Identifying A 309 Gti

[Anthony 1,003]

Quick question here, but how do you tell a 309 GTi apart from lesser models?

 

Found a couple of 309 GTi's in the local scrappy which I'm going to have both rear beams and possibly front suspension off tomorrow, but I need to be sure that they are in fact GTi rear beams and therefore an upgrade for the standard 205 1.9 GTi rear beam

• Both cars have got D6B engines (XU9JA) in them with yellow injectors, which means that they are the same 128hp 1.9 engine as in the 205 GTi 1.9
  
• At least one of the cars had rear disk brakes (couldn't see the other one very easily) similar to the 205 GTi 1.9
  
• One was badged "309 GTi" and one had the badges removed
  
• Both cars had a similar red and black interior to the Phase 2 205 GTi 1.9's (except this one was not half-leather)
  
• Both cars had a later style 309 rear spoiler and plastic bodykit trim
  
• Odd thing was that neither of them had the 309 GTi bumper/valance with the twin fog/driving lamps, instead featuring what I believe is a 309 SRi bumper with just single lamps sticking out 205 GTi/XS/DTurbo stylee
  

Are these both likely to be pukka 309 GTi's, or is there something else I need to check to confirm (part of the VIN plate or something?)

 

Also, is there an easy way to tell between Phase 1 and Phase 2 309 GTi's?

• Both cars were H reg (so 1990/1991)
  
• Both had BE3 type gearboxes
  
• Both had power steering
  
• Both had inlet-mounted coils
  
• Both had the 205 Phase 1 style coolant expansion tanks
  
• Both had the later style 309 rear spoiler (the plastic E36 M3 style one, rather than the rubbery-looking XR3i style one)
  
• Both had black dashboards and black/red seats
  
• Both had grey looking exterior trim
  

I would have thought that means they are Phase 2's, but the early style (for a 205 anyway) expansion tank and grey exterior trim confused me and made me wonder if this is one of the usual Phase1-2 changeover parts bin specials.

 

Need to know to see if it's worth having the front ARB's off them, which are stiffer that the 205 GTi on the 309 Phase 1's but not on the 309 Phase 2's I believe.

Edited January 5, 2004 by Anthony

[Guest Pete]

All 309 GTi's had rear disk beams. They've probs got the wrong bumpers on because they've crashed before and couldn't find the GTi bumper.

 

GTi's are the only ones with the large bump strips and holes through the doors. Where abouts are these cars?

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

As pete has said all the GTi's had disc's on the back so you should be OK on that front, I think ABS was available on the lesser models so this would also gain the disc back end not sure on the spec thou, But just check the Dia of the T/B's.

[Anthony 1,003]

Sorry, should have mentioned that neither of them had ABS.

 

What diameter should the rear torsion bars and ARB be on a genuine 309 GTi rear beam, and how do these compare to a 205 GTi beam? I seem to remember that it was something like 19mm for the 205 bars and 20mm for the 309 ones - is that correct?

 

Am I also correct in thinking that you cannot use 309 GTi torsion bars and/or ARB on a 205 beam due to the difference in length?

Edited January 5, 2004 by Anthony

[Anthony 1,003]

One of the rear beams was siezed and showing excess negative camber, so I assume that beam is essentially scrap. The other beam is good, and is now sat in my garage awaiting rebuilding

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

The 309 GTi should have the same front subframe as the 205 GTi where the SRi that I used to have had the normal style where the ARB mounts to the wishbone as a brace due to the single inner pivot but the later phase2 GRi might have the same set up as the GTi.

 

The discs will be girling like the 205 but again the SRi had solid front discs but that might have changed with the GRi.

 

Judging from the parts CD the torsion bars & arb should be 20mm on the rear beam, I know (because I've just checked) that the torsion bars & ARB are bigger than any of the 205 1.6 beams I have in the celler & a 19mm spanner won't fit over them. They won't fit the 205 beam because they are wider by at least 50mm.

 

Happy beam rebuilding.

 

Graham.

[Fearon 1]

Bumpstrips, look to see if they ahve beeen stuck on or not...

 

there will be holes behind them if its a GTi