Just got a Tunezilla box yesterday in the mail, should be able to get things sorted out through the upload and email files with Malone, that's nice. I need to run VCDS still. The speedometer still isn't registering, I'm thinking I don't have it hooked up right. So an email to Hasenwerk is on the todo list. I took it out for a brief test drive (!!!!), and it was awesome. The pendulum mount is too soft though, and I either need to get a new one, or fill the one I have with polyurethane and see if that helps. There was enough movement that the cup on the transfer box/angle drive rubbed into the steering rack a little. Whoops.
And some photos, as promised. Happy to put more up if there are any specific questions.
The GTI seats I found and am hoping to get fitted. They are a touch wide, I may just pull the plastic off the side and make some covers for them. They also sit up too high. So I haven't decided if I want to cut my seat bases down an inch or two, or fiddle with the seat rails themselves. TBD. Thoughts welcomed.
A side shot of the upper control arm, tie rod spacer, the Tundra coilover and the shock mount.
Some sound deadening in the cab and front wheel wells. I managed to get the B pillar trim off on the passenger side and coat that all the way up too, but I still need to do the driver's side. And the door skins would probably be nice as well.
And one with the GTI seat and the Eurovan seat base, plus the Euro rubber floor I found on eBay. I forgot to put the ventilation ducts in and had to promptly remove a whole bunch of dash parts and lift the dash back up to get them in place. Oy vey.
Of note, the GTI seats raise and lower the bases with the lever on the side of the seat. When they are all the way down, the bottom of the bucket hits the battery on the driver's side, and they are tilted back quite a bit. When they are raised all the way up, like in the picture, the angle is much, much better, however, then they are too tall, and my thighs are almost touching the steering wheel. I was trying to keep things as stock as possible, but should I cut my losses and just cut the seat bases down? Also, the MK5 seats are too wide to sit centered, the plastic on the side of the seat hits the Eurovan pocket on the door. So I can find door cards without that, or lose the side plastic and need to make new covers. I would love to figure out a way to narrow the MK5 rails since they are roughly 80mm wider and needed some 1/4" plate to get them to even bolt to the Eurovan seat bases.
The GTI seats are way nicer than the worn out EV seats that I have. And there is a UK parts place where I got the T5 gearbox and T6 rear diff
(Kernow Transporters) that sells T5 and T6 arm rest kits that I can bolt in on the side in place of the airbags in the seat, which would be nice. We want to get the seat bottoms redone in leather anyways, so there is less of the dog hair that gets stuck in them. I have found some GTI plaid with a blue line instead of the red, and I think that would look quite nice with the blue van and some dark grey/light grey leather seats. Moving on...
First trip out of the garage in 1.5 years +. Hot dang, that was a good feeling.
And a side shot.
Now. The front is still a touch higher than the back, but it's almost perfectly level, for now. I think that when I manage to get the rear diff fitted, i'll probably lower the rear control arms a touch as well, just to match the front a little better, and keep the stock look. I can't decide if I just want to get some helper springs from Mad Suspension in the UK
(Link Here), or find some taller springs from an SUV at the parts yard that I can fit in. Again, TBD.
One of my main problems now, besides the limp mode and pendulum mount, is the tire poke and what to do about it. I still need to put on the rear spacers to match the fronts. And when I get the rear diff mounted up, I think I will need to widen things a bit anyways, which may negate the spacer, and allow stock axle lengths.
It's utterly ridiculous, and I love it.
After discussing with many of my friends and co-conspirators in poor decision making, I think I've settled on a set of side bars, coming from the front bumper. Likely from a set of hoops that protect the grill and lights, like
this. Picture below. +/- some sheet metal extensions grafted on to them.
I've looked at the fenders over and over for the past few weeks/months, and the thought of welding to the thin sheet metal is less than appealing. Especially with all the crazy undercoating on it that is HIGHLY flammable. Trust me, I know. There was an incident. Minimal casualties. I'll need to add on to the back as well, anyways, and I want to build a rear plate bumper to replace what's on there now. I will be able to tie some bars into the bumper even without the side steps. And I will need to make a spacer for the slider like the lowered guys in the UK do for their 9 and 10j wheels, which is basically what I'm getting up to with my +30mm spacers and ET24 wheels.
There is plenty more where that came from, I'm kind of just spewing consciousness at this point, so I'll call it for now.
Questions?
