First Car!! 1982 VW Rabbit Convertible!!!!

[j.concepcion54321]

Sooo it turns out im not dead... AND NEITHER IS THE RABBIT!!!

Ill post up an update video sometime tonight as trying to write everything ive done would take a couple of posts.

 

[exenos]

Good to hear! I saw one of these a few weeks ago all painted up and restored and it looked great.

 

[OzFab]

trying to write everything ive done would take a couple of posts.

Well, maybe you should've posted as you progressed

After almost 2 months, there should be quite a bit of progress...

 

[j.concepcion54321]

OK so ill start where i left off, my senior project. For my school project i had to do the body work of the car by the first week of may. I did all the welding, bondo, sanding, and priming in a mock booth that i set up in my backyard. Most of what i have are videos of me doing the work for the school project so not too many pictures sadly

 

[j.concepcion54321]

so after i did all the body work i primed all the panels

 

[j.concepcion54321]

and then masked everything off and painted it!!! The color that i went with is a metallic gray rustoleum. I bought one of the little grips for the spray cans that make it feel like an actual gun and used that. I made the mistake of not having much lighting in the "booth" so when i took it out to the sun i noticed many of the spots where the paint wasnt smooth. Additionally i had my dad buy the clear coat and after i sprayed it on and realized how dull it looked i checked the can and realized it was a matte finish which sorta killed the look of the car. After my pockets get a little deeper ill have to by another 3 or 4 cans and go at it again, then give it the proper clear coat and it should look good!!

Instead of doing several posts ill just say everything now and then post up the pics...

Im not sure if i mentioned it already or not but i replaced the top and sourced a fuse box with the harness plugs in good shape. BOth of those were installed during this period aswell. The plugs took alot of time to do and in the end there were still some things that didnt work.

So i took the car to the guy who sold me the box and between the owner himself, two mechanics that work for him, and myself along with hours of staring into wiring schematics and troubleshooting we were able to find the source of the electrical problem and then get the rabbit running!!!

I thought that id be able to make it home since it was now running so we left and then ran out of gas. After more gas was put in, it was still sputtering and didnt wanna run right. So the car had to be towed back to my house

The next day i figured that my injectors were dirty since the fuel system had been sitting all that time so i pulled them out, let them soak in some injector cleaner over night, and then put them back in the next day.

I turn the key and still nothing. It would start, idle rough, sputter and then die when i gave it gas. THis problem had me EXTREMELY frustrated as the car ran fine at the shop only a couple days before. I replaced my plugs wires, checked my plugs, made sure my pump was good and then a buddy of mine recommended that i ran some in tank fuel system cleaner. So i just added some of that to the tank, poured another gallon or two of gas, and then it started up and ran like a champ..... The reason it wasnt running right was it had no gas......

MOral of that story, always make sure you have sufficient gas before you start freaking out and almost taking apart your entire fuel system to try and diagnose a problem that doesnt exist...

So now that the rabbit was running and driving i had to pick up some new wheels for it!! I found a set of old 16inch acura rims on craigslist for 150 and scooped them up for a hundred bucks!!

I then re applied the bumpers and now im good to go!! For now...

I have some pics saved somewhere but im gonna just make an update video like i said i would to save time... and so you guys can hear it running!!!!!

 

[J_Walker]

as far as your paint problem... sand it flat, and smooth, don't worry about taking it down back to bare metal. or the OEM paint.

also if you're using a gloss rustoleum.. DO NOT USE THE RUSTOLEUM CLEARCOAT. Now, call me insane, but the gloss rustoleum + their clearcoats = orange peel from ****. its better to just let the gloss clear, and then wax it - like old school paint.

if you're set on using a gloss, use a matte color coat. with a gloss over top, and if I may recommend, rustoleum base coat/rustoleum MATTE color coat/kylon ACRYLIC gloss clearcoat. the kylon clear coat HAS to be acrylic. also make sure its rated for UV protection/non yellowing, it sometimes takes me a few trips to different walmarts to find it. but its worth it.

Also people rant and rave about the 2k clear that comes in a spray can.. that you have to use within 24 hours. but the amount of money you'd pay for to do a whole car.. you could of just bought/rented an HLPV. lol

edit: the picture at the bottom is a white base coat [rusto] and matte red color coat [rusto] and glossy krylon acrylic clear. no sanding/buffing just what it can look like.

Chevy red to compare, it was slightly a different color. little more "violet" in color.

 

[fowler]

Your painting it with a seat can

Don't expect it to be anything flash

 

[j.concepcion54321]

OK well the problems continue...

As i had mentioned previously everything on the car was working just fine. Everything minus my reverse lights. However ysterday i got home from work and started her up real quick and was gonna take the car for a spin locally. Before i go out i always check to make sure that my lights and blinkers are all working, so i went ahead and checked them. WHen i put on my right directional it killed the power to the car. I thought "huh" and then tried to start it again. IT started up just fine and then i put the light on again and it shut off. I try to start the car for a third time and at this point nothing is working. No power to the pump, no horns, nothing. There are certain things that have remained working though. my headlights and wipers are good, and all my gauges are working fine.

I figured it could be the fuse box again but i cant afford to buy a new one. Any ideas? Im soo frustrated with this. I just bought an exhaust too thinking that as soon as i mounted that and fixed my back up lights i could be on my way to the beach. THis honestly is the worst ive felt in a really long time. So much time and effort invested into doing everything and to have it running perfectly fine one minute and then doing this the next is just painful.

 

[itsid]

it's not the fusebox Josh.. it's still the bad wiring behind it I'm afraid.

You still need to trace the wires.. fix all leaks etc.
Then and only then you'll have a reliable car.

Oh, well you could install an all new wiring harness.. but that's utterly expensive and as time consuming as fixing the old one.

'sid

 

[j.concepcion54321]

I'm pretty sure the wiring is fine. When I tell you that everything was working perfectly, I mean everything was working perfectly! I was ready to go take it to get inspected and put it on the road this week when that happened.

 

[j.concepcion54321]

Just checked and I have power going into the box. But not comilng out.my headdlights still work however??? I'm not getting any power coming inntto the c terminal behind it either. This is what gives power to the ecu and the rest of the engines electrical stuf and its not working.

 

[j.concepcion54321]

Its been a while...

Well guys what can i say, its been a while!

The rabbits done for now! She's running and driving, passed safety inspection to get on the road back in august, and has been good ever since. Only problem it currently has is that theres a really annoying beeping noise above 2k rpms when i drive. Its a result of what i believe is a faulty high oil pressure sensor. Currently working on a fix for this as it drives me crazy whenever I'm driving.

Im sorry that this thread took a turn for the boring side. Towards the end of the summer i took on more hours at work and then dedicated the time to fixing the rabbit when i wasn't working, additionally i had a lot of prior commitments form school that had to be finished making it nearly impossible for me to post on here as much as i wanted to.

Im currently a freshman at Boston College here in Chestnut Hill, MA. Its one of the most expensive and private neighborhoods in the area which means theres almost a non existent car scene here which is upsetting But i gotta focus on school anyways so its good that the Rabbit is locked up back at home. (I wanted to take it with me but the cost of parking is 600 a semester!!! Not something i can afford, and probably more than what the rabbit is worth)

Anyways since the last post heres whats been done:
-Body work has been finished
-fender flares installed
-wiring complete and car running and driving as it should (minus my fan which is still hooked up to a switch, and the annoying oil pressure. On a side note i believe that the oil i have in the car is just too thin. Its currently running 5w-30 and i think I'm just gonna try something thicker and hope it gets rid of the beeping. Maybe 20w50 )
-rear wheel cylinder replaced
-radio, antenna, and speakers installed
-plasti dipped the top
-picked up some trim pieces but have yet to install them.
-new muffler

Things to come: Distant future.
-racing seats
-short shifter (ill be modifying my original one)
-Nardi wood grain steering wheel
- coilovers!!!!!!
-279 cam
-port the intake and exhaust
-full exhaust
- shave the head (boost compression)
- a/c delete
-New paint (i bought a compressor!! so now i can throw down some more consistent paint. Im thinking of doing a nice deep green color.)

Things to come: Not so distant future
-compress bumpers
-badgeless grill
-relocate license plate
-duckbill

Total cost so far of the project: right around 2 grand. I spent a lot of money with the wiring and i could've been a lot smarter about it had i gone back to do that part again. total the wiring cost me like 450 Also would've saved a lot of money with the paint part, had i not chosen a 7 dollar paint and messed up with the clear coat. It would've been cheaper for me to purchase a compressor and gun and paint it the right way.

Let me know what you guys think of the rabbit so far!!! Any comments are great and accepted wether it be on things i did well, recommendations on the future plans i have for it, comments on college, or if you have any of the parts i need (COILOVERS PLEASEE!!!) be sure to reach out.

 

[OzFab]

Considering the condition it was in when you "found" it, you've done well

I'm not usually a fan of matt paint jobs but, on that, it doesn't look half bad...

 

[machinist@large]

After the last week or so, where I've hemorrhaged a little over 1/2 of what he has into his ride in repairs and cab fare (try $100.00 a day round trip) I'd say he's done well.....


The fact that he's complaining about the social scene and the parking like they were the biggest problems in the world?

J? I like what you've figured out, and you're definitely a member that I'd like to see stay, it's just that after the last two weeks of just trying to keep my job, I just can't get to worked up about young college aged problems from anyone who has the where with all to afford tuition at a school like that......

Everyone, while the comparison of vehicle whoas is a major thorn, what blew me away was the complaint about the lack of a vehicle scene........

 

[itsid]

While I totally get what you're saying Pat, I do not agree..

yes college-problems are not much alike the problems you or me are facing,
but remembering my University time and the problems I was facing
-from nowadays perspective lousy childish problems even 455hole problems you might say-
like not being able to get there (University) because not having enough money at hand to fill up my 60k sportscar (yeah.. I know... I was one of those kids I'm afraid... I'm sorry )
Things like that really have been a problem back then, and it wasn't too easy -for barely post pubertarian me- to figure out how to deal with such dilemmas on my own.

But the point is.. those problems were very real to me back then.
Things I needed to learn and to deal with one way or another.
Problems I didn't had to face earlier in my life;
things we wouldn't even consider a "problem" anymore,
thanks to experience...

So Josh seems to be a nice decent guy, and while
not having a car scene or be able to pay for parking is merely an inconvenience;
I do believe that I might have had considered that a problem back then myself
(we had free parking luckily.. )

So don't be too upset that Josh complained about such things..
I think it's perfectly okay to start slow on adult life's issues

'sid

 

[j.concepcion54321]

machinist@large: Im not complaining about the car scene here I was just making a note to further show why I'm not as engaged on the forum. Don't really have time for it. Regarding financial issues, i was top 10 of my graduating high school class, student council president, member of multiple business classes and took 5 AP courses my senior year. I worked my *** off in order to be able to get to where i am today. I had the knowledge to continue to work hard in school while being able to have fun with go karts and cars on the side. Neither of my parents went to college and my mom works 2 jobs (8am to 4pm and then 5pm to 1am) and my dad just picked up a job at a shipyard. Boston College is a 60,000 dollar school that I'm paying a little over a grand to go to based on academic scholarships and financial need.

I understand how the world works and i know that not having a car on campus is not an issue. If thats really all that you took from my post then I would rather you keep that comment to yourself. My days consist mainly of school, and then more school, and then work to support myself. Im preparing myself for my future in an environment where no one is like me. All the students around here come from rich families and drive BMW's at the age of 18 like its no ones business. Needless to say, I'm here for the opportunity that i received and the education. So excuse me for feeling the privilege to say that it sucks i can't have a conversation with another intellectual about cars or modifying things in a DIY manner.

As much as i love the forum and appreciate whatever help you may have given me in the past, it is YOUR comment that was ignorant. Don't try to compare yourself to me without knowing what i have been through, and the hardships that i faced.

Do you honestly think that i would have been so picky with purchasing parts and buying a 120 dollar kart if i could afford to pay 62,000 dollars to go to school a year? Did that thought ever cross your mind??? Those who work hard, receive what they earn. I worked my *** off in school to get to where i am today, and I've been blessed that i have had supportive parents who even when they can't afford to, allow me to pursue both my academic needs, and my mechanical hobbies and interests.

And what where you trying to say at the end where you add satire by making a comment to "everyone". Your directly insulting and talking down to me because you feel the need to DIRECTLY tell the forum what you feel about my actions which in turn drives them to feel that certain way aswell. That was an attack at me directly and I'm not sure how you expected me to reply to that. Im honestly curious as to your thinking, did you want me to apologize because you were right and i shouldn't be sympathized for a small complaint that i issued? I can almost guarantee that you weren't expecting me to defend myself the way that i just did.

Just read your irrelevant post again and realized that you mentioned i stated it like it was "the biggest problem in the world" (direct quote from your post) take a look at what i wrote.

"theres almost a non existent car scene here which is upsetting "

I never knew that by stating something was "upsetting" i am setting it up to be the biggest problem in the world. And if thats the way that you interpret it when people say that things are "upsetting" then you really need to take a look at the definition of the word upsetting.

No need to fret friend, I've taken the 3 seconds to look it up and define it here for you.

up·set
verb
gerund or present participle: upsetting; noun: upsetting
ˌəpˈset/
1.
make (someone) unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

Didn't see where anywhere in that it at all referred to a detrimental issue that is ultimately "the biggest problem in the world"

Didn't mean to rant with this response as i always frown upon it when i see long posts like this, but i felt both disrespected and insulted by your ignorant comment and felt the need to retaliate.

 

[fowler]

 

[landuse]

I do think that Pat has just had a bad few weeks, and that his comments were based on that, and not the way he would normally react

 

[j.concepcion54321]

Thanks landuse, with that said i guess we will just move past this for now and address it later on if it does get brought back up.

So does anyone know what else could cause the high oil pressure warning light to beep? I have replaced the high oil pressure sensor on the oil filter, tried disconnecting the cables going to the filter, i tried grounding out the cable going to the oil pressure sensor on the filter and still nothing. Im pretty sure its a faulty sensor in my dash since grounding it out should cause the light to not beep.

Regardless im gonna switch to a thicker oil and see if that helps.

Also, currently the fuel gauge and temperature gauge in my cluster work intermittently. Hasn't really been a huge issue as the car sits most of the time besides when my dad starts it up and takes it around the block every couple of days.

Besides that, if anyone has a set of coil overs that they would like to sell cheap (like 100 to 150 range) i would very much so appreciate it

Also what are your opinions on this method of extending the shifter arm to reduce the throw length? the picture that i have attached is about a fourth of the way down the page.

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/ForSale/ShiftLinkage.shtml