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How I picked the car up
Nothing to it.
Trailering it home
Home sweet home!
Started cleaning up the engine bay.
Front end removed for euro swap.
Lots of welding, grinding and smoothing.
New wheel vs stock wheel.
A very long and painful part of smoothing an engine bay.
Rear end repair
The car had a few dents from a transport incident. Started cutting out.
One dent fixed!
Second dent repaired.
Fabricated brackets for an earlier style dash.
Body work on the new panels.
Front end on and test fitting panels.
Primed the bay...
...as well as the rear end.
Then the whole car ended up getting sprayed
Ready for paint!
Parts!
It would feel like Christmas every time I'd come home from work for the past couple of years.
New parts.
99% of the parts on this car have been replaced with new.
Back from paint!
This was a wonderful day.
Engine bay in paint.
Starting to bolt up parts.
Back on all fours!
New vs Old
Before...
After!
Replaced the original style fan with a new, slim fan for a sleeker look.
Before...
After!
Gasket matched, ported and polished.
Engine Before...
Before...
After!
So much work getting it to this point, but well worth it.
Engine going in!
Motor in place.
Wonderful world of wiring.
Soldering helper.
Wiring requires lots of intermissions.
Tedious.
I opted to re-route the wiring harness through the fender well to help clean up the engine bay. The meant cutting and extending each wire.
Engine harness complete!
It sits pretty low.
Installing the new chrome bits.
Time to tackle the rest of the wiring...
Battery relocated to rear.
We have light!
Working on the headliner.
Getting close...
Ta-da!
Dash cleaned up and refinished.
Carpet in!
Rear bench re-upholstered and set in.
Rear trays recovered and installed.
Buttoning up the engine bay.
Exhaust arrives from Italy.
It's a bit bigger than I was expecting!
Glass installed.
I did the rear windows by myself but ended up breaking the windshield, so I had to call a glass guy in to help me with the windshield.
Day dreaming...
Slight intermission...
Young meets old!
My '84 and '12 GTI together for a shot.
Stereo
I didn't want to kill the look of the original dash so I kept the stock radio in and installed an amp under the seat to stay hidden. Ran the aux cord up and out the ash tray since I don't smoke and to keep it hidden when not in use.
Amp
Ended up using a tiny marine amp to power the speakers.
Front seats re-upholstered and installed.
Front seats re-upholstered and installed.
Interior is getting close!
Built a false floor in the rear to cover in carpet and showcase a full sized spare.
99% Done
Taking it out on it's maiden voyage after 3 years.
Made the trip!
Made it out to a show this year and the car made the 10 hour round trip without issue. Feels good man.
yamama
It's B-E-A-utiful, I tell you! Awesome job.
thedevilstolemydiary
I'm 17 and restoring a 1970 Holden Torana, I can't wait for it to be finished!
gdexterc
GREAT JOB. I would have liked to see more finished product pics.
lizwb
My parents could have used you in 1984 when they had a Rabbit that was a lemon!
TheHawk313
great job man, thats not something just anyone can do.
Btothe3rdPower
You must have an amazing job.
blaineevans
As a fellow dubber, well done. Fucking beautiful. Can't wait to resto a Rabbit myself.
OiCaptainSlow
It drives me crazy when someone puts crazy amounts if time and dedication into a car like this and comments are all lame puns... GREAT JOB!!
nachochachos
Jacob... Is that you?
colourblindchameleon
As a 1991 MK2 Golf owner... this isn't a restoration, it's modification. The outcome is lovely, however.
ttownep
I think this really qualifies as a resto-mod.
katiekat1992
+1 for New Glarus.
halshing
Nice work, young sir! Now go live the rest of your life getting bitches.
MyNameisNotOwl
I just looked through all of those..... Time well spent. Also, as a mechanic, I now have an erection.
wittybutasyetunusedusername
Restore a Rabbit?, Should have joined the Golf Club!
exergy
Lol'd.
Frostels
66 images? Ain't nobod.... what am I talking about I have no life, lets check this shit out.
TheCavenator
well done, well done.
Bru9
Kelly Blue Book tells me your car is worth $500.00 regardless of condition.
exergy
Kbb is great for tje average economy car but in an enthusiast market its entirely innacurate. I'd venture to say that in current 1/2
exergy
Condition, OP could sell his car for upwards of 5k. Also I'm realizing that your comment was probably a joke now.... -_____- 2/2
McTooty
As an avid classic VW enthusiast, I'd pay about 8k for this car if it was asked.
exergy
Because kbb only goes back to early/mid 90's.
AceofShades
www.nadaguides.com NADA is where its at.. problem is they are actually pretty inflated, my truck as is runs about 10K. I'd be lucky to get 2
BestAdvice
Once you understand the VW Golf/Rabbit you can't help but love it. Great story!
exergy
Old GTI's and rabbits are some of my favorite cars. Just wish I could afford to modify one like this.
Hoffafiles
My parents had 2 diesel rabbits, I would love to have one fully restored (with a better engine, of course) been a VW fan ever since.
pooplols
I'm super sad I never learnt how to do this shit. Always seemed like a lot of fun. +1 OP
stinkycheezmonky
It can be fun, is almost always rewarding, and is definitely good knowledge to have. Never too late to start.
randomlex
The experience is worth it, but it's a serious time and money pit.
hurrication
It's not.. it is tedious work, and the enjoyment some people get from it barely outweighs the process.
exergy
+1. I HATE working on cars but the enjoyment gotten from driving the finished product makes it totally worth it
MantisTobagganMD
This comment seems to be teeming with personal opinion.
Hanesgar
That's beautiful, OP. I want to do this with an E30, but I'm broke :(
exergy
Find @ryan_e30 on instagram. I promise you won't be disappointed. Unles you don't like stance. Then you'll be disappointed.
Yowhatthehellup
I have one. Bought it 9 years ago, did pretty much the same overhaul. Interior and wiring for 24 valve engine and It´s done. 10 years... :)
nick7728
im building a "331" e30 ix. (325ix with a stroker motor) If you do a an e30 project always always always check for rust.
TheDarkPotato
Become unbroke.
averageuser777
too soon op..lol
reallyreallyrelevant
http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/08/14/bmw-owner-fits-a-v10-engine-into-an-e30-m3/ <--why yes that engine is from an M5.
GuffTrumpets
That is awesome, I'd love to do something like that but leave the exterior completely standard
reallyreallyrelevant
I think the word you are looking for is sleeper. You would like a sleeper. They are awesome.
exergy
Also @funfordandsons has a sweet e30. Know what? Just go on stanceworks.com forum. Everyone has an e30.
AceofShades
no love for the E36
lacole725
I love e36. I love all euro. In fact, I was just at APR today.
nick7728
Building an e30 drive an e36 now, love em both. The e30 is just a classic.
Sackpfeife
As a german: TIL that our VW Golf was the VW Rabbit in the US...
bobafugginfett
Incredible work, but it sits so low! I'd be terrified of driving pretty much anywhere.
tiramigiu
he blatantly set it low for the pictures, aint nobody got time for that stance on a daily driver.
jiankui
Yeah, he's going to bottom out on what most people would consider flat surfaces. Don't know why he didn't keep the same profile wheels.
mremaknu
I was sitting here staring at that photo for a good minute straight imagining how many simple tasks would be moments of terror for that car.
LovelyCreature
As long as your suspension isn't sloppy, you're all good.
jakaii
Yep. As someone who rebuilt the engine in his car, I love all of this...but...I can't stand it when a car sits low like that.
kkus
Speed bumps
NikolaTeslaWasCool
It's a style choice that does limit driving capability, but old Golfs/Rabbits were never exactly speed demons.
jiankui
He's going to bottom out on the average suburban driveway. I guess that's a limit.
NikolaTeslaWasCool
You'd be surprised. I've seen some stupid-low cars that don't scrape, but then this is a static job (which I'm not a fan of).
jiankui
Yeah, I guess it's a personal preference. I like dirt too much to touch my clearance.
Aitahah
As someone who doesn't care one bit for cars, I enjoyed watching this. Nicely done!
adrockmk2
As someone who DOES care a lot for cars, I enjoyed watching this. Nicely done!
WardSharlow
It's funny you say that, because I like cars, and like working on them, but as soon as I saw "66 images," I completely tuned out.
PSYchr
+1 for Wisconsin!
TheRicM
LAST PICTURE FOR THE LAZY:
vanaman
Fuck lazy people now, this is worth checking it all...
jacobharris89
Thank you!
bulbabulb
Thanks angel =)
ImDarkerThanYou
We did really only need pictures 1,2,65 and 66 didn't we?
gooblegobbleoneofus
No.
vanaman
Nope. You gotta appreciate his voyage of getting something like this.
ImDarkerThanYou
Yeah because that's why included 2 and 65. Got the voyage covered mate dwdwdwdw
DiedAndHauntingImgur
You are the best kind of people!
sadpandas
its really cool that you can do that, but why THAT car?
hovz1105
Practice. Like fucking an ugly broad before sliding your cock into some good stuff. I call it the Sara Jessica Parker method.
DirtyHobo
WTF dude
icametodrinkmilk
The fuck? That is one of the most iconic vw's going
slurmlover
they're fucking fun to drive.
stinkycheezmonky
As a former MkI Rabbit owner....until you top out at 60mph downhill. It was interesting keeping the accelerator down ALL THE TIME.
eightbitrevolt
Because old Volkswagens are awesome machines and they will run forever. It's nice to see someone do a mk1 rather than the played out beetle.
ThebabyAteMyDingo
Beetle`s will never be played out. And the MK1`s are extremely popular here in Europe, Car shows are filled with them.
DirtyHobo
Why that car??? WHY THAT CAR?????!!!...Get out...or not, lemme splain: I love that car, truly freaking love it, if I knew how I'd do it too
sadpandas
I see you feel strongly about it. I just don't like its looks, I prefer a more svelte look
Alli187
Because it's a VW Rabbit, that's why. I effing love these cars and I'm not a "car person" per se.
malaroo
Because it's cool?
sadpandas
eh, I never liked the looks of the rabbit. I'd have gone with a GTO or an El Camino :3
malaroo
Yeah but that's what eevveryone else does. Those are some of the most commonly restored cars around.
sadpandas
just because its common, doesn't mean its bad. I like what I like. As it is the only thing we've restored is a totaled 2006 Equinox
bwchronos
Maybe for a car person, but to most people it still looks like a piece of junk I'd wager.
HelloMyNameIsEmily
A piece of junk? You mean like the Millennium Falcon?
bwchronos
Similar, except the Millennium Falcon looks cool.
[deleted]
[deleted]
bwchronos
I believe you
horseslaughter
Why any car?
bebackinagif
Did you change the headlight fluid?
uhCanadian
Gotta check those muffler bearings, too.
Pawntoast
"YOU STUPID FUCKING FUCK!" - Michael
sh8kes
any car guy knows this reference. http://kalecoauto.com/ and it's blinker fluid!
Frostels
Gavin is such brilliant idiot.
cockiemonster
Gavin Free is the man!
Scoonie133
Ahh I burnt my arms
JustAGreyWizard
Clearly his Flux Capacitor needs more Mhz
TheBrownAnomaly
Top comment is a RT reference?? TODAY IS A GLORIOUS DAY INDEED
TheLannistersSendALovelyFruitBasket
What about the wiper juice?
WHOISTIRED
You mean the wiper juice right?
SweetBabyJesusBaconFlavoredNutellaMountainDewApplePieMooQuack
and tire fluid?
ladyboi21
#jokesfromdad
xCOMBATICUSx
Blinker fluid*** c'mon man...
rickim24
don't forget to check the muffler bearing
HylianHero93
AH ftw.
CaptainCunnilingus
Its blinker fluid but nice try man.
CityWorker
I'll bet he left the winter air in his tires. AND didn't change the muffler bearings! Pft..Noooob
sirwolfyy
Man, they're going to be pissed, all I got was this stupid flag.
igneousmouse
I love you. I love Rooster Teeth. I love Gavin. Did I mention I love you?
KeytarPlatypus
DID YOU JUST SAY... HEADLIGHT FLUID?!
figsonfire
+1 for RT Podcast reference
darthmonkey
Seriously! And look at all the points on the comment! Do we all secretly listen to these (or watch the animated adventures) or something?
figsonfire
Oh I don't secretly listen or watch to them at all! I make references to them in comments all the time!
Monochron
I love that I can tell this is referencing Burnie on the podcast, not the actual episode.
KeytarPlatypus
To me, Burnie's reaction is the funniest thing about that little segment.
IFNg
Also, the muffler lubricant.
aus4000
Didn't need to, got a new one remember?
RealLifeNedFlanders
Ah yes, for the muffler bearings. Don't want those to seize up.
IFNg
Occasionally the rotator splint runs out of dilithium crystals.
fuzzywuzzywasabear
This one uses triproxy meshes, so the splint has carbonated trims. DUH!
GuyKneeCologist
Don't forget the piston carpet
Bsmith56
Hmm, the headlights are looking dim. Better add some headlight fluid. ~ Gus
silencemymusic
OH MY GOD a roosterteeth and imgur fan! my prayers have been answered!!!!
royalbluepandas
You can't forget about the blinker oil. Real amateur mistake.
DrPhro
He was going to, but he accidentally bought elbow grease instead.
IFNg
The problem is that he needs left-handed wrenches for this car...
tgebbs
How much elbow grease did he use?
TouchMyAwesomeButt
Wanna date?
ImPrettySure
I can't tell if this an MK1 or MK2 but I love these for some weird reason. Congrats and great job!
IFNg
MK1, has the really snub nose look to it. :)
AceofShades
Looks to be an 81 or 82 by the tail lights. So a mark 1
mjkeenan1
Plus, the 84s didn't come with euro style headlights in the US. Only the cabriolets had the rounds
mjkeenan1
It might have the '84 chassis, but the dash & rear end is definitely earlier
ImPrettySure
Ha, silly me missed him stating the date in the title. 1984 makes it a MK1 so you're right.
AceofShades
oh god... it was in the.. Le Sigh