James.

Well, as I thought, the ignition switch was kaput. It had been "loose" and was looking at changing it soon, so it wasn't so much an annoyance. I would have just liked it to be on my terms. Got the switch out without too much drama. Put the new one in and it burst into life. Tried it a second time and it started running really rough. Seemed as though it wasn't getting fuel, so swapped over relay 67 and it made a marked improvement. Needed to be left running for a while. After about five minutes it settled down. Wipers, washers, fog lights, rear screen heater and ABS still don't work, but it's not blowing fuses anymore. Which is nice. Relay 18 (load relief) relay is on back order till Tuesday. Hopefully it won't rain between then and now (though I'm not holding my breath). So that's the last link in the chain. With any luck the number 18 relay will fix up the other issues and we can put the past few days behind us. Until next the next thing breaks...

Yay. It's gone to an enthusiast. Had this horrible feeling it may end up in the hands of a hacker. The new chapter begins. Enjoy

That's my problem as well. I only ask, as like you, I'd like to have a loose number floating about. Should the worst happen and the engine is fit only as a door stop. I couldn't envisage changing the engine in the Campaign for anything less than OE. But I'm already spawning ideas for the next project.

I want this in my life. Saw it at Harewood last year and the finish is electrifying. Wonder how long I could keep up the pretense to wifey that the 8V and this are actually one and the same. Best of luck with the sale all the same. James

I'd just like to echo the sentiments posted previous Andy. But make sure you stick around. Your car and work rate has been a wonderfully high bench mark. If mine gets any where near the standard of yours, then I'll be a very happy man. All the very best with what comes next, James.

By the looks of it, justice has already been served.

Thought it wouldn't be long before you started talking engine changes. What would something like that cost (all in) ?

As you've all spotted, it looks like the loom has been chopped into and was left resting in the dashboerd undertray support. The black cables are alarm based and there's cables chafing, at full stretch, and jointed cables piercing through insulation. There's a reason why the loom wasn't routed that way !!! I'm absolutly seething. Yet again a botchit and scarper alarm fitter has screwed over another good car. I'll have a go with the Ignition switch. Failing that, Im out of ideas, pennies and enthusiasm. Watch this space.

Well what a couple of days. Fixed one issue and jumped head long onto another. Removed the dash board under trays last week. Looks like when they've gone back in, the screw that goes up and in the middle of the tray has tapped into the full beam power cable. Wasn't a problem till I got near home and flashed someone out. Stereo flickers on and off and dashboard goes a little crazy. Alright then I thought, best check that when I get home. A few minutes later I'm on the drive and try to re-create the issue. Straight from the off, there's smoke pouring from the front of the dash board. Seconds later, I'm sprinting into the garage, to retrieve my socket set to whip off the battery connector. All plugged back in and now the car now won't start, so have to push it the few yards towards the garage. Remove all the trays/covers etc. There's a big melty hole in the loom where the screw went in and caused the short. Fair to say at this point that I was shaking like a leaf. Replaced the blown indicator fuse and patched up the melted/exposed wires (red/yellow wire from the fuse box being the worst). Car now all lights up with a jiggle of the key, but won't fire up. I've ordered a new ignition switch, which I'll put in on Saturday. Anybody any suggestions if they think I'm thinking in the right / wrong direction then answers to the usual address on the back of a postcard or sealed down envelope. Or just post on here if it's easier...

Just started out making/selling some of these. All made using high grade, professional use vinyl. Postage is flat rate for one or twenty. Other sizes and colours available upon request. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/**soulboy**/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686 Can also make them in reverse, so they can be stuck on the inside of a window. If there's a brand you don't see, then just ask or suggest away. More to be added as and when I arrive think of them. Here's a few to set the scene.

All important to the overall story of the car. I also painted the rear wiper cover, which made a difference. Small things that mount up to the bigger picture. Kudos.

You're welcome. I'm still laughing about the aerial though. Not sure whether it's genius or sheer stupidity. By the way. Earmark that bumper steel and grey parcel shelf for me. I'll shoot over and grease your palm with silver when you're back next.

Whatever gave you that idea...

Typical. I'm off on holiday for two weeks and going back on Tuesday. So when does my dearest car decide to throw its electrical dummy out of the pram ? Saturday morning. Three days before I go back to work and 24 hours after I'd visited the parts counter ! Friday he's purring along like a kitten. Lending a hand on various Corrado duties. Saturday morning we hop in to go to Oscars tennis lesson and there's a distinct lack of wiper/ABS/washer/heater oportunities. Arriving back home an hour or so later. The early morning sun had by now helped raise the cars internal temp a couple of notches. With the sun now in it's ascendancy I chose to remove the fuse cover to inspect the internals. I quietly told myself that it would be stricking coincidence that a couple of fuses had blown at the same time. But until I could check, then coincidence it could well be. So all the fuses are okay then. Hmmm where next. It's at that point that the under trays had both been removed, the ominous grey clouds and their watery contents descended. Putting a nail in the coffin of the mornings outdoor events. Forever a sucker for punishment. We pootled over to BigAdams house for the joyous task of a heat exchanger replacement. Dash and trim out, only to be thwarted by the lack of a 10mm spanner to detach the heat exchanger from its fixings. By this time it was very nearly time for tea. So we exchanged goodbyes and I nipped off. Sunday morning and a valeting friend was calling in to give dads BM a full hit. However I'd had what alcoholics refer to as "a moment of clarity". The evening before, I was mentally chewing over what could be the matter with the old chap. It's at this point I remembered a conversation I'd had with someone when the VR threw an electrical wobbler. Try relay 18 (load relief) my head said. Plundering the VRs fuse board (yet again) for the number 18 relay, I transfered it across. Squinting with anticipation I gingerly turned the key until the ABS light lit up. My breath held as the light briefly flickered and distinguished accordingly. Success. The car all works once more. Ready to be thrust back into daily duty on Tuesday morning. I wish they were all that easy.

Hopefully they'll turn up only once it's finished. Fingers crossed I've located a good condition rear bumper support. Still on the lookout for a fuel tank shield in steel. If anyone can help, then please, email the action line or answers on the back of a sealed down envelope or postcard to the usual address. Next week we look at my nuts. And how bathing them over night will hopefully bring new life to old parts...

Well, for purposes of being complete ( and a small field based education ), Oscar and I had a little father & son road trip today. First off, we loaded up the 8v with the rusty gold cargo and set sail north to Chorley. Where upon we docked at North west powder coaters on Friday street (how apt). The chap I used to deal with had moved on to pastures new. Unfortunatly he'd taken his superb pricing policy with him. I had to barter to get the price down on this little load (which I'm not unpleased with). In fact for the amount I''m having done (40 pieces) it's still a great price. And more importantly, I'm confident with the the product they provide and in a timescale which suits us both. Whilst there I showed Oscar the process of shot blasting and powder coating. Though he had slightly less enthusiasm than I'd liked. After that, It was back in to the arms of mother Wigan and an hour in the dryer air of Corkills VW. I did my best to throw my number one parts search game at them, and almost came out on top. It went a little like this: Front brake callipers: £97 each, exchange With a £20 buy back ( not a bad deal ). Front and rear brake carriers £95 each ( not a great deal ). Front control arm knuckles/carriers £288 each ( a less than great deal ). Steel heat sheild that sits in front of the fuel tank ( not listed, booo ! ). Rear bumper steel insert (as shown above) discontinued. Shouldn't be surprised. Oscar made a bakery out of Lego ( must have been the hot chocolate that helped his creativity ). Came away with two rear disc brake shields. With Oscar nearly persuading a family into buying a new Beetle ( get him on comission now methinks ) and a sense that this car is going to get really expensive by the time Oscar takes ownership. But hey, the mantle is being passed. Hopefully it'll be a few more years before you hear the worryingly popular words "breaking due to being financally irrepairable".

Busy isn't the word Alan. Great to hear you've got the car closer to how you want it. I hear what you say about the ride compared to a mk2. And I'll be honest, the ride "out of the box" of a mk2 is better. But distance/touring wise, the Corrado is leagues ahead. Surprising what a tooth out can make. After a timing belt, my last 16v was a tooth out. It was awful to live with. The wheels look fantastic. And that's me leaving the biased hat on the stand. Great work.

I didn't realize that it popped off. It looked to me as though it may have been factory fitted on the bar and then welded in place. Fair play with the change of clothes. The back ends pretty much been relieved of all it's hardware as of today. Shocks off, bumper off, petrol tank out (with about £30 left in, ooops), tank straps off and heat shields removed. Removed the bumper iron from the rear and front (forgot to do it before, eeek) and spread out the bits to see what was what. Still need to have the front bearings pressed from the knuckles though. Off to the garage for them to press out the remaining parts in the morning. Decided to remove the metal support plate from the rear bumper. Does anybody know if these are available ? If not, I'll have to fab up a new one, as I would imagine they're all as bad as mine. A real rusty crisp.

Sure thing. Let me know what you want and I'll do my best to oblige.

Good good. Be great to see either. And yes, another Manchester meet should be penciled in.

So which is it for the shows Paul (obviously when you're personal repairs are resolved) ?

I'll have some of what you're eating then ! You're right though. It's a dead weight with all the brakes bolted on. No need to worry about the engine Judith as it's just out of shot. Times like this, I wish there were Corrado worker elves that arrive in the middle of the night and make good on any awkward work. Or is that just wishful thinking. Just added some more pictures, as the upload halted my attempts last night (I guess the website went to bed before me). I included the rear bush picture, as I've seen a few like this. Worth showing to all those who may still be running on the original rear bushes. What did you do about the rubber bush that's on the bar, inside the rear subframe ? Mask it off ?? Look forward to the article in the sprinter. Got to chip tough, got to put some washing out, then off into the garage to carry on with the work. Powder coaters tomorrow hopefully.

So I thought i'd have another couple of days at the Campaign. Where to carry on ? Well, I might as well start stripping all the nasty old loom tape off the loom. Most of it's rotted away and what's left is this black sticky/oily mess. It'll give me a good chance to inspect the wiring for breaks while I'm at it. It was a bit of a boring job. But it gave me the chance to do it at my own pace, sat in the bay, with the heater and radio on. Playing pop master and sipping sweet brews with only myself for company. Brilliant. When you've got a "too do" list as long a mine, it's easy to loose focus. So I then decided to remove all the last components from the engine bay / scuttle area. When to air con was fitted, way back when the car was new. They sealed it up with all the finesse of a five year old. What looks like black silicone has been poured into the scuttle area and "smudged" into all the openings/grommets. Being extra careful to drag all the excess under the inner wings and bonnet hinges. A thing of beauty it is not. Then moved onto the exhaust. And then this is where the game plan really takes a beating. Dropped the front part of the exhaust and removed the cat forward. So I think to myself "Ahh sack it, lets take the back box off as well". Thing is, it's an original exhaust, and they are huuuuuge. So I'm sat on the floor, sipping my brew in quiet contemplation, when it hits me: "Maybe it would be better to drop the rear beam off ?". And that was that. By the end of the second day, the rear beam and all the braking components are stripped and ready for the powder coaters (And there's me saying that next year was the back end). Ran into a couple of issues (Rear beam bush cup removal and brake compensator). But managed to come out on top. Had to cut one of the bush cups out and had to cut the compensator off. But managed to get it off in one piece. I'll face the compensator on the milling machine and drill out the bolts when I'm back at school next week. But I don't envisage any serious issues. I'm just thankful to whoever replaced the rear brakes just before I bought the car. They made sure that ALL the bolt threads were covered with copper grease. My arms are aching now. Never imagined the rear beam to be THAT heavy. Feel like I've been bench pressing with Lou Ferrigno !

Don't you have to pass through the 20th century first !

I believe that some dealers badged up non-storms (green that is), as a way to help move them on. Certainly helps tie in with your numbers. There's a way to tell, via chassis numbers. Sure there's a thread on here somewhere.