Here's what I've got to work with:

(I've converted to the factory non-AC setup and single fan since this pic was taken)

Here's my ideas to make the bay a bit nicer:
change fuel dist (I have a fairly new one lying around), but what do i do about the injector lines? Where can I find non-rusty ones? Classifieds my only option? As an extension to this question, I want new or rebuilt injectors. Where can i locate these?
clean/paint rusty parts (fan shroud, brackets, etc), but what kind of paint would last here? What kind of prep work is involved to keep rust at bay?
manifold- shine up "DOHC 16v" (probably not full polish, but clean up the corrosion). I'd like to paint, but that mean the valve cover too, and that's just a lot of work

Also, I was thinking about making a new engine harness. Mine is a little hacked up here and there anyway. Solder and heatshrink of course, but where would I route it? All the harnesses, the ECU, engine accessory, and front end harnesses, would need some cleaning up. I was thinking about relocating the ECU elsewhere and getting rid of the rain tray covers too.

I'm also getting the car painted soon, but not the bay (for cost reasons). How would I go about prepping and rattle-canning the bay myself?

This is a daily driver so deleting the reservoirs is not an option either. Any other suggestions are welcome! Pics of mildly clean bays are also welcome! Thanks guys.

Modified by VDub2625 at 1:55 AM 5-27-2008

Modified by VDub2625 at 1:55 AM 9-29-2008

i made my own battery cables out of thick car stero wire and bolt it yourself autozone terminals... i replaced both ground and live wires and it helped make that area of the bay look much better... it may take a while to clean a bay up, but doing things like painting, polishing, and cleaning parts can make a huge difference... its really worth it though once you pop the hood and people look at how clean your bay is.

best advide anyone will give you is to look at other peoples 16v bays and pick and choose what you like and dont like... take some of those ideas and utilize them in your own bay. there are a lot of very clean, and tasteful 16v bay out there that you can model yours after.

might be tough to see them...



Modified by hockdub at 1:07 AM 5-27-2008

If it works for you, consider removing the washer bottle. I realized I don't use mine, so I 86'd it.

Remove parts for cleaning and paint. Like your ignition coil and TB cable bracket. Remove your rain tray and clean it. Under it. Clean the metal tray and reshoot it too.

A brass brush is great for cleaning light crud off metal. Get fresh clamps too. In fact, look for anything zip-tied or just hanging and figure out where the OEM path/clamp/tie-down goes and replace it. Take the sticker off your battery. Remove, clean, and paint your rad shroud. Your rad mount hardware could be replaced too. A fresh hood latch up/down is nice cheap add-on too.

You can pull aside many items in the bay and lay down a fresh rattlecan finish. It just takes time and patience to clear a spot, let it dry, and then go back over stuff w/Goof-Off because of overspray.

Here's what a steamer, degreaser, paint, brass brush, patience, and lots of cotton swabs w/Goof-Off can lead you

Trust me, when I got the car, the bay was AWFUL. Both frame rails were covered in black grime and wax protectant. I already had to paint under the battery because of rust issues, and that battery is getting replaced because it's about a half size too big. I was going to buy an Odyssey PC680 motorcycle battery from a friend to save weight and space (but it'll stay in the bay).

Forgot to mention that my tranny used to be spraypainted black, and about 45% of it still is is there a way I can try and get the rest of the paint off without removing it? thanks!

here's how I got the car:


Modified by VDub2625 at 7:30 AM 5-27-2008

...but; you COULD give me your Passat fuel dizzy cover... if you'd like to "delete" that from the bay.

ABOSI #49: I drink your milkshake | R.I.P. - Chris Ganz (darkstar2336) | SoCo Dubs!!

Buy my 2002 Audi S4!

My 1991 Alpine While GLI part out

at first I thought you meant clean it
before

it is cleaner now, just don't have a picture of it.

here, since I have my headlights relayed, there was no need for the light harness that is on the passenger side of the car and I had the wires for that side in some corrugated loom, but I redid it that sleeving and looks much better



Modified by Eric16v at 10:30 AM 5-27-2008

ENT Tuning
ich fliege niedrig

It's not much but I did get rid of lots of extra wire from the crappy fog light installation and other things. I also need to grab a bunch of spare brackets and an engine harness from the junkyard to get that stuff started. What color should i do the metal brackets and stuff? i was thinking black but that never looks good. And what about little things like the parts of the throttle? I can't just paint it, but those little spots of rust will never look good. Is my only option finding a junkyard one in good shape?

I am planning on how to re-do my harness, but it's going to be difficult without the car to work on, so I'll have to set aside a week or so to get that all done (and paint at the same time). I'll probably move the ECU to inside the car (where, exactly, I don't know), to clean up the mess of wires that run from the fuse box, into the bay, up to the rain tray, and back out again. I was thinking behind the center console, but i don't have a lot of room there. Maybe above the fuse box.

How did you secure that battery in the rain tray anyway?

Modified by VDub2625 at 6:59 PM 5-28-2008

looks good

I am in the process of welding up a cover/bracket to hold the battery in the rain tray, but for right now its just sitting in there held in with a bungee cord.

I relocated my ECU to the inside as you can see, but as a prewarning its a bitch to get all the wires in a bundle and out of the way. Also my ECU is bolted to the rain tray inside the car, right underneath the battery.

Quote, originally posted by Mat_16V »

Rubbing is a part of life my car does it, I do it, and my dog does it just accept it

The bay itself still has to be washed, but it took me all day just to get the wax out of the rain tray.... oh and also took out all the harnesses figure I'll run the ECU harness through the rain tray (left side of the engine through a plug on the left, right side on the right), and try and get the ECU up above the fuse box. If someone could help me figure out how to mount it up there... also how do i get the wires from the ECU into the rain tray without going through the engine bay

Here's what else I got done today:

Here's what my harnesses look like now


Modified by VDub2625 at 6:22 PM 6-2-2008

You're making good progress though, keep it up!!

This might help you source tubing and stuff like that
https://www.wirecare.com/index.asp

Modified by Black Smokin' Diesel at 6:10 PM 6-2-2008

Quote, originally posted by calebessent »

Welcome to the Mark II forums. The amount of help you get is a function of the effort you put into your posts.

Quote, originally posted by VDub2625 »

Here's what my harnesses look like now

aaaaaaand you're ****ed....

I ended up getting a little distracted with the fuel distributor so all new injector seals, cups, fuel filter, etc are coming tomorrow just in case. I love GAP

Modified by VDub2625 at 10:23 PM 6-2-2008

Quote, originally posted by VDub2625 »

I love GAP

indeed

nah... I have resurrected worse; More than once.

ABOSI #49: I drink your milkshake | R.I.P. - Chris Ganz (darkstar2336) | SoCo Dubs!!

I kept the battery up front though. I will soon be relocating it to the trunk tho. I took me 3 months to reroute the harness through the inner fender (extended the harness about 3 ft.)

Oh and i started out with this

I welded the holes and seams

All this just to find a shaitload of rust underneth the windshield . Now i will be replacing it with a fresh piece


Modified by Capt.Dreadz at 12:16 AM 6-3-2008

Nuttin' but 5 Generals

I plan to have this project done later this week

Oh and that is spray can job done the "right" way

Nuttin' but 5 Generals

I wish I could weld up the extra holes. He extent of my body work to the bay will be cutting off the extra pegs, screws, and ground locations.

As for paint, how should I go about that? Sandpaper, some sort of sanding wheel, etc? I'm going to rust-proof it (POR-15 if I can find it on short notice, but anything else should work good). Do i need primer if I do that?

It's also hell finding long lengths of heatshrink (that's how I was going to originally cover the wires). I don't want that ribbed crap becuase it's got a slit down the side and that could let in water and crap.I'd rather have all the wires good and snug in heatshrink.

I also used degreaser inside the fenders, it felt real good to see 18 years of road grime and crap wash away this damn wax coats everything though!!

I've also changed my mind about the ECU harness (again). I think I'm going to run it through the fenders also, like the main harness, just to get it out of sight. We'll see what I decide when I get to actually cutting and soldering wires...

If you really want to cleanup the engine bay ditch the CIS and go EFI.

Thanks. i got a set from a Passat (the rubber wasn't cracked and the metal not deeply rusted like mine were). They are a little longer near the dist., but they work...

Man, I wish I could go EFI. If anything I'd convert to ABA Motronic since it's cheaper then standalone, I had Digi and I know it isn't the best for this.

Megasquirt is cheap and lots of support for it. You are part way there already with the wiring harness out, makes it easy to work with.

If you swap in DIGI at least it's very cheap and part of the way towards MS or another EFI. In the long run I have yet to have anybody tell me they felt it wasn't worthwhile. I have a type44 that I'm ripping CIS out of pretty quick here in favour of EFI. Haven't decided which EFI yet though.

Quote, originally posted by FastestDubOnBlock »

Cut springs much?

I'd rather look baller then be baller!

Corradobuff is a thief, ask me why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Cy

-Cy

Yes they are cut springs which was the PO, I have better things to buy then suspension at the moment... Especially when it sits in the garage for months on end.

Quote, originally posted by Mat_16V »

Rubbing is a part of life my car does it, I do it, and my dog does it just accept it

IMO youre asking for trouble heat shrinking old crusty vw wiring.

im not a fan of completely heat shrinking brand new harnesses, but youre really tempting fate doing it the crusty factory stuff

and i was going to mention switching to some sort of efi earlier in this thread...but im sure no one wants to hear it...

if you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem