Caddy side project

[Tractor Dave]

Very little progress to report.
I did pick up a 5 speed tdi gearbox from my local breakers. The code is EGR which makes it ideal for the caddy with a long top ratio and a manual speedo drive so I can hook up the original speedo. The driveshaft cups are also the correct 100mm size which means it's much cheaper to source the correct drive shafts that fits the original hubs.
It's too cold in the barn to paint anything atm so there is little point in starting the underside right now.




I can make a start on the fuel tank renovation in the heated garage until it warms up a bit.

Now, I'm after a nice pair of seats for this project. Anyone have something suitable?
A pair of Recaros would be lovely or maybe Mk1 Scirocco or GTi?


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[Tractor Dave]

Yes! I do love oak green mk11 16v
I gave it my best guess re pivot point. I should have made an adjustable bracket for up and down like i did side to side. Never mind, it works and i don't need to rotate all the way around.
Nothing much happening over Christmas. Having some time off now

[sal_s2]

The way to counter the "top heavy" issue would be to have the pivot point higher up but it doesnt really matter if you have assistance I guess

I think it needs to be painted, either lhasa green or oak green metallic

[Tractor Dave]

My mechanic friend came over to give me a hand. It was quite top heavy so I'm glad there was two of us. Locked in position now so I can crack on.


Condition underneath is remarkable for a 36 year old vehicle. However, the rubber underseal is hiding a few secrets.








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[Tractor Dave]

I had some more welding to finish off the brackets. Mostly made up as I went along.







Somehow everything came together and it works.



It's a little top heavy so I haven't tried to flip it completely yet. Guess that will be a two person job. Axle stands still there just in case. Worried grin.


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[Tractor Dave]

Noted.

[sal_s2]

First dibs on this one please Dave when its up and running

[Tractor Dave]

Well, i must confess i got the car a few months ago. If i can get it safely on the roll over jig and make a start cleaning the underside before Santa arrives i will be very happy

[Nuvo]

Hold on a sec Dave, I thought you just said this was a slow motion project? You'll have it finished before Christmas if keep this up.
It always great to see another generous helping of project goodness from you.

[Tractor Dave]

This is the donor for the engine which I picked up locally cheaply. Amazing that it passed an mot in January.




I didn't waste any time getting the engine out.


The loom was a right pain to remove.



Also took the dbw throttle pedal which will go in the caddy.


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[Tractor Dave]

Everything got stripped from the body and I amassed a big pile to take for sandblasting and powder coating.


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[Tractor Dave]

Ok, there seems to be some interest so I will continue.
This is a slow motion project. It's in the barn, not the garage (where the lift is) as I need to do other cars in there whilst this is ongoing.
I don't like crawling under cars on axle stands so I decided to make a roll over jig. Can't be that difficult?
So I got some steel and loosely followed some ideas on the interweb.
My local steel supplier kindly cut everything to size for me. Then I got busy with the mig.










Total cost was £40
You may have noticed that these later got painted blue with some Ford Tractor paint I happen to have. Grin


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[johne]

but a diesel is still a diesel..... of course there's loads of choice and debate possible over engine choices and whilst a diesel links nicely to the Caddy's workhorse origins when we're talking about the best engines VAG ever made the VR6 is up there amongst the front runners so for me a BUB VR6 as fitted to Mk4 and Mk5 Golfs would be the way to go. With 4 wheel drive a possibility and a legendary exhaust note it's the closest you'd get to the S2 magic.

Whatever, look forward to the build thread.

[fish]

We need a build thread. You dont even have to ask

[John.]

Love the simplicity of these......but understand the engine swap also !

Keep it coming Dave.