scotty2 Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 It started off as a cheap car for my son to get him more interested in driving. His friend had a Lupo Sport that failed it's MOT on emissions despite having a new cat fitted. We offered what the scrap man had and I told my son I'd get it sorted for him... Turns out the engine was burning oil and clapped out. Suspect previous owner had let it run very low on oil. Not going to be a quick fix and I don't have much spare time. Anyhoo, I bought a second hand engine and lined someone up to carry out the exchange. In the meantime a local girl was selling her Lupo 1.0E with a bit of test on it for £200. It was called Henry. In the end Henry needed a heater resistor, EGR valve, window winders, a service, and was put on the road. He even passed another MOT after having a new exhaust. This meant that the other Lupo was neglected as we had one on the road. Eventually, a friend put me in touch with a VW trained mechanic that would swap the engine for us in the Lupo Sport. The work started in October with the old engine coming out. This is where it all goes wrong... While the engine was out I took the opportunity to replace the power steering pipes that were badly corroded and had been picked up on the last MOT. I also cleaned the engine bay and treated the subframe to stop rusting. The brake discs were shot - so were the callipers, pads, and the brake hoses.. and the shock absorbers..and springs...Oh, and while the engine was out it made sense to do the water pump, belts, tensioner, and clutch. I was in so far now I decided to continue to revive the car. My son and his friends decided that as Henry was soon to be retired (and moved on to a new owner I'm pleased to say) and the new improved Lupo re-born, they decided to call the car "King Henry" as it was to be a bigger and better version of the original. Earlier this month King Henry passed an MOT and is on the road. Although it is for my son, I enjoy driving it and it reminds me of a Mini Cooper! Unfortunately, due to some bug going round, his test has been postponed so looks like I'll get to play with it a while longer... I attach a pic of King Henry, and the original Henry. KH is going in for a respray next week and a black roof to reflect the Henry vacuum cleaner! I will also attach the list of parts fitted and there is a competition to see what you think the total comes to for a "cheap" car !! Project Lupo VW Lupo 1.4 S No Item 1 Purchase 2 Set of power steering pipes 3 Engine 4 Brake Hoses 5 Plugs 6 Drive belt 7 Wheels 8 Powder coating and tyres 9 Wheel Bearings (front) 10 Nut Covers 11 Parcel shelf 12 Suspension Kit springs shocks 13 CV joint 14 Brake kit - All parts F+R 15 Clutch 16 Door lock kit 17 MOT 18 Water pump, belt and tensioner kit 19 Callipers (new) 20 Door Straps 21 Labour 22 Respray To be fair I have found parts prices not too bad, and a lot of availability. Funny how there are certain items on the model that are pretty crap on all small VWs. I'm thinking window winders, door locks, door check straps, bonnet release handle and EGR valves. I'll update after the respray. Scotty2. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Penguin Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 After buying a 1.0 litre for my son, I progressively fell for them too, his 2nd one was a 1.4 litre an electric sunroof, then I bought a few spares cars to repair inc another 1 litre that had a front end smash, an Arosa Sport and a 2nd 1.4, the sport had the clutch pedal issue but the Lupo just needed tlc and suited my son when he came back from a year in OZ. In the meantime I bought another 2 Arosa's, a very smelly and smoky sdi and a tdi that needed a gearbox rebuild. Onwards and upwards I bought a Lupo TDI sport with a sunroof, which my wife confiscated. Down to just one now, my Arosa tdi, which as a local car is rust free but now has a quite high mileage, as its been mapped I'll be keeping it until I blow the engine. As cheap motoring there is nothing to match the diesel models 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Authopsy Posted January 22, 2021 Report Share Posted January 22, 2021 Ar first I also felt a little scarce about the car, but when I sat in and had a first drive around the city, I was amazed. Small, but very nice to drive and practial, and also spacious even for it's size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty2 Posted March 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2021 King Henry now painted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty2 Posted January 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 Now had another MOT and my Son has just passed his test and is out enjoying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty2 Posted January 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 Had some difficulty getting it through this years MOT due to emissions. Running rich. The temp gauge reads OK. Is it possible that the sensor is still faulty and is telling the car it is "Cold" and over fuelling when it is actually warm? Sounds smooth when running with no EML. Not smokey either. Any top tips for poor emissions? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigcraft Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 Not from me but I like the full story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno_LP_OU Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 welcome 😃 redddddddddddddddddd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Penguin Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 On 1/21/2021 at 1:47 PM, The Penguin said: After buying a 1.0 litre for my son, I progressively fell for them too, his 2nd one was a 1.4 litre an electric sunroof, then I bought a few spares cars to repair inc another 1 litre that had a front end smash, an Arosa Sport and a 2nd 1.4, the sport had the clutch pedal issue but the Lupo just needed tlc and suited my son when he came back from a year in OZ. In the meantime I bought another 2 Arosa's, a very smelly and smoky sdi and a tdi that needed a gearbox rebuild. Onwards and upwards I bought a Lupo TDI sport with a sunroof, which my wife confiscated. Down to just one now, my Arosa tdi, which as a local car is rust free but now has a quite high mileage, as its been mapped I'll be keeping it until I blow the engine. As cheap motoring there is nothing to match the diesel models Failed its MOT need 2 new front tyres and 1 rear shock but I've ordered 2 always best to do them in pairs, should be legal by Monday 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2 Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 Wear and tear stuff... easy/quick to replace. 👍🏻 Red does look great on a loop. Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Penguin Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 I've always bought black cars by choice, but yes easy repairs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keymaster Posted April 21, 2023 Report Share Posted April 21, 2023 On 1/22/2021 at 6:08 PM, Authopsy said: Ar first I also felt a little scarce about the car, but when I sat in and had a first drive around the city, I was amazed. Small, but very nice to drive and practial, and also spacious even for it's size. This car is far from small. It’s about the same size as a Vw polo 9n. Although it gives the impression that it’s small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Penguin Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 (edited) On 3/24/2023 at 3:50 PM, The Penguin said: Failed its MOT need 2 new front tyres and 1 rear shock but I've ordered 2 always best to do them in pairs, should be legal by Monday Back on the road and compared to my Mini Cooper much faster, but with scary brakes, I still ask where is the improvement if you buy an UP or one of the Skoda or SEAT versions of the UP Edited April 22, 2023 by The Penguin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty2 Posted March 10 Author Report Share Posted March 10 Update: We struggled on emissions again to get an MOT, but scraped through. Advisory on rear brakes so I have done a bit of fettling. Rear cylinder was weeping on one side so I ordered a brake shoe set and fixing kit. When I took the rear hubs off, the bearings came apart so I had to replace the rear hubs too. The cylinder arrived but had only one fixing hole in it which was the wrong side so couldn't be bolted in. A replacement had a hole for both sides so went straight in. I had ordered a full exhaust and cat after last year but hadn't fitted it, and the front wheel bearings needed doing, but I farmed out the work as the exhaust was pretty rusty and my press was out of action. They were renewed when we recommissioned the car but the quality of bearings can be very poor so FAG ones were fitted as advised by our friendly VW friendly specialist. Got the car back and was advised to get the alignment set up as it was out of line. The mystery of the emissions was also solved as the "Cat" had no internals. Nothing. Just a shell of one! Got the alignment done (£50) and the car now drives perfectly. If you ever change the struts or hubs get it checked as it has made a huge difference. Hopefully the MOT next year will have no emissions related malarkey. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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