ceedubya 0 Posted June 13, 2008 This is my first post guys so apologies for any technical glitches etc... I fell in love with the Corrado the first time I saw one when I was about 10 years old, and pandered for one from the day I passed my driving test....could never afford to buy or run one, not even a lowly 1.8 valver back then. I compensated for this by cruising round in various dubs, including a few mk2 GTi's over the years (still have one now), and convinced an ex to buy a mk3 VR so I could drive that too (she disliked the look of the Corrado so refused to part with any money for one!! - strange girl lol). Anyways, about 4 years ago I found a really cheap G60 on the 'bay....i'm not a total dipstick when it comes to cars (just a bit of one!) and I knew when I parted with my money that she was FAR from a perfect example (missing original alloys, 'charger had never been serviced, short MOT), but she only had 87K on the clock and at the time I had a spare set of running gear, loom etc for a VR so was toying with the idea of sticking the VR lump in the Corrado shell, and flogging the G60 lump to fund the inevitable 'extra' bits that I didn't already possess...... that was until I drove her the 150 miles home and heard the 'charger whine! My ideas of the VR swap went out the window there and then (not that I don't LOVE the VR lump and it's sheer grunt, but that charger sound is addictive!), and I decided that I would nurture the G60 lump and charger back to health. This was a problem though...at the time I was not a rich man (still not lol), so I rented a garage and parked her up, locked the door and walked away for about a year! The bodywork always struck me as being particularly sound, all the electric bits worked that are prone to failure, and the car only needed some TLC..... HOW WRONG I WAS!!!!! It's now 4 years since I bought her, and have spent ££££'s....I have had the charger rebuilt by Jabba, replaced the engine (sourced from Germany through a work colleague and there are slight differences - if I can sort this problem out can go into that another time!) - (not the 'box tho), replaced both front lower crossmembers due to corrosion, replaced COUNTLESS ancilleries, hoses, wiring etc etc (with as much genuine VAG I could lay my hands on....how expensive?!?), and other than a new bonnet (on it's way soon via shaung60...thankyou :D), a set of wheels/tyres, and a few bits of trim here and there I thought I was not far off completion!! UNTIL I FOUND THIS 2 DAYS AGO!!!!! 2.8l 24v Climatronic system.pdfDSC00273.JPG[/attachment:395vzjuq] DSC00262.JPG[/attachment:395vzjuq] Im very annoyed with myself for not spotting this sooner....I have been over the car numerous times over the years, sills included (even with magnets) and even found a rotten patch on the lower front corner on nearside rear wheelarch that I knew needed patching up, but this is what I think has happened.....the car has been driven over something low (kerb/boulder maybe) during it's lifetime, and repaired quite well (visually!), but VERY badly at the same time! The outer sill was dented but not too badly and repaired, but the outer skin of the passenger floorpan was torn and repaired but what the w****r didn't do was clean all the dirt and crap between the two skins before he welded and sealed it shut!!! The first I knew of this was when I sat in the passenger seat a few days ago and it literally fell through the floor!! Then I started digging and was absolutely horrified at what I found....I was close to tears as I plunged a screwdriver through the floor and sill over and over again :( The point of this post guys is to maybe get some advice/guidance.....I have always read that the C shares a floorpan with the mk2 golf/jetta....I happen to have a rot-free Jetta on the driveway that I am prepared to cut and weld into the G60 if it is viable. I'm sure the sills themselves won't be the same due to the different shapes of the cars/length of doors from front wing to B pillar, but I work in a sheet metal factory so I can fabricate these parts (hopefully). I have tried unsuccessfully to buy the replacement panels from my local VW dealership and was told that they are now obsolete, Eurocarparts and GSF had the same story. I have seen rotten sills before and I know it's not the end of the world, but I was that close to having her on the road!! Or should I just cut my losses, strip the car, sell as many parts as possible and just start again and buy another Corrado??? The prices have come right down from where they were 4 years ago lol (typically).... Cheers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
belfastfumanchu 0 Posted June 13, 2008 Nothing lowly about 1.8 valvers :nono: If I were you I'd get her fixed up and into tip top shape because at the end of the day there isn't that many Corrados about these days (never was) so I'd hate to see another one go into the scrappers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boost monkey 0 Posted June 13, 2008 ditto that, 1.8 16v ftwwwwwwwwww! Mate, you work in a sheet metal factory and you're worried about a rotten sill? Sounds like you could patch that up in an afternoon! Yeah, jetta floor is prob the same, but you'd have to cut and weld where the floor meets the sill as you already said. Let us know how you get on! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yandards 0 Posted June 13, 2008 Not good, as for the outer sill member this should still be available from VW for around £40 inc VAT, part number 535 809 947. You wont get corrado body panels from anywhere except VW though. As for the floor pan a quick check of the parts numbers confirm that a Jetta one will fit just fine, although once again new ones are still available from the dealers for around £130 inc VAT. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boost monkey 0 Posted June 13, 2008 At those prices, genuine new panels prob easier than cutting up the Jetta! please save the Jetta :pale: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceedubya 0 Posted June 13, 2008 Sorry guys...I didn't mean ANY offence to 1.8 16 valver owners! Wrong choice of word, sorry :( I retract my previous statement that they are lowly (I really didn't mean it like that)....ahem I really want to save her!! I reckon the hours alone I have put into her over the years are reason enough for that, other than the fact that NO VW (corrado or otherwise) should go to the giant scrapyard in the sky :( Thanks for part numbers Yanyards....I was surprised when my local dealer told me there was 'no internal network between dealerships around the country' and they couldn't trace the parts from another dealer and that VW had no parts at their main warehouse as was now obsolete....were they lying to me??! I had visions of randomly ringing VW dealers around the country otherwise lol I can fabricate the parts no probs yes, but I am a sucker for using genuine parts and would prefer to use the proper panels and make a neater job of it... I also don't WANT to cut up the Jetta!! I have too many projects going on at the moment tho (also have GTi off road in need of some £££ spending on her) and my little 5 door 1.6 TX is sitting on the drive with a hole in the gearbox I can't justify replacing at the moment as i'm ploughing all spare cash into the Corrado....incidentally if anyone is looking for a little Jetta project....I agree, please save the Jetta!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boost monkey 0 Posted June 13, 2008 Just sold my Jetta, but do still hanker after it! Cool little boxes I reckon :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceedubya 0 Posted June 13, 2008 I love my Jetta as much as every other VW i've owned...handles really well for a lil old TX too (differently to a golf and better in some ways), all the shocks and mounts/rubbers etc seem to have fared pretty well....shes a really solid car and looks worse than she is after I rubbed her down a month ago and treated a few spots of rust (now has patches of primer lol) and was going to paint her matt 3-colour camo with some ex-MOD paint I happen to have kicking around (not to everybody's taste i'm sure but life is all about treading your own path, ha!) until the gearbox issue. I don't like to see her standing every day though and would rather someone saved her (me or otherwise)..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceedubya 0 Posted June 13, 2008 sorry YanDards....fingers don't always do as brain tells them! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yandards 0 Posted June 13, 2008 Sorry guys...I didn't mean ANY offence to 1.8 16 valver owners! Wrong choice of word, sorry :( I retract my previous statement that they are lowly (I really didn't mean it like that)....ahem I really want to save her!! I reckon the hours alone I have put into her over the years are reason enough for that, other than the fact that NO VW (corrado or otherwise) should go to the giant scrapyard in the sky :( Thanks for part numbers Yanyards....I was surprised when my local dealer told me there was 'no internal network between dealerships around the country' and they couldn't trace the parts from another dealer and that VW had no parts at their main warehouse as was now obsolete....were they lying to me??! I had visions of randomly ringing VW dealers around the country otherwise lol I can fabricate the parts no probs yes, but I am a sucker for using genuine parts and would prefer to use the proper panels and make a neater job of it... I also don't WANT to cut up the Jetta!! I have too many projects going on at the moment tho (also have GTi off road in need of some £££ spending on her) and my little 5 door 1.6 TX is sitting on the drive with a hole in the gearbox I can't justify replacing at the moment as i'm ploughing all spare cash into the Corrado....incidentally if anyone is looking for a little Jetta project....I agree, please save the Jetta!! No problems. If you dont get any joy from the dealer then try GPC, VW dealers can 'see' stock at other dealers so that's a load of old twaddle too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shaung60 0 Posted June 13, 2008 and other than a new bonnet (on it's way soon via shaung60...thankyou :D) Glad to help :) Now I don't want to see another G60 broken when it could be saved. I'm rather fond of them too. Especialy after all the work you've done on it. I'm presently breaking a 93 16V that took a hard knock to the drivers side. It was a well looked after car with less than 85,000 on the clock. The passenger side sill and floorpan are perfect. I don't know if it will fit your G60 but if you want to cut out the bits you need (for a small fee of course :D though a fraction of what VW would charge you) then be my guest. I can send you some photos if you want. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CorradoVR6-Turbo 0 Posted June 13, 2008 whooo thats bad,never seen a raddo gone that bad before! :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millerman 0 Posted June 13, 2008 blimey :shock: has that been sitting in the sea for the last 8 months like CorradoVR6-n.o.s said i have never seen rot like that on a corrado are you sure its not a beetle in disguise or perhaps a fiat :D hope you get it sorted soon kel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceedubya 0 Posted June 13, 2008 Almost millerman!! :( I do live literally right next to the sea!! :( The G60 has lived in a garage for 95% of the time I have owned her....but last summer she came outside for three months whilst I put her newly sourced engine in (I was in no rush before you think anything lol), as there just wasn't enough room (or tea making facilities!) at the garage she was living in at the time, and my mate had a hardstanding that was out of the way and I could tinker away at my leisure during evenings/weekends. I have been reading up on some threads today about blocked drainage channels and I think that maybe this was an added factor...I dont specifically remember it getting wet inside the footwells back then...but the sound deadening mat under the carpet was wet when I pulled it up to get to the rotten floorpan two days ago, and the car has been garaged for 9 months (jeez that stuff is like a sponge!)! We did have a couple of really wet days last summer mind... :shrug: climatronic wiring-Golf from May 01.pdfJuly 2007-1.JPG[/attachment:3tj71mfc] 2.8l 24v Climatronic system.pdf14042007252.jpg[/attachment:3tj71mfc] 14042007253MOD.JPG[/attachment:3tj71mfc] I think that the corrosion is SO bad due to a combination of a bodged up repair ( I was pulling leaves and grass and mud from IN BETWEEN the inner and outer floorpan skins for fooks sake!!) and bad subsequent under-sealing, possible footwell flooding and the car being next to the sea which just amplified and sped up the rot!! (its not my fault its where I live lol). If I had known the rot was there at all, in hindsight I wouldnt have taken the C outside near the sea, even if only for three months.....but if I had known the rot was there I would have sorted that long before I thought about replacing it's knackered engine :( shaung60....thanks again!! What an absolute stroke of luck on my part! It looks like the Jetta will be saved too.....one VW passes on (deepest sympathy to the untimely demise of the 'valver btw) but another TWO will live! I will PM you regarding details of coming to you armed with cutting tools very soon :grin: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millerman 0 Posted June 13, 2008 ahh the sea air is lovley it the rain you need to worry about sadly for you its full of salt and your poor corrado is a victim of it i hope you get it all sorted with no brown metal left on her i have some nice brown metal on mine after a retard hit the drivers rear arch in a car park stupidly i only getting it done in the next couple of weeks after a year and a half ago and although the surface is brown its still solid so im well lucky there so when do you think you will get the c back on the road fella kel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceedubya 0 Posted June 13, 2008 How do people manage NOT to see a car....in a carpark??!! It baffles me to this day lol....Yeah that is lucky getting away with only surface rot after that long!! Thankfully VW use some pretty sturdy material for their panels unlike some lesser manufacturers (not naming any names!)....I agree with the comments from you and CorradoVR6-n.o.s and have also never seen a C with rot as bad as mine has got!! I'm a victim of circumstance haha :( The rest of the chassis is absolutely rock solid though (thankfully) other than a few surface blemishes which will disappear after the cars eventual (2 tone?!?) respray! As for getting her back on the road there are still a few jobs to be done, other than the unscheduled welding work. I have just replaced the coolant system with 90% new items (this was the reason the last engine died dramatically so paid special attention there) and the clutch slave cylinder and pipework, so hopefully tomorrow get the rest of 'charger ducting plumbed in and see if she fires up!! Tense times as I only jerry-rigged and test fired the lump for a few seconds last year fingers crossed there! Today was another minor blow...I have some nice new discs and pads to go on all round, but both the front hubs are pretty nasty with disc locating screws sheared off both sides and bearings arent very smooth either so will replace the whole lot at once (was going to do them before MOT anyway as shes been off the road for so long not sure of condition...well, until now)....it's very much an ongoing project and as long as I keep finding little things wrong (which I have to fix due to my annoyingly perfectionist nature!) and I only earn enough each month to spend a couple o hundred quid it may take forever hahaha :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millerman 0 Posted June 14, 2008 i have the cash flow problem thing going on mortgage 3 kids the other half can use cash like its going out of fashion when she wants to especially when i spend money on the car as a result of buying new wheels from g60sc_stoney i have to get her a wii and the wii fit thing never mind like you said it might take a bit of time but well worth it in the end cant wait to get mine mot'ed and running again should be in the next few weeks as im really busy at work at the mo . kel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
