1986 VW Golf is now in my possession.

[Christ]

Series of recent events:

• I wrecked Gerald Ford. (My F150). He's totaled.
• I filled out my taxes, and came to the realization that for the most part, I don't need a truck, as long as I have a trailer.
• I passed my CDL A permit test.
• I decided to get back on this project so we (my wife and I) have a second car, and so she can learn to drive manual transmission vehicles.

Work list:

• Started playing with the car. Same dead battery as before. Ended up buying a new battery from AutoZone for $110 or so.
• Got the battery in the next day, cranked seemingly endlessly before it finally popped off. Wouldn't run to save a life.
• Removed pump inlet line from filter - placed in can of trans fluid (used). Ran perfectly almost instantly.
• Assumed fuel in tank was bad. Several hours of messing around, decided that pump was sucking air.
• Bypassed water separator (burn the water... just makes it run rough for a minute) and inspected (plastic) fuel lines for holes or pressure leaks.
• Removed fuel sending unit and inserted line directly into fuel. Siphoned up to filter. Ran engine - perfect.
• Cleaned, inspected sending unit. Found pinhole in pickup line.
• Melted plastic around line, covered hole with hot glue.
• Reinstalled sending unit today - perfect runner.

Left to do -

• Buy, service, install, etc. Glow plugs.
• Tie down battery
• Brakes - Inspect, service, replace.
• Title/Registration (will be taken care of by end of week.)

Long term -

• Shave door handles/rust repair
• Rhino Lining (or similar) under chassis and on door sills/rockers.
• Brake system upgrade - 4 wheel disc brakes
• Of course - Lightening chassis
• IP mods for FE/Torque, Intake/exhaust mods.
• possible WVO conversion or BD @Home station.

[Christ]

Also, block heater and several other mods, as time/money permit.

[MetroMPG]

Wow - man on a mission.

And skipping the relevant information, all I want to know is: what did you do to the truck?

[Christ]

Roffle.

I hit ice at about 45 MPH turning here (google maps link) to the left, off Mott Town Road, onto Coryland Park Road after being sent home from work.

At some point during the slide, which was approx 30 feet, I steered in both directions, dropped the trans into 1st gear, and throttled the hell out of it to try to get the rear to come around and dip back onto Mott Town Road. It didn't work, and I punched the culvert (big concrete thing that heads sluice/drain pipes near road edges) with the right front tire, breaking a brake line and folding the section of the frame just aft of the suspension mount. (It was weak anyway.)

Gerald needed lots of work before hand, and after that, I decided that it would be better to sell him to my friend for $500 ($75 less than I paid for him, not counting repairs and fees/paperwork.)

In total, I made out like a bandit.

[Christ]

News:

Took the Golf for a quick test drive -

Nix the soft tire and almost total lack of a brake system, it'll DO SIXTY MILES PER HOUR! (LOL)

So... that said - I'm happy.

Notes:

Great torque. Nearly total lack of HP. It's great to be a diesel...

Current fuel is a mix of 40% on road, 30% off road, and 30% "Hey, that looks like fuel... throw it in..." (used oil, transmission fluid, fuel treatments, etc.) with a little kerosene in there, too.

No smoke under load.

No air filter currently. Gotta fix that...

Heater works, blower fan doesn't. Hm.

[MetroMPG]

Congrats on the successful test run. Fun & edifying.

[Christ]

I love older cars -

Front brake pads, rotors, and a full set of 4 glow plugs - $105.

I thought I'd be able to get the car registered before the weekend, but work troubles me with scheduling at times. I'll have it done this week.

I got a lead on an aftermarket header that may fit, including a cat (not necessary) and aluminized fully welded exhaust system excluding the rear muffler for $150. I may buy just the header for $50 though, if it's the same bolt pattern from gas to diesel engines for MK2 VW's.

[Christ]

Finally got around to changing the front brakes on this machine...or, rather, adding them. Ihad been hearing a scraping noise from the front end... Pics to come as time permits. I will mention that not a single piece of the front brake consumables made it out alive or intact.

[Christ]

Since changing the front brakes, the master cylinder haas gotten worse... It now functions exactly as I use it anyway - the only way to use the brakes is "stab braking", wherein you quickly"stab" the pedal to nearly locking up the brakes, dropping speed quickly, but only for a second, to compensate for speed changes in traffic, as necessary.

[Christ]

Last tank was 48.1mpg, all ULSD. Just changed the sooty oil out for clean 15w40 diesel oil (Delvac), and will likely swap to 0w20 after a good run of this.

Currently working on getting spherical strut bearings made.