VR6 Caddy Build

[BigSkyVR6Caddy]

Rear Fender Wells:

Decided to finish off the rear fender wells before I put the wheels back on.
I used a course wire wheel on the angle grinder to smooth the wells and clean-up old undercoating and gobs of seam sealer.
Took off more than I thought I would... they got a little carried away with that seam sealer.
That shit flew everywhere, but I was outside and that seems like the best way to trim and shape that stuff for a nice finish.
I hammered out any dents in the wells and made sure I had max clearence and shape on everything.
The I undercoated the wells black. Looks really good... glad I took the time now.
Now everything from the cab back is undercoated.

[bigmontana]

Looks good.

[BigSkyVR6Caddy]

OK, it only took me 2 weeks? during my spare time to run the brake lines for the rear disks.
I had to fab & install the holders for the flexible disk lines.



Since this is all custom, I bought straight sections of brake line & fittings.
Bent all the lines by hand with a good bending tool.
Then bubble flared the ends with a good vw flaring tool.





I flared the ends while they were off the vehicle... much easier.
Then did the final install with minor tweaking.
I re-installed the rear sway bar and potected the lines with rubber hose.
Rear brakes are complete from biasing valve to rear disks.

I am going to take some of the slight waviness out of the bed and then get the wheels on it.

[BigSkyVR6Caddy]

Yes, the Caddy has landed!
First time this thing has hit the pavement in over a year.
Got the rear wheels on it and set er down.
Looks pretty good with the GLX BBS wheels & 205/50/15 Eagle GT's



Once I have got the front end squared away, I will make some custom drop plates to get the height I want.
The thickness of these drop plates will get the rear track to ~match the front track.
Hopefully, the 95 Jetta GLX has the non-plus suspension.
I don't know what year they went to the plus suspension, but the measured track on the rear axle is only 1.5" wider than the Caddy.

Next, I will take a wire wheel to the cab underbody and get that all cleaned-up.
Then I will flatten-out the floors as this truck has seen some off-roading.

[Checkers]

Looks great Jim!

[bigmontana]

Coming a long nicely. I like the way those GLX wheelsa look on it. Truck looks good

[vrtpassat]

that truck shur isn't chipen i mean look at the hop shes got

[BigSkyVR6Caddy]

Shes gona get a lot mo hop when the front clip clears that VR6 & Subframe.
Brings the fabrication required to mate subframe up to great working height.
Sure gets a lot of double takes from people driving by the house though

[Mikewire]

Man that thing looks awesome!

Wowza at the projects in Bozeman - you guys amaze me

[BigSkyVR6Caddy]

I borrowed a pallet jack from work and removed the subframe from the GLX with everthing attached.
Subframe, transaxle, engine, A-arms w/ disks, down pipe... worked better than I expected for a one man job.
It took a while to get to this point of removal.
Last few things I did was remove shift linkage, throttle cable, struts and from inside I removed the steering universal joint shaft bolts.

Everthing that matters on the pallet jack.



Lightened GLX



Staged in the garage waiting for the Caddy body to drape over it.











I will clean this stuff up a little... not too grimy.
I can see some torn boots and A arm joints that need replaced, but all-in-all everything looks pretty good.

I will be spending my free time over the next few weeks cutting & grinding on the Caddy & MKIII bodies.
Once the Caddy body is ready to mate up to the subframe I will bring it inside.