Hello everyone. New project. Got my wife an 85 cabby for Xmas.

[RVAE34]

Thanks for the info everyone!!! Got the rear in just a few minutes ago. Amazed how low these things can go!!! The rear is only down 1/2 and the front is down about 3/4. I think this stance looks good and will probably ride pretty well also.

[Spokane Pepe]

This might not matter but ill say it anyways, hell you might be aware of it as well. The car is going to set a bit lower once you put it all back together, so you might need to adjust the coils a bit more after she is all done.

On a positive note this ride is looking sweeter each update. I hope (fingers crossed) that my paint will come out even 1/2 as good as you did. Great work man. !!

Did you paint the B pillar covers?

[RVAE34]

Good point. And with a few bodies in there it will come down even more... Although they don't give much so I will just have to play with it a bit.

I painted the B pillar covers with Sikkens Rally black. It's a durable satin black.

[RVAE34]

A few more photos. Tonight I bolted the passenger fender on, painted the grill, mounted the B pillars and seals and installed the lock and push button on the trunk.

[tinker6468]

Nice job as noted before, yours is the inspiration for me to get out in the garage and keep working. I should be shooting paint by March if not sooner. Great car, how excited is the wife?

[RVAE34]

She is getting more and more excited as it gets closer to being a real car

[RVAE34]

Probably a stupid question but how the heck do I mount a license plate in the rear? I have been unable to find a license plate bracket that seems to be missing without having to buy the whole wide black filler piece.

[dublenz]

Are you trying to delete the plastic piece along the back that the lp bolts onto? If so, you can always double side sticky it on there, but it doesn't look all that great imho.

That black piece also has the lp lights attached to it I believe. You can easily pick one up at a junkyard.. the bolts are already attached, but you'd have to buy replacement nuts.

Perhaps I misunderstand...

[RVAE34]

I must be missing the plastic piece. I was hoping there was a bracket that attaches to the trunk lid that is hidden once the license plate is bolted on. Otherwise, the double stick tape will have to be my other option as I don't like that black plastic piece that goes all the way across from tail light to tail light. If there is something like that available, I haven't found it for sale.

[tinker6468]

Here is what came off my tail end - I am planning to scuff it up and shoot with primer then paint it Nugget Yellow so it matches. Hope it looks ok, need to play with this idea a little and find out. I might find it looks like A$$, not sure yet.

[Hufeisen]

Looking forward to the finale! Do you have a time-line of when you would like it completed (granted car projects are never really finished with all the fine tuning and touches ).

[thebanker]

Looks mighty clean my man.

Somehow... I feel like I've seen this build all along...

[RVAE34]

Mikey!!! Was wondering when you would come join the fun. Your join date was on my Bday

I just don't like the way that filler strip looks. I will have to come up with something.

Hoping to have it pretty much finished and back on the road by the middle of March. Possibly sooner.

[thebanker]

Yes, I haven't been on here in a while, I have to take some pictures and update my build thread. All this wedding nonsense and aquarium stuff is keeping my car from getting the attention it needs.

Is the filler strip the chromish one that is running along the car like a pinstripe?

I think it would look cool in matte black. I know the rubber ones are hard to find, they've all dry-rotted on most VW's from that era...

[RVAE34]

The filler is the one posted above. Runs left to right in that recess on the trunk lid to mount the plate. Just like my BMW E34 had an available trunk strip that came on the M5 only. And I hate them

here is a car with it



And my car without.

[dublenz]

Decided to keep the black plastic across the back end. It helps break up the trunk a bit. Also was considering a delete - but, it looks good imho.

After a good cleaning and making sure there wasn't any greasy spots, used black plastic dye - in a spray can. Used it on anything that was black and plastic, including mirrors, door handle pieces, etc. Everything is black satin now and looks brand new.

[RVAE34]

Did the early cars come with the black plastic as well?

[thebanker]

Aha, so the filler strip is a piece of black plastic that is used to fill in the space where the euro license plate would be.

I don't mind it that much - but if you hate it, then get rid of it or paintmatch that thing .

[s2kvondeutschland]

You could always get a Heckblende and put the plate below the bumper.

[RVAE34]

I will probably either make a bracket myself just to mount the plate, or use really good double stick 3M adhesive strips.

I am at a stopping point now unfortunately Need some fixed triangle vent windows and a steering rack as I realized the wheels turn independently of each other. Probably just an inner tie rod but might as well do it all.

[Hufeisen]

Any updates?

[ambush_boy]

love the color, cant wait to see what it all becomes

[RVAE34]

Still waiting to find a set of the vent windows.. Can't put the rubber back in until then.

I also just picked up a new steering rack, inner & outer tie rods today so I hope to swap that this weekend. Then she can at least drive it.

I bought the Delrin shifter linkage bushings a month ago or so but now cannot find them The shift linkage is so bad that it's hard to discern b/t 1st and reverse. Not good for someone who has never really driven a manual that much.

[spyke1019]

Where did you get the seats for your cabby, if you replaced them?

[RVAE34]

The seats in the car were pretty nice to begin with.

[spyke1019]

The seats in the car were pretty nice to begin with.

mine are trash and the brackets are frozen up. I'm looking for a new set

[SK VeeDubR]

Brilliant work! And I'm really enjoying the way this color is coming along! Will be following

[RVAE34]

Thanks!

I installed some better tailights with the clips intact. Also got the rear windows back in. Some venting 1/4 windows will be on the way along with trim and the last door lock parts I need. Once the venting windows are in, all the rest of the new rubber can go in.

Then all I need is new carpet and door panels, satin silver paint on the wheels, new tires, new headlights, new top and she is done.

Installing the steering rack/inner/outer tie rods tomorrow. Also hoping to install the new shifter bushings but not sure where they go. Posted on an old thread..

Also curious about the top. I have heard you install a new top with the frame on the car. I am not sure if I want to tackle a new top now. Is it easy to remove the old top fabric and re-install on the car, or is it easier to remove the entire top/frame from the car, remove the material, then bolt the frame back to the car and re-install? I would prefer to throw the old top back on for a bit then strip it and get all new stuff.

[kbarnett]

To finish the top the frame needs to be on the car. The cables that run around the back edge hold the back down. I would recommend doing it on the car as most of the work will need to be done when it is on the car.

Briano has a really nice step by step on how to install the top. I did one on my 90 over the summer and he lays everything out. It took me about 6 or 7 hours but after doing it that once, Im sure I could do it in 3 or 4 now. Make sure to replace the cables when you do.

[RVAE34]

I think I saw that if it's listed in the FAQ section. And after that, I think I would rather pay someone to do it

I think I am going to throw the old top back on and then order all the stuff and pay someone to install. Anyone know where I can get new headliner and does it come with the loop/straps?

[FOXER]

Bump for new photos!

[RVAE34]

No new pictures yet. But I think my wife might get to drive it around the neighborhood tomorrow. I just finished installing the new steering rack and tie rods. Want to try and align it a little better before tomorrow and I still need to finish tightening up all the steering linkage. I also got the radiator back in.

Tomorrow I will get the carpet and front seats back in, set the alignment adjust and tighten the shifter linkage and then the maiden voyage Pix following.

[RVAE34]

Shifter still had issues. I got under the car and tried moving the rod around and think I found the problem. The lever shown in this diagram below (flat rod with rubber ball on the end) has a rectangular slot for the bolt to go through. That slot had been wollowed (sp) out so bad that it looked more like an hourglass. This resulted in the rod not moving with the lever. Hopefully I can find a new one and problem will be solved.

[Romeo Chi]

GAP

http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volks...smission/185/1

[cab89]

Here is what came off my tail end - I am planning to scuff it up and shoot with primer then paint it Nugget Yellow so it matches. Hope it looks ok, need to play with this idea a little and find out. I might find it looks like A$$, not sure yet.

I took mine off too, painted the trunk lid, bought a 5.00 universal license plate mounting thing at the auto parts store, and did not put the plastic thing back on. The plate lines up fine under the lights etc. I don't like the crinkly look of the plastic, I think it looks cheesy or cheap to me and makes the car look "old school". In fact I always hated it.