I made it!

[MaxHedrm]

Went down to Houston yesterday to pick up my 82 Jetta. Some things were better than expected, other things worse. But I think the net is positive. The "better" is that the rust seems to be fairly minimal & mostly on replaceable panels, also the interior is better than I expected. The worse is that the locks are hard to work & there are a couple leaks, one in the trunk & one someplace up front.   :?


Now I just need to get the head pulled to I can measure the piston protrusion & order a head gasket.    (I think)

Here are a coupla pics:




There are a few more @ its Gallery...

[hillfolk'r]

i could talk about the protrusion again,but ill jus saynice ride!
it reminds me of my ol jetta
whadda u think rabbittree? looks like the one ya got me........

[Dr. Diesel]

she's an old shweetie!

[MaxHedrm]

Here are a bunch of picks from the day I hauled it back. & I mean a bunch. A friend of mine took them & brought me the CD today. I was lazy & just resized them & uploaded them all.    

Here are some of my favorites:

Ouch, that rock had to hurt, right in the eye...a bit watery too, full to the hole:
 

But it still works just fine:
 


This was good timing, I guess I was flashing the brights:
 


We're being stalked:
 


All in all I think the little car looks pretty good for 360,000 miles. Especially the CV boots ... those had to have been replaced a couple times.  

[MacGyver]

...The worse is that the locks are hard to work...

Pull the door handles, clean the mechanisms up with whatever you have to use...degreaser, brake cleaner, wire brush, etc.
Shoot the locks with penetrating oil & work them with the key till they free up, then give them a dose of graphite.
Coat the latch mechanisms liberally with white grease (small brush is helpful to work it in) and reinstall.
You'll have years of trouble-free service.

[MaxHedrm]

You'll have years of trouble-free service.  

Cool ... I like the sound of that last part.  

[LeeG]

If its just the key part of the lock, here is a trick a locksmith showed me:

Grab a can of wd40 or similar with the straw.  Shove the straw into key hole and let her rip for like a minute, moving the straw in and out.  After a bit you will probably see the oil running down the door is dirty.  Work the key a bit then repeat.    This freed up a lock that was so jammed I thought I didnt have the right keys.  And I have used it many times since.

Bonus tip: if you live somewhere where freezing locks are an issue, a heavy shot of penetrating oil in the late fall will displace the moisture in lock and you will have a trouble free winter.