1981 VW Rabbit Covertable

[andymccauley]

i figured id start a thread that is more about modding my car than just fixing the problems that are wrong with it, that could go on forever. lol. heres my other thread. http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/s...with-my-Rabbit

Pacesetter, cuz my exhuaust manifold cracker



bolted on



a lil obstical.



all good



sits a lil higher than that.





i had some fittment issues with the header, it hit the bracket that holds the steering rack so i had to trim that a lil, it still hits in reverse and when i downshift. drives me nuts but i dont wanna take the time to extend the header.

[andymccauley]

also did a lil mod that i thought was a lil different, havent really seen anyone do it. MK2 small bumper swap.





this was my thoughts on modding the MK2 mount. n how it turned out.





couple shots of how it turned out.








i still need to trim the plastic a lil n the driverside sags a lil so i need some fender posts that the bumper ends slip onto. the MK1 n MK2 bumper mounts are almost in the same place the only difference is that the MK1 mounts on the sides n the MK2 mounts on the bottom.

[andymccauley]

this is where im at now. transmission removal for a new clutch.

linkage disconnected.

CV axles disconnected n wired up.


still gotta disconnect the radiator hoses get the cherrypicker n support the motor so i can put it on tilt n drop the tranny
removed the radiator hoses

disconnected the intake n PCV hose.

got the cherrypicker in place. next step transmission removal. after i get the last transmission mount off.

i think i got it at top dead center too. there is a [0] n then a V notched to the right of it. i lined it up with the mark on the bell with the V cut.
its OUT!

clutch disc is a SACHS so it has to have been replaced sometime in the past.


tranny code.


would i need a different starter if i put a 210MM flywheel in it?

[andymccauley]

old 190 compared to the new 210MM (got the clutch kit for $60 on begay)

and the pressure plate. just waiting on my LW flywheel to get here.


also going to be puting new motor/trans mounts in and rebuilding the shifting linkage.

[andymccauley]

i just found the gear ratios for my FF code tranny.
1st 3.89
2nd 1.94
3rd 1.29
4th .97
5th .76

[andymccauley]

i got a mk3 spline adapter so i can use this victor hub/spacer bolted to a GT grant. i cant wait to see how i like it with the new clutch.

[andymccauley]

i changed all the motor mounts. so while im in here im gunna put a new timing belt in as well. so this is how it sits for now.(sept the motor mount on the block is back in)



i ordered a eurospec lightweight flywheel from blackforestindustries n they didnt have it in stock n neither did eurospec. so i tried a different site. hopefully i will be getting it within the next week.

also picked up some BMW seats im going to do a lil modifying to the stock rabbit frame work. VW seats in good condition are just too hard to find



the seats are out of a 1983 325i the guy had them recovered n then his daughter wrecked the car after putting 1000 miles on it. the only rip is from when he took them out of storage. $150

[briano1234]

Cool update.... Yes the Pacesetter has fitment issues, that I thought were only related to my 90,,, I did the heat bend adjust thing
and didn't see a knock until the tranny mount gave up...

[andymccauley]

got the rabbit seat frame all cleaned up.



and then i mounted it to the frame with 2 peices of angle iron i welded to the frame n drilled holes in them to bolt up.



AND the best part is i got my flywheel!

[briano1234]

Just make sure to remove the cosmoline off of it before you mount it.

[andymccauley]

ummm. what is cosmoline?

i decided to go ahead n change my drive flange seals since i have the tranny out the driverside seal was bad which caused the CV axle to go bad. so i called a local VW mechanic i met a few months ago to aid me in the job. should be getting the seals sometime next week.

[briano1234]

Cosmoline is a protective coating they spray on finished metal parts to keep them shiny and rust free.

[andymccauley]

i took that stuff off of where i needed to weld. i got the driverside mounted as well. n just got my driveflange seals

[andymccauley]

i looked on alldata on how to replace the drive flange seals. it looks like there is 2 special pullers needed but i was just thinking about attempting this myself since the guy i was gunna have do it i cant get ahold of since his phone is dissconnected. is this doable? this is the last item on my to do list before the car goes back together.

also i changed my timing belt n i was wondering if the intermediate shaft needs to be in a specific spot lined up to the crank gear?

[UnaClocker]

On a gasser, yes, the intermediate shaft rotates the distributor. If the shaft isn't in the right place, it'll fire the wrong spark plug.

[briano1234]

i looked on alldata on how to replace the drive flange seals. it looks like there is 2 special pullers needed but i was just thinking about attempting this myself since the guy i was gunna have do it i cant get ahold of since his phone is dissconnected. is this doable? this is the last item on my to do list before the car goes back together.

also i changed my timing belt n i was wondering if the intermediate shaft needs to be in a specific spot lined up to the crank gear?

Replacing a drive flange seal:
http://www.toplessrabbit.com/forums/...hp?f=27&t=2267

[briano1234]

On a gasser, yes, the intermediate shaft rotates the distributor. If the shaft isn't in the right place, it'll fire the wrong spark plug.

It doesn't matter where the intermediate shaft is, it matters where the Distributor is...

The intermediate shaft just spins the dizzy. As long as the crank is at 0, and the cam dimple is even with the valve cover tin. The dizzy has to be in the middle of the hash. Chances are that the timing marks on the intermediate shaft have been moved over the years....

see:
http://www.cabby-info.com/Files/AdjustingTheTiming.pdf

[andymccauley]

i just dove into the drive flange seals, they were easy. i was very surprised.

also both BMW seats are in.




well i havent touched the distributor and there is 2 marks on the intermediate shaft and im pretty sure the gear moved when i put the timing belt on, so where does it need to be at when i put the timing belt on?

[briano1234]

If your timing belt is on, then just make sure that the dizzy rotor is in the middle of the hash, you can remove and replace the dizzy
to get it to align up.

[rumblinrabbit]

Those are some classy seats for a rabbit haha.