Date:         Fri, 29 Aug 2003 20:15:37 -0600
Reply-To:     tom ring <taring@TARING.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         tom ring <taring@TARING.ORG>
Organization: Tippen Ringware
Subject:      Re: Cabrio buying tips?  - NVC
Comments: To: David Maurio <maurio11@COMCAST.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2003082909122218@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

You probably already went on the inspection, but...

Some of this is standard fare, but particualarly applicable to a 1st gen rabbit
chassis.

Check the upper strut bearings by driving over a couple good bumps.  If not
good, the noise will drive you nuts.  Replacable fairly cheaply.

Check the motor mounts, esp the front one..  The engine should be very firmly
in place when you try to move it.  Front one is not too bad to replace.  The
side ones can harder.

Check the front and rear bearing play by shaking the tops of the tires.  There
shouild be almost none on the rear, and none at all on the front.  The rear can
be adjusted, the front is a bearing replacement.  It gets pressed out and in so
it's a few bucks if you don't have one yourself.

Check the CV boots for cracks or leaks.  Likewise check the CV joints.

Ease of shifting into 2nd will give you a fair indication of syncro wear.

Long high speed right, at .4G or better, like a nice entrance ramp, while
shifting into 4th will give a good indication of linkage wear/adjustment.  If
you can't get it in, it's probably worn, although not necessarilly bad.

Especially check the fuse/relay panel, in roughly the same place as a vanagon
but more towards the firewall, for signs of water damage.  1st gen rabbits had
a really big issue with windshield leaks that wrecked the electrics pretty good
sometimes.  They can be intermittant, to say the least.

tom

On 29 Aug 2003 at 13:09, David Maurio wrote:

> Morning List!  Happy Friday!
>
> Going to look at an 84 Cabrio today.  Was wondering if anyone had any tips on
> certain things to look at/for?
>
> Thanks,
> D
>
>
> --
> David /NJ
> 85 Wolfsburg Westy "Beatrix" - For Sale
> http://home.comcast.net/~maurio11/
>


------
Tom Ring K0TAR, ex-WA2PHW  EN34hx
85 Westphalia GL Albert
96 Jetta GL The Intimidator
taring@taring.org

"It is better to go into a turn slow, and come out fast, than to go into a turn fast
and come out dead." Stirling Moss