mini project: 80 "GLI" by 2mAn

5 minute(s) of a 152 minute read

rubys getting her first major test next weekend, so this weekend shes going through some changes, updates with pics once its all done!

5/13/10

almost done!

gonna keep the 16v, but it wont be a daily and i got some plans for it 

6/12/10

i guess its time for an update. ive been driving this car and loving the diesel. still got lil issues to iron out as usual. i also plan on getting an intercooler this weekend if i can find a good deal. i already have an egt gauge and a boost gauge i want to hook up.

6/15/10

so lately ive been working on cleaning up inside the engine bay and inside the car. so far ive got my egt gauge wired up and the boost gauge is next once i get the hose and plumb it in. then its time for some good ol electrical work to get all the gauges lit and functioning as they should. i also ordered a DIN size 3 gauge panel from mjm autohaus to hold the egt, boost and oil temp gauges up high and ill have the voltage and coolant temp gauges hooked up down low in the stock console. gauges galore! 

on another note, im loving the diesel much more than the 16v. the 16v was fun, but i hated it on the highway and i hated having to fill up once a week. ive only added a few gallons of fuel in the few weeks ive had it and i have yet to fill up the tank and go through it all. mostly havent done a fill-up because i can fit the damn diesel nozzles into the fuel filler! still gotta figure out how to get the restricter out.

still trying to find a proper intercooler also... in due time it will all be worked out.

7/6/10

sooooo.... the trials and tribulations of driving a car inches off the ground.... the exhaust recently started dragging after the flange that holds the 2.25" sections broke loose. got the car home after some magic from a coathanger, fixed it and then took her out for a spin. everything was awesome again... til the next day. she didnt start and still hasnt. glow plugs are getting power, plenty of fuel in it and everything, but i think my battery may be dead. so its at home sitting on the charger, at least its an optima that i bought a year ago and it has a 3 year replacement warranty so if its dead ill take it back and exchange it for another

ive been really thinking about getting a tdi as a daily since this thing seems to give me problems every few weeks, but i really dont want to get another car so im just going to tough this out for now.... ill keep you updated on whats going on (for those who care)

7/11/10

just did some tests and found that two of the glow plugs are dead 

also did a compression test and two cylinders showed 320psi, but the other two were in the 240-250psi range

im hoping that with a fresh set of glow plugs the car will start and be driveable during summer so i can rebuild another diesel block and swap that in...

what a nice birthday gift

7/13/10

changed the glow plugs out and she fired right up!

7/19/10

whew, what a wild weekend! some friends from cali were staying with me and we went to waterwerks yesterday and i showed my car because the site showed a mk1 jetta class and knowing there isnt many around here ( 2 showed last year and one was my old TD coupe) i decided to show. then they lumped the jettas in with the rabbits.

whatever 

i did get rolling shots on the way to the show!

7/30/10

got my hands on a 7A transmission that ill probably throw in soon. this FF has been ok, but even after doing a shifter alignment i still cant seem to get it into 5th and its just been getting worse. this transmission is the original one and the history is questionable at best. i havent had a 5th with this transmission for a long time now, even when it was the 1.6. this 7A will get cleaned up and someday ill put it in, dont really feel like doing another transmission swap just yet.

in the mean time i have been back at work helping get another mk1 back on the road. i pulled the diesel head off of it, cant wait to reinstall it and try to fire up that POS bucket 

while i was there i took a couple cool pics of ruby