RabbitGTDguy returns

[RabbitGTDguy]

Finally, after being gone and moving around for more than a year I have found my way back to a computer. I went to the old site at vwgtd.hopto.org and found that you guys have moved here! Is mark still around?

The GTD is alive and well, though...had to pull it out for winter last year and messed a few things up but am rebuilding this winter. New upgraded turbo, etc....and finally saving for that TDI!
Propane injection, etc. still all intact (as am I ) and working well.

Is anyone else here!?

Joe Allison

[RabbitGTDguy]

Always nice to see that your the first to reply. Its been a while. My job was requiring me to move around alot in the last year so this is the first time I have been able to settle down, get a computer and be on line. (nice too....cable is so much faster than my old dial up connection).
How are your projects going? I'm working on some new stuff for the GTD this winter. Mainly, that plunger swap I had talked about over a year ago with the Peug pump that I got from you as well as relocating the battery to the rear end of the car and eliminating my FMIC for a new completely aluminum jacketed water/air intercooler that will take the place and make plumbing and room constraints alot easier on the car! I'll have to post pics. That and I have to redo alot of my fender flares and the zender side skirts because of its brush with winter last year. Fun stuff though, I'm excited to get it done and for spring to come.

Joe

[RedRotors]

Hey Joe!!

Nice to see that you'r back !! Well, i've decided to make something
better for the users so i bought a domain name and installed a more 'pratical' forum..

Im still around.. My mechanical TDI is still asleep in the garage, i bought a new money pit, a cummins Dodge.. I've also bought a A4 TDI Golf.. I still have my tank..

Enjoy the new forum and welcome abord!

Marc/

[RabbitGTDguy]

Thanks marc....the new forum does look better and seems alot more user friendly!
I saw the thread on your new truck! Very nice!

[fspGTD]

Glad to have you back Joe!

[Dr. Diesel]

wow, Herr Gründungsmitglied returns... welcome back.

[RabbitGTDguy]

Thanks guys,

spent alot of time yesterday just ripping stuff down on the GTD to do the winter clean up and changes to it. However, a shop owner was into the store the other day and said that he might have a Passat motor, TDI from around 96-97 that he could pick up for a really good price so I might keep my eye on that. We'll see.
Anyways, yesterday was spent ripping out the remainder of the battery tray, windshield washer fluid res. bracket, etc. and fitting the new air/water intercooler unit in to see how it will all come together. Looks good
Right now, and another thing maybe you can help me with here Jake, or rather...throw in your opinion on is that I am consider elminating the rear disc brakes I have added to the car and returning to drums. I'm not convinced on the modulation of the new rears and so far have spent more time replacing parts (even though everything with the exception of the rotors which I had turned) than acutally testing them out to see how well they do in the autox situation. Brand new calipers! Had one lock up and fail this summer on the rear. Everything is proportional too. 22mm master cylinder and rocco 16v booster, proportional valves (factory non adjustable type) and A3 rear calipers with corresponding rotors.
I also removed a portion of the propane injection setup yesterday too. I'm going to refine the bracket that is holding my pressure switch and solenoid and run a different supply hose on it this year if I am able to source it locally.
I am able to do digital pics and streaming video now so maybe I will try to take a few shots and put them up on the board here.
Today is finishing ripping down the new turbo to rebuild and removing the body kit...should be fun!

Joe

[Dr. Diesel]

pics!!

[fspGTD]

Right now, and another thing maybe you can help me with here Jake, or rather...throw in your opinion on is that I am consider elminating the rear disc brakes I have added to the car and returning to drums. I'm not convinced on the modulation of the new rears and so far have spent more time replacing parts (even though everything with the exception of the rotors which I had turned) than acutally testing them out to see how well they do in the autox situation. Brand new calipers! Had one lock up and fail this summer on the rear. Everything is proportional too. 22mm master cylinder and rocco 16v booster, proportional valves (factory non adjustable type) and A3 rear calipers with corresponding rotors.

Joe - fun to hear an update on your rig.  It sounds like the disc setup should work, but there is that seizing caliper problem you mentioned I can imagine must be frusterating after all the work converting the system and with the new calipers.  I don't know what the particular problem is, except that generally I would suspect it is related to the e-brake system, because I have heard from many sources that the VW rear disc setup is known for having some kind of seizing problems with it's e-brake mechanism so if I had to guess that's where I'd target my search.  The VW Autocrosser I know running A1 rear discs (trailered, not street driven, in Prepared class) doesn't use or have his e-brake handle even connected for this reason.  This sounds annoying, and probably not acceptable for a daily driver.  I would try and find out from the scirocco 16v guys about what might be causing this and if there is a fix that you might be able to apply, Joe.  Those cars (the 'rocco 16vs) all came with rear discs and I'd imagine someone's at least figured out the cause of the problem.  Also A2 GTIs came with rear discs that are probably very similar to the A1 rear discs.  There may be things you can do to make it more resistant to seizing.  It will probably be easier than changing back to rear drums.

Rear drums are lighter weight than discs, which as you might know adds to total vehicle weight, unsprung weight, and rotating weight as well.  The weight difference can be significant if you are going out to lighten and quicken your car wherever you can.  That said, I know lots of racers required to keep rear drums who are able to make them work (aftermarket shoe compounds, IE carbon-metallic, are even available I hear for these if you need them!  I have not had any fading problems just running the factory or ferodo OEM-style replacement shoes back there though, and modulation on these compounds and setups is great.)  They also seem to wear quite well - not much weight back there on a Rabbit I guess.    Most of the maintenance problems I have had with my rear drums have been when the wheel cylinder back there decides to leak (and saturates the shoes, etc, requiring basically new shoes and rear cylinders.)  But that is just sort of a reality with dealing with 20+ year old brake systems... hygroscopic fluid absorbs water from the air and the people who change their brake fluid the recommended 4 year interval are few and far between... so after time the moisture build-up causes a corrosion of the insides of the hydraulic system.  Eventually this results in pitting in the slave or master cylinders and then a leak.  But it's not a flaw in the design of the brakes.  If you want less pedal travel, stainless steel braided flexible brake lines do help by the way.