A few more parts

So, we purchased some suspension parts a while back and had to discover what the brake disc sizes were before we could get the new ones. Turns out they are 239mm. They are kept on the shelf in Launceston branch of Kevin Cooper so I have a pair of discs and a new set of pads to take over to the garage in the next day or two.

Still no real  idea of when the car might be ready for its MOT or back on the road but its still possible that we might get some miles done this Summer, hopefully!

Shopping list continues to grow

I have today ordered a pair of front coil springs, a pair of front shock absorbers, a pair of front brake discs and pads. With a following wind the suspension parts will be in by the end of tomorrow and I can get them to the garage to be fitted.

The brakes are however going to take a little longer to organise as there seems to be an option on the diameter of the discs. I got offered 9 1/2" or 10" discs, we need to measure whats on there and then get the replacement parts ordered so that will happen when the suspension is done.

Looking forward to the refurbishment part of the project I have been recommended to a company in Wadebridge, Cornwall for reconditioning the wheels, apparently  www.thepolishedwheelcompany.com are very good. Once we are on the road I'll be making a trip to Wadebridge to get them to take a look and tell me what can be done for me.

Day one (ish)

Yesterday I spent the whole day clearing out the garage. It had been the default place to dump anything that didnt have a proper home for pretty much the last 18 months. It took all day and I had to be brutal about throwing stuff out. Why? Because today it was going to have a car put in it. As it happens it didnt but that gives me the chance to give you some of the back story and the reason for this blog.

I bought the car back in (ages ago, I cant remember when but probably 2003 or 2004). Its a Volkswagen Golf GTi Cabriolet - anyone from the US will know it as a VW Rabbit. We ran it for a year but it was getting vandalised and we decided to take it of the road. Luckily some friends of ours had a barn we could use to store it. well the time came to use the barn for barn like activities and we had to get the car moved. This coincided with us move house too so the car took up residence in another barn, just behind our horses stables. The car was not drivable at this point due to the battery going flat and the immobiliser , um , ... immobilising it. The brakes on one wheel had become seized too but that was sorted with a few swift swipes of a mallet.

this morning I went to the barn with the aim of towing it out with the pickup and then towing it into my newly empty (ish) garage. I got nowhere. 3 brakes are now seized so I am a bit stuck. I am going to look for advice from some local mechanics, the Haynes manual people and the Golf owners club. The barn isnt really big enough to renew the brakes where it is and I dont have all the tools to hand either.

I will try to post photos and keep things up to date here as I work on renovating the car and getting it back to the way it should be.