Professional Restoration 

of

HMJ761V

USING

GENUINE PARTS

HMJ 761V was built on the 27th June 1979 and first registered on the 8th August the same year. It is believed that this particular car was one of the first to be brought into the U.K. in factory RHD specification and would have qualified for a 'T' registration suffix had it not been for the first owner insisting on having the new registration letter.

This car has had three women owners and subsequently was never crashed or thrashed and with only 88,000 genuine miles recorded it came with a comprehensive service history. The overall standard of the vehicle made a very good foundation for what turned out to be a comprehensive and extremely costly restoration project. 

Specific parts for the pre 1980 GTI are hard to locate.

Work included every exterior panel, but not the roof, being replaced with brand new items. A genuine windscreen frame/scuttle panel (part no: 171 817 115) was purchased – but not required. All suspension components were dismantled, shot-blasted and repainted.

Extensive repairs were made to the rear suspension mounting points and repair panels were used for the front inner wings. New VAG inner rear arches were fitted. All exterior trim, suspension, decals, running gear and tyres were renewed. The car is now fitted with the optional alloy road wheel available for the 4-speed version in 1979. A manual compression test revealed the EG engine was in excellent internal condition but nevertheless had all of its ancillaries replaced including a complete Bosch fuel injection system and factory spec cooling system. The gearbox was rebuilt by Central Axles in Birmingham. The original seats were reupholstered in black leather and new carpet/soundproofing fitted. The majority of parts used were genuine VAG. 

All panel work was carried out to the highest standards. All welds were seam finished. The body was painted with PPG Autofinish paint, the shell and underside were then thoroughly wax-injected. 

Although the car has covered a thousand incident free dry weather miles since the rebuild and had a recent overhaul in 2004 – it is unlikely to return to the road in the near future.

Complete details of restoration, listed below.

Initial strip down revealed - spare seat used.

Rear panel and rear suspension removed.

Rear quarter panels cut away and new inner rear arches fitted (both sides.)

Front inner wing repair panels.

Front apron cut away.

New inner rear arches (both sides.)

New back end.

Engine removed.

Vehicle ready for front suspension strip down and underbody painting.

Inside of new front wings (underside/wheel arches) coated with 3M sealant - then painted.

Underside becoming VERY clean.

All new front apron/inner front wings.

Off to the paint shop.

 

Rebuilt 4-speed gearbox.

 

All new rubber boots etc.

New fuel pipes.

All new suspension and tyres.

A small selection of new parts.

Fitting up.

Restoration of HMJ 761V

(Started: August  1995 - Completed: February 1996)

All work professionally undertaken.

• Remove rear hatch

• Remove o/s & n/s doors

• Remove bonnet

• Remove o/s & n/s front wings

• Remove o/s & n/s rear quarter panels

• Remove front apron

• Remove upper & lower rear valance

• Remove all interior trim (excluding dashboard)

• Remove all exterior trim

• Remove road wheels and rear suspension/brake set-up

• Remove engine and gearbox (lower from chassis)

• Remove brake/fuel pipes and cooling system

• Remove exhaust and ancillary brackets

• Remove steering rack and front suspension/brake set-up

• Remove all glass

• Remove fuel tank and wash out

• Cut away inner rear arches (both sides)

• Cut away corrosion on inner front wings (both sides)

• Check condition of remaining body-shell

• Repair minor corrosion to both sills

• Weld in repair panels to both inner front wings

• Weld in and seal both new inner rear wheel arches

• Examine / clean underbody

• Repaint underbody / wheel arches and apply thick VAG sticky underseal

• Apply anti chip protection to both sills (3M)

• Weld in and trim new rear quarter panels (both sides)

• Weld in new lower and upper rear valance

• Temporary fit both doors and check for alignment issues

• Weld in new front apron (VAG)

• Temporary fit new front wings and check for alignment issues

• Prepare interior for repaint

• Repaint and apply thick VAG sticky underseal to inner front wings

• Repaint and apply thick VAG sticky underseal to inside of front wings

• Position and drill radio aerial hole to n/s front wing

• Repair and re-weld rear suspension mounting points

• Repair and re-weld clutch cable/bulkhead aperture

• Fit and align both new doors (VAG)

• Fit and align both front wings

• Rub down entire body-shell and apply primer

• Transport vehicle to specialist body shop

• Re enamel body-shell in PPG autofinish paint (black)

• Re paint wiper arms (3)

• Transport vehicle back to main garage

• Supply and fit new fuel pipes (VAG)

• Supply and fit new brake pipes (VAG)

• Refit suspension subframes

• Supply and fit standard spec road springs (BOGE)

• Supply and fit standard spec shock absorbers (BOGE)

• Supply and fit standard spec front brake discs

• Fit restored brake disc callipers

• Supply and fit new wheel bearings (VAG)

• Supply and fit new rear brake drums (VAG)

• Supply and fit new front brake pads

• Pressure wash engine

• Rebuild original 4-speed gear box

• Refit engine

• Supply and fit new cambelt (VAG)

• Supply and fit all new braided fuel lines (BOSCH)

• Supply and fit 4 new Bosch fuel injectors

• Supply and fit new Bosch metering head (VAG)

• Supply and fit new engine breathing apparatus (VAG)

• Supply and fit new distributor (TSR - POINTS DISTRIBUTOR)

• Supply and fit new alternator (VAG)

• Fit supplied new cold start injector (BOSCH)

• Fit supplied warm-up regulator (VAG)

• Fit supplied fuel pump (VAG)

• Supply and fit new fuel pump bracket and absorber (VAG)

• Supply and fit new water pump (VAG)

• Supply and fit new clutch OEM

• Fit supplied battery (VAG)

• Supply and fit radiator (VALEO)

• Supply and fit new thermostat (VAG)

• Supply and fit new engine gaskets (all VAG)

• Supply and fit clutch cable (VAG)

• Supply and fit throttle cable (VAG)

• Supply and fit new engine mounts x2 (VAG)

• Supply and fit gearbox mount x2 (VAG)

• Supply and fit suspension bushes (VAG)

• Fully lubricate original driveshafts

• Supply and fit new driveshaft boots

• Supply and fit new earth cable

• Supply and fit remaining rubber boots/covers (VAG)

• Supply and fit new HT leads (VAG)

• Fit supplied front wheel arch protectors (not original equipment) (VAG)

• Supply and fit engine bay rubber trim (bulkhead) (VAG)

• Fit supplied front GTI grille (VAG)

• Fit supplied new headlights (HELLA)

• Fit supplied new GTI front spoiler (VAG)

• Fit supplied new exterior badges (VAG)

• Fit supplied new door mirrors (VAG)

• Fit supplied radio aerial (BOSCH)

• Fit supplied rear light clusters (VAG)

• Fit supplied front & rear bumpers (VAG)

• Supply and fit new standard spec exhaust (VAG)

• Fit reconditioned wiper motor

• Fit all remaining exterior trim

• Apply genuine decals to bodywork (VAG)

• Fit supplied new soundproofing (VAG)

• Fit supplied additional soundproofing (BJ ACOUSTICS)

• Fit supplied carpet (BJ ACOUSTICS)

• Supply and fit three new wiper blades (BOSCH)

• Fit supplied new door plastic membranes x2 (VAG)

• Refit all interior trim

• Fit supplied complete set of new rubber seals (VAG)

• Supply and fit new windscreen (AUTOGLASS)

• Refit original glass

• Fit supplied new handbrake (VAG)

• Check fuses and fit new fuel pump relay (VAG)

• Supply and fit new fuel tank sender unit and seal (VAG)

• Supply and fit new stainless steel fuel filler neck

• Refit original seats and rear parcel shelf

• Fit restored alloy wheels with new Uniroyal tyres

• Supply and fit all new remaining service items

• Bosch tune engine

• Refill with new engine oil before using flushing agent

• Drain off engine oil and refill

• Check for fluid leakage

• Road test vehicle and rectify snag list

• Add flushing agent to engine oil (FORTE)

• Drain off engine oil and renew (CASTROL)

• Fit new oil filter (VAG)

• Fit new fuel filter (BOSCH)

• Fit new fuel accumulator and associated pipes (BOSCH)

• Fit new air filter (VAG)

• Fit new spark plugs

• Fit new HT leads (VAG)

• Drain off coolant and renew

• Clean all brake apparatus

• Check pipes/hoses and all connections

• Renew brake fluid

• Remove fuel tank and clean

• Fit new cambelt (OPTIBELT)

• Fit new rocker cover gasket (VAG)

• Remove sump pan and clean

• Fit new sump pan gasket (rubber) (VAG)

• Lubricate required areas

• Bosch tune engine

• Road test vehicle

• Carry out MOT test

*VAG = genuine Volkswagen/Audi dealer sourced parts.

Full inventory and costing of restoration.