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Don't want to put a damper on this whole thing, But this would be a major project and reading through your build thread of the polo I wouldn't ever even consider it.
Its not something I would want to go into with basic skills even with friends that can lend a hand.
Going from doing a few bits on an old polo to a RWD conversion seems a bit of a steep curve to try and get up.
You'd need serious tools and a proper good kitted out workspace as well as a healthy supply of money and time.
As I understand the polo still hasn't ever made it to the road. Why don't you just consider something a bit more doable to start e.g 3F or PY conversion, Suspension mods and have some fun with it.
The project you talk of here would create a hell of a lot of headaches and hassle even for someone with much more experience.
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Last Edit: Feb 5, 2011 15:06:14 GMT by 8bitash
1970 Porsche 911E
2002 Porsche Boxster S
2002 Peugeot Partner 1.9sdi
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8bitash: This is precisely why I asked about it on the forum rather than wading in, I wanted to know just how difficult or easy it would be before I put grinder to metal. What I'm learning is that it is a vastly more complicated thing than I'd been previously led to believe and, while possible, not really something I can do right now. However, I do feel like I've learned a lot about possibilities and limitations just by seeing what solutions people are coming up with and it certainly gives me a lot of food for thought for further down the road. For now, I think I'm very much in the 'leave it as it is' camp but maybe in a few years when I've got some experience under my belt I can think about doing something like this. Hopefully I'm keeping my feet on the ground with this one. I'm not disheartened by it being a project that's likely out of my reach at the moment, I'm more reassured that people have taken the time to explain and put the whole thing into perspective for me.
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Nothing wrong with dreaming about projects, no one says they have to come true straight away.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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@volksangyl - very very sensible, well done! It is hard to acknowledge the scope of a project when you haven't undertaken something that big before. I can promise you that the wait will pay off. A few more years acquired skills and thought will save you 3 years of grief and an abandoned project  (not to mention saved wasting money!) All the best with the project as it evolves at a sensible pace |
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Last Edit: Feb 5, 2011 18:46:16 GMT by jasonb360
- '80 Mk1 Vauxhall Cavalier Saloon, 3.0l 12v... in progress with some special plans ahead
- '94 106 Rallye, Endurance Rally Car
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,950
Club RR Member Number: 174
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I was thinking about this earlier, easiest way by far would be to build a chassis and hang the MX5 subframes and suspension off it. Putting the Polo body onto the MX5 floorpan sounds easier but seen as all the dimensions are out you'll have to shorten and narrow it anyway which is much harder than just building a chassis from scratch.
Matt
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hmm...  Would convert to a panel van and split the tailgate, stick a shelf in for some load lugging ability. I don't mind losing the rear seat for this. Everything stays VW so parts are easy. I would have to do something creative to make the boot fit, probably extending the sheet metal back or even leaving it exposed with a cage a la Baja bug (might look stupid though). Just a thought. |
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brawr
Part of things
Posts: 650
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Last Edit: Feb 6, 2011 17:39:11 GMT by brawr
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aij29
Part of things
Posts: 639
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Hi
Just thinking outloud but what about a Reliant Kitten Chassis???
Wheelbase 2148mm
Track 1244.6
Only 750cc I know but very tunable,I`ve also seen them with Fiat Fire engines and
Bedford Rascal back axles??
Cheers
Adrian
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Last Edit: Feb 6, 2011 17:34:11 GMT by aij29
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brawr: That could well have been in my subconscious you know. Seriously tempting and eminently possible, though probably easier with the wider Jetta than with the Polo. Am I right in thinking an old enough Bug would make it a tax exempt rebody and thus by a VW Beetle rather than a Polo? aij29: I'd dismissed Kittens as being too small, underpowered for my needs and too rare for the conversion. I could be wrong on all counts. However, you did somehow remind me of the Hillman Imp which I know is a similar size. Heh... After thinking I'd put this to bed in my head, all these new notions are popping up that I hadn't previously considered.
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Last Edit: Feb 6, 2011 17:43:16 GMT by Deleted
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So you don't mind losing the rear seat for 60 year old chassis design with an underpowered engine, and questionable reliability but you do mind losing it for a great handling, reliable, modern relatively powerfull package?
Hmmmmmm.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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It's more that I've changed my mind about losing the rear seat and forgot to say so >.>
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rangerbob
Part of things
Mk1 VW Polo LS '78
Posts: 518
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Last Edit: Feb 6, 2011 19:55:47 GMT by rangerbob
EMAIL: rcsimpson66@gmail.com
facebook.com/Rob.Simpson.Design
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Might be easiest to just chop the rear floor out and weld in the front end of another Polo?
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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if youre gona go to the bother of a swap might as well swap the body onto something fruity and modern ish that will handle well
don't see any point in fitting kitten or vitara parts under it
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91 golf g60, 89 golf 16v , 88 polo breadvan
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you seem to be asking all the right questions except one.
AM I CAPABLE OF DOING THIS ?!
In all due respect ebay is usually littered with attempts at things like this with people who have eough skill to start, but not enough to finish it properly.
You may find you do get it done, only to be denied the vehicle assement on numerous things that have been designed into it and are not changeable without major reconstruction of critical components.
HOWEVER, if you are set on rwd why not go for a transverse mounted engine/box setup with a 4x4 system ala Golf 4motion etc, that way only minor changes will be needed on the front end and a small concave channel for the prop instead of having to chop bulkheads away to nothing and massive transmission tunnels.
As for the rear end you may find there are rwd setups that are not far off the mounting points in your original setup,so again only small mods are needed instead of massive design/cutting/welding work.
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that youtube one is pretty cool , rounded arches would be better but other than that its great
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91 golf g60, 89 golf 16v , 88 polo breadvan
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Or, what about building a front mounted bike engine powering the rear wheels? Should fit in the engine bay a bit easier, the prop and exhaust should be able to be worked down the existing exhaust tunnel (the exhaust might run a bit low) and then 'all' you need to do is to sort out the back axel. Any of the options suggested is going to be alot of work and will prob need a fair bit of cash to see it through. Sourcing another shell to build this makes sense, any rust repairs you have to do to it will be nothing in comparison to the fabrication work needed to complete this project. But if it is what you want to do, learn the skills, get some experience and keep asking the questions. Oh, and take lots of pics for us  |
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there was a frt bike engd rwd saloon in ppc mag sometime ago
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theres more to life than mpg & to much power is just enough.
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you seem to be asking all the right questions except one. AM I CAPABLE OF DOING THIS ?! Actually, the whole point of this post is me asking just that. Without knowing what's involved and what options are out there I just won't know if I, or my peers, are capable of doing this. I'll go through the other comments and info in a bit, just wanted to address this while I had a moment. |
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(not to mention saved wasting money!)
