Sorry for the essay but I'm pleased with what I've got done today, so just had to share.
Following my accident damage
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=108492.0I collected a load of parts from Wolverhampton on Saturday, won on ebay, bonnet, wing slam panel and grille
Started about 9 this morning, and just finished packing away at 7.
Took off the bumper and smashed grille. Big problem noticed when taking the bumper off, the back of one fog light is broken (just after the bulb holder. The other one already had condensation in it, so a new set of crystal fog lights to be added to the shopping list.
Removal the very warped slam panel, noticed that one of the ducts that direct air onto the radiator is smashed, add it to the shopping list.
And then to the wing, worked out early on I needed to remove the wheel to get access to all the screws and bolts I need to remove.
The arch was a pain, only two screws (and loads of sticky gunky stuff) holding it but one screw just wouldn't let go, soaked it in wd40 and left it for awhile, managed to get it out. Removed the wheel arch liner, could finally get access to all the bolts and remove the wing.
The inner wing was bent as well so had to bash that out, nice rubber mallet, looks much better.
Took a hair-dryer to the sticky gunky stuff, and managed to get the arch of the old wing.
The previous numpty cut the bit of trim that goes from the arch to the door, I'm guessing this is because he put a vented wing in, and it didn't have the hole in the wing that it fits into, so he just cut it off. So need to add a new arch (or new set and all other trim, as they've all been painted)
Took the bonnet off, a very easy job even for one person, and refitted the replacement.
Oh dear, from the looks of it the paint codes are different, even though the replacement parts are the same paint code (LA9V) the paint on my car seems to have a flake in it, I've long suspected that my car had been resprayed in a slightly different black, think it's called something like black pearl.
Next went to tackle tidying up the replacement wing. It had some more gunky sticky stuff on the arch and where the (missing) side trim bit goes.
Why don't I learn to leave things alone, removing the sticky gunk ended up taking a portion of the top coat as well, so set about the patches, and other areas of the arch with some wet and dry, followed by a dusting of primer.
Am planning now on flatting the whole wing and then paint with the car of pearl paint I've now got, but that's another day.
While I was at it tackled the rust on the slam panel, and then some more primer, any idea what colour black the slam panel's usually painted, doesn't appear to be final paint code, just some sort of black?
Once it was all dry put the wing back on, refitted the wheel arch liner, it's in a terrible state, looks like it's been cut up where it should attach to the top of the wing.
Then happy joy with the arch, again looks like the vented wing has struck back, one of the screw fittings is in a different location, and that location happens to have been cut out of the arch, going to have to look for a nice big washer to get it back together until I can get the arch replaced (and probably a few sticky adhesive pads.
Slam panel went back on no problems, when I went to do the bumper I noticed that the 'clip' that goes over the oval thing on the wing to hold the bumper up has broken at the top, so going to need a new one of those as well. Anyone know if they are symmetrical (can I just turn it upside down)?
The grille I picked up (and am sure I checked the clips) has broken clips
will do for now though, had also hoped to sway the silver vw badge for a black one out of another grille I have, but turns out they have different fittings.
Finally everything back to together (sort of) shut it down for the night, but oh dear bonnet catch doesn't hold it down, will have to look into that one.
So at the end of the day things are looking better but car not ready for the road yet, still to be done:
Finish respray of wing and slam panel.
Work out how to secure the arch, and the bumper to the wing
Sort out the bonnet latch (vaguely remember a how to somewhere)
Probably do something different with the grille
Fix the fog lights, for the MOT might just disconnect them, not mot'able anyway.
Well it took me pretty much all day and I'm shattered, am sure some people will be looking at the list and thinking 'well that's just a mornings work' but I've never so much as removed a single car panel before, all new to me, feel good about what I have achieved, still some way till it's back on the road though.
Got some photo's of the dismantling, so will get those uploaded, going to wait for the reassembly part till I've done the respray bits, so it will look much better
