alaincopter's brasil-style AP turbo fox build

[Difus]

Think some 10.1 disc brakes and big calipers would be a great help in a setup like that.

[alaincopter]

Thanks Kevin, real glad to inspire and motivate!! It's certainly very different from the last time you saw it. The biggest difference is not really seen, which is the bottom of the car

Difus, I've actually purchased some 10.1" Scirocco 16v calipers and carriers a couple of months ago (thanks ziddey) and they will be installed in not too long, hopefully thanks for the tip because they really fit this project like a glove

[alaincopter]

Getting ready to paint the main shell. Prepped and primed the door jambs, trunk lid, fuel door and a couple of spots I had stop puttied

[alaincopter]

Well the main shell is painted for now. I really liked the process and the overall result! Learned a lot and the car is shiny.













This is the first time I am painting a car so I did run into a few of the problems you'd expect, including a couple of runs, a couple spots where paint coverage wasn't full, orange peel and a few dust specks, but this car is my school to learn on, and I did learn a lot!

In the future when I repaint things I'll do panel by panel, with LOTS more light; for now though I am happy with it and want to drive it!

More pics

Nevermind the dust in the engine bay and trunk!







Front was first rocker guarded like the original



Runs:





No runs on driver's side though

[Road Boss]

Two !

[alankerscher]

Congratulations, your car is beautiful and becoming like our "square" in Brazil. I am very happy to see that the cars that we love around here are also well regarded abroad. Good luck friend.

[efritsch]

They're only well regarded by a limited few up here.

Good job on the paint. At least the run is on the front fender. That can be pulled and painted in its own. Wanna do my Passat next?

[Difus]

Almost forgot. Where did you found the cloth? I know it's something like nun's ears, but I still trying find the 1994 GTS cloth, the chess one.

[Mean 'n Green86]

the new color is awesome!!!

[foxygrandpa]

I am so impressed! I wish I was a mechanical genius like you. From body work, to painting, to disassembling and reassembling the whole engine.

Thumbs up!!! Excited to see finished product.
You should also upload video

[ziddey]

Oh my god that is so good

[QuantumSyncro]

Is that metalic or solid color? If it's solid you might be able to sand out some of the blems with 1500 grit paper or color sand the whole car to get that mirror look! If it's metalic you could also sand lightly and then clear over that and then sand out the blemishes. I've had a couple cars I've been able to do that to.

Looks beautiful though!

steve

[vwturbofox]

looking gooooooooood my turbo is still biger

[reddfoxx]

Wow, looks great!

[alaincopter]

Thanks for the comments and the tips everyone!!

efritsch - I'll paint your passat if you promise to finish the Wagon

Difus - I got the cloth from JB Tecidos, not sure if they would have the one you're looking for but it's a good place to start the search

QuantumSyncro - thanks for the tips! It is metallic, bc/cc, will definitely have to do some sanding and re-clear certain areas, but looking at it in the sun today I noticed base didn't cover fully in quite a few places so will have to do some of it over again... it's ok though live and learn.

foxygrandpa - thanks for the comments, I am still a learner though! just very hands-on learning, I guess! This car has been a great school to learn on and at least it's not too expensive to make some mistakes on it

Thanks Road Boss, Mean 'n Green86, ziddey, turbofox and reddfoxx!!




I haven't done any more painting for now, but hopefully will have time to do some soon - for now I've been busy putting some stuff back together, and getting the new engine ready, in and running:

[myboxyfox]

Looks amazing! So is that motor running now?

Love the color btw.... You're really getting there!! What a transformation

Let me know when you drive through Toronto!!

[redone17]

Alain - it was so great to meet you and check out your project in person. A truly inspiring example of a Fox done right. This thing is going to be awesome when it's done - I hope to see the Fox and yourself visit NY at one point

Thanks for the hospitality, build tips, t-connector, etc.

[alaincopter]

John: Thank you! The motor is running - it starts right up but it's got a rough idle due to my injectors (I have newer ones coming). The current ones are so bad that when testing them, if I press down on the air plate just a little bit (trying to recreate an idling situation) only one injector sprays in a nice pattern; two don't spray at all and one sprays in pulses. They are not bad at part to full throttle though, and I could tell so in a couple of test drives around the block

Still gotta put those radiator surround pieces that Rob gave me, that will be a nice addition!

Chris: Thanks for coming by! It was great to meet you as well and talk some Fox; thanks for the gifts and for the ride in the Wagon - it drives SO nice! I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Montreal, the concert and the vw show/camping on your way back, you're welcome to stop by again anytime in the future and I'll be sure to visit next time I drive this Fox to your neighborhood!


Looking at the pictures above I realised it's missing one of the engine compartment all put back together, so I took one last night:

[kerensky]

Very tasty work there!

[reddfoxx]

Awesome!

[1993vw fox]

Very nice build

[vwturbofox]

hey alain i was just thinking you live in canada and i live in washington and we both have turbo fox's we should see who is the faster fox just for fun unless you scared[IMG][/IMG]

[alaincopter]

Thanks for the comments, folks! Hopefully I'll have some updates soon

vwturbofox, I'm on the other side of Canada, way way far from where you are but feel free to compare timeslips when we both have them. Our cars are built for different purposes though, I'm not going for "fastest fox" status, but rather a near OEM+ Fox that's fast enough to be fun but still passes emissions and can do 30mpg on a trip

[vwturbofox]

Thanks for the comments, folks! Hopefully I'll have some updates soon

vwturbofox, I'm on the other side of Canada, way way far from where you are but feel free to compare timeslips when we both have them. Our cars are built for different purposes though, I'm not going for "fastest fox" status, but rather a near OEM+ Fox that's fast enough to be fun but still passes emissions and can do 30mpg on a trip

yeah mine can't pass emissions, no cat, no muffler, but i still get great gas mpg about 30 if i don't flore it. im hoping to run in the 12s in the 1/4
good luck on the build

[2 diesel cars]

Love the paint job. Hate u lol

Compare the pics of your engine bay and mine looks like a bomb went off in my diesel fox !

When I have the time the pump is etting turned up just installed new springs and speakers in the jox
Junkie fox

Love the work Alan really I do. Jeeps and foxes can u ask for anything beter

[alaincopter]

Thanks things are really fitting together and this is definitely the funnest part of the build.

Did a few things lately; repainted the front fenders, painted the bumpers and added the blue striping to match the GTi side trim (rear bumper is still not mounted, just kind of sitting there), also painted the doors, hood and trunk lid. Re-assembled the doors including the vent windows I brought for it, and mounted everything.



















Gotta say most of my time has been spent getting the engine to run right - chasing a mysterious vacuum leak, changing and cleaning injectors, etc...

Turned out what seemed to be a vacuum leak was actually my diverter valve, which stays wide open at idle, and though not a true vacuum leak because everything happens past the air being metered (no extra air is coming in), it was hurting my throttle response big time maybe because one of the ports is connected too close to the air plate on the FD, who knows. Later on I'll fix that issue by adding a pressure switch and a solenoid valve, which will effectively only allow the DV to open when there is positive pressure in the charge tubes before the throttle. I had done this back when I was running a blow-off valve with good results.

The engine is running pretty well now, time to fine tune mixture and timing for boost and emissions. Also going to do all the work to repaint the quarter panels, then mount the rear bumper and enjoy the car a bit

[doppelfaust]

Amazing transformation Alain, I really love your car. I was a big fan of that burnt orange but I am finding I like the blue a lot more than I would expect.

If it wasn't for you and Chris I probably would be posting my car for sale, thanks for keeping me motivated.

[alaincopter]

Steve - glad you won't be selling that beauty! Thanks for the comments! Indeed, the old color was very cool and fitting for a Fox, always a conversation starter too.

I'm really happy with the blue as well, and like that it's getting some positive opinions I still have to take some pics of it in the sun, it shines real nice. At night, it looks almost black.

[the brit]

[redone17]

oh man! Alain - it looks SO nice. I love the trim. Your vision is becoming a reality!

[redone17]

If it wasn't for you and Chris I probably would be posting my car for sale, thanks for keeping me motivated.

Steve, when the time is right maybe I can motivate you to sell it to me

No, seriously - Alain, I keep looking back at your progress - from pshop to reality. A true inspiration.

ps. Your injectors shipped out already

[QuantumSyncro]

I am so jealous of the wing windows.....they would be so nice to have!!

[voxwagen88]

I wish the driving distance was a bit less than 4700 kms.... I'd drop by to see it. And you.
You've got me thinking of throwing a second colour on a wagon.

Hope you get to enjoy driving it soon.
Regan

[alaincopter]

Chris - thanks man, that's exactly it! This plan has come such a long way since it first started, and I love that all this time it remained unchanged. Almost there

Thanks so much with your help with those injectors! Once they come it's finally driving time!

Steve, maybe one of these days in the end of this year or next year I'll be back in Brazil and can begin shipping them up again. Would be a great addition to your clean diesel

Regan, love the look of your wagon too, it was an inspiration back when I was starting my project out. We're far far away but you never know, maybe we'll happen to meet up half way some day or one will be in the other's neck of the woods! Thanks and I hope to enjoy it soon too!

[reddfoxx]

Looks amazing, and glad it's running well. Great job, man! Hope to see it and you again sometime.