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Aarons MK4 1.8T Jetta daily driver

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:45 pm
by speeding-g60
may as well.....

i got this car for $800 with a blown HG and only 124k miles on it. new injectors, newer turbo. kid saw a puddle and drove it anyways, and it overheated and died. his parents were tired of putting money into it, and the quote from the shop was $4800 for a 6 month warranty motor plus install and the timing belt etc. it is a Wolfsburg Edition, heated cloth, tinted windows, etc. even came with BBS RX-II 2 pc 16" wheels.

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my buddy who works at the shop that has done the work prior called and asked "do you want a 1.8T Jetta?" i said not really why whats up. he explained it, and i offered $800 sight unseen. they took it. when i got it apart i saw that the plastic port for the cooling off the side of the head was blown up. that'll do it.

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i bought parts and built a completely new motor for it. bearings, rings, bolts, seals, coils, new single mass clutch, etc. had to use a different block as this one was scarred and melted a piston top. and had to use other pistons too obviously. the machinist who does my race car motor work slapped the head together quick for me (cash always works wonders - $200 for valve job, clean, deck and seals). good thing i have a few spares laying around! also got the new lower front lip (this one was gone).

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and although i am intimately familiar with the MOTOR from this car, this was the first one i had ever worked on, much less ridden in. i had never messed with the cars, just the engines. and i was worried i wouldnt get it right going back together. and i couldnt figure out how to get the turbo off or the manifold off with this stuff still in the car, so out it came as a unit. i give major props to the people who do the timing belts on these cars in place. myself, aint gonna do it that way i will pull the motor.

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but i did. i originally built the car for my daughter as a surprise for her first car, but nothing went right about the whole ordeal. i finally caved and just gave it to her although she still doesnt have a license, and didnt have a permit when i did this nor any desire to get one. i did say if the had ever though to get rid of it, i wanted it back. her mother specifically said to get a manual. so i did. turns out the child cant mentally handle the driving of a stick shift car, especially in traffic. so they wanted an auto, so i swapped them the Jetta for the B5 A4 i built for her first, and off they went. they sold it in three days and got her a Mazda something or other. automatic, and she is happy.

so i got the MK4 back, and now i get to be a MK4-tard myself!!!!

first things i did were put on a shaved emblem grill and put in a stereo before i gave it to her, then when i got it back put in a powered Bazooka.

today i was bored this afternoon so i jacked it up to put the 17" 6 spoke TT wheels i have onto it. and since i had the front wheels off anyways, i couldnt help but do the front brakes for it (i have had the parts for a little bit). popped in new front bumper marker lights (one was broke) and replaced a burnt out taillight.

i think it was time for these....

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Re: Aarons MK4 1.8T Jetta daily driver

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:06 pm
by amd is the best
Always good to save a car destined for the junkyard. Went to the right hands and should be a pretty reliable DD for someone who can handle the regular upkeep for such a vehicle. Exterior looks great...for a mk4 (not my fav body style).

:thumbsup:

Re: Aarons MK4 1.8T Jetta daily driver

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:28 pm
by quattro87
Nice Aaron. You sound like me with the keeping the daughters in cars. I just gave away my youngest daughters 2000 beetle with the 1.8t in it since she is out of the country for another year. I gave the car to my brother's daughter who is absolutely thrilled to be a high school cheerleader and drive a turbo beetle to school. I have changed the belts in both the TT and the Beetle while in the car. In fact both of them have had the heads redone while in the cars. You are right.....they are a PITA. I don't think my daughter is going to be too upset at me for giving her car away since she knows she will probably just be able to "borrow" (on a no return basis) the TT. She has always told me the TT looks good on her. :) The jetta ought to be a decent car for you now that you have poured a bunch of work into it. Good luck.

Re: Aarons MK4 1.8T Jetta daily driver

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:47 am
by PRY4SNO
Sooo... when's this going on bags, yo? :hide:

Re: Aarons MK4 1.8T Jetta daily driver

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 4:09 am
by amd is the best
PRY4SNO wrote:Sooo... when's this going on bags, yo? :hide:


Pretty solid question! :wah:

Re: Aarons MK4 1.8T Jetta daily driver

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:33 am
by speeding-g60
haha. i did that on my K5 2wd Blazer. this is for a woman to drive, so the KISS principal is STRONGLY IN EFFECT.