Here is an awesome video on the history of the Volkswagen Rabbit GTI.  This vid was originally aired on TV in Europe.  Watch this and you’ll understand why I love my Rabbit GTI so much!

I put new Vogtland sport suspension on the GTI this weekend.  Sorry I don’t have install pics but it was pretty straight forward, thanks to my buddy Keith for letting me use his spring compressor.  The thing is LOW now and handles like it’s on rails now. Here are a a few shots I quickly took in the driveway.

Next on the list is a paint job and drop in a 16V Turbo..250+ hp in a 1,800 lb go cart, oh yea! I plan keeping the appearance as original as possible, down to the sweet red stripe when I get it painted. I’m contemplating on keeping the snowflake rims or going with period correct wheels such as ATS Cups or Ronal Turbos.

It’s been cool transforming this from a non running wreck to a fun toy.

Took  a nice drive in the Uintah Mtns today and managed to get some good pics of the project GTI and some of the landscape.

[Show as slideshow]

People are asking me why I’m “wasting” my time restoring an old Rabbit? Simply because they are a hoot to drive and have limitless aftermarket potential. I fell in love with them when I was 16 and am still into them. It’s basically like a street legal go cart. With some suspension mods it’s going to handle like it’s on rails. Not to mention it’s going to get 25-30 mpg, much more than my lifted Jeep Cherokee that gets 14 mpg. It’s also been fun meeting new dubbers, scouting for parts at junkyards and working on it.

As a matter of fact the GTI was voted one of the best 25 driver’s cars of all time. It was up there with Ferraris, Porsches, BMWs, etc.

Here’s the article another good read here- Collectable Classics

25 Greatest Cars of All Time: Driver’s Cars

Volkswagen Rabbit GTI

It is impossible not to hammer on it. Go ahead. Try. Climb into that high-backed, heavily bolstered velour seat, reach down for that little golf-ball-shaped shift knob, and think calming thoughts. Tell yourself that you cherish the color beige, wipe that grin off your face, and for chrissakes, try and drive nice. We can almost guarantee that it won’t happen–and if it actually does, then Volkswagen‘s dinky little Rabbit GTI will probably unclick your seatbelt, pop the door latch, and spit you out onto the sidewalk. (In that case, don’t worry. You’re simply a boring person, and the GTI knows it. No offense.)

By the numbers, it shouldn’t be that impressive. The American-market version of VW’s first GTI, introduced in 1983, produced just 90 hp at 5500 rpm–20 hp less than its European twin–and buzzed to 60 mph in a shade under ten seconds. It was little more than a stiffened, lowered, and shorter-geared version of the standard Rabbit hatchback. And yet, within the space of two short years of production, it single-handedly breathed new life into Volkswagen of America, prompted an entire class of imitators, and changed the lives of more than 30,000 people. If that wasn’t enough, it also produced (thanks to an $8000 sticker price) more grins per dollar than just about anything else on the road.

How was all this possible, you ask? Simple: the GTI had character, spunk, and guts, and it had them in spades. The 1.8-liter, fuel-injected four doesn’t mind being lugged–its torque curve is flatter than a Nebraska afternoon–but you don’t care, because for some reason, all you want to do is go humming toward the rev limiter. You want to beat the snot out of it, shift, and then beat the snot out of it again. There’s a chunky, rubber-mounted, Beetle-like feel to everything that convinces you that the GTI can take anything you can dish out. The whole car feels indestructible.

By modern standards, the GTI’s front struts and rear torsion beam aren’t sophisticated, but they get the job done with touches of brilliance–lines are easily tweaked midcorner with a flex of your right foot, and front-end grip is eye-opening. The unassisted steering is blissfully transparent, and a cheery pitter-patter makes its way from the pavement to your fingers in every corner. The whole package prompts feats of strength; it cries out for full-throttle, giant-killing, lift-a-wheel heroism. From behind that meaty four-spoke wheel, anything is possible. Possible, that is, so long as you don’t drive . . . nice. Sam Smith

After burning up a fuel pump I decided I needed to either a new tank or to recondition it. Six years of sitting wreaks havoc on a fuel tank and system. The entire top half of the tank was rusted/gunked up. I used KBS Tank Sealant. It seeme to work really well, unfortunately it takes 90 hours to cure.

To take out the tank I had to remove the fuel filler, exhaust, hoses and subframe. It was a complete bitch getting it out even more putting it back together which I did by myself.

Hopefully she will be running at the end of the week!

Holding the subframe up

Click below to see more pics

Subframe bolts

Removing the fuel filter

Siphoning out the gas, I made a mess as you can see.

Wiggling the exhaust back in

Here’s the start of the 1983 MK1 GTI. I’ve wanted one of these cars sine I was 17 years old and I finally scored one! It’s been sitting for six years in this dudes garage. I currently can’t get it to run but hopefully this week. So far I’ve gotten a new fuel pump, fuel filter, synthetic oil, battery and plugs. The biggest challenge has been getting rid of the old varnished gas and cleaning the tank. I’ll keep everybody updated on the progress.Click for pics

1.8 8V-not sure how long it’ll remain that way

Clean undercarrige

I think I’m going to keep the back seat out

No rips or tears

That bumper is going to get paint until I get Euros

I’ve since fixed the sagging headliner

The only real rust spot-on the hatch

She’s dirty

I took the handle off to try and adjust it

Snowflakes

The tank w/acetone in it.. It’s going to sit overnigt

Dash

Fuel Level Sensor

Guages