The Return of King Henry

[scotty2]

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.

 

[The Penguin]

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 

[Authopsy]

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.

[scotty2]

King Henry now painted.

 

[scotty2]

Now had another MOT and my Son has just passed his test and is out enjoying it.

[scotty2]

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? 

[tigcraft]

Not from me but I like the full story! 

[Bruno_LP_OU]

 welcome 😃 redddddddddddddddddd

[The Penguin]

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

[mk2]

Wear and tear stuff... easy/quick to replace. 👍🏻

Red does look great on a loop. Nice.

 

[The Penguin]

I've always bought black cars by choice, but yes easy repairs

[Keymaster]

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. 

[The Penguin]

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

[scotty2]

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.