New to me R32

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

It seems it has been a little while since I added anything here....
New suspension on the car at the end of last summer, factory stuff as I like the comfort in the Golf and didn't want anything stiff.... I guess I am getting old....



Everything went in without issues, took the opportunity to install new hardware as well as some were a little rusted.





Last week, I was thinking about short shifter kit but instead of buying new, I decided to go the DIY route....
Got a set of parts from a MK4 GTI 24V 6sp transmission to work with it:


I wanted a 25% reduction from factory so after doing the math and moving both pins, there were some interference with the counterweight on the bracket and the cable's end so shaving was in order.....





The front bracket is the shaved GTI one:



My cable's end weren't in great shape and the replacement one were toasted so I got the rubber out and made some from plastic (I don't remember the exact name of the material, similar to Teflon) and added a set screw to keep them in place:













Everything done ready to go in the car:



Here in place before welding both pins:




Feels good but I didn't drive the car yet so I'll comment how it really is later.

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

Looks great! Did you make the bracket yourself?

Thanks!
Yes I did. It was cheaper that way as the only brackets I found were parts of a kit and with change and shipping it would have been way more expensive.

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

Looking great! Love the progress!!!

Thanks George!

[witchcraftz]

Re: New to me R32

Looks great! Did you make the bracket yourself?

[Geobmx4life]

Re: New to me R32

Looking great! Love the progress!!!

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

It has been over a year now, I guess it was more fun to drive it last summer than working on it.
I have been lazy during the winter so not much done on it, here are the main stuff:

Wilwood 2 pieces rotors for the rear brake, 310mm with an offset of 10.4mm, different than factory but chosen as an easy way to make a bracket:










Bracket is 1/2" thick with graded hardware of course.




Looks way better that way!




Next was to make the electric mod for the exhaust flap instead of having it open all the time as I find it a little noisy during the night. 3 ways switch under the dash, not visible but still easily accessible:




After that, skid plate:










Decided to paint it as I had old leftover of blue.....




And of course, I had to do some cutting to match all under panels to it!








That should be all for now as it is my daily driver now but I still might redo both side skirts and putting them back in place later as well.

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

Why didn't you just use clear stoneguard?

The paint is far from perfect and I thought something thinner would be easier to apply..... I guess I was wrong.
I could have use clear only for this emplacement but as I am planning to add some on the hood as there are a lot of stone chips and above the windshield as there is rust (I planning to fix it later when I'll be replacing it), this is why I only bought a big piece of metallic black.

[GINCH]

Re: New to me R32

Why didn't you just use clear stoneguard?

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

Not much done since as well, the stuff left to do isn't fun and I am not good at it anyway.....
Tried to apply some vinyl as paint protection so here is take 1:



Take 2 wasn't even worth to use memory from the phone.....yeah, that bad..... so we are at take 3:



and take 4 and passenger side as well, sorry pictures aren't that great.





Tried on 1 headlight and it is not that great either sadly, air got trapped so it will stay like that for now.....forgot to take pics.

Hopefully this weekend I'll have time to put back both side skirts, was pretty hard to clean the urethane glue from them.....

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

Was there still a spray card in the glovebox? It was left over from when the hood was done.

Loving the attention to detail! Nice work!

Thanks Rob, I am trying to do as much as I can now because it is going to be more difficult later as it might be hard stopping driving it....

I don't know what a spray card is....

[RobG]

Re: New to me R32

Was there still a spray card in the glovebox? It was left over from when the hood was done.

Loving the attention to detail! Nice work!

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

Some update on the R32, under body is done and dry, all fender liners are cleaned



But I sprayed some Fluid Film on the "unprotected" metal before putting them on, hard to see on the picture....



Went shopping to get some vinyl to protect parts of the car as I planned. I was able to find a metallic black but the black isn't has deep as the Golf black....



Pieces for the rocker panel in front of the rear wheel



and got some clear to put on my nice headlight glass lenses

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

Brush on seam sealant applied yesterday over the rust converter which acted as a primer as well.







The seam sealer isn't easy to apply but I had good experience with it after 5 years on our van. 2 or 3 coat of under-body black rubber paint will be added on it of course.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

More work done on the R32, mainly under-body rust.










Almost all the rust under there is because of damage especially during towing, this is sad.
There are maybe 2 spots where the rust is from driving and getting rock chipping of the protective coat during winter certainly.

But, it is only surface rust so it is not a big deal but there was a lot of metal to bend back to make it look nice as both metal lips where flat mainly on the front of the car.

Here the result after grinding the rust and applying canned rust converter:





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[syncrovan]

Re: New to me R32

Yup, that's a good improvement! Nice even cutoff.

Thanks Collin.

Morimotto stuff is usually good quality and they are making better assy than before but they still need to work a little more to be at the top....