Hey guys, so my name is Jordan, and this is my 1996 Jetta Gl,
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
I've been on Vortex for a little while now, but never posted much of my car because it has been pretty much a stock MK3 minus a couple of small mods here and there, and nobody wants to see that!
However, I figured its about time to start a thread on the car because the mods are starting to become more frequent, and I'm going to try my best to keep track of everything I do with the car.
So without further ado, here is the story of my MK3:
Back in 2002, my parents were shopping for a car, and they ended up picking up yet another VW, this time a 1996 Jetta Gl. For many, many years this car, along with my moms MK2 were the two dailies and only cars of the household, up until about six years ago when my dad got himself a 98 Jaguar for his 50th birthday present. The MK2 then started getting a little more rest, and the Jetta got kicked out of the garage, and the driveway became its new parking spot. A few years later the transmission in the Jaguar takes another sh!t and the car has been sitting since then, leaving the MK2 and the MK3 the sole dalies again. Fast forward another few years, and my parents decide that the MK3 Jetta is becoming a bit too old and worn to remain as a reliable daily, so they start shopping for another car, buy a MK5 Jetta, and the MK3 Jetta sits and my parents start to let it sit go to sh!t.
So about three years ago my parents start talking about donating the car and just giving it away so they can get rid of it. So I bring up the fact that I'm gonna start driving soon, and i'll need a car for High School. They think it over for a while and decide that I can have the car if I pay for all the repairs to get it back to daily driver condition, and pay for whatever else the car needs after that. (Insurance, repairs, etc.) So I got the car back to DD condition, and drove the car for a couple of years not really modifying it at all just doing a lot of maintenance when stuff broke. Which it seemed to do much too often for my liking. However, the car hasnt broken in a while and more mods have started coming in, so I figured maybe I should start tracking my progress.
My Ownership Timeline:
The original window sticker
OG Papers by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
Some of it is smudged, and I need to get a better quality picture, but I'm still glad I have it.
Stock as it gets:
My Jetta by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
The ignition coil then decided to stop working on me
Ignition Coil by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
The car got a new coil, along with its 40K mile service (plugs, wires, etc.) but when I went to pick the car up the alarm was engaged, and wouldnt turn off.
So I had them put new door latches in, and after a month of no car, I finally got it back!
Went straight from picking the car up to go and get new tires put on, I was actually paying attention to what they were doing to my car until this pulled in
12C In Front by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
The car was good for about another five months, until this happened yet again
Timing Belt(?) Tow by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
(Horrible picture but you get the idea of what happened)
Slipped Timing Belt by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
Turns out that the lower crank pulley bolt had backed out, causing the pulley to come off, which then caused the timing belt to slip off. When I was driving and the belt came off I had actually driven the car about a block with the motor still running, and everything was still good after the car was put back together, not even a single bent valve or anything! Still wish I had thought to turn the motor off after the belt came off, but now i'll know what to do if it ever happens to me again I guess.
Got the car back a couple weeks later, everything back the way it should be
DSCF3937 by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
That brings the car about up to date on everything that happened maintenance-wise, so I guess now on to the much shorter and far less exciting modification part of the 'build'
Heres a picture of the dirty, stock engine bay, it has since had a couple of small changes here and there
Stock bay by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
About a year ago now I had a friend help me update my stereo some, I put in a new Kenwood headunit, Kenwood rear speakers, two 12' Kickers, a Kicker amplifier, and a Capacitor. (never again will I put a bunch of bass in a car without the proper speakers and sound deadening to support it)
The least embarrassing photo I have to show the subs
Tidied Up Wiring by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
My friend Ty sent me some GLX taillights, I later de-ambered them and put in new bulbs and foam gaskets
De Ambered GLX Tails by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
Then I swapped the 90a alternator out for a 120a one
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
Then I picked up a cheap set of wheels off craigslist I was planning to run in hopes of a bigger front brake setup, but I later bought another set of wheels I am far more excited about running once I get the proper tires and adapters for them
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
Ended up picking up the Jeep wheels the same night that these showed up
Coils Arrived by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
A couple of months later I finally bought the coil install kit from ECS, so then this happened
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
Had a few issues with getting the coils in and everything in properly, but a few days of work with a few setbacks mixed in here and there, and everything is worked out now :thumbup:
Did some late night craigslist browsing and I ended up with this
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
Most likely just going to let the fender sit for a while until I have a few more parts that I can all send off to paint at once to help keep costs down a bit :thumbup:
So there is the history of my car, sorry it's so long, I doubt a lot of you will actually read the whole thing, but I hope you guys enjoyed it!
Thanks to: TheTynosaur, mk4max, CabbieVR6, KawahBunga, MK3.OT, and anyone else who has helped me that I cant think of at the moment. The car wouldnt be where it is today without your help, and I thank each and every one of you for that. :heart:
Edit: the "current" pic from when the thread was originally started
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on FlickrI've been on Vortex for a little while now, but never posted much of my car because it has been pretty much a stock MK3 minus a couple of small mods here and there, and nobody wants to see that!
However, I figured its about time to start a thread on the car because the mods are starting to become more frequent, and I'm going to try my best to keep track of everything I do with the car.
So without further ado, here is the story of my MK3:
Back in 2002, my parents were shopping for a car, and they ended up picking up yet another VW, this time a 1996 Jetta Gl. For many, many years this car, along with my moms MK2 were the two dailies and only cars of the household, up until about six years ago when my dad got himself a 98 Jaguar for his 50th birthday present. The MK2 then started getting a little more rest, and the Jetta got kicked out of the garage, and the driveway became its new parking spot. A few years later the transmission in the Jaguar takes another sh!t and the car has been sitting since then, leaving the MK2 and the MK3 the sole dalies again. Fast forward another few years, and my parents decide that the MK3 Jetta is becoming a bit too old and worn to remain as a reliable daily, so they start shopping for another car, buy a MK5 Jetta, and the MK3 Jetta sits and my parents start to let it sit go to sh!t.
So about three years ago my parents start talking about donating the car and just giving it away so they can get rid of it. So I bring up the fact that I'm gonna start driving soon, and i'll need a car for High School. They think it over for a while and decide that I can have the car if I pay for all the repairs to get it back to daily driver condition, and pay for whatever else the car needs after that. (Insurance, repairs, etc.) So I got the car back to DD condition, and drove the car for a couple of years not really modifying it at all just doing a lot of maintenance when stuff broke. Which it seemed to do much too often for my liking. However, the car hasnt broken in a while and more mods have started coming in, so I figured maybe I should start tracking my progress.
My Ownership Timeline:
The original window sticker
OG Papers by MK3 LUV, on FlickrSome of it is smudged, and I need to get a better quality picture, but I'm still glad I have it.
Stock as it gets:
My Jetta by MK3 LUV, on FlickrThe ignition coil then decided to stop working on me
Ignition Coil by MK3 LUV, on FlickrThe car got a new coil, along with its 40K mile service (plugs, wires, etc.) but when I went to pick the car up the alarm was engaged, and wouldnt turn off.
So I had them put new door latches in, and after a month of no car, I finally got it back!Went straight from picking the car up to go and get new tires put on, I was actually paying attention to what they were doing to my car until this pulled in
12C In Front by MK3 LUV, on FlickrThe car was good for about another five months, until this happened yet again
Timing Belt(?) Tow by MK3 LUV, on Flickr(Horrible picture but you get the idea of what happened)
Slipped Timing Belt by MK3 LUV, on FlickrTurns out that the lower crank pulley bolt had backed out, causing the pulley to come off, which then caused the timing belt to slip off. When I was driving and the belt came off I had actually driven the car about a block with the motor still running, and everything was still good after the car was put back together, not even a single bent valve or anything! Still wish I had thought to turn the motor off after the belt came off, but now i'll know what to do if it ever happens to me again I guess.
Got the car back a couple weeks later, everything back the way it should be
DSCF3937 by MK3 LUV, on FlickrThat brings the car about up to date on everything that happened maintenance-wise, so I guess now on to the much shorter and far less exciting modification part of the 'build'
Heres a picture of the dirty, stock engine bay, it has since had a couple of small changes here and there
Stock bay by MK3 LUV, on FlickrAbout a year ago now I had a friend help me update my stereo some, I put in a new Kenwood headunit, Kenwood rear speakers, two 12' Kickers, a Kicker amplifier, and a Capacitor. (never again will I put a bunch of bass in a car without the proper speakers and sound deadening to support it)
The least embarrassing photo I have to show the subs
Tidied Up Wiring by MK3 LUV, on FlickrMy friend Ty sent me some GLX taillights, I later de-ambered them and put in new bulbs and foam gaskets
De Ambered GLX Tails by MK3 LUV, on FlickrThen I swapped the 90a alternator out for a 120a one
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on FlickrThen I picked up a cheap set of wheels off craigslist I was planning to run in hopes of a bigger front brake setup, but I later bought another set of wheels I am far more excited about running once I get the proper tires and adapters for them
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on FlickrEnded up picking up the Jeep wheels the same night that these showed up
Coils Arrived by MK3 LUV, on FlickrA couple of months later I finally bought the coil install kit from ECS, so then this happened
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on FlickrHad a few issues with getting the coils in and everything in properly, but a few days of work with a few setbacks mixed in here and there, and everything is worked out now :thumbup:
Did some late night craigslist browsing and I ended up with this
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on FlickrMost likely just going to let the fender sit for a while until I have a few more parts that I can all send off to paint at once to help keep costs down a bit :thumbup:
So there is the history of my car, sorry it's so long, I doubt a lot of you will actually read the whole thing, but I hope you guys enjoyed it!
Thanks to: TheTynosaur, mk4max, CabbieVR6, KawahBunga, MK3.OT, and anyone else who has helped me that I cant think of at the moment. The car wouldnt be where it is today without your help, and I thank each and every one of you for that. :heart:
Edit: the "current" pic from when the thread was originally started
Untitled by MK3 LUV, on Flickr
