an old heart beats in an older body

[muppet]

Well, it seems I am having a bad luck streak with my cars lately starting when this

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2035000-2035999/2035882_19_full.jpg

became this

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2035000-2035999/2035882_63_full.jpg

I later bought another jetta which has also been a fun list of problems including, bad 6th gear syncros, snapped input shaft, blown turbo, and a mishap with a bad torque wrench leading to an axle coming totally unbolted on the highway and smacking a nice hole in my tranny case.

But I also picked up a winter car since the jetta was way to much car for any kind of reasonable driving in the snow.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2551.jpg

it seemed immortal for nearly two weeks it was problem free, then I started having battery drain issues, I bought a new alternator, a new voltage regulator, new cables all around, several new sensors, I went through two optima red tops and every night after work it would still be dead even if I disconnected it, but it was still fun to drive and I figured I would eventually find the issue. Then towards the end of last winter the smoke poured. I knew something bad was going on, it remained parked for several months, when I finally got around to a tear down, this is what I found.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2552.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2804.jpg

I had enough of the g60 experience then and there, but I had this sitting in the shop.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2547.jpg

so

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2865.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2866.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2867.jpg

A couple months and about $1k later and we are here

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2975.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2976.jpg

and I wish I could say my bad luck streak was over, but I took it for the first ride yesterday and

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2981.jpg

head gasket :(

[twig]

.....


wow. I wish i could come and console you. :(

[muppet]

Well it turns out the head gasket may be ok after all. I torqued the head studs again and noticed the oil level was over the drain line for the turbo, so it was just burning in the turbo and I think that may have been the source of my smoke. I did however get some new gaskets just incase so I am prepared either way. I also just picked this up at a pretty good price.

http://a786.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/59/l_9e6bee5ba11a182ce44672aeeacccc39.jpg

Got the manifold, fuel rail, fpr, and throttle cable for $300. I know it needs cleaned up a bit, but it should pick up some top end, and eliminate about half of my intercooler piping with my setup.

[zukgod1]

Sweet!
Hope it works out good for ya..
Good looking Corrado ya got there.

[Mr_Diesel]

The jetta with the 6 speed... was this your turbo vr6? Damn, you have had bad luck! Atleast it will be worth it in the end. :)

[muppet]

Yeah

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2937.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2934.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2919.jpg

I had the tranny looking pretty good for a while, it now needs stripped and painted again.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/_muppets_/DSC_2562.jpg

[Mr_Diesel]

Damn dude... so what was the repair bill on that? That's a beautiful car! Did you buy it as is or did you build it up?

[muppet]

Thanks ,I haven't fixed it yet, but the new shaft is $750 from autotech. I bought it pretty much all built up. The only things I have done are a new third gear, devils own meth kit with snow performance controller, and swapped the 60-1 out for a gt4088r. I was hoping to do standalone and a new bottom end over the winter, but it isn't looking to promising this season, with all the money I put into the corrado and now the new shaft, maybe next year, or possibly even over the summer.

[Mr_Diesel]

I've gotta ask... do you have a masters degree or did you just inherit an ass load of cash recently?

[muppet]

Neither :) Actually I think I ran into a couple deals the corrado was only 2k, the jetta was 9.5k, but thats still less than a lot of people who don't consider themselves enthusiasts can spend on a car. I still live at home, and have a decent job, I don't really have other hobbies so ehh I can spend some cash on my cars.

[GoodDayForADrive]

Nice corrado!! I'm waiting for my tax return personally so I can get mine painted. Then I'll be mostly happy with it =]

[Mr_Diesel]

Ahhh yeah, you live at home. Man... I wish I would have taken more advantage of that. That Mark III is damned beautiful. Anyway, I'm liking your lineup there. Keep us posted on your progress... ;)

[GoodDayForADrive]

Ahhh yeah, you live at home. Man... I wish I would have taken more advantage of that. That Mark III is damned beautiful. Anyway, I'm liking your lineup there. Keep us posted on your progress... ;)

My problem was that I was only allowed to have one vehicle while living at home. So I moved out and bought a bike and a parts car, haha..

[Mr_Diesel]

I hear you there. My parents were always complaining about my cars.

[Mr_Diesel]

Does this look really familiar to you?

http://www.dubnetworks.net/dubhost/d/3314-2/3_001.jpg

[muppet]

Yeah, that picture is from when the previous owner owned the car. I believe that was from the eurotuner shoot (Jan. 06). He has an r32 now, he is part owner of 20 squared. He gave me a discount on the new 3rd gear when I got the car, and he said he can get me a discount on the new input shaft as well, which is pretty cool of him to do. He wanted me to put the car in his booth at waterfest last summer, but I had a broken leg. :(

[Mr_Diesel]

Neat man! I was looking at 20 squared's fueling wares and saw that up on top and had this huge deja vu.

[muppet]

Well, I swapped the head gasket with no success, so I thought warped head? Swapped that with no success, so I thought piston rings? I pulled them yesterday and have cracked ring lands on #1 and 4, but it should be ready soon. I have arp rod bolts, rod bearings, and new piston rings on the way, I bought a head spacer and am currently looking for a set of cheap pistons, which if I don't find soon I will be buying a complete motor.

[Mr_Diesel]

So the pistons are garbage then? Damn... this was that aba/t right?

[muppet]

Yeah 1 and 4 are toast, the block still looks ok though. I am going to hone it good, I found a couple sets of pistons, trying to get one on the way to me tomorrow hopefully. This was the abat from my old jetta, I don't know what happened, unless the wreck caused it somehow, the car ran great right up until the accident.

[muppet]

I have a new set on the way. :)

[albert81]

So did you put the new pistons in your car.


Best Mercedes (http://www.incarparts.com)