My 1990 Swedish Jetta

Hi everybody,
I have a 1990 1.8cl that I bought when I lived in Sweden. 2 weeks ago I packed up all my belongings (well most of them, the boot is huge but .....) and drove the 1000 miles over 20 hrs home to London England. This 20yr old car did not miss a beat, give me any trouble or cause me any concerns. The only time I had the bonnet up was before I set off to check fluids etc, after a stop over again to check fluids then when I got home the following day, again to check fluids. All spot on, incredible!!
I love these cars and just goes to prove how reliable and well made they are. I am now going to sort out getting her registered over here so first step is of course the dreaded M.O.T. I know from my mot in Sweden that the suspension is a little bounced out with a busted front right spring, "not a failure but a concern". Hmmm, I think its a failure, either way not acceptable. SO was thinking about a replacement for the old girl and was wondering the best place to get a set of new GTi springs and dampers from?
I plan to make her a bit of a project and keep her in top shape so will keep you posted. Any suggestions or comments appreciated.

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Thanks
Simon

A very warm welcome to JOC. Lovely looking Jetta (loving the headlamp washers).

Think it could do with without the wheel trims though- (no offence).

Enjoy the site.

Hahaha I hear you man but thats my bling!! To be honest I am looking for a new set of wheels mate so I will be getting rid ASAP. They were on the car when I got it, along with the chrome exhaust tip Probably should have left that out hey
Thanks man

I have some BBS RA's that might be for sale. Someone else on here has first refusal!

Just copy and paste the IMG tags from photobucket to get the pics to show on here mate. Lovely looking Jetta, any more progress?

Thanks mate for the comments and the photo tips, guess I will update this thread with my project now.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to start yet as I have been away on holiday then working in Holland so had no time but hopefully this weekend I plan to start. Going raise her off the ground and get underneath to have a gander and see whats what and where to begin. I have got myself a complete Mk3 GTi set of calipers and will be stripping them down, cleaning and rebuilding them after painting in red. By the way, i am trying to source the rebuild kits from VAG but having trouble, anyone now the best way of getting these?
Will update progress as I go

Get the caliper rebuild kits from BiggRed - they've got a website and they list on ebay

Ordered yahoo thanks

Liking the Jet buddy she looks really tidy how long did you say you have owned her paint work looks mint

Welcome to JOC by the way

Thanks for the welcome
I have had her 2 years now and honesty well pleased with her. The paint work is great and underneath is pretty solid also which I am well pleased about. There are a few blemishes on the paint but then after 20 years I expect that. There is a repair patch on the drivers door (Left hand by the way) and also I pulled the rub strip off so need some clips to fix that back on.
First things first I have to register her in this country and then its project time

Ok so an update and question.
I got my Jetta M.O.T'd on Sat and predictably she failed, but not massively. I have the suspension to change and a couple of bushes, plus advisorys on the brakes. Thats all in hand, brake rebuild/ conversion to Mk3 GTi, coilovers, new wishbones and bushes etc.
However, to register her in this country I apparntly have to get the speedo converted to MPH and reciept for this from the dealer, which sounds like a lot to me. No worries I understand the change is needed but does it have to be a dealer or can I get it fitted and then they alter the mileae etc?? DOes anyone have any experience of this??
Thanks
Simon

just look for a set of clocks with similar or slightly higer eqlivant milage,on ebay??

Hi guys,

Sorry not been on here with any updates recently but have been having a bit of trouble finding time. However, I am getting hold of all the bits I need for the rebuild etc and wondering as I am doing a brake conversion to MK3 GTi discs front and rear, will I need the MK3 hubs as well or will mine do already?

Thanks
Jonsie

i know a guy who did eight trips there and back in his jetta to hungary and his car never missed a beat they are bullet proof

Well I have a made a little progress on my Jetta this past couple of nights. I am currently stripping the front end brakes and suspension. As you can see after 20 yrs its in a sorry state: an MOT failure in fact!

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So tonight I finally achieved this:
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and
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Not much I know but has ben a struggle. To say she's a stubborn b***h is an understatement lol. Unfortunately the last guy to change the brakes did a lovely job of rounding the bolts at the back of the calipers so shall be making with the drill tomorrow at work. Then I can strip the knuckles down to get them detailed etc. I have new bearings and MK3 GTi brakes to fit.
I will also be changing out the control arms also for nice shiny new ones but they are also being a pain, again with a rounded bolt on the passenger side control arm holding it to th sub frame. I plan to remove the sub frame and detail that as well as it is in a sorry state also.

So hope this is interesting anyway and the pics not too big.
Hope to update again soon
Jonsie

Nice work, gonna look fresh when you're done

Keep up the good work buddy its time consuming but well worth it

Thanks guys
yeah, its worth it at the end hey. Next step, subframe and brake hardlines ;)I am stripping the knuckles down before I can get them detailed and I want to remove the bearings and replace, but as I am new to this I am following the manual which says I need to get the dealers to do this. Is this right or can I just press them out and back in again using a press? I have removed the hubs no worries but am worried about damaging any of the casting of the knuckle.

Thanks
Simon

So, the labour of love continues in the shape of reconditioning my front brakes and steering knuckles. Once I got them off the car and started to strip them down, I was amazed they tilll worked due to the condition of them
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Hmmm lovely. So I got the wire brushes and drill attahments out and have a small game of spot the difference for you lol
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I have also done the same with the drivers side (left) steering knuckle
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This was how they started
Now it looks like this
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Spot the difference again lol
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Pleased with the results, its a boring job but has a sense of satisfaction about it. Can't wait to get them primed and painted. I have new bearings, for the knuckles to go in. I am also thinking I might need new dust covers as this is all I can find they exisisted on my car lol

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Probably going to need to grind and drill these out which sucks but hey ho.

Simon

Quality work so far fella.
I started stripping a few parts off mine for powder coating & its satisfying when your putting nice shiney parts back on, only thing is you then want to everything else to match....
Definately worth the effort though .

Thanks dude.
You completely right, I took my old control arms off last night to replace them and the shocking bushes that were ruined. I have brand spank me new shiny black ones and thinking there is no way I can put those onto the rusty old subframe without cleaning it up first lol. Hopefully i'll run out of things to clean and detail one day lol
Good luck with the powder coating mate, great looking Jetta by the way

Right a small update
The list of parts off the "Mighty Jetta" continues to roll on (will it ever end??)
So far;
Front shocks,
Complete steering knuckles, hubs, brakes
Solid brake lines
Master cylinder
Subframe
Control Arms
ARB
Rear Engine Mount
Shift linkage

However, the silver ling of all this is of course the shiny new bits;
New control arms
New 22mm master cylinder
Shift linkage bushes, balls and main shft bush and weighted shift linkage
New rear engine mount, ARB and steering rack bushes
CLutch
rebuilt calipers with drilled vented discs
New solid brke lines
New wheel bearings


So this Easter I aim to try and put as many back on the car as poss. Here is some pics
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Hmmm shiny lol
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Yeah I agree, the bushing was in need of replacing
Plus, these arrived today in the post, what do you think?
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Simon

Massive thanks to Dubpartz who helped me source the rims (Aluline 15X7) from his mate Thomas. Well pleased with them been after a set for a while now!
Time to source some stretched rubber

Any pics of the progress?

woooowwwww those rims are hot !!