Koni inserts are on their way from a fellow URQ owner. Thanks Martin. I've found nice German top mounts and wheel bearings and most of the other parts I need. Still looking for the anti roll bar bushings and I'm not sure if I want to spend over $200 on an OE ball joint.

Took my struts and control arms to see my Freind Mat at MCE Tuning. He pressed out the wheel bearings for me no problem.

557930_2038813346489_250483501_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

458492_2038851347439_1854833606_o by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

553623_2038854347514_279038517_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

Then cleaned up the wheel bearing housings so the new bearings will go in nicely.

541300_2038858947629_1361300334_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Next I start working on getting the control arm bushings out.

 

I got the rear struts apart yesterday. They were not as bad as I thought. I held the nut in a vice, applied heat and hit the steering arm with a hammer till it came loose.

People have suggested powder coating all the suspension components while they are off the car. I have been reluctant to do this as I am trying to not restore the car but maintain its originality. However, looking at the surface rust on the rear struts I feel I must at least POR15 the springs, rear struts and top hats just to preserve them.

549576_2050801326181_1728951275_1017076_1086191216 _n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


With that in mind I degreased them with Marine Clean yesterday after removing loose rust with a wire brush.

536835_2050787725841_1728951275_1017069_1047995182 _n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

Today, if I get chance, I will prep them and paint them with POR15 black.

 

Started the POR15 rust inhibition project today. Prepped with POR prep stuff.

540967_2051466822818_398240252_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


First coat of POR15 applied. Of course I managed to get some on my hands and face.

525541_2051949394882_764807944_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

 

Huge parts haul today. Coolant, front wheel bearings, top mounts, handbrake cables. Control arm bushings etc.

319779_2054785705788_1817533606_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


I think I may be starting put the car back together. After installing the new heater control valve I added coolant and put the steering arms back in the car today.

557427_2054789545884_1160801971_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

After that I dropped off the control arms and bushings at a friend's so he can attack them with his new press.

Have a good weekend.

 

I love/hate following this thread. Makes me want to put one of those pre-fab steel buildings up in the yard and buy myself a lift. unfortunately, I have no yard, and no money.

looking forward to seeing how this turns out

 

Me neither!

 

It's KONI time in the shop this week!


Time to start putting this car back together but one question to resolve before I do that is where to set the adjustable KONI inserts. I like a responsive ride, my other car's a race car, but don't want to ruin the ride quality especially as you have to take these buggers out again to adjust them. So where to begin, #1, #2, #5?. Anyone have any experience with these?

 

I started to re-assemble the front struts this afternoon. Pressed in the wheel bearings.

374058_2066666762807_494846908_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr

524393_2066663402723_1996091487_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Pressed the hub on and inserted the Koni inserts.

540478_2066656442549_50158913_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


Need to decide on settings before I install the springs. Currently on 2 out of 5. Anyone know where these go?

560621_2066658722606_2141515379_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


The POR15 was a bit glossy so I went over the top hats and springs with some flat black.

540660_2066661442674_1616685186_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


I also re-installed the control arms and new right side ball joint. If I get chance tomorrow I'll install the springs then put the front struts back on the car!

 

Semi productive day today. I was hoping to have the car back on its wheels, maybe even driving but alas, I was thwarted by a wrong part. Seems I have a ball joint for a 4000 instead. Bugger!

Still, I got all four struts assembled and the Konis set. I went with 1 turn on the fronts, 1.5 in the rear. If I don't like it they are easy to adjust.....NOT!

Installed all but the right front strut on the car. Even that is technically on the car. Just hanging from the upper mount for now. I ordered a TSW ball joint from Rock Auto as a back up. OE versions are very pricey. Tomorrow I will search locally for a decent one. If I can't find one I'll wait for the TSW one. That's what's already on the left side anyway.

Hopefully, if I get time tomorrow I'll drop the rear on the ground and tighten all the bolts, put the rear seats back in and maybe, if I can find some, replace the blown rear speakers. I guess I could also drop and tighten the front left too. I can also install the new catalytic converter gasket and cinch that up so I can start the engine and burp the coolant. Then an alignment and we drive it. Damn, wish I had a ball joint.

 

Looks like a car again. At least this side does.

398792_2072454507497_1450869834_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


This side's still missing a leg!
531441_2072455747528_1823520797_n by Team Illuminata Motorsport, on Flickr


So, thirty years ago a small, select group of Audi engineers sat down together to eat pizza and hatch a cunning plan. "I know..." proffers one
particularly sneaky engineer "...... let's build a 4wd turbo car that looks just like the Coupe GT but uses non of its parts. NONE. This will really
mess with their heads in about thirty years time. HAH!"

See, it wasn't about rally at all. It was just a German practical joke!