[aeffertz]

What's up Vortex?
After over a year of looking for a MK1 around Wisconsin that I could afford and wasn't a complete s**tbox, I finally found and bought one! It's a 1979 Rabbit, with a 4 speed transmission and 170,000 miles on it.
The interior is in awesome condition and it runs/drives perfect. But with the good, comes the bad--the floor boards have seen better days (few spots it has rusted through), theres a few spots where the paint is starting to bubble from rust coming up, the odometer stopped working, and the temperature gauge doesn't work. Anyway, here's a couple pics for now.

Here's the to-do list:
-Sound deaden the interior (Done)
-Coilovers (Done)
-Wheels/tires
-Good stereo system while still looking stock (Done)
-Misc. interior work (new shifter and parking brake boots, recover a few things, etc.)

I'll update this thread as I work on it and keep you guys updated! Tonight I got the interior taken apart, chiseled the factory sound deadener crap off the floor, and got some sound deadener put in behind the panels in the back. Tomorrow I'll start to work on the floorboards and maybe get some more sound deadener put in.

 

[wantacad]

Nice stripes. :thumbup:

 

[Road Boss]

This is a very nice find. Good luck with your modification process.

 

[aeffertz]

Thanks guys. Forgot to mention I picked it up for $900.
Not bad!

 

[aeffertz]

Just ordered some Raceland coilovers.

 

[aeffertz]

Got a package in the mail today...

Didn't get anything too exciting done to the Rabbit today, just worked on the rusty floor boards and got them ready to be patched with some new sheet metal.

 

[wantacad]

Nice stripes. :thumbup:

well so much for these

 

[aeffertz]

Yeah. Sorry, bro. The paint on this car is just too bad of shape to leave alone. There are a bunch of spots where it's starting to bubble up from rust underneath. The previous owner tried to just repaint over the spots before with a different shade of paint, too. It doesn't look to bad in the pics but it's not that great. I'll have to get some more detailed pics of the car. Just need to remember, ha.

 

[aeffertz]

I'll think about it. There are a couple reasons I would like the round headlights. For one, I think it makes the car look 10 times better. The square headlights just make it look less foreign and the front of the car too boxy. And the current radiator support has some bad rust on the bottom.

 

[aeffertz]

): Don't say I'm ruining the car... ha.
Really though, I have looked and looked for one with rounds because what I really wanted, but couldn't find one. There aren't a lot up here in Wisconsin, especially ones that aren't completely rusted out.

Hmm... Not the biggest fan of four doors. Trade front ends?

 

[echassin]

A few days ago it was "what's that hole on the top of the trans" [timing hole]? Now you're already dreaming coils and front-end swap. It's hard to imagine this will end well, which for some will be a bit off-putting.

Personally, I would have been happier to see a MIG welder and some patch panels displayed, instead of cans of paint .

But it is indeed your car, and if you bear with our general impatience, the forum is actually very experienced and helpful.

Start one build thread for the car, so that it tells one continuous story, and any questions that arise can be addressed in full context of the car's history.

 

[IronTrap]

Please see my signature.

 

[newarknj15]

very nice rabbit

 

[aeffertz]

Unrelated.

 

[wantacad]

R.I.P early westy and stripes..

you were loved by many and all you asked for was love in return. Struck down in your senior years after you gave a lifetime of enjoyment. We only wish you could have lived out the rest of your life in peace instead of pieces. You will be missed.

1979-2010

 

[aeffertz]

A1, thanks for the help. Since this is my daily driver, I think I'll just patch it like I explained as a temporary fix so when I drive it, water and dirt won't get flung up inside the car to create rust and wreck the carpet. With my next paycheck, I'll go check out some MIG welders.

Wantacad, just take it easy. I haven't done anything bad to the car. I don't see how me covering the holes in the floor so water doesn't get in is worse than just driving it as it was. And sorry for getting rid if the stripes. I'm doing the car good by sanding it down and giving it new paint.

 

[watchxmexdie]

so go get new stripes when it has new paint :thumbup: you need stripes or you're not cool im not cool, cause i don't have stripes i have rust circles.:thumbdown:

 

[aeffertz]

very nice rabbit

Thanks!

so go get new stripes when it has new paint :thumbup: you need stripes or you're not cool im not cool, cause i don't have stripes i have rust circles.:thumbdown:

Well, I have both stripes and rust circles right now, so what am I?


Well, as I wait for the sealant to dry I'll post some pictures. Be ready though, they're not pretty...

This scares me...

Check out that ground! The previous owner has done quite a few interesting things to this baby.

And just a cleaner engine bay picture...

Now here's where the biggest rust spot was. About 90% of the cut out area was already missing due to rust, I just cut it square to get rid of the rust.

And then the other spot in question...

 

[chandlerGTi]

That thing is in great shape for its age and location :thumbup:. I will agree with A1 that you should either be saving up for your own welder or cozying up to soemone who IS a welder. The fixes you are proposing are really stopgap fixes and this car deserves the best. Good luck!

 

[aeffertz]

Yeah, I'm not sure how I'm going to fix the area by the fender quite yet. A couple of buddies have gas welders, but I'm going to need a MIG, I'm guessing, if I want to get the job done. Hmm.... Need to finish the interior before I start in on something else, otherwise it gets overwhelming.

Anyway, I got some more Raamat put in the rear part of the car. Might go work on it some more in a bit.