'90 Cabrio Karmann

Hello all,

Small introduction of me and my '90 Cabrio Karmann

Over 20 years in the aircooled scene with a high end resto of a '68 VW fastback

Currently restoring a Westfalia Hearse trailer to again a very high standard

Used to be a big parts trader regarding these particular cars - recently sold 99 %

Urged for something new I bought a '90 Cabrio Karmann

The idea is to keep it running - make it better / usable

Some pictures for the moment before I get to the MOT station for a second check up of the gas tank since it has been converted to run on LPG

OG black with Fifteen52 16x8 ET 30 rims - bit lowered - smoked side markers - debadged rear end - red taped rear indicators and a full leather interior with Corrado adjustable seats

Still some work left to do once it is back from the LPG inspection

BerT3

Those wheels look fantastic, not seen them before, are theybthe same make as the Scala/Snowflakes?

Looks nice already

Those are bought from the USA - made to order

http://fifteen52.us/featured/18-rml-snowflakes-available-at-gunther-vw/

Bought already a lot of parts to rectify some things that bothered me:

- Glovebox door - damaged hinge
- Ashtray + cigarette lighter - broken clip
- Console for the gearbox tunnel - cigarette burn
- Fresh air vent - broken fin
- Blanking cover for the electric sunroof switch - missing
- Horn button small attaching pieces - broken
- NOS fresh air grille set in front of the windscreen
- Sun visors - non-screw type and out of shape
- Small cover on the B-pillar - pecs missing
- Seat rail cover - cracked
- Hand brake cover - cracked
- Fuse box cover + cover on the other side - missing
- New floor mats - dirty
- Rear parcel shelf - speakers installed by a non-technical PO
- New rear trunk carpet - missing
- Spare wheel + tool set with attaching rubber and the big nut - boo box installed in the spare wheel recess
- Rear trunk 3-piece cardboard set - modern speaker carpet glued over the OG ones
- Clipses to install the above - missing some
- New seat slider clip set - damaged
- Rear seat release pull - broken clip
- Collected the OG rear trunk lid - will be put in storage - complete with all the 4 badges in black / silver
- New gearbox bushing set - sloppy shifting
- NOS gearbox shaft boot + NOS front bushing + NOS heat shield for the boot and a NOS front protection plate - all were missing
- NOS black window surround joint trim
- NOS side Karmann Badges
- New bonnet stay clips - convert back to OG bonnet stay instead of those pumps

I am pretty sure some small things will pop up when I install these though…

BerT3

Lovely looking Cabby, I've always been a fan of those wheels  

Photo of the pile of parts - once I get the car back from the LPG company alL these will find it's place on the car

BerT3

The list got longer:

- New door speaker pods - the LHS original one had 2 small holes drilled in
- NOS L+R outer door window scrapers
- Repro parcel shelf clipses - will be up for sale since I found a pair of NOS ones
- NOS Front numberplate holder in case I want to go back to stock
- New Hella rear numberplate lights
- Various very small rubber pieces for the doors
- Every NOS rubber to change the front hood pumps back to its stock rod

The LPG is MOT'ed - hope to collect the car next week and start changing out all of collected parts

BerT3

Have the car back - drives perfect now - has a MOT for a year - the LPG installation has n MOT for 8 years

Lots of work done on the engine:

- New carburettor - the wax thermostat was only one of the damaged pieces
- New dizzy cap + leads
- New correct lower temerature rated spark plugs for the LPG
- Removed an electric fuel lock and replaced with a pressure sensive fuel pump - LPG setup related
- Timing belt repositioned - was 2 teeth off !
- Set the timing
- General adjustments to make sure it runs like new

At home I did some work so I could stripe of some jobs from this list:

- Glovebox door - damaged hinge
- Ashtray + cigarette lighter - broken clip
- Console for the gearbox tunnel - cigarette burn
- Fresh air vent - broken fin
- Blanking cover for the electric sunroof switch - missing
- Horn button small attaching pieces - broken
- NOS fresh air grille set in front of the windscreen
- Sun visors - non-screw type and out of shape
- Small cover on the B-pillar - piece missing
- Seat rail cover - cracked
- Hand brake cover - cracked
- Fuse box cover + cover on the other side - missing
- New floor mats - dirty
- Rear parcel shelf - speakers installed by a non-technical PO
- New rear trunk carpet - missing
- Spare wheel + tool set with attaching rubber and the big nut - box installed in the spare wheel recess
- Rear trunk 3-piece cardboard set - modern speaker carpet glued over the OG ones
- Clipses to install the above - missing some
- New seat slider clip set - damaged
- Rear seat release pull - broken clip
- Collected the OG rear trunk lid - will be put in storage - complete with all the 4 badges in black / silver
- New gearbox bushing set - sloppy shifting
- NOS gearbox shaft boot + NOS front bushing + NOS heat shield for the boot and a NOS front protection plate - all were missing
- NOS black window surround joint trim
- NOS side Karmann Badges
- New bonnet stay clips - convert back to OG bonnet stay instead of those pumps
- New door speaker pods - the LHS original one had 2 small holes drilled in
- NOS L+R outer door window scrapers
- Repro parcel shelf clipses - will be up for sale since I found a pair of NOS ones
- NOS Front numberplate holder in case I want to go back to stock
- New Hella rear numberplate lights
- Various very small rubber pieces for the doors
- Every NOS rubber to change the front hood pumps back to its stock rod

New list:

- Leather gear know to replace the golf ball Kamei one
- New corrado LHS height adjuster handle - already found
- New door window handles - all 4
- New seat catch bushes
- New head rest tubes
- New OG wind deflector without hols or damaged fixtures
- New B-post seals

I also like a set of rear badge refurbish decals in bright chrome

Photos later

BerT3

The list got longer after driving in the rain this morning- foggy windscreen reveiled a non-functioning heater

2 speeds works but when turning to the third speed it quits

Turns out I do have a USA trim panel for an AC car - I will install the correct one

The smal plate with the LEDS behind it is damaged as well

While removing everything after I sourced a heater setup with heater controls I'll replace the dashboard trim too since it has cracked fixing holes in the corners

PO's…

Updated list:

- Under dash heater with heater controls
- Heater trim panel for a regular non-AC car
- Trim panel mount with LED's
- Dashboard surround trim
- New OG wind deflector without holes or damaged fixtures
- New B-post seals

Still some work to for wat was supposed a finished ride - I guess everyone has different standards

BerT3

BTW this is how the rear trunk looks like with an LPG tank inside

Still has the OG space saver wheel in there

BerT3

Some new parts are on my way to be fitted - some small bits and bobs that annoyed me - either condition or just damaged

- NOS door top big caps - one was scratched
- The dual horn setup - one was damaged - the other one a generic one
- Correct - Non-USA dashboard parking brake light  
- One lower seatbelt B-pillar cover - that one was damaged

Noted that the front grille has later MK2 fog lights in there - these are recessed instead of being flush - I might address those in the future since these function

BerT3

Making real progress, not too much left on your list now.  are you going to do enough miles to justify the cost of LPG then?

RichardHall said

Making real progress, not too much left on your list now.  are you going to do enough miles to justify the cost of LPG then?

I will - using it daily to drive to work - it's MOT-ed on regular non-classic car number plates so I can use it anytime I want

The LPG is over 2,5 times cheaper the mile than my Mitsubishi diesel and 3 times cheaper than using 98 octane fuel

BerT3
 

Bought / won some pieces on Ebay to replace the non-functioning heater setup

Bought a very nice and complete heater front trim panel with correct light cluster - knobs and switch

I noted the bottom right corner of the dash panel wasn't sitting flush so checked and saw that part was broken

Bought a very nice dash panel on Ebay as well

Earlier this week I bought a complete heater setup with sliders - motor and resistor - plenty of parts to change out to make it work

And finally bought a full set of B pillar seals + covers and end caps just in case I ever decide to change out the LHS A pillar seal and those carbon foiled B pillar covers

I am getting there to use / keep it for another 25 years

Still can't figure why the previous owner(s) neglected so many small things…

BerT3

2 recent photos - needs a good clean though

BerT3

Wow, looks stunning!!

I've always loved those wheels, 15-52s or whatever they're called? lol

Now that's what I call a Black Cabriolet!

Have you made many changes to the interior and which brand of coilovers are you running and how have you found them day to day?

Regards

ConvictGTI-No.1983EW said

Now that's what I call a Black Cabriolet! Have you made many changes to the interior and which brand of coilovers are you running and how have you found them day to day? Regards

The only deviations from stock are the Corrado height adjustable seats - the full leater retrim

A Porsche steering wheel and the centre console with 3 gauges

And a radio of course

The coilovers are height adjustable Weitecs - they ride a bit harsh yo me but I do have a Mitsubishi Space Wagon to compair

BerT3

Some parts arrived which I installed this evening

Striped some jobs from the updated list:

- Leather gear knob to replace the golf ball Kamei one
- New corrado LHS height adjuster handle - already found
- New door window handles - all 4
- New seat catch bushes
- NOS head rest tubes
- Under dash heater with heater controls
- Heater trim panel for a regular non-AC car
- Trim panel mount with LED's
- Dashboard surround trim
- New OG wind deflector without holes or damaged fixtures
- New B-post seals
- NOS door top big caps - one was scratched
- The dual horn setup - one was damaged - the other one a generic one
- Correct - Non-USA dashboard parking brake light  
- One lower seatbelt B-pillar cover - that one was damaged
- New caps on the front chock towers
- New engine bonnet support seals and spacers
- Console for the gearbox tunnel - cigarette burn
- NOS fresh air grille set in front of the windscreen
- New door speaker pods - the LHS original one had 2 small holes drilled in
- NOS L+R outer door window scrapers
- A badge refurbish set
- New cigarette lighter with OG wiring - the light itself didn't work

If someone knows an answer to these posts feel free to enlighten me :)

Regarding the head rest tube
http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=technical%2Fbodywork-fittings-and_2%2Fhead-rest-guide-removal

Regarding the choke:
http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=technical%2Ffuel-systems-and_3%2F2e2-first-7-seconds

Regarding the position of a small piece on the gear linkage:
http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=technical%2Frunning-gear_2%2Fgear-linkage-stone-chip

BerT3

Booked a refit of the LHS side cable to rectify the bubbling roof

Fingers crossed

BerT3