by Tom Horn, on Flickr Then it sat some more as we did some MOT work on my brothers: MOT Prep by Tom Horn, on Flickr Fixing James' by Tom Horn, on Flickr As I had replaced the fuel pump and knew that it was getting fuel, I started on the ignition system. Rotor arm, Dizzy cap, Coil. Nothing. Finally replaced the Distributor itself! First time I had ever replaced one. Went well, and it finally bloody worked, as evidenced by finally being able to turn it around! Finally Fixed by Tom Horn, on Flickr So it now runs again! Unfortunately the MOT has run out, as has the insurance. So as I save up for them I have a few jobs to do, which I’ll cover in the next few updates. Tom
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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So this afternoon I finally pulled my finger out and get on with a few of the more interesting jobs. First of all fitting the PPP ARB brace. Fitting it was pretty easy and its supposedly a great handling upgrade. Time will tell: 20171007_155152 by Tom Horn, on Flickr Next moving on to the front arches. Coupe S ones so no notches for rubbing strips. Quick cut and BEWM!: 20171007_163201 by Tom Horn, on Flickr 20171007_163212 by Tom Horn, on Flickr I need some 3M foam tape to tighten up the top of the arches. I also have some new rear arches which I'm going to do a better job of fitting! Then I'll have to move on to side skirts. The plan is to experiment with some of this: 20171007_164554 by Tom Horn, on Flickr So as well as the arches and planned guttering/skirts I've also bought these bargain Chinese speedparts! 20171007_165438 by Tom Horn, on Flickr I'm hoping to prove that the factory temp gauge is wildly inaccurate. So hopefully next week will see the gauges fitted and working and some skirt experiment progress. I also have some more suspension upgrades in the form of ARB blocks and some TCA polybushes. Tom
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Last Edit: Oct 7, 2017 18:47:56 GMT by qwerty
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Nov 20, 2017 17:07:53 GMT
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So made some slight progress on the little Polo. Not as much as I wanted to get done but after a bit of advice from members on this forum I have fitted my gauges, although currently only the water temp gauge is working. After a bit of faffing around trying to decide where to mount the gauges I ended up buying a custom holder from a guy breaking a turbo G40. It looks way more professional than anything I could have managed! 20171120_145958 by Tom Horn, on Flickr So got them fitted and working today ran it up to temp and it was running terrible and didn't want to idle, but a quick play with the timing had it idling fine. However the fan isn't kicking in however when I hotwire the fan switch it kicks in, so I'm hoping I'll get away with a new switch. Next update should be, fan switch, ARB blocks and some skirt experimenting. 20171017_170217 by Tom Horn, on Flickr Tom
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Last Edit: Nov 20, 2017 17:08:35 GMT by qwerty
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,314
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Nov 20, 2017 17:31:43 GMT
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Been great reading your progress with the little Fox! One good thing, your tool collection must be getting more extensive!
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Nov 24, 2017 18:05:49 GMT
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brachunky it certainly is although there's always more to buy! My mojo is currently quite high, a lot of that is due to some great Youtube channels motivating me. One of note is SOUP definitely worth a watch if you're sick of Z List Celebrity in the Forest. So today when I got in from work I decided to have a little play about. 1st job was to drain and flush the cooling system and then check the fan switch. Looks like its a duffer. So no point putting the coolant system back together as I'm going to have to fit a new one. Going to try and get a good quality one (Meyle or Febi probably). So I then decided to move on to something I mentioned briefly in a previous post. That was to see if I could turn some guttering into a side skirt...... My Inspiration for this mod came from Reuben Dovers C33 Laurel featured HERE on Speedhunters. So I thought I'd give it a go. So started with a bit of guttering and a few cuts and notches, sorry no pics as I was a bit in the zone, and I ended up with this: 20171124_141217 by Tom Horn, on Flickr 20171124_141205 by Tom Horn, on Flickr Then rolled it off the ramps for a better look: 20171124_141915 by Tom Horn, on Flickr 20171124_142338 by Tom Horn, on Flickr 20171124_142346 by Tom Horn, on Flickr 20171124_142559 by Tom Horn, on Flickr 20171124_142633 by Tom Horn, on Flickr It was a quick job using brown guttering mainly as a proof of concept. I am decidedly undecided about it. From some angles I think yes, from others no. So what is your opinion? I think I may go for it. I may even give this one a quick blast with Matt black to give me a better Idea. I also may tweak it a bit more to bring it closer into the body of the car. Tom
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Last Edit: Nov 24, 2017 18:08:36 GMT by qwerty
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Nov 24, 2017 18:33:47 GMT
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I think it certainly has potential. if you brought it closer to the car it might look a bit better....but overall it looks nice.
painting it black will help quite a bit too...
JP
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I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
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A bit closer to the body and some matte black, then its ace!
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Cars owned at the moment - '69 Audi 60 - '77 Volvo 242 - '78 Audi 100 - '78 Merc 450 sl - '79 Dodge Van'- '80 Audi 100 Diesel - '82 and '83 Audi 100 2.2 - '82 Merc 230TE - '86 Audi 100 Turbo Quattro - '91 Audi 100 Quattro - '92 Merc 260E - '98 Subaru Forester X Cars - Around 30, sign to short
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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I shall have a bit more of a play with it and try and bring it a tad closer in.
Once I've got the skirt sitting and looking how I want I'm going to remake a pair in black guttering and probably paint it with bed liner or something similar.
Tom
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Went out and got a little more done today in the form of fitting ARB blocks. Supposedly a must do mod for all lowered Polo's of this suspension design. They lower and push the ARB forward correcting the castor. I got mine from a lad on the Polo pages on Faceache and they were very easy to fit. 20171202_143552 by Tom Horn, on Flickr 1st Side. 20171202_144051 by Tom Horn, on Flickr 2nd Side 20171202_145222 by Tom Horn, on Flickr Retaining collars. 20171202_150124 by Tom Horn, on Flickr Dropped back on the floor and the wheels are noticeably further forward in the arches. Trying to keep progress going even if its only a small amount. Still to do: Buy and fit a new fan switch Replace the top radiator hose (and do a better job of cutting it for temp sender this time!) Fit Polybushes to TCA's Finalise and fit the Gutterskirts Clean up and fit the G40 Brakes Sort out the rear arches and fit the new rear arch covers. Some of this will be done pre mot other bits will be done as and when. Very much looking forward to getting out and about in it! Tom
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'91 VW Polo Fox. The Red Shed.Robinxr4i
@robinxr4i
Club Retro Rides Member 143
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Dec 30, 2017 21:55:31 GMT
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Love this, such a cool little car great to see the handling mods to make the best of it. Personally I like the gutterskirts truck bedliner them is a good idea make them match the rest of the kit, I think they’ll look pretty OE.
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Sierra - here we go again! He has an illness, it's not his fault.
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dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
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Dec 30, 2017 22:52:51 GMT
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The best way to remove a rounded out allen bolt, is to cut a slot all the way across the top with a dremel. Then tap in a flat bladed screwdriver and remove. Been very effective for me in the past.
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dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
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Dec 30, 2017 23:01:06 GMT
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What make is that paint you used? The finish looks pretty decent. Is it Montana?
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Dec 31, 2017 21:48:28 GMT
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Love this, such a cool little car great to see the handling mods to make the best of it. Personally I like the gutterskirts truck bedliner them is a good idea make them match the rest of the kit, I think they’ll look pretty OE. Cheers Robin. I need to get it running reliably then I can crack on with more fun things like the skirts! The handling improvements have a purpose, as do the better brakes I've got in the shed to fit What make is that paint you used? The finish looks pretty decent. Is it Montana? Yeah it was Montana black. First time I had ever used it and I was really impressed. Dead easy to get on with and really good coverage!
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Last Edit: Dec 31, 2017 21:50:24 GMT by qwerty
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