1991 EA cabriolet, summer daily NONstop work in progress

[xamx]

thanks again for squaring everyones B.S. away, ideally different opinons are appreciated thats what makes all of us do this. the input of others helps us grow. Please just try n be positive, just cause YOU don't like certain things does not mean the dip$hit your talking to doesn't.
INPUT is greatly appreciated.
on a better note decided to throw some phots up.


had a friend take my car to go get inspected..
it obviously passed.. whaa hoo.. stress free NY driving for a year

[xamx]

Spent most the whole day in the garage. 11am-1230am.. First just BS with my MKV. Then messing with the cabriolet.
Finally took off that nasty purple 90's tint,
Clutch cable
Accelerator cable
Temp sensor
Front motor mount

Does anyone know the secret in doing the side motor mounts?? I took the bolts out lifted lowered the motor nothing! Do I need to take the brackets off the motor & lift it outta the car completely??


Replaced the bulbs in the dash, still no lights. (maybe crazy wiring. No clue)




In positive news I received another few boxes of goodies.. Spacers, front hubs, bearings, new oil pan, all new coolant hoses.

Hopefully a local friend has control arms I can get.

[xamx]

drivers side blew a Wheel Cylinder. soo decided to replace the whole shabang on both sides

haven't done drum brakes in almost 10 years, started with passenger side.. took a while. after we figured out the tricks the drivers side went in like 30 min

rear shoes, drums, springs, Wheel Cylinders, bearings..
lowered another 5 threads
gotta bleed them tomorrow n put on my spacers n new wheels

\

[Ackman]

Looking good! Love the stance!

[xamx]

sooo i had some issues bleeding the brakes and the master had blown seals..
ordered new master
and since i was redoing it decided to do front discs n pads, new spark plugs, wires, cap n rotor...
it's comin along..

[Nick Boudin]

Very nice, looking forward to seeing the updates!

[xamx]

Very nice, looking forward to seeing the updates!

Looking good! Love the stance!

thanks!!!

it's comin along.. hopefully i'll be driving it tomorrow. bled the lines last night have to trim my bolts so spacers can fit.
i did my math a little wrong and ordered HUGE spacers and even BIGGER for the rear thinking it would work.. woomp woomp
15x7 does anyone know an "ideal" offse to aim for? someone said try and zero out.. but that will rub too much in the rear. i'm thinking of like +15-+20

[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..

[morimori]

[xamx]

and.. took it out for a day or two it was running great but when i got it up to temp. it would leak collant. thus the seal on the water pump was blown.. soo back in the garage for ANOTHER few weelks to do the the water pump.. first shot at doing water pump.. pain!! but i DID it.. pretty stoked i might say
did water pump, replaced more hoses.
replaced Oil temp, oil pressure switch, temp sensor, temp sender
still have blinking lights..

finally got spacers to fit and wheels mounted.. so stoked to get rid of those rotas.. ughh i can't stand cheap fake $hit..
i think the 15's look WAYYY better anyway..
been driving it for the past few days and it's running AMAZING.. power steering is a litte squeeky.. i figure maybe just the tensioner bolt
maybe from being off the pullys for a weeks or so..

[xamx]

i've been dailying the cabriolet for a few weeks now.. it's been awesome.. finally have this thing running like it should!! (knock knock)
went out to PA on wednesday and bought a top and frame from vdub6v awesome guy!! good to meet honest real VW enthusiasts!
installed it on thursday.. a little harder when your alone.. took awhile but i got it on. have to replace latches so i can't lock it while it's up.. good thing no rain for a few days.






ordered control arms n strut mounts hopefully they will arrive in time and i can do them this week.

[StanceDance]

What wheels are those

[BerryB]

Compomotive ML1380?

[mattchirhart]

fantastic car! now you have a a one of a kind rare model instead of just a rare model. well done. what are the specs on your newest wheels? did your spacers bring the lip past the fenders?

[rabbitnothopper]

nnomnomnom.......

tasty green EA

[xamx]

What wheels are those?

Compomotive ML1380?

those are the wheels that came on the car i belive ethey are the knock offs of the ml 1380, the mini wheel. 13 inch rota rb's.. ughh knock off fake wheels.. what is this world coming to??

fantastic car! now you have a a one of a kind rare model instead of just a rare model. well done. what are the specs on your newest wheels? did your spacers bring the lip past the fenders?

the whork equips are a jdm high offset so i ended up buying 4 different sets of spacers to make this set up work.. i think the final offset on the rear is 15x7 +11 and +21 in the front. luckally the clipper kit kind of helps with the whole "tucking" thing.
i did somewhat roll the fenders as well, i might just cut them and leave the clipper kit so i can go wider.
not sure yet, something about taking a sawz-all to a fender weirds me out a little.

[xamx]

Spent a good part of yesterday evening and night in garage,
replaced vacuum lines, took out old beat @ss oil pan put in new mk3 pump and new pan, took apart wheel assembly to replace bearings, hubs, n control arms. i figured since i'm in there i should do axels as well.. so it lays in pieces till i have some time to get under it again.
started to attach oil cooler as well.
still have a bunch of crap to do if i want to drive this beast to h20i in 2 weeks



New Oil Pan

Old oil Pan


from a few weeks ago

[xamx]

past two days i have been at the garage till 3 am
been over and under this thing..

replaced control arms, bushings, hubs bearings, tie rod ends(flipped them too) axels, strut mounts, put in an oil cooler, removed condenser and all AC lines.
hopefully tomorrow night i can take out the AC and replace the belts.
coming pretty close to h20i deadline supposed to leave wednesday night. it's looking like i'm gonna leave thursday.
wednesday will be allignment and a little wash before the drive down. who knows

[BerryB]

put in an oil cooler, removed condenser and all AC lines.

Mind if i asked where you place the oil cooler? and is it too much to ask for a picture of fitment? I baffled on where I want to put mine. I have a huge aftermarket radiator and it takes up most my core.

[gullon]

fantastic ride, i love this colour on "gold" wheels!!

[1ABrian]

Very nice man. Nice work. What was the rim and tires size combo you went with?

[xamx]

orig rotas for sale


http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...9#post79502809

[xamx]

Mind if i asked where you place the oil cooler? and is it too much to ask for a picture of fitment? I baffled on where I want to put mine. I have a huge aftermarket radiator and it takes up most my core.

hey!! i actually ran the hoses behind the fan then when i deleted the condenser i ended up putting the oil cooler where the AC condenser was.

here is a photo of the front of the car.. zip ties and all

fantastic ride, i love this colour on "gold" wheels!!

thanks!!!

Very nice man. Nice work. What was the rim and tires size combo you went with?

the wheels are 15x7 and tires are 165/45

[2low2go]

always loved cabbies on rb's! the new wheels look good too. need more pics!

[xamx]

always loved cabbies on rb's! the new wheels look good too. need more pics!

yeah i didn't mind the look of the RB's if they had been a little bigger i wouldda just kept them.. plus the whole fake wheel rota thing just urkk's me. thanks though!!
i'll put some nicer photos up not just the progress haa

[xamx]

ok well it's been MONTHS since i've updated, not to say i haven't been busy...
well on my way to get an allignment for H20i in sept. the axel i had JUST put on blew.. long story short the CV blew


luckily enough i was only 10 miles from my garage,
i got the car towed back to garage, and took my mkv to h20i




the cabriolet stayed on jack stands for awhile till i could look at it again, super bummed about not taking it to h20i i didn't wanna be bothered.
i brought the axel (with less then 10 miles on it) back to the parts store and it took them almost 8 weeks to get me another one, though it was free of charge whatever..

i SHOULD have stayed more productive with the car at this time but work, life & holidays caught up to me.. like they do




a few weeks ago, i installed the new axel, and got an allignment. they couldn't allign car 100% cause of the balljoint pulling out of the knuckle from the axel, so you feel a slight shake. hunting for a new knuckle as i type this.


i've been driveing it for the last few weeks, and i had my first snow with it 2 days ago.



every time i drive it love it more and more.. the fact that all this work n drama is happening i may be slow with putting all the peices back together but at least i'm doing them all myself,
i found some grille corners off ebay for dirt cheap so the front end looks complete.

some BS stuff needs to be put on. gotta do the heater hoses n flange but not SUPER important right now.. i'm not sure if the power steering pump is going or just cause the cold, but it sounds like a dieing racoon under the hood when i start the car. if i have to replace it i'm just gonna do a manual rack. well see.
there is some liquid puddle when the car sits for awhile it looks like water but doesn't smell like anti-freeze? i wonder if it could be from pulling the AC out? or maybe it is leaking from behind the head, none of the liquid seems to be low which is strange. i guess we will find out.
thr oil light came on again, i've replaced every oil n temp sensor on the car.. i'm almost at a loss here of what to do besides pull the bulb out.

[IronTrap]

Sounds like normal mk1 problems, as you mentioned.. least you're doing it yourself and that says something

Oil light issue could actually be low oil pressure.. where does it sit on the gauge when the light comes on? Could also be a fault in the wiring from the sensor to the cluster.

Squeaky power steering is probably the belt slipping.. will also lose power steering when that happens. I'd try tightening the belt a bit and see what happens.. or just throw a new belt on. You can loop the PS hoses at the rack to get a short ratio manual rack if you need be.

-Matt

[xamx]

Sounds like normal mk1 problems, as you mentioned.. least you're doing it yourself and that says something

Oil light issue could actually be low oil pressure.. where does it sit on the gauge when the light comes on? Could also be a fault in the wiring from the sensor to the cluster.

Squeaky power steering is probably the belt slipping.. will also lose power steering when that happens. I'd try tightening the belt a bit and see what happens.. or just throw a new belt on. You can loop the PS hoses at the rack to get a short ratio manual rack if you need be.

-Matt

i think i'm gonna cut some inches off the wires brush up the pins n put new connectors on incase thats the issue, there is only a dummy light on the cluster, but mainly the oil light blinks when i'm at a stop, then after the car's been running for awhile it'll come on just consistently over 40mph.




i adjusted the tensioner a few times, i think the winter may just be making it a little looser. i replaced the belt when i did the water pump about 1k miles ago. i'd like to try looping the hoses, that'll essentially cut off fluid right?

[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]

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!

[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