POS VDUB'S cabriolet build

[Loccusst]

So since she won't do it I will....
Here is the build for the new addition to our VW family, a 1988 Cabriolet. A car that the :hoff: would be proud of. POS VDUB is my wife by the way.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s2/loccusst/000_00222.jpg
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We got this car while the Monsoon storms were hitting the DesMoines area Friday night with DSV and his Wife. We drove up to Clear Lake and met Aaron. A cool guy as is his wife. He worked on the brakes knowing that the Girls were going to be driving it 2 hours back to Des Moines. He even stopped us to retorque the wheel bolts before we got on the interstate. So the girls made it back without any issues. We all went to Wal-Mart and bought cleaning supplies for the car along with coolant. oil and all the other goodies. We started with fixing the wheel cylinder that Aaron couldn't get to. Sprayed the alan bolts holding it on with some more PB Blaster and left it for the night to soak. We cleaned out the trunk area and removed the rear seats. Since it was 2am it was time for bed.
While I was at work Jen and our oldest daughter cleaned the rear seats, under the rear seats, and the entire inside of the car..including the trunk.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s2/loccusst/DSC00716.jpg

Saturday after I got off work, the wife and I fixed the wheel cylinder. We both learned how to bleed the brakes together and put the car back together. Then we headed over to DSV and his wifes for the barbeque. The cabriolet had some vibration from the dead motor mounts and the alignment was off. Other than those and the windshield wipers not working the car was fun. Came home that night at about 1am and started ripping out the carpet and pulled out the seats. The oem sound deadening was trashed so it was ripped out along with all of the carpet.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s2/loccusst/DSC00712.jpg
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Off to work I went again and left the wife to work on cleaning the car.....she now has a new found love for Simple Green. TurboA4 along with DSV and his wife came over while I was gone to go get supplies. Then they picked a fight with the lumber yard guy at Menards, then went to Lowes, followed with playing the Wii till I came home to start eating and working on the car. Cadwiz came over with his wife to give his expertise on how to get rid of the small surface rust. We grinded away and scraped away at the floors. Then primered them. Next we sprayed them down with underbody protectant to seal them up and help out with sound deadening. Then we stopped to relaxe and enjoy the night...again we were all up till 3am.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s2/loccusst/DSC00713.jpg
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The next morning I woke up to put in some sound deadening and sand down and repaint the trunk. Then I cleaned the engine bay and replaced a few hoses....need to do some more yet. Then DSV came over while he waited for his wife to get off. My wife and him watched me for a bit and then mike helped me out with makeing the spare tire cover for the trunk.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s2/loccusst/DSC00718.jpg

That is where we are at right now....waiting for parts to come along with money for them for now....

[Gee Tea Eye V]

that awesome im very excited for this build thread and im jealous!

lookin sweet already cant wait to see and read more :tu:

[DSV]

The car is already shaping up to be a great ride. Glad we could help out (and sometimes just sit and watch.) :D

This thing gets better and better with each passing day. Can't wait to see it once the new grill arrives. :tu:

[Loccusst]

The wiper motor is supposed to be here Thursday by Fed ex. I just won a bid on all the relays from a Golf GL of the same year for $6.99 shipped! I am gonna test em all and replace any of the bad relays in the car. I figured why not bid on em...so cheap. The seat brackets are supposed to be here Thursday too, but I really need to get carpet into it first. I will still throw them in guess....need to finish the dynomating first. Hope the brackets do not require too much modification to work with the seats.

[SDKmann]

Wow, thats certainly a project. Big plans for it or just a resto?

[Loccusst]

Mostly a restore for now. I really want POS VDUB to enjoy it. Then it will be time to do some cool things down the road. The car will probably get repainted next spring.....I plan on doing some major body stuff this winter while it sits in the garage. Right now I need to get the motor in good working condition, new top, new carpet, suspension done (shocks are dead), and see what it needs from there. I'll do alarm and stereo wireing while the carpet is out...much easier that way.

[1FastB5]

looks like a great project car!

i'm anxious to see how all of our old german rides turn out over the next few months - we are really living up to our club name :D

[Sinan]

what about those wheels? leave them for originality or buy something new?

[Loccusst]

Maybe both....Would like to get them repainted at least.

[Loccusst]

So I just changed the oil....soo dark and chocolatey! Just ordered new carpet too!!

[turboA4]

whooooohoooo!!!!

it looks soo good in person!!! the progress is amazing!!!!

i am glad i am able to be good at helping!! (i mean watchin...)

[John2.0T]

very nice.

Glad to see another mkI project in the works.

I plan on picking one up this fall.

[Sinan]

very nice.

Glad to see another mkI project in the works.

I plan on picking one up this fall.
Can I come over when you do? :D

[twooly]

Sweet looking good. :tu:

[cadwiz]

Cadwiz came over with his wife to give his expertise on how to get rid of the small surface rust.


The next morning I woke up to put in some sound deadening and sand down and repaint the trunk. Then I cleaned the engine bay and replaced a few hoses....need to do some more yet. Then DSV came over while he waited for his wife to get off. My wife and him watched me for a bit and then mike helped me out with makeing the spare tire cover for the trunk.
So how did the 3m wheels work....they are the best for removeing paint and rust and not hurting anything....i forgat to tell you to just hit them with a wire brush if they got gummed up....sorry.
follow this link to all sorts of cool body stuff
http://www.eastwoodco.com/
also this one
www.autobodytoolmart.com (http://www.autobodytoolmart.com)

The wiper motor is supposed to be here Thursday by Fed ex. I just won a bid on all the relays from a Golf GL of the same year for $6.99 shipped! I am gonna test em all and replace any of the bad relays in the car. I figured why not bid on em...so cheap. The seat brackets are supposed to be here Thursday too, but I really need to get carpet into it first. I will still throw them in guess....need to finish the dynomating first. Hope the brackets do not require too much modification to work with the seats.
Nice buy Mike!!!!!
remember don't throw those old seats.....the rabbit needs them.


.....I plan on doing some major body stuff this winter while it sits in the garage.
i looked the spot over under the weather stripping.....sorry but your going to learn to weld this winter....hehehehehe good thing i can bring you a welder.
I learned myself...(trying to sound redneck) maybe we can get dave to give us some tips since he's a pro.

Maybe both....Would like to get them repainted at least.
Dave has a guy!!!!!!!!

It looks great all of you. good job to all who helped can't wait till you start body work this winter.....maybe the unofficial "PKG" garage will be built and we can have real air tools.....if you want to do it there.

i'm excited for you. if you need any help let me know.:D

[sam]

Ooo Jen has to be so excited!!! I wanna come see it! :drive:

[Loccusst]

Yeah the window seal area is gonna be fun.....other than that, just attacking one thing at a time.

You can come over any time Sam.....you know you are welcome here anytime.

[SirRangeALot]

It's coming along nicely! I can't wait to see the 'vert once it's finished! :tu:

[Loccusst]

Did some more dynamating tonight...Jen went to bed so I was bored. I am gonna finish the rest of that up tomorrow and teach her how to lay sound deadening material. Also run some new wires to the rear speaker area....maybe yank out the crappy/broken antenna......maybe I will put in a power antenna for her, might be cool. If I delete it I need to find a plug for the hole till I can get it filled when we paint it. Either way......she is gonna want tunes!

[DSV]

When is the new carpet supposed to arrive?

[Loccusst]

Carpet has been installed, Seats have been installed (those were fun...), and I just installed these tonight along with new plug wires.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s2/loccusst/DSC00726.jpg
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[Sinan]

love the seats.

not the fan of lights. don't get the circily thingies...

[turboA4]

i love the progress guys!!!!.....it looks soo good in person!!!!

i think the lights are sweet!

[DSV]

The new lights look awesome with the angel eyes and cross hairs. I can't believe how much you guys have done to it in such a short period of time.

[twooly]

The car looks good and even better in person!

[DSV]

The car looks good and even better in person!

:word:

You have to see the Cabriolet in person to really appreciate all the work Mike (and Jen) have done on it. :drive:

[Loccusst]

Worked for a bit with a guy on the tex last night. Got the wipers and blower motor to work. Did a bunch of tests for about a hour. Turns out that all of that is hooked up to one relay. Replaced the relay and everything works right. Now I just need to put in the new controls I orderd and the selector will work right so that heat will not be the only thing coming out of the vents. The new motor mount rebuild kit came in the mail yesterday but that wont happen for a bit.

[DSV]

Worked for a bit with a guy on the tex last night. Got the wipers and blower motor to work. Did a bunch of tests for about a hour. Turns out that all of that is hooked up to one relay. Replaced the relay and everything works right. Now I just need to put in the new controls I orderd and the selector will work right so that heat will not be the only thing coming out of the vents. The new motor mount rebuild kit came in the mail yesterday but that wont happen for a bit.

Glad to hear you got the wipers and blower motor sorted out. Hooray for no more blowing heat in the summer time! :D

[Loccusst]

So a bit of an update. The gas tank was leaking so a new one showed up today....gonna attempt the install Friday. Also, had to replace the transmision pan gasket....simple, sorta. I have also been working on some of the minor rust on the body...it's all just surface mostly. the hood is now primer grey.....

[DSV]

I saw the car. The man does good work. I might stop by tomorrow and point and watch and laugh as you battle the gas tank whilst I am sipping my :dp: through a straw in my bag chair.... :laugh:

[CROWN]

lucky...

[berserker]

i can't wait to see this in person sometime!! maybe i will stuporvise as well tomorrow after my interviews.. hmmm!

[Loccusst]

Gas tank is installed...went rather smoothly. I am picking up some paint to rid the car of the primer look, lol. All are welcome to stop over....just be warry of the fumes from spilled gas and spray paint.LOL

[Loccusst]

I am very amazed at how well the older cars are built. My daughter got in the car today and it started right up. The last time it ran was when we drove it up to the davenport GTG. I figured I should crank it over and get the juices flowing for a bit...let the battery charge up some. Idled smooth and turned right over. I was very happy with the car.

[turboA4]

ohhh wow!!! thats great!!!

i think you guys should put the top down and use it as a winter car!!!

[Loccusst]

hahaha...be all bundled up like eskimo's. Would be a funny vid to do it in the middle of a snow storm.

[DSV]

Plus you wouldn't be able to see the car because its white. It'd basically just look like two eskimos flying down the road in thin air...lol :D

[OrangeDUB]

Looks like you're making some good progress so far! Do you have a paint gun loccusst?

[Loccusst]

Plus you wouldn't be able to see the car because its white. It'd basically just look like two eskimos flying down the road in thin air...lol :D

LMFAO!!!! so true!!!

And to answer the paint gun question....nope. I just use alot of patience, sanding, and trial/error. Would make it so much easier if I did.