1995 Sherry Pearl 8V

[seanl82 23]

Back to daily duties in no time. 👍

[James. 7]

I know, the weather is demanding drives out 😎.

 

Fibreglass is a doddle. I bought this little kit for a tenner and used almost nothing:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393293535409

 

Laid down three layers of matting (alternating the weave) after mixing the standard golf ball to a pea ratio of resin (about 25ml worth).

 

Kit comes complete with brush, mixing stick and gloves.

 

Then I bought a small tin of contact adhesive:

https://www.diy.com/departments/evo-stik-impact-solvent-based-contact-adhesive-250ml/36234_BQ.prd?ds_rl=1272379&ds_rl=1272409&ds_rl=1272379&gclid=CjwKCAjwo8-SBhAlEiwAopc9W5EgY3PXuAEAnzRlSlaI2Sfa8gIQt8mzh_3gfoGqcvQ-s0jxqT3zhhoCi0oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&storeId=1207

Used about two thirds of the tin. Then another small amount for the upper parts of the door membrane (there’s not enough space behind the door card for butyl tape).

 

Crank sensor arrived today, so I’ll put an hour in tomorrow and Wednesday and hopefully should have it running again for the weekend.

Edited April 11, 2022 by James.

[James. 7]

Apologies for the delayed update.

There’s been plenty of little “Corrado situations” happening, so thought it best to bundle them all together.

Everybody sitting comfortably ?, then I’ll begin…

The re-paint went well. So off it went for an MOT. A little while later, I receive a phone call from the garage that they couldn’t complete the MOT, as it kept cutting out. Hmmmm, crank sensor ? Battery ? Bearing in mind it’s been stood for the best part of a year, with only being started to move it in and out of the bodyshop I checked the battery. It read at about 11.7v. There you go, there’s the culprit (or so I thought). Stuck it on the trickle charge over the weekend and went back to it the following week for a re-test.

MOT passed with only a couple of advisories (dragging brakes after being stood for so long). So I removed the callipers from their sliders, greased them up and away we went.

Got as far as the end of the road and it starts running like a bag of spanners.

Knowing the notorious nature of the electronics on these engines (ADY) from the mk3 forum, I checked (what I thought) was everything.

It drove (bearly). But in limp mode and sounded like a spitfire.

So after a couple of recommendations, over it went to JJs autos Wigan (ex VAG tech from the 90’s). Where he diagnosed a faulty spark plug 🙄. I swapped them out for a full new set later that week.

While there I asked him to help resolve the rev limit at 5k. I’d put it down to having the timing belt changed just before lockdown and my local garage not having the capability to adjust the timing via VCDS. I also thought it may be the hall sensor in the dizzy (as it pops up when scanned) but it turned out to be a bit more than that.

Now, anyone who knows me, knows I like to pootle around. So hitting the rev limiter is something beyond my demands. Why do I tell you this ? Because it turns out the car had been fitted (from when I bought it 11 years ago) with the wrong dizzy !

What transpired (after a lot of research) is there’s two 8v dizzys. One for the 2E (4 window rotor) and one for ADY (single window rotor). Yet 99.9% of them for sale are listed as the same one for both 😳.

So it was decided (as getting hold of one could take a few weeks, that I’d order the right one and return to have it replaced.

fortunately, the car was booked in to have the bodywork corrections completed, so could head straight over there.

Back over to MAP body shop in Wigan. The lads down there were great. The bonnet had settled on some of the filler spots, and on the rear, so they repainted both panels. Gave it time to go off again, wet sanded and polished the entire car.

I thought it looked good before. Now it looks immense. The amount of positive comments I’ve had from people the last few weeks have been incredible. One guy wouldn’t have it that it had done 182k.

Fellow classic car enthusiast drops in to see how the restoration is coming along 😎.
 

So once agin I head over to pick it up. Upon starting it up and letting it run for a little while, it cuts out and refuses to fire up.

Embarrassingly, I have to get John with his breakdown truck to haul my cars good looking, broken ass back home.

It’s knocking off time at the bodyshop and you’re shiny car won’t run. Beer oclock it is then !
 

Over the next week, I found the battery wouldn’t hold charge, so swapped that out. After breaking down taking the boy to school and needing a jump start, diagnosed a faulty alternator. Tried the regulator, but no luck. New unit it is then.

Click click click buzzz. Still wouldn’t fire. I rebuilt the starter motor and the alternator 11 years ago so can’t complain about value for money. So after bench testing and finding the solenoid kaput, changed that too.

Whoompf, up it fired first time. Nervous and excited I left it to tick over on the drive. Got it stinking hot to check the cooling system was cutting in at the right time. Returned to the car ten minutes later to find a thin hot jet of coolant being ejected from the solid metal coolant pipe that runs along the side of the engine. Had one delivered a few days later (MK3 parts are still affordable) with other pipes, oils, fluids, filters and set to work servicing/replacing said items.

That was about six weeks ago. Since then it’s been solid as a rock. Making many tip runs, building supply collections, work related tasks and back yesterday from a few days in the Lake district, returning MPG in the early 40s and many admiring glances 😎. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve driven it on spirited country roads. But what a difference changing the dizzy (for the right one) has made. It’s truly a different car in every respect now. And I aint complaining !

Spotted in it’s natural environment. The tip!

 

As if the mechanical and aesthetic corrections weren't enough to make me love it more, I recently found a post on social media from a chap (If you’re on here, many thanks) who obtained some production data from VW. He managed to arrange the data, to reveal the final days production of cars, that rolled out of the Karmann factory. Now, I knew that my car was a late one, after being “that guy” who reads through all the receipts, manuals, and registration documents soon after ownership. I just didn’t realise how late. Like, ten to five on a Friday late. So there I am reading the data from said Corrado enthusiast, checking the data for owners, last MOT, mileage and production date from the owners manual. And there it is, third from last UK RHD (and fifth of worldwide production) car to roll out of the factory. With only the Storm that’s in the museum, and one that is no longer on the road in front of it. So officially the newest Corrado on the UK roads.

Almost makes all that effort worthwhile.

Viva la 8v 😎

Edited September 3, 2022 by James.

[fla 9]

James, what a brilliant account of your travails! Car looks superb as usual

[1xshaunx1 27]

Love a happy ending 

[James. 7]

8 hours ago, fla said:

James, what a brilliant account of your travails! Car looks superb as usual

Thanks. It’s had more issues in 11 weeks than in the past eleven years. At least I know it’s good for the foreseeable future 🤞🏻.

[James. 7]

6 hours ago, 1xshaunx1 said:

Love a happy ending 

I wasn’t in that frame of mind a few weeks back, but the drive through the lakes has re-ignited my enthusiasm. Perhaps end of a chapter, rather than ending. I toyed with the idea of selling, but what do you replace it with for the same money ?

[_Matt_ 26]

Wow quite an update! Kieran Rado and his data makes for great reading and analysis.

Sounds like you've had a bad old time with it but got there in the end. I've had a crap year with mine and positively hate the thing these days. Assuming I fixed it I may get enthusiasm back.





Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[fla 9]

I do find that once I've thrown my toys out once and stepped away from it, a few days/weeks break usually brings the interest back.

James you're very right about replacements though. I've also got a Yaris T sport, great fun and quite economical too. But what I'd get for the money I'd sell it for wouldn't be half as fun...or useful. 

The Corrado really does tick several boxes though - rare, stylish, great street presence etc without the constant fear i know i would have were i to have a porsche or aston instead

 

Hasan

[ger040 2]

Great looking car 👍

[James. 7]

21 hours ago, MJA said:

Assuming I fixed it I may get enthusiasm back.
 

Just got to keep plugging away. I was real down on it a few weeks back, but knew there were better days ahead. Sounds like you have your hands full with your cars already ?
 

Weighed up selling it and procuring a Volvo estate. I just couldn’t psychologically open up the life change that such a purchase would entail. 

My attention now moves towards getting the VR6 running. 
 

ho hum, out of the frying pan etc etc

[_Matt_ 26]

You're right James. I have actually listed it for sale (after fixing the issue, wouldn't sell it with issue) and at the price it is almost only 50% of what i have spent including buying. I didn't think i'd ever sell it when I started out. Perhaps things will change post wheel alignment and the car is back in good shape. But now we're going into winter and I won't use the car again. I paid for a 3 or 4 week ad on autotrader and will let it run, that said I know it is not the right time to sell a toy such as the corrado. The corrado is pretty well sorted in many ways - top end rebuild, 263 cams, new brake lines, new fuel lines, new paint (windows out), new calipers, new bushes/suspension, the floor pan and underbody has also been renovated. My only regret is I did not powdercoat the frames as did not know about it back then so would have to do a winter project to do that one day. 

I've also got a mk3 16v and a mk2 16v, mk3 has also had a lot of restoritive work (powdercoat frames, bushes, suspension, all body kit has been off and a few areas of welding. It is red and needs paint due to lacquer peel on roof and bonnet to finish). Mk2 is a few steps behind the mk3. 

Perhaps naively I thought my Corrado was 90% there and i could use it whilst working on others but this year it has been a bugger chasing that noise, slowed me down heavily on the other cars and I just think where will it ever end. But that thought process is coming from a down in the dumps place. I had planned to sell mk3 eventually as that is a more "investor friendly" car with low miles and they are getting some momentum on prices these days.

 

 

[1xshaunx1 27]

34 minutes ago, MJA said:

You're right James. I have actually listed it for sale (after fixing the issue, wouldn't sell it with issue) and at the price it is almost only 50% of what i have spent including buying. I didn't think i'd ever sell it when I started out. Perhaps things will change post wheel alignment and the car is back in good shape. But now we're going into winter and I won't use the car again. I paid for a 3 or 4 week ad on autotrader and will let it run, that said I know it is not the right time to sell a toy such as the corrado. The corrado is pretty well sorted in many ways - top end rebuild, 263 cams, new brake lines, new fuel lines, new paint (windows out), new calipers, new bushes/suspension, the floor pan and underbody has also been renovated. My only regret is I did not powdercoat the frames as did not know about it back then so would have to do a winter project to do that one day. 

I've also got a mk3 16v and a mk2 16v, mk3 has also had a lot of restoritive work (powdercoat frames, bushes, suspension, all body kit has been off and a few areas of welding. It is red and needs paint due to lacquer peel on roof and bonnet to finish). Mk2 is a few steps behind the mk3. 

Perhaps naively I thought my Corrado was 90% there and i could use it whilst working on others but this year it has been a bugger chasing that noise, slowed me down heavily on the other cars and I just think where will it ever end. But that thought process is coming from a down in the dumps place. I had planned to sell mk3 eventually as that is a more "investor friendly" car with low miles and they are getting some momentum on prices these days.

 

 

I thought that might be yours that went up this weekend.  It’s easier said than done, but if mines sending me over the edge I leave it alone for a few weeks to build up enthusiasm and it’s always better to step back sometimes when you are chasing issues. When you come back to it you might look at the problem from a different angle or think of something you’ve missed which generally works out for me. 
Good luck either way

[_Matt_ 26]

yep that's mine. For me if the enoyment starts to dwindle I'm ready to tap out... I don't mind the bills (to a point and would like a decent gap between big ones). That said when I go and look at it I do like it still as a thing to look at. Cars booked in at a local 80/90s (and k jet) specialist on 20th so we'll see how it all pans out.

 

 

[James. 7]

On 9/5/2022 at 10:26 AM, 1xshaunx1 said:

 if mines sending me over the edge I leave it alone for a few weeks to build up enthusiasm and it’s always better to step back sometimes when you are chasing issues. When you come back to it you might look at the problem from a different angle.

👍🏻. Without this mantra, the 8v would be scattered across the four corners of the kingdom by now.

That said, I do feel like I’ve taken this theory to beyond any logical boundary with the VR. Injectors off for ultrasonic cleaning  soon. And then other jobs. If I was hung up about driving it, I’d have thrown the towel in years ago.

Great thing to look at, be it in dis-repair or gleaming in the sun.