https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/88gkuB
I just joined Vortex so I figured I'd introduce myself, and my car. The car is an 83 Rabbit GTI. It was recently purchased from Iowa and shipped out to me in CT. The craigslist ad showed that the car was in decent shape, no visible blemishes in the paint or major body damage. So upon arrival I was expecting a pretty good project car. When the car actully showed up, it was covered, and I mean covered in dirt and salt. Its the beginning of February, which means cold and snow up in CT. My first instinct when the car got here was to wash it and see what I'd got, which seems like a good idea until you factor in that its 9:30 at night and probably low 30's for the temperature. Lemme tell you, it wasn't fun. Even worse than the cold was seeing it in the garage the next day, still covered in dirt in some places. Oh no big deal, its daytime out so I'll just roll the car out and finish up the job. Nope, the hose froze rock solid overnight.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/38D0c8
Whatever. Now that it's inside and I have a general idea of what the car needs, its time to order parts. My dad and I, orrtj who you might know if you hang around the Scirocco forums, recently completely rebuilt an 81 Scirocco S. I've been around A1 chassis Vws for most of my life, so I already have a pretty decent understanding of what's what on these things.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/1NkNUu
https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/5925oY
And we wondered why the brakes were so bad.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/Jq370L
The plan of attack on this GTI was to get it to be as good, if not better than it would have been in 1983, which means a complete rebuild of the brakes all around, and then move on to the suspension.
I just joined Vortex so I figured I'd introduce myself, and my car. The car is an 83 Rabbit GTI. It was recently purchased from Iowa and shipped out to me in CT. The craigslist ad showed that the car was in decent shape, no visible blemishes in the paint or major body damage. So upon arrival I was expecting a pretty good project car. When the car actully showed up, it was covered, and I mean covered in dirt and salt. Its the beginning of February, which means cold and snow up in CT. My first instinct when the car got here was to wash it and see what I'd got, which seems like a good idea until you factor in that its 9:30 at night and probably low 30's for the temperature. Lemme tell you, it wasn't fun. Even worse than the cold was seeing it in the garage the next day, still covered in dirt in some places. Oh no big deal, its daytime out so I'll just roll the car out and finish up the job. Nope, the hose froze rock solid overnight.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/38D0c8
Whatever. Now that it's inside and I have a general idea of what the car needs, its time to order parts. My dad and I, orrtj who you might know if you hang around the Scirocco forums, recently completely rebuilt an 81 Scirocco S. I've been around A1 chassis Vws for most of my life, so I already have a pretty decent understanding of what's what on these things.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/1NkNUu
https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/5925oY
And we wondered why the brakes were so bad.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/169416243@N04/shares/Jq370L
The plan of attack on this GTI was to get it to be as good, if not better than it would have been in 1983, which means a complete rebuild of the brakes all around, and then move on to the suspension.