Building a Cabby for daily use

Afternoon everyone, I hope you are well and enjoyed the "summer"

I am going to take A116 KLB the white cabby off the road over the winter, strip down and build a daily driver out of her ready for next year.

The car will look as original as possible, but with a few added extras to bring some of the creature comforts up to spec!

Here is the plan so far

Upgraded Headlight Wiring Loom - to help me see
Auto Headlights with auto dip perhaps?
MK2 Wiper Motor - again to help me see
Flat Wipers - to help with above
Bigger Brake Servo/Master Cylinder upgrade
Top Fill Radiator - to leave more room for the brake servo upgrade above
Braided Brake Hoses
Increased sound deadening and underlay under the carpet
Sound deadening under the bonnet
Short Shift Kit - help changing gear
Counterweight - to go with above
Better Electronic Radiator Fan
Alarm / Immobiliser
Front / Rear Parking Sensors? - not sure where these can be hidden yet!
Bluetooth Hands Free Mobile Phone Kit
New vinyl roof and headlining

What are your views and opinions?
Have you completed any of these?
Have I missed anything out?

Thanks

Matt

I've always thought that the 2nd row of plastic LED's in the instrument cluster could be used for parking sensors, now that would be coooool. 2 green, 2 yellow and 1 red.

bouchay said

I've always thought that the 2nd row of plastic LED's in the instrument cluster could be used for parking sensors, now that would be coooool. 2 green, 2 yellow and 1 red.

Hmmmmm…….sounds like a good idea!

Matt

i would say a cabby isnt to big so an overall improvement rather than messing about with parking sensors would be the power steering conversion, make it even easier to park when your using it day to day

Mayvbe improving the heating inside would be good for summer months

loving some of your idea's though , makes sense.

Im fortunate enough to have a daily to plow up and down the motorway for work, but think if i was using mine daily then some of the above would be done

on the other hand its part of the character of not being able to see where you are going, or stop of stay warm in an old cabby :-)

I ran a MK1 Jetta and then a Driver as daily cars for @10 years back in the day, don't remeber any major probs…but.. if I was to run one everyday all year now;

Upgraded Headlight Wiring Loom - to help me see - yes def with uprated bulbs
Auto Headlights with auto dip perhaps?  - don't mess with electrics unecessarily, keep it simple, more reliability
MK2 Wiper Motor - again to help me see - def as its easy and the MK1 wipers even when tiptop are cr P
Flat Wipers - to help with above - just use normal bosch ones, new every year?
Bigger Brake Servo/Master Cylinder upgrade - not sure, manually adjust rear drums and make sure everythings new/working OK
Top Fill Radiator - to leave more room for the brake servo upgrade above - bad idea messing with basic setup that works well?
Braided Brake Hoses - if old ones cracking and as part of full brake service
Increased sound deadening and underlay under the carpet - I did this when rebuilding the GTI, easy if car's in bits. Still sounds like you are being dragged down road in a tinbath.
Sound deadening under the bonnet - as above
Short Shift Kit - help changing gear - just replace existing bushes/relay leavers/ball joint and make sure its setup OK
Counterweight - to go with above - ? as above
Better Electronic Radiator Fan - ?again why add to the complexity, you need to keep things simple. Poss wire up a switch to dash if you are paranoid
Alarm / Immobiliser - and a steering lock, MK1s are very easy to break into, errr.. sorry I mean gain entry to… :roll:
Front / Rear Parking Sensors? - not sure where these can be hidden yet! Why bother? Sounds like you have been spolit driving a new car? Un-neccesary complication
Bluetooth Hands Free Mobile Phone Kit - can be useful
New vinyl roof and headlining - if old one knackered

Additionally I would consider;
Fit larger screen washer bottle (from model with headlamp washers)
Fit larger battery
Fit 'lights on' warning buzzer
Fit armour door plates
Powerwash underneath couple of times over winter
Touch up paintwork and waxoyl underneath every autumn
Join AA just incase

regarding joining AA, check you havnt got breakdown cover with insurance and if not consider a company called autoaid, i have been with them for years, they are much cheaper than AA. You have to pay for service you use, for example if a local garage tows you, but you claim it back in full on claim form and i have always have money back very quickly

Best thing in they look for one of thier closest garages local to where you have broke down so you are not waiting ages for breakdown / recovery, longest i have ever waited was 40 mins!

worth a look!, me, my dad, bro and uncle have all been with them for 10+ years and had no problems

Power Steering

I fitted a counter weight and it makes the gear change sooooo much smoother. Dead easy swap, if you buy one that is. Why not just weld on a weight and paint it? Or shorten a mk3 one?

Just buy a Bluetooth head unit, my Sony has Bluetooth built in  and works a treat, it also links up with my iPhone and plays all my music wirelessly.

Love the idea of the LED reverse assist lights - genius.

Excuse my ignorance but why do upgraded lights need new wiring?

I'd also add upgraded hot air blower to my wish list.

Good luck!

To upgrade headlights you need to add new beefy wires direct from battery to headlights. Then there is no voltage drop through the smaller gauge factory wiring loom. There are loads of kits in eBay, you can make your own aswell. Just make sure you use correct relays and suitable wire.