Let's get nekkid

Started off the weekend by stripping the GTI decals off the sides of the GTI. I used this 3M vinyl removal Stripe off wheel worked like a charm. I got it from a buddy who used half of it on his truck. Brilliant little tool.

This is the drivers side. Didn't do the front fender as it's coming off anyway. My helper managed to squeeze in the pic too.


Passenger side. Both sides took maybe 20 minutes in total.


Oh and here's the shift knob...

Doing it again...

My ability to keep up with a blog seems to be none.

Not much to report. Took the race car down to Woodburn to show at Pacific Waterlands. I didn't win but no surprise there.

Picked up a few needed parts at the swap meet for next to nothing; golf ball shift knob, ash tray, center console, and sun visors.

Things are coming together outside of the body work and the strut caps i need in the rear for 2.5 inch springs.

DEQ - Passed With Flying Colors

The best part of passing DEQ with a 26 year old car is the look on the tech's face. Got the VIN check done as well so now it's title transfer and tags time. That should be the easy part.

Going to try and drop it off at the body shop early next week. I have to travel Wed - Fri so that'd be an ideal time for them to get some work done.

Back on all fours

No pics today and just a small update. Got the GTI back on all four wheels and drivable. Fixed up the rear suspension and now it doesn't drift all over the road either.

Gotta get it over to the body shop to have them check out the front end. Once I get some direction there I'll start making more progress.

This weekend is the Rose City Bug In. I'll be taking the race car out there and hanging out looking at all the cool air cooled cars.

Bumper Off, Now What...

Finally...

Now what do I do? The damage is about what I expected. I guess it's off to the body shop to see what they think. I'd rather not swap the whole core support but if it has to be done it has to be done.

Oh messed with the rear suspension tonight as well. What a f-ing mess. The previous owner complete messed up the assembly and it's basically garbage. I managed to get it off and assemble it correctly but I need a spring compressor to get everything back in place.

And found a gas leak. Looks pretty small but something that will have to be addressed eventually.

Don't expect updates this often in the future. I just happened to have some time this week. Kids went to bed on time.

Bumpers, do you really have to be this much of a PITA

I've been trying to get this bolt off for about a week. Granted not 8 hours a day or anything but each night I go out to the car and work on whatever I always end up back at this bolt. It may not look like much but there is only an inch or less of space to get to that sucker. That rules out any kind of socket. Then the lip on the frame rail sticks out and pushes wrenches to the very end of the bolt. So frustrating. Tonight I explored removing the alternator but that's an even bigger cluster. Guess I need more tools. Off to Sears tomorrow.

On a brighter note my rear springs came in the mail today. Hooray! If you need suspension help no matter what you drive talk to the guys at Ground Control (http://www.ground-control-store.com). Super helpful and I ordered these things on Monday, here it is Wednesday and viola. Now if I only had more time.

And we begin again...and again...and again

I've come to the realization that I change my mind a lot. I like cars. I like having cars. I like having projects. If I get bored or find another shiny object I'll switch gears and start in on something else.

Right now I have two older rabbits. A '78 that is pretty much just a dedicated track car at this point. It's the blue one. Then a couple weeks ago an '84 GTI caught my eye in up in Seattle. Got up early on Sunday flew up, bought it and drove it back. It's the white one.




The '78 is really done. I can take it to the track and hammer on it all day long and then drive it home. It's really loud and has only the drivers seat so it's impractical for taking my kids or wife for a ride. That's where the '84 comes in. I wanted something I could pile at least one kid in and cruise around on the weekends.

The '84 needs some work hence it's current condition. I'll get it prepped but the body work guys have some work ahead of them. Mechanically it's solid, heck drove it 170 miles on it's first trip and it didn't give me any guff.


So I think now this space will become a progress report on the '84. It doesn't need much. As they say with old MK1s "nothing major ever breaks but nothing minor ever works".

With that here's where I'll be starting:

• New DS fender and hood
• Straighten out the core support
• New suspension - I've got it just need to put it on
• New grill
• Drivers seat needs a little upholstery work
• Bit of rust repair on the rear valance
• Powder coat the bumpers
• Clean the engine bay
• New taillights
  
• Good buffing and waxing

I'm sure there's more and well this is where you'll learn about it (if you are into that kind of thing).