Another one? The Journey of Chad.

[datsundrew]

You can pick up replacement (second hand) towing hitches on eBay will look out the part number in a bit.. I paid around 50-60 a year or so ago. Cheers

I bought what I thought was right as it said x-50
But it’s definitely not correct. There seems to be a round version and a squarer type, both do t fit. Could you post a pic of what it should look like?
I think it’s a short round version?

 

[nod]

8e0800495a just make sure it comes with key/s and should have metal plates still attached. There is a new one on the bay now but the seller is taking the...p..£199.. Cheers

 

[datsundrew]

So a bit of an update on Chad! I’ve been using him on my wales commute, as for some reason I prefer driving it over my silver BHC tdi. Its a bit scruffy with its plastic bits and soft (sticky) touch, whereas the silver tdi is newer, tidier and just feels a lot newer. I think it’s possibly the fact that Chad has oss, rear elecitric windows, and now has its tow bar!
Cat, the previous owner got in touch and sent me this pic. I was a bit shocked at first when I saw this picture, and assumed is was some bondage gear, but then the penny dropiped.
turns out its brand new.

 

[datsundrew]

A trip ton Bristol to collect the tow bar, and a chance for Simeon and Cat to see their old car. I think it was mixed emotions for them as they obviously loved this car, and had it a long time, but sold it to an unknown future which turned out well. It was lovely to see them again.
a couple of weeks after, I got tagged on a Facebook page …..an OSS roof for sale in wales, I connected the seller and agreed to buy it, but had no idea how to collect it, but then it was obvious……

 

[datsundrew]

I fitted the tow bar, borrowed a trailer, took it to wales, did a weeks work then picked up the roof. This was the Thursday evening and it was absolutely freezing, awful roads, snow and salt everywhere. A careful drive home and it’s now stashed away until the spring, where I’ll probably look at getting it updated before it’s fitted to futureproof it.

 

[datsundrew]

I’ve been using my time between Christmas and New year to get a few jobs done on Chad. The first was to fit a pair of TT seats, and spent several hours making plates and welded plates onto the TT runners to fit. I got the driver’s seat done, got it fitted and tried it, then took it out for a spin. Mmm…. Not what I thought.
firstly, it’s considerably lower that the A2 seat, it looked good, but somehow looked odd with the cloth rear seats, so after a lot of thought, I decided against it, and went with plan B.

 

[datsundrew]

So plan B was to pull the original seats apart, and fit a headed seat kit which I bought on eBay a long time ago for another project……

 

[datsundrew]

I have done this before, and had forgotten how difficult it was…..those bloody hog rings and aching hands!!
They are both now fitted and wired in and I’m happy with the result.

 

[datsundrew]

I bought an MYP gearbox a while back, and the intention was to put it in the silver tdi, that was before Chad came along.
I put an MZK fabia gearbox to replace the box with the rumbling diff (so I thought, but that’s another (expensive) story, and so decided I’d fit the MYP into Chad. I was up bright and early this morning and set about the swap over….

 

[datsundrew]

It all went well, and I had read just about everything MYP related on this forum, so thanks to everyone who has posted on this conversion before, it certainly makes life easy. My only issue is the gearbox rattle at idle, which I have just been reading could the cheap clutch I put in, but I’ll live with it. I also replaced the dog bone mount as it was showing signs of age.

 

[datsundrew]

The final job today was to change the intercooler. The engine bay was filthy when I got it, and gave it a good clean when I bought it. I noticed the intercooler looked quite wet, especially at the base. I haven’t noticed a drop in power, but it’s obvious that it leaks, and once removed I could see how bad it really was, not just the ends popped, but blown out sideways too, properly knackered!! I only decided to do it as it was over the pit and that dreaded undertray was off.
I thought this would be an easy job, but a lot more involved than expected.
The old one was also very blocked up with crud, so I’m hoping there will be an improvement?
I noticed the replacement (2nd hand) one looks and feels bether quality, I think the old one isn’t original?

 

[datsundrew]

And that’s as far as I got It was getting late, 9pm, so I shut the garage door and left it for today.
Tomorrow morning I’ll get it back together and take it for a test drive, and will report back

 

[A2Steve]

Great right ups, thanks for sharing.

I agree with you on the TT seats, I really like how low they sit, but unless you have leather rears they don’t really make sense.

“The dreaded undertray” indeed, I’ve just got in from changing the gearbox oil on my black TDI and the hardest part is refitting the undertray, infact it’s harder than a lot of other jobs on the A2

 

[datsundrew]

Great right ups, thanks for sharing.

I agree with you on the TT seats, I really like how low they sit, but unless you have leather rears they don’t really make sense.

“The dreaded undertray” indeed, I’ve just got in from changing the gearbox oil on my black TDI and the hardest part is refitting the undertray, infact it’s harder than a lot of other jobs on the A2

I agree! The thought of the tray makes me shudder . The TT seats just felt too low for me, I’m a short arse, so I like the height of the cloth seats, I just thought it was what I wanted, then decided not
I will advertise them for sale as I’ve done all the hard work, they are in great condition too.

 

[2work]

Evening Drew,

That’s some graft you’ve put, very well done. You should have high self satisfaction levels for all that you’ve achieved in such a short time.

Very jealous of the MYP conversion as I’m unable to have this in the new A2 due to it taking the speed from the gearbox. It’s an early (ABS Mk20 equipped) vehicle unfortunately. I did have an itch to try TT seats one day but like you I enjoy the height adjustment, the other driver here is shorter than me and probably would complain more than normal.

Keep up the great work and write ups as they help so many of us on here.

Kind regards,

Tom

 

[Erlingtheyounger]

I’ve been using my time between Christmas and New year to get a few jobs done on Chad. The first was to fit a pair of TT seats, and spent several hours making plates and welded plates onto the TT runners to fit. I got the driver’s seat done, got it fitted and tried it, then took it out for a spin. Mmm…. Not what I thought.
firstly, it’s considerably lower that the A2 seat, it looked good, but somehow looked odd with the cloth rear seats, so after a lot of thought, I decided against it, and went with plan B.

Hope you’re prepared for the avalanche of DM’s asking about the brackets for the seats you knocked up!

Very much enjoyed your write up.

 

[datsundrew]

Evening Drew,

That’s some graft you’ve put, very well done. You should have high self satisfaction levels for all that you’ve achieved in such a short time.

Very jealous of the MYP conversion as I’m unable to have this in the new A2 due to it taking the speed from the gearbox. It’s an early (ABS Mk20 equipped) vehicle unfortunately. I did have an itch to try TT seats one day but like you I enjoy the height adjustment, the other driver here is shorter than me and probably would complain more than normal.

Keep up the great work and write ups as they help so many of us on here.

Kind regards,

Tom

Thanks! It’s all a bit brief as never seem to get to get time to do the sort of write up I’d like to. I read some peoples threads and the detail and information is just superb, puts mine to shame realy, but at least it’s a record of where we’re going

 

[datsundrew]

Hope you’re prepared for the avalanche of DM’s asking about the brackets for the seats you knocked up!

Very much enjoyed your write up.

Aww, thanks . The brackets were reasonably easy, but only because I welded the front ones to the base and not made bolt on adapters, which woke fiddly.

 

[datsundrew]

So…..the results are in! This morning I took it out for a good test drive, my first impression is how different the gear change is, a much shorter throw, slightly clonky, but precise. The clutch is lovely and smooth and light, just a shame another gearbox chatter at idle, although having said that, once it has warmed up it doesn’t always do it, and if I press the clutch down and release it slowly it doesn’t always do i. It does run and sound like a bag of spanners when it’s cold, so I’m wondering if it’s worth replacing the injector loom maybe? A job for the summer.
Also whilst out, I put the heated seat on…..superb! On high it heats up quite quickly, and once up to temperature switching it to low is perfect. not bad for a cheap eBay jobbie.

 

[datsundrew]

Next on the list was to fit my Xmas present…..a dash cam with rear camera, I can’t believe how long this took threading wires through and trying to make it look tidy!