NA6 - Project : Rebuild and Restore (aka A Love Story)

[Amanda]

Hello themissus! You are a legend.. I've just read this entire thread and I'm most impressed by your determination to restore this little 5 on your own!

You are inspiring me to pick up another NA myself! I used to have a white '90 NA and in 2006 sold a NB8B, went to a GTI Golf and ended up with a mortgage, sooo we decided to try living with 1 car so the Golf got sold in June this year.

I hate it not having a car that is and am really trying to convince my other half that a white NA would be a great idea for me to run around in. We've talked about a scooter but ick ick I'd rather have more metal around me I think!

Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it

I look forward to seeing more updates on Monkey

Cheers
Amanda

[Okibi]

Amanda DOOO ITTT !

You have a whole family of enthusiasts here to help you pick the right one and plenty of dodgy days to improve on it.

Scooter in Melb with the rain and the tram tracks sounds like a death wish.

[Amanda]

Amanda DOOO ITTT !

You have a whole family of enthusiasts here to help you pick the right one and plenty of dodgy days to improve on it.

Scooter in Melb with the rain and the tram tracks sounds like a death wish.

oooh such a bad influence Okibi!

I know from a mechanical point of view I've got more support than ever before. My brother runs a tyre services centre in Romsey (an hour out of Melbourne) so reading this thread from themissus made me think how I could even get him to teach me the basics ie oil changes etc and i could do them myself! He's got a hoist the works, so be easy for me to learn... no lying on the ground!

Anyhoo... i'll keep saving up some more cash on the side and see how I go with the convincing!

edit: scooter - no way on earth am i bothering with one of those when a NA can be bought for 6-8k. MUCH more practical is the MX

[TheMissus]

What Okibi said!!!!

I'm having a heap of fun and learning a whole lot. I am looking forward to tomorrow's engine swap (with trepidation - I have a picture in my head of Mutton coming home on a trailer) and I think the rebuild of the original engine will be great fun.

Scooter schmooter ... when it rains you get a wet arse and no fish!

[TheMissus]

New Engine and clutch are in and I am feeling very clever. The new engine runs like a dream. It sounds good, there are no leaks anywhere, the guages barely move and are in the right places.

*sigh*

What a relief. I have learnt so much that will help with the rebuild of the original engine and I am sure that swapping it back once it is rebuilt will be much easier.

Looking forward to the time off between Christmas and New Year so that I can replace the soft top and respray the rails.

[timk]

Good stuff!

I would have given you a hand but I was pretty crook over the weekend. Glad the engine swap went OK. I had no doubts the spare engine I gave you would be anything less than great after removing the valve cover and everything appearing like brand new!

[TheMissus]

New soft top and new license plate are on

Photos tomorrow after I wash the rest of Mutton to make her as beautiful and shiny as the top.

Damn I feel clever and ASE and I work like a pro team in the workshop now. Did I mention ...

[TheMissus]

And I got new tyres for her today. Adrenalines all round. They feel quite different to the Hankooky things I had before.

Here are the photos of her after her polish and detail yesterday ... resplendent with new soft top.


With new license plate ...


Rear view ... nice glass rear window. No more stupid zip!


Side view ...


This one is for ASE 'cause he likes this picture ...

[Hammer]

Its looking good. You've got great taste in colour.

[TheMissus]

Thanks Hammer ... I can see it slowly starting to take shape now. Red ones go faster

I also meant to say that as the vinyl on the top is stretching out a bit the funny marks you can see on the top where stuff inside pushes out, they're disappearing. We do have one tiny problem and that's the passenger door fould a little in the top rear corner and you have to close the door with the window a little down and then put the window up. Anyone knowing of a fix I'd love to hear from you ... will go trawling the forum and the big forum tomorrow night for answers.

[Fatty]

We do have one tiny problem and that's the passenger door fould a little in the top rear corner and you have to close the door with the window a little down and then put the window up.

if you take the door trim off you will see 2 L shaped tabs that are fastenned on with screws, near the rails for the window glass. these tabs set the maximum height of the glass when the window is up. loosen the screws, move the tabs down slightly. don't move them down too much tho, coz then your window won't seal against the roof properly and it will leak in the rain. just fiddle with it until you get a good compromise of water tightness, and door closing properly. tighten screws, refit trim, and you're done.

[NMX516]

Lookin good M! I'll have to come and visit and check this thing out in the flesh.

Now you too will have the joys of explaining to people "what does the N mean?"

[Hammer]

Where did you get your soft top from? I agree with you on the soft top zippers and vinyl window. Glass is soooo much better. Does yours come with the demister?

[Okibi]

I'll be in the market for a new softtop soon. Where's boags for a group buy

[grump]

Looks fantastic, great to see you sticking at it, Its a real credit too you. Can't wait to see it in the flesh again. I think you have found a hidden talent. Ain't personal satisfaction a wonderfull thing.