A thread to bore you all with.

During the first lockdown, and while building loads of models, I had the crazy idea of buying another Volvo. I don't need another Volvo. I did, however, have an old Audi sat in my garage that was looking very sorry for itself. And after seeing...
@boosplodge working on his Bond
I figured there was no point in wasting money on a car I didn't need when I had one that needed some help. Or to be sold. And I couldn't sell it. So, inspired by Calvin, I ordered suspension parts in early August from Germany.
I started by cleaning the engine bay. It had sat in my garage for a year, and my garage is damp, so there was mould on some rubber parts and the steering wheel. Plus mild surface corrosion on some metal parts. And dust everywhere else. Brushes, wire and bristle, sprays and...
microfiber cloths were purchased and I got to work.
Here's the finished result. A bit better, needs doing again now though!
microfiber cloths were purchased and I got to work.Here's the finished result. A bit better, needs doing again now though!
microfiber cloths were purchased and I got to work.Here's the finished result. A bit better, needs doing again now though!
Next job to tackle was the door cards. I was dreading this because I wanted to keep the original material. I did find some online, but it must've sold out because it's not where I found it now. Over the years the damp garage has taken its toll on the foam and the glue...
So the fabric just basically fell off. So all the cards came out, and one by one I pulled off the fabric, rubbed off the remaining foam from the card and the back of the fabric. The correct type of foam was found and cans of spray adhesive bought. In hindsight I should have...
So the fabric just basically fell off. So all the cards came out, and one by one I pulled off the fabric, rubbed off the remaining foam from the card and the back of the fabric. The correct type of foam was found and cans of spray adhesive bought. In hindsight I should have...
So the fabric just basically fell off. So all the cards came out, and one by one I pulled off the fabric, rubbed off the remaining foam from the card and the back of the fabric. The correct type of foam was found and cans of spray adhesive bought. In hindsight I should have...
So the fabric just basically fell off. So all the cards came out, and one by one I pulled off the fabric, rubbed off the remaining foam from the card and the back of the fabric. The correct type of foam was found and cans of spray adhesive bought. In hindsight I should have...
... used glue in a pot for better coverage etc. But hopefully it'll stick. And with the help of @Rainbow_Uapa the cards were one by one made good again.
Really does help the interior.
... used glue in a pot for better coverage etc. But hopefully it'll stick. And with the help of @Rainbow_Uapa the cards were one by one made good again.Really does help the interior.
... used glue in a pot for better coverage etc. But hopefully it'll stick. And with the help of @Rainbow_Uapa the cards were one by one made good again.Really does help the interior.
... used glue in a pot for better coverage etc. But hopefully it'll stick. And with the help of @Rainbow_Uapa the cards were one by one made good again.Really does help the interior.
... used glue in a pot for better coverage etc. But hopefully it'll stick. And with the help of @Rainbow_Uapa the cards were one by one made good again.Really does help the interior.
Suspension parts, a rocker gasket and service parts arrived from Germany. Oil change (the filter is very awkward to put back on!), spark plugs and rotor arm and dizzy were changed. Then the rocker gasket. I've never worked on an engine before, taking bits off! But it...
... went without a hitch. And I no longer have oil dripping out onto the exhaust manifold and stinking the interior out!
... went without a hitch. And I no longer have oil dripping out onto the exhaust manifold and stinking the interior out!
... went without a hitch. And I no longer have oil dripping out onto the exhaust manifold and stinking the interior out!
Next was the suspension. For years on the MOTs they've been saying that the springs were rusty and shocks probably need changing. I've always put it off because I was worried about altering the car's ride height. But couldn't put it off any longer. I'd been thinking about...
... tools, and thought an impact wrench might be useful. @BhpScale convinced me to get one, so I did. Best tool I've ever bought! I started with the rear, because it's less complicated than the front. Ain't got pics of that work! The rears were indeed very easy to do. Impact...
... wrench soon proved its worth on those bolts that hadn't turned in 24yrs! Simples! Then comes the front...
Lots of bolts to undo. Lots. But still not as difficult as I'd expected really. N/S first then O/S. Even using the spring compressors didn't result in a spring smashing..
... me in the face. Which is a bonus.
What did I say I was worried about? Yes. The ride height. And yes it is higher. The front moreso. I think I'll recondition the old springs and refit them next year.
... me in the face. Which is a bonus. What did I say I was worried about? Yes. The ride height. And yes it is higher. The front moreso. I think I'll recondition the old springs and refit them next year.
... me in the face. Which is a bonus. What did I say I was worried about? Yes. The ride height. And yes it is higher. The front moreso. I think I'll recondition the old springs and refit them next year.
... me in the face. Which is a bonus. What did I say I was worried about? Yes. The ride height. And yes it is higher. The front moreso. I think I'll recondition the old springs and refit them next year.
Next job was to have the original wheels refurbished. It's sat on the other ones for about 8yrs and I got used to it, they didn't look sporty, it's an 80 Sport. I think they looked nice, but I wanted it back to original. Before and after pics.
Next job was to have the original wheels refurbished. It's sat on the other ones for about 8yrs and I got used to it, they didn't look sporty, it's an 80 Sport. I think they looked nice, but I wanted it back to original. Before and after pics.
Next job was to have the original wheels refurbished. It's sat on the other ones for about 8yrs and I got used to it, they didn't look sporty, it's an 80 Sport. I think they looked nice, but I wanted it back to original. Before and after pics.
Last on the list is the paintwork. Ideally I'd have had a full respray, but that would've cost a lot of money. And only one side and the bonnet needed doing really. The rest is good, although the sunroof panel could do with a respray. That'll come later. Here's how it looked.
Last on the list is the paintwork. Ideally I'd have had a full respray, but that would've cost a lot of money. And only one side and the bonnet needed doing really. The rest is good, although the sunroof panel could do with a respray. That'll come later. Here's how it looked.
Last on the list is the paintwork. Ideally I'd have had a full respray, but that would've cost a lot of money. And only one side and the bonnet needed doing really. The rest is good, although the sunroof panel could do with a respray. That'll come later. Here's how it looked.
When I bought it 10yrs ago it was only the top section of the rear door that needed doing, but it's got worse over the years. I found a guy near me who builds Minis, he doesn't advertise, all word of mouth. When he saw the Audi he recognised it, seeing it around over the years...
Really nice bloke. Listened to what I wanted, and my concerns, and did everything I asked of him. And for a great price. Very happy with the results.
I'm stupidly attached to my Audi, it's been with me through a lot, as I've said before it has never ever let me down.
This has...
never been about restoration, it's rectification. It's still not a mint car, and unless I win the lottery it never will be. But it's the tidiest it has been since I've had it. There are still little bits here and there that I need, or want, to sort on it. But for now I'm over...
the moon with it. And falling back in love with it. (I was never out of love with it really!)
I wanted it finished for my 50th birthday, which is today. And considering the state it was in when I started in August compared to how it is now, I think I've done quite well......
If I do say so myself! 😁
Lastly, I'd like to once again thank everyone for their comments, compliments and general support and love for my little old Audi. It's quite moving!
If I do say so myself! Lastly, I'd like to once again thank everyone for their comments, compliments and general support and love for my little old Audi. It's quite moving!
If I do say so myself! Lastly, I'd like to once again thank everyone for their comments, compliments and general support and love for my little old Audi. It's quite moving!
If I do say so myself! Lastly, I'd like to once again thank everyone for their comments, compliments and general support and love for my little old Audi. It's quite moving!
If I do say so myself! Lastly, I'd like to once again thank everyone for their comments, compliments and general support and love for my little old Audi. It's quite moving!
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