The Cheat's 1984 GTi buildup thread.

[The Cheat]

So basically, I've been wanting to dive head-on back into the Rabbit habit since I sold my last couple. Found a 1984 GTi on the outskirts of Philly in a northern suburb earlier in the week and picked it up yesterday. I'll be documenting what I do and how I do it in here, as I want to keep my photo thread nice and clean.

Expect some fodder this week...

week of 4.1.06-inspected floors, deemed carpet salvageable (for now). will be removed for good shortly once the new interior pieces come in.
week of 4.8.06- new air filter installed, cleaned airbox.
week of 4.15.06- oil change, inspected remaining components of car. car deemed safe for 3000-mile road trip pending a timing belt/waterpump/tuneup. also fixed exhaust with a sleeve clamp from ECS tuning. rest of exhaust deemed healthy enough for now until the buildup moves towards speed. replaced spark plugs.

[digitalputty]

Sweet. Keep us posted!
My fiance has an 1983 Rabbit GTi.

[The Cheat]

Well, the teardown starts Tuesday. Gonna gut the interior and vacuum/degrease it. Leaving the carpet out for the moment (trying to locate a clean black or red rug), and will probably rip off the headliner and anything cracking or fading.

Good interior parts are cheap enough on the used circuit...why bother trying to refinish?

Searching for an exhaust at the moment for it (or at least a 45-50mm bandage clamp).

Once I rip the interior out of it, I will be tuning it up and placing some 20w-50 into the motor and changing the plugs/air filter. That should take me right into May and out of my ATL-Florida trip. The car is pretty solid otherwise, I just want to tune it up a bit to try and maybe pull an extra couple MPG out of it (it has like an 11 gallon tank). I've heard that 35mpg is not hard to pull at 55mph with these cars, but I like going slightly faster than that.

[PhoenixRising]

Sounds like you have thought this out. Good for you. Look forward to seeing what you do with it.

[The Cheat]

Well, I've got the interior in pieces and ripped out. FLoors look good, and I'm sourcing some black carpet right now.

Started tracing radio wires as well because I have a big trip to Florida coming up and I need tunes.

Also am going to order a timing belt kit for it this week as well and attack that while I'm at it.

Also am going to install my 3 gauges from Jenna as well (water/oil/oil).

Should be a busy month.

[Oyveychris]

The console (shifter surround) from a late 80's cabriolet should be a bolt in and should already have oil pressure/voltage/temp guages in it. Just a thought, so you don't have to run anymore wires...You could probably pick one up cheap, plus it'd look tight in a Mk1 GTi!

[The Cheat]

Exhaust is fixed.

ECS rocks at life, as does their sleeve clamps.

$14 just saved me $175 over a TT/dynomax mill. Never knew Bunny was supposed to be this quiet.

Picking up seats to part out on Thursday and most of an interior next week.

Bunny's getting worked from the inside out.

[digitalputty]

I hate to be a weiner but ...

WHERE ARE THE PICS?! I dont care if it is all torn up or what not ... I wanna see pix!

[GatorBeetle]

Awesome Play by Play, but I have to agree...

[GatorBeetle]

[GatorBeetle]

PICS!!!!

[GatorBeetle]

Heck...here's one I found of it...

[digitalputty]

Hehe. Nice!
MORE!

[The Cheat]

Pics soon I promise!

Mainly just working on maintenance stuff for the moment, though I did put Jenna's old exhaust tip on the Bunster. Looks horribly out of place, but oh well. Main concern is drivability, and the tip adds some bass to the note. Next order of business is new valve cover gasket/timing belt/water pump (all of which has to get done by April 25).

Bun-Bun is going to Atlanta from 4.26-4.30, so he must be in prime shape for the 13-hour drive. He's making an appearance in FL too as well from 4.30-5.3. Now you know why I want the timing belt done.

What I'd really like is a Bentley, be it online or paperback...just so I have the torque settings and all. These cars are so simple that my mom could do a belt on them, but it's nice to have.

I have a pic thread in the other rides section, and I'm trying to mainly make this a buildup thread of sorts and keep the pics in the other thread...maybe throw some how-to's in here as well. I want this to kind of be a blog for me and the Buninator.

[The Cheat]

4.12.06: Blog entry #1...

Today Bun-Bun got registered! Took all of 20 minutes to get his paper tags. It went smooth as can be, and I'm happy as a clam.

I drove him to Danbury today to procure some parts for my truck and he felt solid. I's the longest trip I've taken with him since the purchase date, and he felt awesome cruising at 85mph. Tach says 4900rpm at that speed, but with the 4K trans, I should be around 4500. Another inaccurate VW tach I guess.

Also changed the oil. I used just plain old 15w-40 for now seeing as how in a month it's getting changed again, this time with 15w-50 or 20w-50. Replaced the oil filter with a Fram (I know, I know). When Bun-Bun gets back from his roadtrip, he'll get a new oilpan gasket, a new pan (with a windage tray), and proper synthetic fluids with Mobil filters. Speaking of, I should probably change the fuel filter. The Bosch unit looks fairly new, but I don't trust looks. Looks can be decieving, as we all know.

He's still sans radio/speakers, but I have a choice...either speakers or timing belt. Looks like I'll be searching out why the stupid lighter doesn't have power so that way I have lappy for tunes.

That's all for now...more to come soon.

[PhoenixRising]

Just a quick question: What do you think of VW bringing back the Rabbit name?

Myself, I love it, but I was curious how you felt about it.

[The Cheat]

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

Just a quick question: What do you think of VW bringing back the Rabbit name?

Myself, I love it, but I was curious how you felt about it.

TJ: if they do it right, it will be a HUGE success.

[The Cheat]

4.15.06: #2...

Been noticing a growing misfire since I got Bun-Bun. Today I got crazy and checked the wires...pulled a plug too. Found most of the problem right then and there: the plugs/wires/cap/rotor were ALL shotski. Replaced just the plugs for now (the rest would have to be ordered...will do that before ATL though). End result: car runs 110% better, starts quicker and idles smoother. I expect this mixed tank to better the 23MPG of the last mixed tank. I pulled 29MPG on my trip to Amy's...so I know there's 30MPG+ potential in there. Just gotta tune him up.

Toad may have found me speakers...stay tuned on that. Next week is when the fun begins.

[kingofgrills]

Cheat, good luck with the new project. The '84 GTI was my first VW, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love that car!!!

Once you change the plugs and cap and all, be sure to check your fuel enrichment switch, which is located on the throttle body on the manifold. Mine became disconnected once, and it ran a little rough with considerable loss of power. Once I figured it out and plugged it back in, everything was great. Also, you've got solid lifter valves on that thing, so make sure you adjust the valves as part of your tuneup.

I hope you can still find plenty of performance parts for that now. There's quite a few bolt on goodies that will give you considerable oomph, if they're still available.

Good luck!

[The Cheat]

Update:

New valves/lifters are in. Had the timing belt go snap at 80mph on I75. Luckily, I got a free tow to the Georgia Dome parking lot where I rebuilt the head...holla! Car is running great and pulling 25-27mpg in town.

Rust is a winter tackle methinks.

Bought a G60 Cabriolet, stay tuned for pics of my Bunnies.