Making an 82 Rabbit pick-up not suck at moving

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Patches is still kickin and there haven't been any updates because he is too reliable! (well, and cuz I've been too busy) But other than tracking down and fixing some of the water leaks, I've just been hauling stuff and getting 46MPG. 

Also, I've been building and filming a lot of non-auto stuff lately that has been taking up all my time, but I hope to get back to my roots this winter/ Spring. The next addition to the Studabreaker project has got me feeling all warm and tingly. (no spoilers yet!)

So after Christmas, there was some actual updating done for Patches.

My Wife got me a "retrosound" head unit to replace the literal $20 one I had, and I have to say the old one looked very out of place. and This new one blends the 80's aesthetic much more nicely.

And what project could be done without some project creep? So since I updated the stereo, I needed to update the speakers. The stock setup didn't have door speakers but there is a place for them. 

But then you have to cut a hole in the door cards... now should I do that with a razor knife or...Frickin Lazer Beams!

Yeah, That's the right choice alright. 

The wife and I bought a rather large laser cutter last year for various projects and it really makes that creep hit just right. 

I also, updated the headlights to Hellas, painted the grill, added headlight bezels, designed and printed out an adjuster bracket for the headlights. replaced all the door seals, shortened and installed the front bumper, made a license plate holder and finally, got a working bulb behind the HVAC controls! but I didn't take pictures of any of that stuff.  Maybe later.

Very cool!

Well, the Turbo gave out. Boo!

But I fixed it. Yay!

About two months ago, it made a terrible whistling noise and lost all power for about 5 minutes. Then, it abruptly went back to normal. 

Thought this was super weird but then forgot about it until it happened again, more permanently this time. 

With some poking around, sure sounds like the turbo. And considering I got the new CHRA center for 80 (?) dollars. I guess I'm not surprised.

So I need a turbo to install. Oh, Here's one. 

I have this low mileage motor from a 98 jetta still sitting in the garage. 

The Jetta itself? It had to return to it's home planet. 

Now, if I scavenge this turbo, what will I use on the low mileage engine rebuild... To the Interwebs!

Cut forward 2 weeks and what do we have here?

I was lucky enough to find a lightly used VNT 17/22 hybrid Turbo. These have a pretty solid boost (no pun intended) in performance and bolt right up to the block. They don't bolt right up to everything else though and really require a tune to function correctly. I'm looking to get patches back on the road quickly so this is gonna stay on the engine stand for now. 

Shaft play on the low miles turbo seems acceptable anyway, and it was functioning when removed so I know it's good. let's go. 

Shaft play on the old turbo on the other hand was at about 1/4 of an inch

Luckily, with this new apparatus, so fitted to the ambifacient lunar waneshaft that side fumbling was effectively prevented.

Now, this was a pretty cut and dry swap so I didn't take any pictures...until

Doh! I'm an idiot and I tightened the banjo bolt too much. After which I had to pull the whole turbo back out of the car. 

But thankfully the auto-gods were merciful.

Back in business and the "new" (old) stock turbo actually sounds much better as well. The truck made a fairly obnoxious turbo whistle before which I had chocked up to the totally open exhaust.

But the true culprit was cheap turbo parts. Either way, Patches is back in action and back on track to hit 300,000 Miles before I replace the engine. (while using it for other stupid shenanigans)