it is getting old, always needing some other part… but SOON I should be done… ordered a number of randoms today… amongst other things, I did get a G60 Valve Cover off eBay… getting there! and a catch can. and rubber bushings for the subframe. and the beather hose. and and and….
We made more progress… the steering rack and tie rods are on the subframe now. I need to center everything, but it is getting there. So the subframe is nearly done. I need to put on the motor mounts and that is it for that. Then we can put the engine in. I need to set the timing belt and accessory belts, get the intake and exhaust manifolds on, and then the motor can go in the car. Then set up all the cooling stuff, hoses, etc. Then get the timing and distributor set, wire it all up, set the ECU up with a starting map, and fire it up and start tuning. Tune it while I drive it over to Al’s to get it aligned. Then I should be ready to autox it. I may see about getting it on the dyno at Al’s to tune it, depending on how ready it is when I get there. I would like to have a few hundred miles on it before I hit the autox.
The possible light at the end of the tunnel is my wife and son are going out of town for the week leading into the saturday autox, so I can spend a number of the nights at the garage, and I may take off the friday before the autox to get over to Al’s. We’ll see, but I would LOVE to get it running. It would so rule.
I ordered a few more parts today that I am finding I need. I don’t have everything lined up yet, but I am getting there.
Two Jetta work days have passed since the last post. Last week we put the head on. The short block is now a long block!
More pics can be seen here. So that was nice.
Today I finished cleaning the subframe/k-frame and we started getting that together. We put the A Arms/Control Arms in as well as mounted the front sway bar. We did poly bushings for the sway bar bracket and sway bar end links. I cleaned up the stock sway bar, but got new end links. I have stock bushings in the Control Arms, although the the bushings and the arms are brand new. We also put on new ball joints.
I need to clean up the steering rack, put on the new tie rods and boots as well as put on the poly steering rack bushings. Old rack, new tie rods and ends, new boots, new poly bushings. I also got new motor mounts (stock non hydraulic mount on the passenger side and a diesel transmission mount on the driver side) to go on. Once those are all in, the subframe will be ready to go back in and support the engine.
It is nice to see progress being made. Needless to say thanks to Dylan for helping out. I really feel the project is moving along now. Also thanks to kieran, as it was his poly kit that I raided to get some of the pieces I didn’t have.
So about 1/2 of my parts were delivered today, and I ordered up the Megasquirt ECU and wiring harness from Protocar.net as well…
Word.
Dylan and I were joined by Scott last night and we went over a created a list of necessary parts. Having the new motor, the junkyard ABA, and the 1.8 all present made it easier to make the list. So I began ordering up the parts. Turns out Autohaus AZ was the cheapest on a majority of the parts, and very close on the other ones. So I ordered up a bunch of stuff up. A list is below… I also grabbed an EIP Tuning solid front mount for $50. Still more to get though… Also I got an underdrive crank pulley off ebay…
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Not that I have done anything with it aside from put it on the stand, the new engine is here…
Places I have bought parts from or may start to buy from…
Imparts… I have happily bought from them and their prices were always good. Free shipping over $100 too…
Arizona Autohaus… I think dylan recommended them…
Parts4vws.com… used them, they were fine…
I need to get moving on some stuff…
The cleanup is going well! The subframe, suspension, brake system, etc are all out. The only thing still in the bay are the fuel lines and some wiring, both of which will be staying. It needs a bit more cleanup, which needs to happen soon since the engine was delivered to Al’s today. I am picking it up tomorrow night. Now I need to start ordering up parts, which is going to cost money, but will be nice once they come in.
Also, Dylan got me a duckbill. Sure it has some broken tabs or something, but I bet I can make it work.
Hopefully now things will start moving quicker. I need to get the random motor parts as well as the ECU and wiring harness. Everything is starting to cost money.
I will need parts. That is the problem with projects like this, it is way to easy to get lost in a barrage of $50-$100 parts that you will need. They are everywhere. Here and there, things I need. So I am going to start listing them in the hopes that I can find decent deals on them as well as have them all there such that when the motor comes and I start getting things ready to reinstall, I don’t sit there kicking myself that I missed 1 radiator hose or something like that. I also would like a rough running total going so I can determine what paths to take in terms of junkyard parts vs. new cooler versions of things… So lets begin…
cooling system
That doesn’t include the fans, but I am not sure what I am going to do there. I am pretty sure I can use the output of the MegaSquirt to control the fans, so I will likely end up with 2 electric fans. IIRC, the passat has 2 electric fans that drop in. On the other hand, I would prefer 2 SPAL electric fans in there, but that will likely be more $$, so we shall see…. I need the running total to determine if what path to take on this kinda thing, SPAL vs. Junkyard Passat.
Power Steering
Heat/AC
The car HAD AC, but it was pulled. I don’t want it back. However, I would like to switch to a non-AC setup in the inside. So I have to research that some. If we are pulling the dashboard (we are) I am replacing the heater box ($35) cause why not, it is cheap and a potential leak fixed. so…
Engine
I am sure I will need things, although I am not sure exactly what until the motor gets here. I was going to go head studs, but it is too much cash. Frugal is the game plan here now…
Interior is good for now, I need a rear seat, but whatever.
Got a rear beam for the rear discs.
Could use some strut bars and what not, but I am going to wait and see how the motor fits first.
That is all for now, just some notes to keep things noted…
BTW, All the above adds up to just under $1,000. Told you it would be a barrage.
I finally got some pics of the Trophy Recaros…
As you can see they are in great shape. Note that they are reversed, the one on the left is the driver side seat, but overall the bolsters are in great shape and while there is a burn or two and need a little cleaning, you can’t beat the price! Thanks Nate!
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