Built ALH Wagon and Custom Teardrop Rig Build

ccbutler3

Active member
Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Location
Baltimore, MD
TDI
03 ALH Manual Wagon
Hey TDIClub,

I wanted to share my 3 year build project I’ve recently completed of my ‘03 ALH Wagon and a Custom Teardrop Camping Rig I built as well to tow/live in while employed as a Wildland Firefighter.

I bought the car for $2k with 300k on the original motor and drivetrain. Rusted out undercarriage and fenders, side skirts. Got lucky and picked up a brand new OEM ALH motor off the forum that had been sitting in a members garage for 15 years awaiting a project that never happened…. I decided to go full retard and build the car from that point on.

Heres a list from off the top of my head:
-Brand New Motor, Accessories
-O2M FMH 6-speed (Built by NGP in Aberdeen, MD)
-Wavetrac LSD
-PD 150 DMF, Clutch
-Steel Shift Forks
-Bronze Sliders
-Raxles
-Magnetic Plug
-Dieselgeek 02M Shift Kit
-ECS Clutch Line, Bleeder
-New Seals, T/O Bearing
-Nural ASV Stock pistons (balanced)
-IE Forged Rods (balanced)
-Nicktane 2 micron Microglass Fuel Filter
-EGR Delete
-Gutted ASV
-BRM Intake Manifold
-Malone BRM/ASV Adapter
-Kerma Puck
-ARP Head Studs
-ARP Crank Main Studs
-DLI Teknik Motor Mounts
-BRM Pump and Sprocket
-Fluidampr
-PD Lifters
-VNT-17 (Ceramic Coated)
-Kerma OMI (Old Style Full Hardpipe)
-V6 Oil Cooler
-Darkside Turbo Oil Feed
-ECS Full Aluminum Radiator
-Darkside Front Mount Intercooler
-GLI Rear Calipers, Rotors, Brakes, Shields
-ECS Brake Lines
-VR6 Spindles
-288mm Front Brake Calipers, Pads, Shields
-Fabless Manufacturing Tubed Control Arms
with softer Poly Bushings
-Bedlinered Rear Axle w/ 10mm Darkside Spacers
-Cupra R Rear Bushings
-VR6 Front Springs w/ 1” Spacer
-Towing Rear Springs w/ 2” Shock Extensions
-19mm Rear Spring bushings
-Towing Rear Airbags
-Custom 2” Reciever Hitch mounted on Euro towbar
-Integrated 4 and 7 way tow plug
-Weight Distribution Hitch System
-Koni Special Active Front Struts
-Koni Special Red Wagon Rear Shocks
-ECS HD Front & Rear Shock Mounts
-Dieselgeek Full Panzer Skid Plate
-Dieselgeek Oil Bypass Filter Kit
-DLC 520 Nozzles
-Kerma Tune (mild, economy)
-P3 Cars Vent LED Smartguage
-Indigo Boost, EGT Steering Wheel Mounted Guages
-42 DD Pillar Mount Guage with Indigo Oil Temp Guage
-DIY GLI Look Headlights
-LED Side Sequential Markers
-LED Bumper Lights
-DIY UPOL Raptor Liner
-New Fenders
-New Sideskirts
-Bedlinered all undercarriage parts
-Wheel wells sanded, treated, primered and bedlinered
-Volk TE37 Gravel 15x6 Forged Alum. Rims resurfaced, primered and bedlinered
-General Grabber 205/75/R15 A/T Tires
-Engine, Accessories and Transmission painted in Motor Coater Tan
-Milleniumfalcon Light Bar
-Frostheater

Off the top of my head that’s what I can think of.

I overbuilt it and got it tuned very mildly mainly for towing/durability purposes… just didn’t want to break anything. I never hot dog it. Just wanted a bulletproof tow rig!

Plenty of power while towing up and down mountain roads, tows comfortably on 70+ mph roads in 6th.

Thanks for all of the inspiration and knowledge I learned from you all off of here - never did anything like this before but without this forum and YouTube I wouldn’t have been able to do this.

-Chad

 
Last edited:

Mongler98

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 23, 2011
Location
COLORADO (SE of Denver)
TDI
98 Jetta TDI AHU 1.9L (944 TDI swap in progress) I moved so now i got nothing but an AHU in a garage on a pallet.
How are we just now hearing of this 3 year build? Do you have any videos... stuff like that is pure gold.
Still, that is an amazing job. One I hope to achieve one day!.


11/10
 

ccbutler3

Active member
Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Location
Baltimore, MD
TDI
03 ALH Manual Wagon
How are we just now hearing of this 3 year build? Do you have any videos... stuff like that is pure gold.
Still, that is an amazing job. One I hope to achieve one day!.


11/10
I do not unfortunately… I wish I had taken some in hindsight to share with you guys. I’m a bit of a Neanderthal admittedly for my age, no social media presence or anything. However I learned so much from this platform myself that the right thing to do was pass the inspiration on I thought. Honestly I never thought the day would come that I’d finish! Lol
Thanks so much man!
 

Rob Mayercik

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2001
Location
NJ, U.S.A.
TDI
2002 Jetta GLS, Baltic Green/Beige
That is some nice work. Would like to see some more pics of the trailer if you have any.

Speaking of the trailer, it looks like you have different wheels on that than the car itself - was it not practical to have the same tires/wheels on both to make spares interchangeable?
 

ccbutler3

Active member
Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Location
Baltimore, MD
TDI
03 ALH Manual Wagon
That is some nice work. Would like to see some more pics of the trailer if you have any.

Speaking of the trailer, it looks like you have different wheels on that than the car itself - was it not practical to have the same tires/wheels on both to make spares interchangeable?
Those Jeep wheels I have on the trailer were cheap and fit the hub bolt pattern… the Volk TE37 Gravels on the car were pricey, got them used in EBay but only as a set of 4. 2 for the trailer would run me over $1,000 so I haven’t yet taken that step since they work fine for now.

 

ccbutler3

Active member
Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Location
Baltimore, MD
TDI
03 ALH Manual Wagon
so the Jetta has no issues towing it?
None whatsoever - tows fantastically. It’s pretty far from stock however and that has helped significantly in my opinion versus the cars performance when I previously towed on the original 300k motor and transmission.
 

Rob Mayercik

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2001
Location
NJ, U.S.A.
TDI
2002 Jetta GLS, Baltic Green/Beige
Those Jeep wheels I have on the trailer were cheap and fit the hub bolt pattern… the Volk TE37 Gravels on the car were pricey, got them used in EBay but only as a set of 4. 2 for the trailer would run me over $1,000 so I haven’t yet taken that step since they work fine for now.
Given that, I'm not surprised at all you stuck with what you have for wheels.
 
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