[ www.jimwcoleman.com ] - Revealing your possible pasts

Kharma II (K2)
& Abbey:
The VW Rabbits projects home page

DIARY OF AN ENGINE REBUILD/OVERHAUL:

CLOSING IN: Here, the engine is nearly rebuilt. The head had to be installed twice, as I first torqued the head bolts to appx. 125 instead of 54 foot-pounds. This necessitated yet another new head gasket and ten new cylinder head bolts. Special thanks to Ken at Triangle Imports (Bremerton) who did his best to come up with parts for me. And Westbay of Port Orchard - Karl and Rick are the two to ask for!

QUIET MOMENT: At the end of a less-than-perfect - but productive - day. As I'm waiting for parts from Westbay (Port Orchard) for the fuel injector inserts, I pause to notice how closely this car is beginning to resemble her sister, Abbey. And I find relief in realizing that it took me only half as long to rebuild this entire engine as it did to do my first clutch job ... less than one year ago. To live is to learn and to learn is to live, but to live and not learn is to learn how not to live. Kharma II is nearly ready to rumble!

DIARY OF AN ENGINE REBUILD/OVERHAUL:

CRANK EXPOSED: And no, I'm not talking about the "Prozac Queen" in my past. This is my first look at the naked crank and rod bearing assemblies. As dirty as the head was, the oil pan was surprisingly clean - though old gasket material and one valve seal spring clogged the intake to the oil pump. No wonder that damn oil light stayed on all the time. Go figger!

WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE THIRD?: Here are the pistons, lined up 1 to 4. When I gently tapped piston 3 out of the cylinder, the middle piston ring split into about 20 pieces and they fell like hard rain over the engine compartment. That explains quite a bit. The pistons themselves - fortunately - appear to be in good shape.

At this point, Aug. 8, 2001, much of the work has been done to this 1.7 VW Rabbit convertible engine. The head was pulled, pressure tested and rebuilt with new valves, guides and seals. There was considerable blow-by between all four cylinders, but particularly 3 and 4. The head gasket was also compromised at one side, explaining the foam in the radiator and the impenetrable cloud of white smoke that poured from the exhaust when I first purchased this vehicle.

After noticing valves burned on cylinders no. 3 and 4, I investigated further. Piston 3 wobbled side to side in the cylinder with enough movement to produce noise as it was rocked in the cylinder. Piston 4 was the same, but not quite so bad. I knew then that the pistons would have to come out and new rings would have to be installed.

Got tips, photos of an engine rebuild, photos of a cool Rabbit, a unique story to tell, or advice for the amateur VW mechanic/enthusiast? Submit them here and I'll consider publishing them to this web site!

This site is dedicated to those who eat, sleep and breathe VW Rabbits. To those who go to work with grease under their nails, and in the contours of every fingerprint. To those who no longer own a pair of jeans that are not contaminated with oil. And, primarily, to those who work tirelessly to keep the Rabbits alive - most of whom have no mechanical training or experience, but know the value of an afternoon, a good beer, and a service manual. To those who keep the Rabbit alive ... this is for you.
Please feel free to submit photos of your Rabbit, with a written article that may help someone already deep into a restoration project or engine/transmission/clutch rebuild/overhaul.

USS Ambassador: NCC-1017 "Abbey"
Yeah (sheesh) - my original Rabbit project car. This project was begin in May, 1998 and concluded for good Aug. 7, 2001 - when the vehicle was purchased through E-bay.
"Kharma II"
Can you believe you can buy a 1983 yellow VW Rabbit convertible in this rebuildable shape for $400? This project began November, 2000. This is the car you may have read about here as the engine was overhauled and rebuilt.
VW Rabbits and parts clubs:
Who to talk to, where to get parts, how to keep your Rabbit alive. No, the answers are not here. But this forum and message board may eventually give birth to all this, and possibly more.

Jim

Linda

SELL ME SOMETHING!
I'll let you know what I'm looking for. Or, just ask if you have something for sale.
My big wish list?

I'm always looking for manuals and electrical/mechanical information.
Soon I'll be in the market for a Rabbit convertible/early Cabriolet with a good body and interior, but a blown engine.
And, Jim and Linda also collect John Deere stuff. Got 'nee?

What would you like to see on a dedicated VW Rabbits page? Please consider sending mechanical and parts tips and hints, photo diaries of VW water-cooled mechanical/electrical/bodywork projects, or pictures of your really cool car!