This page can "appear" slow to load. Please be patient as pictures are preloading.
Complete Over Haul and upgrade of my own 1995 VW Cabrio
Work on this page will be completed as I complete work on the car.
These are of before, during and after pictures starting Sept 2005 to March 2006
 | Flip the mirrors at the pivot point every so often to keep them freed up. When in the flipped back mode would be a good time to lube the pivot point. |
| Behind the gas fill point is accessible from the wheel well opening. This makes it easy for dirt to collect up near top body line of car. Luckily it also makes it easy to clean with a garden hose |
| The front fender skirts create a trap for dirt washed out of the cowl. Be sure to separate the bottom of this area in the spring and wash the dirt and gravel out. I drilled a hole and will make a plastic door for this so I can wash it easier. |
 |
Sept 25: Stereo has been upgraded by replacing the 4 main speakers with Sony brand speakers and a 6" Bazooka tube. Car has been striped right down and is at the body shop.
Nov 1:They have sanded and filled many door dings, cut out sand blasted rust and replaced with new metal if necessary. It is now at the prep shop.
Nov 20: Body shop is nearly done with the car. Paint has been cut and polished. Just the faux carbon fiber bits to be painted and then car can be reassembled.
Dec 4: Glass has been tinted including windshield at 75%. This has all been done out of the vehicle except for the 1/4glass'. Windshield has been reinstalled with color coded "A" pillar moldings and new cowl covers. Weather stripping has been reinstalled. New wheels and tires on - vehicle has to be sent out for balancing and rotors painted. New drums sent out for powder coating. Bumper covers and lights reinstalled with new bulbs. I have drilled 2" holes in bottom rear area of front fender skirts for easy washing of this area. Rust proofing - wax-oil- as we go along including under belt moldings and behind gas filler. This is an area under the gas filler tube has to be washed out constantly. Re-keying the trunk lock has proved to be the biggest puzzle out of the thousand parts and screws removed! After door glasses are back in it will be time to waterproof vehicle.
Dec 23: Car has been waterproofed. The area by the mirrors has been the biggest challenge to keep the water from entering the car. Silicone and saran wrap has been the trick of the day! Actually many hours over 4 days. Leather kit has arrived and we have proceeded to cover door panels with matching red perforated leatherette. Door panel clips have now proven to be the second biggest hurdle. It looks like a modified Caravan clips might work. It also looks like my bright idea of installing new plastic liner to interior of door had some engineering flaws. The door panel actually protrudes into the door cavity so I have to steam the plastic to soften it up allowing the door panel to press outward.
It always seem that these kits still some cut and sew. I don't know why they can work out these bugs. They are very professionally made and look very Mercedes like. Installing seat heaters and welding some cracks in seat frame
Jan 05 Many problems with the door panel clips. I have decided to use door panel clips off an older model GM. The fastener is part# 10140336 and the rubber grommet that it sticks into is 10152077. I drilled a 5/8 hole for these but should have gone down 1/16 I think. I had to really fasten the original door panel clip that goes into the door panel well with hot glue and then slid the fastener into that clip.
Jan10 We have sewn neon tube into the floor mats that work off the door switch. This was a little tricky as the switch turns to positive when closed canceling out the positive feed. For this reason I used a relay. Installed neon tubes under the dash that work off the lights using fuse tap.
Waiting for some leather to come as the backrest on the front seats should have black surrounding the red insert. The top piece has been made with red as well causing the headrest to look like an after thought.
I have decided to redo the mirror backs. When we did the faux carbon fiber the painters gun was spraying blotchy and it looks a little rough.
I have given up trying to figure out the trunk lock and ordered a new one. I have ordered a new micro switch for the right door as well after wrapping the wire around the drill bit when I was drilling out the door panel receiving holes and yanking the switch out of the latch cracking the plastic. Luckily after a second phone call to the dealer they finally found a separate listing for the switch.
Replaced the factory battery cover with a custom one with flames. That only took me 4 hours of cut and sew!
Feb 01 Finally the leather came in so that I could finish the seats. Car out to have wheels balanced. The new rear drums I had powder coated had to be turned because they did the inside by mistake. Next week oil leak to be fixed then of to be undercoated and new exhaust put on. After that a final polish and 3m hood protector applied.
March 13 Entered Funk Master flex show. Very few VWs but the one there had a ton of money spent on them.
