Build Thread: Victoria, my 1990 Jetta GLI

[Volkswageneer1990]

So this is my first car () A 1990 Jetta GLI 16V!

Specs:
Milage: Around 155,000? The odometer stopped working at about 115,XXX miles.
Engine Code: 9A
Transmission Code: 2Y
Color Code: LY3D (Tornado Red)
Interior: Recaro Grey Fabric 8/10
Build Date: 7/90

A little history of how it got to be my first car:
We bought it from rompin'rabbit here on the vortex who had it for 13 years and his daughters just had no more interest in it. We paid $2,300 for it and we have no complaints so far.
Here is what the PO said about it:

I bought the car with 83k 13 years ago. The odometer broke at 115k. It was a family car for the first 5 years, but my wife comuted in a 84 gti (our rompin' rabbit) and I worked out of an 81 vw pick up that I still have. Th GLI has been a second car since 2002. In 2009 I had to use it a lot and filled the tank 2 to 3 times per month. It has hardly been driven since March and what a shame since it is such a nice car to drive and it gets 28 to 30 mpg. The lowered and firmer suspension with the upper strut tie bar made it really handle like a sportscar but still comfortable. I use a small self inflating lumbar pillow to make those Recaros really comfy. I would sell the truck instead but I need it for work.

The head is not original but this one (same type 16v) has been on for 15k and the mileage on the odometer on the wreck it came from was 120k. The original head had a freak break between two adjoining valves. The 5 speed had to be replaced with a used one when my disabled wife jammed it into reverse without the clutch. I heard the gear teeth being ripped off . The salvage yard from across the country said the wreck for the doner tranny had something less than 60K (i don't remember) for whatever that is worth.

Well me and my dad went up to Richmond, VA to get it last October and we drove it the entire 1400+ miles trip back. Somehow we managed to make it back all in one piece.

Here is how it was when we first bought it:

[vdub4lyf]

NICE!! I'll give you $2500 if you ship it to Hawaii.

[der hauptmann]

Looks great. Keep it clean!

[vastxpunk]

Looks like parts of it were resprayed, kind of hard to tell which parts exactly. That d/s shot shows those front doors being very different colors. Did you get a really good price on it? Carfax show any accidents?

[Volkswageneer1990]

Now let it be known that I am only 16, and I have no idea about doing the mechanics of the engine, but I have got A LOT of time to figure that out, so i'm in no rush.

Here are pictures of the drive back to Garland, TX:
Picking it up

Gas Station outside of richmond

Outside of the halfway point hotel


Nashville





In a Gas Station exiting 635 in Dallas



How it sits right now.

[Volkswageneer1990]

Looks like parts of it were resprayed, kind of hard to tell which parts exactly. That d/s shot shows those front doors being very different colors. Did you get a really good price on it? Carfax show any accidents?

I mean $1 per pound is what he sold it for. I find that a good price

Looks great. Keep it clean!

Will do!

NICE!! I'll give you $2500 if you ship it to Hawaii.

Hahaha Thanks but no thanks, i'm not letting go of her till im like 20 or something

[Volkswageneer1990]

Ok, so here is the work that we have done so far.

A/C Switch Installed, CEL Switch installed, CEL-Seabelt-(!)BRAKE Dash Light Installed and made functioning (Thanks to VDub2625)



Walmart Floormats


New E-Brake Boot


New Inner Mirror Triangles



New AKTIV Grilles and 4" Kenwoods under it.



------ Kenwood Installation:









My Dad's old gorrila that he had in his first car: a Mk2 Base Model Golf

His name is Hugo

New rear mirror switch


#29 Door Chime Relay


Smoked no-name tailights

[Volkswageneer1990]

The most recent work done: Cleaning the interior carpet, Regreasing the Recaro tracks, Console, Shift boot, and Armour Allling the Dash

[Volkswageneer1990]

All I got so far. Enjoy

[Volkswageneer1990]

Ok, so all this little meanial work may be boring but really its all I can do right now....

My dad says I'm a "bit" obsessed and he's probably right....

Anyway, here's all the work I've done since February, the last time I bumped the thread

Put B-Pillar seatbelts on the car



Got a NOS Jetta_GLI and 16V badge from Amir




Then I changed the rest of the speakers in the car
Dash:


Rear shelf speakers put into OEM holders with a BUNCH of sanding and cutting...


Took it apart


After a bunch of cutting and sanding



Test Fit!



Then I put new fabric in the covers for the dash and rear shelf




Finished Project!




Mounted

[Volkswageneer1990]

Then more stuff...........

Took the dash apart to get to the radio wires to cut into them for the Kenwood amplifier. With the amplifier I have a FULL kenwood set-up in the car. Minus the subwoofer that I don't have yet...













Then got a gas pedal rubber from across the pond

[Volkswageneer1990]

Then I got to work on my fog lights
So I took apart the dash again



Put in the fog light switch harness that I got from Germany that came WITH the heated side mirror plug
(Sorry no pictures of it)

Then went to go look for the plug for the fog light harness that after searching and greasy cut up hands I found it close to the firewall. Then plugged this in:



Took apart the front end to mount the fogs:







Put everything back together turned them on and bam!
She felt a little photogenic

[black gti]

great photo

[Pedmaster]

Really nicely done man, keep it up and when you can drive it you're going to have a really solid example

[Run_That]

I am jealous of the steering wheel insert. I have always wanted one of those.

I also like the way you did the speaker installs, pretty OEM looking.

[swiggyswifter]

looking good man, keep it up

[Volkswageneer1990]

great photo

Thanks, I love my camera

Really nicely done man, keep it up and when you can drive it you're going to have a really solid example

Will do

I am jealous of the steering wheel insert. I have always wanted one of those.

I also like the way you did the speaker installs, pretty OEM looking.

I have one for sale, look at my started threads list. It's not for the same steering wheel as I have but it is for a steering wheels found on some Jettas and Golfs.

Thanks, it took me about a week to do it because of school and everything.

looking good man, keep it up

Thanks

So right now I am thinking of doing little maintenance things that I am capable of doing in my garage
Any tips on what to do first that wouldn't be too hard?

[CodeMan]

Nice, I love what you did with the rear speakers.

[Volkswageneer1990]

I went to the junkyards today and picked up a bunch of new things

Like:

Leather Shift Knob and Boot
Passenger and Drivers Map Pockets (mine were broken and hanging out)
A/C Faceplate
Cigarette Lighter (mine didn't have the cig picture)
Glovebox Light bulb

I am going back tomorrow morning to pick up these things

New CE2 Cluster (my odometer broke an I'm going to replace it)
Drivers Front Flare
Whatever else I feel like taking and hiding in my bag to get for free

And a COMPLETE WESTY front end setup!!!
The only thing is that the grille is cracked
I think the westmoreland Golf is a rare color too....LB3V? Titan Red Metallic according to A2 Resource

[steveo27]

its REALLY nice to see someone from the next generation enjoying these cars and NOT doing dumb **** to them like most of the kids are nowadays. its really nice not seeing plaid or argyle or sportmaxxxzz

to you sir

[Volkswageneer1990]

its REALLY nice to see someone from the next generation enjoying these cars and NOT doing dumb **** to them like most of the kids are nowadays. its really nice not seeing plaid or argyle or sportmaxxxzz

to you sir

That means a lot, thanks. I am really going after the OEM+ look. Not going to change the interior to drastically, just refurbish it I guess, and I'm going to stay with my 16V engine, because frankly I don't see the need for another one.

I am looking to either get some OEM BBS RMs found on same year GTI and putting a little bit of a bigger lip to make them look bigger than they actaully are.

Either that or some reproduction Enkei 92s. But I'm torn between Silver or Gold....

[steveo27]

doin it the right way

[mullenite]

Car looks good, I like what you did for the front speakers.

Whenever I see the name Victoria I immediately think of this song: http://www.mtviggy.com/video/music-v...ghost-victoria

Your car has a theme song, to me at least.

[Volkswageneer1990]

Car looks good, I like what you did for the front speakers.

Whenever I see the name Victoria I immediately think of this song: http://www.mtviggy.com/video/music-v...ghost-victoria

Your car has a theme song, to me at least.

Thanks

Ahahaha I like that song It's the first time I hear it, so it's official:

Victoria (my car) has a theme song:

Victoria by The Jukebox Ghost

Thanks

[cdiddydo]

hey man nice car, nice work so far on the little things! jelous of your fogs i want some so bad.

that paint should come up mine did on my gtx.

cheers to another nice t-red gli

[devils-design]

Looks great

[Deuce34]

fantastic work!

[Volkswageneer1990]

hey man nice car, nice work so far on the little things! jelous of your fogs i want some so bad.

that paint should come up mine did on my gtx.

cheers to another nice t-red gli

Thanks, Thanks, yeah the fogs set me back a little bit money wise but I can't complain! I like them!

Looks great

fantastic work!

Thanks guys, that means a lot! I'm going to go out and install some things I picked up at the junkyards.

Stay posted I'll put some pictures tonight of what I do

[strangerhacks]

This is awesome, I like this build

[Volkswageneer1990]

This is awesome, I like this build

Thanks

Well ok. Here's a little update with A LOT of pictures

Armoralled the trunk lining, the map pockets, and the driver's door side molding. They all looked 100x better when I did it. If I don't say so myself





Then I took the old Map Pockets out and compared them:
Passenger:



Driver:



Then I mounted them:
Passenger:



Driver:



They were both sagging so I found it fitting to fix them.

Then I put the trunk liner thingy:


Then I moved on to the drivers front side molding. It was missing two of the tabs so it was poking out and the 3M double sided tape wasn't even working....

Comparison:


GLI Badge in the new one:


The brand new OEM tabs and grommets I bought from a friend in the U.K. who has all the best VW parts BRAND NEW. I love him. (no homo)


Needless to say because of the new tabs and grommets the thing went right in so smoothly and is perfect.


The only thing is that it's too shiny compared to the other ones. So ima have to go out tomorrow and armorall the others.

That's all I got tonight.

But tomorrow I will upload pictures of the side moldings blackened again.

Night everyone

[steveo27]

[Volkswageneer1990]

Thanks Steve

Ok so I haven't yet blackened my side moldings but I got to thinking about rims...

I realized that new rims are outa the budget, even though I want some BBS RS's that another vortexer is selling for $1,700 They are painted in Mexico Beige and they are pure beauty.

So I thought about re-doing my RA's in a couple ways.

1. Just refurbish them and keep them in the stock matte silver color

2. Refurbish all of it but paint the mesh stock matte silver and chrome the lip

3. Refurbish all of it but paint the mesh body color Tornado Red and chrome the lip.

I went into photoshop to see option 3, and I kinda like it?

Imagine it with a chrome lip though.


Any thoughts anybody? Tips? Advice? Opinions?

[ratdub]

i'm not feeling the red ra's...i like the stock silver look of them on any color mk2...

[Mean 'n Green86]

car looks great!

[steveo27]

polished lip & charcoal greyish centers