Out with the New in with the Old!

[TinyGiant]

well the wife and I are on a mission to get rid of all of our debt so we decided to part with our 08 yaris a couple months back.


two weeks ago my f250 blew the front diferential and it left us without a car. We decided to find a summer beater and I found this little gem..

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/480873_358179847559387_100001021233256_1097786_961 031241_n.jpg


i've never driven stick before so todays been an adventure.. but i'm already getting way better after 4-5 short trips.

its a really fun little car

I picked it up for $1000 today. I have to do some work, fab up some bumpers for inspection, replace the speedometer cable and bondo a couple small spots. runs and drives great ! It is also solid. 1989 vw cabriolet 1.8L , 5 SPD. 167K. The suspension isn't that old. Rokker adjustable coilovers. New lower control arm with bushings. It is a very tight , smooth riding car.

[JumpmanYaris]

oh man that thing is sweet. I smell a Project car hahaha

[403RS]

Holy fack I want this.

I've had my eyes on a ratted out 87 Golf, waiting to see what kind of tax return I get, haha.

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac170/DasMK2/6670315067_b4a0f7872a_b.jpg

[TinyGiant]

oh man that thing is sweet. I smell a Project car hahaha

yeah I LOVE the look of the front end of this car.

i really wanted to find an old 3 series bmw because i really like the look of the square grill.


A little body filler and some paint and i'll have this little car looking sweet soon :)

I'm going to go get a 20 day plate on it so i can drive it around while i fix the little things :)

[why?]

those things look awesome. Weird color though. Great deal.

[1.5]

yeah I LOVE the look of the front end of this car.

i really wanted to find an old 3 series bmw because i really like the look of the square grill.


A little body filler and some paint and i'll have this little car looking sweet soon :)

I'm going to go get a 20 day plate on it so i can drive it around while i fix the little things :)

Yes I love the e30s too

[TinyGiant]

fab'd up a rear bumper today

http://img.tapatalk.com/4257009d-c8f5-ab8d.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/4257009d-c91b-645d.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/4257009d-c93c-0e50.jpg


just have to paint and install the front one tomorrow :)

[TickleTimeTim]

lucky. awesome find. gl

[fnkngrv]

That qualifies as a bumper in your state?

[KCALB SIRAY]

That back left quarter looks like one big chunk of bondo?

[Thirty-Nine]

Awesome! I've always wanted to do a bad-ass Cabriolet project. Can't wait to see how this progresses.

[RedRide]

No matter what anyone might say, being debt fee is a much better feeling than driving a new(er) car.

I learned many years ago that trying to live beyond one's means just brings unhappiness.
So, enjoy your "new" car! :smile:

I'm presently retired and 100% debt free... As Toyota used to say..."Oh, what a feeling!":biggrin:

[TinyGiant]

if all goes well we will be debt free by the end of the summer. have $8k in credit card debt (mostly emergency work done on a jeep we sold 4 years ago lol.. tranny went. then other things and we decided to foolishly do the work on it) The rest of the debt was from being laid off for 3 months a couple years back. it will be nice to be debt free again.. $8k is pennies compared to some. but its more than i like to have :)

fnkngrv- it should its sturdy enough that i can wiggle the whole car with it :) the original bumper is pretty much the same deal under the shell.

kcalb siray- yeah it appears to be bondo (done 2 owners back) I'll get some more bondo and make it look alot smoother :) If i had any welding abilities and such i'd grab a new back quater and do it right.. but i dont lol.

i'll keep updating here as I go :) it will be nice to have another car to do things to :)

[TinyGiant]

http://img.tapatalk.com/4257078f-c277-33d0.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/4257078f-c289-b1e4.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/4257078f-c2a5-e702.jpg


I finished installing the front bumper last night. I decided to put blinkers on the front of it too! They were only $1.49 each at a local discount store. The whole bumper project cost me $5. lol

i'm going to paint it black like the other one. but here is a picture for now :)

I kind of like it silver.. but i want it to match

[TinyGiant]

oh and as far as the bondo on the rear quater. its actually not from filling in rust spots but the previous owner filled in the body line where a trim strip once sat. He just did a horrible job of sanding it smooth on that side. The other side came our great. This side wasnt as glorious

[TinyGiant]

spent the day trying to track down a short on the tail light circuit.. eventually got sick of playing around with it and rewired the tails to run off the license plate circuit. problem solved.. one step closer to inspection ready :P

[contraband831]

I love me the vw cabrio, I like how it looks already! Nice find..

[TinyGiant]

i'm probably going to remove the A/C system next . the previous owner had cut the hoses that run from the compressor and pulled the fuse for the a/c .. i'm guessing it had issues.

the compressor alone weighs 22lbs and removing the strain on the V belt will give me a good amount of HP increase and reduce engine load.. some people on the vw forum said they saw as much as a 10hp increase after removing it.

its a free mod, removing something that i'll never use anyways. seems like a good plan. Makes for more room in the engine compartment too :P


i love interior mods, I cant wait to get to that stage of the project :)

[TinyGiant]

i found the guy who owned the car two owners ago.

the rear drivers side panel was backed into a pushed in.. he pulled it out and bondo'd it.. was a little lazy on getting it to look smooth.. i have plenty of bondo here from when i was doing the yaris hood and side skirt fitments.. i just need to find my hardener stuff for the bondo.

[tomato]

We'd love some photos of the process, TG!

[TinyGiant]

I think I am going to go with some sort of zombie apocalypse theme. I'm thinking of doing a red/white/black interior..

red carpet, white vinyl seats, and door cards (like boat vinyl leather like material), white dash..

I'm considering doing a bloody massacre inside.. Getting dash paint and splattering the whole dash and door cards to look like a crazy crime scene or something.. lol

i'll Probably keep the outside somewhat similar with the flat colors, not sure if i want to mix it up or not. I have a friend who is an amazing artist.. i might have her to some splatter off the wheel wells and on the front.


would definitely be a head turner...

[TinyGiant]

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/466521_389941987716506_100001021233256_1181080_115 0729053_o.jpg


Last week we did.. pass CV axel, pass tierod end, pass wheel bearing and a shift rebuild kit

yesterday I had four new tires put on vintage rims i refinished

on the way home from getting the tires done the clutch cable end hook snapped..

Only thing we have to do now is the drivers side tierod end and adjust the shift linkage (kind of hard to find 1st and 2nd right now after doing the rebuild kit. Gotta realign the shift rod )

sooooo close to getting the sticker on it!

[TinyGiant]

also put a pioneer head unit in the car two weeks ago. Once i get the sticker i will start working on the interior and replacing all the door speakers (since the OEM ones are all blown)

[TinyGiant]

Car is finally inspected. and since the mechanical end of things are taken care of .. its time for the fun stuff..

designed up a the rear door cards last night, purchased the vinyl today.. cut to fit and ready for stitching tomorrow. cant wait to get these done!

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/415018_392866450757393_100001021233256_1190062_574 918622_o.jpg


prototype drawing without the stitching incorporated

[tooter]

Wow... it's great to see the before and afters. In the 60's abbreviated bumpers were called nerf bars. Did you bend electrical conduit for your bumpers? They look really cool! :thumbsup:

There's something satisfying about seeing your creative resourcefulness. It's admirable. :smile:

[YAR1S]

I love how Im not the only one who decided to buy an oldie this summer :)
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/528084_10150757082499004_534039003_9480380_8123966 49_n.jpg

[TinyGiant]

Wow... it's great to see the before and afters. In the 60's abbreviated bumpers were called nerf bars. Did you bend electrical conduit for your bumpers? They look really cool! :thumbsup:

There's something satisfying about seeing your creative resourcefulness. It's admirable. :smile:



it was actually the pipe from a fence gate here at the house. Its half of a 10ft drive through gate from our chain link fence. I put up a shed a removed the gate and had both sides sitting around needing a purpose.

I measured the width and it happened to be the same width as the distance between the bumper mounts :P

[TinyGiant]

I love how Im not the only one who decided to buy an oldie this summer :)
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/528084_10150757082499004_534039003_9480380_8123966 49_n.jpg


she diesel?

[TinyGiant]

finished my first set of door cards today

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5682536-DIY-Custom-Rear-Door-Card-Tutorial&p=77293890#post77293890

[TinyGiant]

Installed :P


http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/524476_394029920641046_100001021233256_1193025_461 639047_n.jpg

[YAR1S]

yep diesel

[TinyGiant]

Last Door card done (drivers front)

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/533087_394704187240286_100001021233256_1195092_166 3875035_n.jpg


Installed on door:
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/412633_394732600570778_100001021233256_1195136_143 2268193_o.jpg


Inside shot:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/465498_394732333904138_100001021233256_1195135_134 8579841_o.jpg

[TickleTimeTim]

unfreakin real. so great. please tell me you well have a sniper holster in that car. or at least sawed off shotguns in the door panels

[why?]

totally nuts, love it. You always do great creative unique stuff.

[TPA5]

Sick ride, I've always wanted an older VW.

I like the door cards, I've been debating re-doing the interior door panels of my Yaris using vinyl...although not quite how you've done yours haha.