1991 EA cabriolet, summer daily NONstop work in progress

[xamx]

Most Recent photo.
5-2-2013










ok so i was on the hunt for a Cabriolet for a while
i recently found a 1991 Etienne Aigner edition.
i drove the 3 hrs to NJ to take a look then within 24 hours i was on my drive home.

it needs some things here and there but all in all it is driveable and it enables me to take some millage off my MKV for the time being till i figure out what to do.
i’m going to try and keep up with some phtos and whats going on with the car
any pointers or tips are GREATLY appreciated.. so here it is!!

the night i bought it


first day



taking out interior to wield ebrake to car
and fix some broken bulbs n wires inside dash



gettin a litttle help weilding the e-brake down.. as i know nothing about wielding


At Work

[DarthVW]

I would suggest in my opinion to go back to the original stock look of the car,
otherwise whats the point of having an Etienne Aigner edition if it will look like a
totally diferent car.
Better just buy a base model and do whatever you want with it, otherwise you're just ruining a
very unique and rare edition.
I have one too and i try to keep it the most original i can, so i can preserve it as it should.
At the end its your car and you can do whatever you want but keep in mind that as it is its just
a 91' model not an Etienne Aigner edition.

[Jpfegley]

Saw this car on CL, I'd thought it was a good buy.

Good luck guy

[xamx]

I would suggest in my opinion to go back to the original stock look of the car,
otherwise whats the point of having an Etienne Aigner edition if it will look like a
totally diferent car.
At the end its your car and you can do whatever you want but keep in mind that as it is its just
a 91' model not an Etienne Aigner edition.

part of me agrees with you and part is what it is!! if i had bought a show car that was an EA i would never wanna change a thing, that is not the case. i wanted a cabriolet and this poped up, i wasn't in search of a EA i was just lucky enough to find one.. this is not in perfect EA condition, it's not even in perfect condition for a 91.(ha ha what VW is) it needs a bunch of work just to be driven daily.
the few things that make it an EA are still there but the ones that stand out aren't the power ast. top doesn't exist, the EA wheels are gone, and the canvas top is bent n torn to $hit, and all the EA emblems have been taken off. thats not my doing i'm just working with what i got!!
i'll tell you this i agree with not destroying it. i don't plan on hacking things up or anything like that. i'd just like to worry about it like its a cabriolet that leaks not an EA that leaks. i do plan on just keeping it looking clean n nice having fun and slowly rebuilding the car..

Saw this car on CL, I'd thought it was a good buy.
Good luck guy

thanks!! yeah craigs vortex and some bmw forums. i'd like to think i got a good deal!!

[CajunSpike]

If you would like to have the EA emblems back on the fenders...send a msg to goosler.

He remakes the decals for a very reasonable price...top quality.


I have two EA's and except for very minor alterations(chrome molding, door handles), I'm pretty much leaving them stock.

Good luck with your ride.

[gtidaddy]

saddestday66 has one customised it . it looks better than most ea.

[tgibson]

I would suggest in my opinion to go back to the original stock look of the car,
otherwise whats the point of having an Etienne Aigner edition if it will look like a
totally diferent car.

This is what I hate about the Cabby forum. It's a 20 year old crappy econo-box convertible, do what you want with it

[riddie]

This is what I hate about the Cabby forum. It's a 20 year old crappy econo-box convertible, do what you want with it

yah right cabriolets=lyfeeeee

[DarthVW]

It's a 20 year old crappy econo-box convertible, do what you want with it

If thats what you think and feel about your car, your wasting your time here.
If a cabrilolet is so crappy and old, so why dont you get a better one???

[Colombian Gringo]

Nice find! Clean EA's are getting harder and harder to come by these days. Take good care of her.

[xamx]

If you would like to have the EA emblems back on the fenders...send a msg to goosler.
I have two EA's and except for very minor alterations(chrome molding, door handles), I'm pretty much leaving them stock.
Good luck with your ride.

AWESOME!! i gotta get on that! thanks.

Be sure to register it: http://www.cabby-info.com/registry.htm . The green EAs have fallen way behind in the tally.

just ordered spacers so i can fit these wheels i have..once i get some good photos i'll be sure to submit it, thanks!!!

Nice find! Clean EA's are getting harder and harder to come by these days. Take good care of her.

thanks!! yeah i wa super shocked when i saw it FS. i'm totally gonna try to

Yeah, Matt's car is pretty sick especially with the new interior. Taking the roll bar off totally changed the look of the car.

saw some phtos of that!! you are sooo right! that thing is insane.. crazy dedication totally pays off!

[xamx]

got to borrow a fender roller from a friend.
first time rolling feners. surprising enough only one spot of rust under the clipper kit. used a propain torch to heat the paint and nothign cracked.. did pretty well for first attempt
lowered the cabriolet another 10 threads all around as well





ordered some new hubs, & bearings. hopfully i can get my hands on some control arms too..

[riddie]

Diggin it so far. Resurrect this thing

[8v o'Fury]

I almost got this car a couple months back. Only thing that scared me was the rust hole in the lower windshield panel. I later found that www.vwheritage.com sells the full lower windshield repair panel for liek 43 euros. They're UK based and have lots of good stuff. Good luck with that car. It was totally awesome to lay frame in that thing at liek 10 mph LOL...

[super 74]

Theres a ea in a junkyard in delaware I was at a few weeks back. Pretty sure it was the same color as yours.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

[xamx]

Theres a ea in a junkyard in delaware I was at a few weeks back. Pretty sure it was the same color as yours.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

awesome!!

[xamx]

finally got the cabriolet out of the garage yesterday,
it was nice to put some miles on it. drove over 200 miles the past 24 hours.

the oil & temp lights are blinking but no issues?
there is oil and coolant.. not sure what it may be, i think i'll order some new sensors/senders from german, considering there like $4-9 each. hopefully that'll help out.

i noticed a HARD squeek while making a slow right turn, pretty sure thats the power steeing.(right???)
one of the belts may have gotten loose when i had to loosen up the brackets to get to the thermostate. i hope thats it i don't remember there being a squeek. but who knows.
also heard of deleting the AC may solve this as well it maybe the compressor??
any pointers?
other then that it's coming along.. it's nice to be able to drive it and enjoy it..

[AlexMBM]

Looks great man! Makes me wanna get my cabby driving!

[MkBean]

love the progress, there's just something about these cars that kinda just pulls you in. I've had my '82 cabby for 3 years now and have done everything on it as well, they are a great base to learn off of and fun cars to drive. keep up the good work

[IronTrap]

looking at your photo your oil pressure gauge is showing little to no pressure if that's at idle.. that'll make the dummy light go off for sure.. engine could be a bit tired and has low oil pressure at idle.. sometimes running thicker oil can help raise the pressure a little.. but is only a temp fix.

Yes you loop the hoses at the rack and leave a little bit of fluid in the rack so that it is still lubricated. Someone on the scirocco forums was selling a loop hose kit that is basically bolt on for doing that mod.

[xamx]

looking at your photo your oil pressure gauge is showing little to no pressure if that's at idle.. that'll make the dummy light go off for sure.. engine could be a bit tired and has low oil pressure at idle.. sometimes running thicker oil can help raise the pressure a little.. but is only a temp fix.

Yes you loop the hoses at the rack and leave a little bit of fluid in the rack so that it is still lubricated. Someone on the scirocco forums was selling a loop hose kit that is basically bolt on for doing that mod.

i went out n bought some thicker oil as well as a some coolant, replaced the coolant flange drained coolant, put half a quart of oil in.
both lights are still blinking. thiking about doing a compresson test

decided to tighten up the adjuster on the power steering and while under the car it looked as though the pulleys weren't lining up correctly.. loosening a few bolts that hold the water pump adjuster in place i eyed it up as best i could. i drove it home about 5 miles and it seemed quiet but it's wet out. maybe this fixed the power steering squeal issue

[1ABrian]

nice build man. Good lookin ride

[xamx]

Looks great man! Makes me wanna get my cabby driving!

thanks!!!
yeah man you gotta get it goin!! it's like pringles once you pop you can't stop

love the progress, there's just something about these cars that kinda just pulls you in. I've had my '82 cabby for 3 years now and have done everything on it as well, they are a great base to learn off of and fun cars to drive. keep up the good work

thanks!! oh yeah for sure. i find myself just being super stoked that it's running and goin cause of what i'm doing to it. being the sole operator and mechanic gives you a whole new appreciation!

[MK1_ryebread]

I could've probably got you the 165/45s! Let me know next time. And I can get you inspected in Sayville lol. And I need to do the tie rod flip!!! Good work man .

[Littlesister]