Project: Drop top vr6 cabby (It Runs) (With Video) by laxman1306

15 minute(s) of a 34 minute read

Project: Drop top vr6 cabby (It Runs) (With Video)

Compliments of laxman1306 @ www.michiganvw.org

10/5/10

I've had the 1987 vw cabriolet for about 4 years now had it as my daily driver for a while and started stripping it down. Now I finally got to the engine I want, the VR6. It went from the 1.8 CIS to the 2.0 ABA and now doing the vr6 transplant. Oh and by the way it's going be turbo charged when it's done, which I hope to be next summer.

My car with the RS bumper on it which I think I'm going to sell the bumper

The original 1.8L CIS. It was hardly enough to move it

When I had to replace my clutch when she was my daily driver

I replaced my front end. It was just a little too rusty for me to have on a car I'm rebuilding

I went to an ABA swap cuz I had 2 mk3 2.0 parts cars sitting around but that didn't last very long

I decided the 2.0 was just not going to be enough so the vr6 was the next choice

Putting a full coil over kit on the car to make her sit low and handle awesome

This is the way she sits now but not for long

1/7/11

Finally got the engine in, it took a bit of time to figure out how I wanted to do it............

Welding the engine mount cups seemed to be the easiest way for me to go

If still got to put some metal in was I cut the frame horns 

I just need to find a parts car to get the rest of the parts I need

1/8/11

It finally clears the hood. Had to lower it a 1/4 in but it clears. It's a good thing because I like the look of the stock intake.

1/10/11

I would have never thought how much better the engine looks when the intake is polished but damn.........

Before

O looks so boring

And After

Still have to do a little more on the intake and still need to do the covers.

9/8/11

Well I got the donor car here it is

Finally on the tear down getting it all labeled as I go

More pics with the engine in and it slammed down

Well I need to figure out something with my oil pan

9/9/11

Just started wiring today hopefully not much longer before I can fire it

12/16/11

Just got all of my exhaust done up it was a lot cheaper for me to make it instead on buy it. I'm running 2.5in all the way back into a straight through dynomax welded muffler

Finally finished my mk3 dash swap too

12/29/11

Made some good progress last night. I got my shifter mounted in and it works great and put the clutch master cylinder in but you will never see it under the hood I made a custom set up to make it work under the dash.........I'll post pics late tonight to show what I've done its pretty slick

1/1/12

1/5/12

So finally swap my good motor into the car and started wiring last night

1/8/12

It's all wired up, power to everything it cranks it sparks now it need fuel............I've got to replace my fuel lines then it'll be ready to rock hopefully I can fire it Wednesday

More progress

1/11/12

Well I made a tube front support and removed the original front mount from the car then boxed it in to make up for extra room

1/12/12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=_Oq8dzQ-XGM

1/17/12

My g60 brake caliper adapters should have showed up today so now I'm sporting 11in brakes on mk1

1/21/12

Clutch fluid tank is done

1/31/12

I've got my gauges in now....just ordered my 42 draft SS crack pipe then I can put coolant in the system and test everything before I pull it apart for body work

9/1/12

These will be the wheels I'm putting on it

Go to working on the car today...I finally broke out the wiring diagrams... I was going through it and found out why my gauges quit working, it was a simple black wire that was unplugged...boom!!! Fixed one less thing to check off

9/6/12

New walbro 255 no need to ever be replaced with this one.

Out with the old burned up Bosch 044

New pump in plenty of pressure now

New fuel regulator

Installed 60psi

Got my gauges working again

Finished gas pedal to be adapted to vr6 cable

Drivers axle is in and fits

Don't mind the shitty welds on the Trans mount those are getting ground off and re-welded with a good welder...the cheap migs are junk from Lowes I've got a Lincoln 220 now

http://s1182.photobucket.com/albums/...t=MVI_0402.mp4

9/9/12

started welding the body seams...its going to be a lot of work but with this much power its going to need it

It's a messy job got to wear protection

Engines out and harness

It's messy but it's going to get a cleaned up

Started welding the strut towers

Got a lot more to do but I hope to be done welding by the end of the week...then I got to smooth it all out

9/19/12

More progress...started shaving the frame rails

Started on the passenger strut tower

Started the front cross member 1in square tube then I'm going to box it in

more to come....got to get some angle iron and finish boxing the front cross member behind the radiator...I wanted to stay with the jetta glx radiator instead of a corrado like everyone else, considering vr6s sometimes have heating issues

9/23/12

Well the cabby is going to have to be put on hold for a bit ...got to give the daily driver some love but I'll be back to it as soon as possible