Hey guys names Rob. Not a noob to spite the low post count. Well find myself finally in a mk1 jetta. Its been a long road to get here after several mk2's, a raddo, a S1 rocco, a caddy, and a couple audi's I found the mk1 jetta that was going to suite me. After weeks of scanning craiglist I found a 84 jetta GLi that was not rusted to crap. In fact the only spot I have found after looking over the car very well was at the base of the driver side windsheild. At first appeared to just be surface rust but I rolled back the seal and found a hole half the size of a pencil eraser. Not to shabby for a car that was not loved the way most of us love our cars.
Well a little about the car. Found it in Clarkrange, Tn about 20 minutes north of knoxville. Body has 118k with a fully operational odometer. Engine has just a little over 70k on it and is not the engine that came in the car. The guy that had the car before myself had a diesel caddy that a tree fell in the center of. He pulled the engine and put it in the GLI. I was rather surprised when i met the guy as he had several other rabbits sitting around as well as a 63 super beetle, 2 cub vans, and a S2 rocco. Basically the guy was rather savoy as the swap was done nicely. The good old little 1.6 runs great and dosent have any ridiculous leaks. The paint was heavily oxidized from several years of paint neglect but after some time with a buffer she actually brought back a good shine.
During my test drive I noted once you get up around 70mph there is a good vibration, not super aggressive but its there and considering that condition of the rest of the car I dont really like it. I suspected wheels bearings and was not concerned with it as i talked him down on price a little. Well I get it home and start cleaning it up, Jack up the front end and test out the bearings to see just how bad they are. Low and behold its not the bearings its the tie rods. Well as im wiggling the tire back and forth while looking at the rack front atop the engine compartment I notice that it appears to be the rack itself rather than the assembly as I can see the end of the assembly and it appears that the wobble in the shaft is coming from the actualy rack. Yes the rack is stationary and mounts are not destroyed. Might I add that this is a manual rack not power. Heres where the advice request comes in. I'm not apposed to ordering an entire rack assembly but I'm basically asking if this is pretty common as im unfamiliar with manual racks. Thanks in advance for any advice thats thrown this way.
Well heres the car after some buffing sans wax. I have alot of plans in the works but my first order of business is to get it restored the best I can before I do any fancy modifications. i do plan to lower and change up the wheels but other than that not to much planned.
My bulldog approves!
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Before the buffing
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after
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Well a little about the car. Found it in Clarkrange, Tn about 20 minutes north of knoxville. Body has 118k with a fully operational odometer. Engine has just a little over 70k on it and is not the engine that came in the car. The guy that had the car before myself had a diesel caddy that a tree fell in the center of. He pulled the engine and put it in the GLI. I was rather surprised when i met the guy as he had several other rabbits sitting around as well as a 63 super beetle, 2 cub vans, and a S2 rocco. Basically the guy was rather savoy as the swap was done nicely. The good old little 1.6 runs great and dosent have any ridiculous leaks. The paint was heavily oxidized from several years of paint neglect but after some time with a buffer she actually brought back a good shine.
During my test drive I noted once you get up around 70mph there is a good vibration, not super aggressive but its there and considering that condition of the rest of the car I dont really like it. I suspected wheels bearings and was not concerned with it as i talked him down on price a little. Well I get it home and start cleaning it up, Jack up the front end and test out the bearings to see just how bad they are. Low and behold its not the bearings its the tie rods. Well as im wiggling the tire back and forth while looking at the rack front atop the engine compartment I notice that it appears to be the rack itself rather than the assembly as I can see the end of the assembly and it appears that the wobble in the shaft is coming from the actualy rack. Yes the rack is stationary and mounts are not destroyed. Might I add that this is a manual rack not power. Heres where the advice request comes in. I'm not apposed to ordering an entire rack assembly but I'm basically asking if this is pretty common as im unfamiliar with manual racks. Thanks in advance for any advice thats thrown this way.
Well heres the car after some buffing sans wax. I have alot of plans in the works but my first order of business is to get it restored the best I can before I do any fancy modifications. i do plan to lower and change up the wheels but other than that not to much planned.
My bulldog approves!
Before the buffing
after
