Great, now I have a big choice to make...

[88jetta350]

Dammit, and I was dead set on converting my trusy old US-Spec MKII Jetta to an IDI diesel.

Now I come across a nice MKIII Jetta Shell (Also US-Spec) for next to nothing (probably around $200)

Now I am torn. I love my MKII, as it was my first VW, and it is already road worthy (sort of), and has a bunch of work done to it...

Manual Tranny swap (no overdrive sucks)
New Suspension (FK Coilovers)
10.1" Front Brakes w/ Rear Disc Conversion
Quad-Round Smoked Crosshairs
Big Bumper Swap
Front Recaros out of a Golf GTI
Full Interior swap (from Blue to Grey/Black)
Kenwood DNX7200 (double DIN) w/ built in GPS installed in Dash
In the process of relocating heater controls to center console
AMS Chipped ECU and reprogrammed Ignition controller
Auto Tech 10mm Spark plug Wires
MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil
Techtonics 2.25" Alumnized Exhaust
270* Cam w/ adjustable cam gear

Now, the bad stuff

Rotten Battery Tray (fist sized hole)
Water leaks into interior from multiple places (replaced water shields in all doors and all weatherstripping)
Rust holes in both rear fenderwells
Paint is shot
Rotten spot by exhaust
Misc electrical gremlins (nothing major)
Lower control arm bushings are shot
huge dent in driver's side rear door
both front fenders mashed up around wheel-wells
Trunk leaks (replaced seal, still leaks)

Now the Jetta 3 Shell....

1995 Jetta GL 2.0 (ABA)
Automatic
Tornado Red
Unknown Mileage (not really a big deal)
4-wheel Disc w/ ABS
A/C (doesn't work)
Central Locking (don't know if it works)
No bad rust spots

Bad stuff (so far):
Sitting in a strip lot currently, so some parts are missing
No interior except carpet
Headlights, grill, rad support, rad, and bumper are missing
wires for above missing parts were cut during removal.
No suspension (I have another set)
Engine and tranny are both shot.
Passenger-side rear door removed
Driver's airbag removed (hope I can find one)

Most of the stuff on the car that's missing can be easily, and inexpensively replaced, and I can make more than enough money off parting the MKII to finance the project, so what am I to do?

My IDI swap will go on, but in which chassis? Someone please help me decide....

My ultimate goal is a comfortable, reliable daily, and I can complete the swap just as easily in either chassis it seems, so which would make more sense?

[jtanguay]

the mk2 is lighter... i think thats the only thing to consider in this case.

[TurboJ]

Sounds like bodywork is what you have most problems with, and if so, that's something we all have to live with since VW didn't galvanize our cars in the factory.

Just repair the body - sure it'll take some time and effort - but the Mk2 is a classic and I think it'll make you feel better - which is what matters if we're honest....

[88jetta350]

Sounds like bodywork is what you have most problems with, and if so, that's something we all have to live with since VW didn't galvanize our cars in the factory.

Just repair the body - sure it'll take some time and effort - but the Mk2 is a classic and I think it'll make you feel better - which is what matters if we're honest....

Agreed, you caught me. Bodywork is the one think that intimidates me. I wish I had the sand to just dig into a body project, and not worry about messing it up...

Come to think of it, I would end up with the same issues with the MKIII, since it seems to me that MKIII's tend to have a much bigger rust problem than the MKII's.

Most of the MKIII's I've seen over here, especially Golfs, have rotten hatches, and most have fender and rocker panel rot, regardless of how well their kept.

IE: My wife's car, a '97 Golf, purchased from original owner, dealer maintained w/ full service history, but still has rocker panel, fender, door, and hatch rot, and most appears to be starting UNDER the paint. ()

Anyway, You're probably right. I've had this car for 2 years now, and have done so much work, why should I start at zero again?

Something keeps drawing me to this MKIII though.... I've seen this car just sitting in the Junkyard... and it's a small junkyard, with a fast turnover, yet this car is always there... (almost 2 years) I don't get it. It's like it's calling me. I want to save it, but I don't know if it's even worth it.

I guess I'm a bigger dub nut than I'd like to admit. I also have this obsession with Resurrecting junkyard cars. My last 2 have both come from the junkyard.

[TurboJ]

I guess I'm a bigger dub nut than I'd like to admit. I also have this obsession with Resurrecting junkyard cars. My last 2 have both come from the junkyard.

Nothing to be ashamed of there  

The MK3s being very cheap at best, why not buy a Mk3 to drive daily while working on the Mk2? You can always sell it later.

[thedeezel1]

The MKII is a known quantity, you know all there is to know about it, all it's in's and out's.  There is alot to be said for knowing every part of your car.
In my opinion, buy the MK3 and make a long term project out of it, but still go on with the IDI swap on the MK2.
Find a 1.9AAZ for the MK3 and build it as time and money allows, but get it out of that yard asap before more parts disappear and it will no longer be worth saving. For $200, buy it and put it aside for later.
As far as the bodywork goes, don't be afraid to try it, it really isnt all that hard, just buy the replacement panels and weld it what you can, never try to bondo a hole shut, you will fail.  You will probably never make the body worse than it already is, and in metal, all mistakes can be fixed by cutting and welding.
Hell, for that matter, buy the MK3 and use it as a guniea pig to learn your body skills, then go after the MK2.

[fdnyguy]

Hell with it, keep them both.

I love my 2009 TDI, but I do miss driving my 89 N/A.  My g/f wants to know what the Hell I'm gonna do with 2 VW's, my F250 and my fire engine.

She's SOL. 1) she can't drive a stick 2) F250 scares her , 3) fire engine is bigger (tho off the road).