Strict budget, slow restoration. *Now with moar budget*

[jaywood]

I never want to do a dash swap



Lookin good!

[Wh33lhop]

Here's the HVAC gasket remnants



I decided to clean everything up



Since I'm all poor and shit, instead of spending $30 on a new gasket I decided to go the homo depot route and spend $3.49



Good enough



Swapping VINs (before you get your hopes up, that's the donor dash VIN, not my car's VIN ;))



Reinstalling all the ducting, light switch etc into the new dash



Got it in



This thing needs to get wedged up in the dash, it's one of the DME fastening points as well



Here's where the DME would go normally if you didn't have a 24V swap ;)



Here's how the new "gasket" works



Looking good so far



Ultimately though it became apparent that the dash is a little warped--it doesn't fit the cluster or the HVAC controls quite right. I'll work with it since I got it for $30.

[The Volta]

You and your car is so fucking baws.

[Wh33lhop]

Ugh



Consider yourself lucky if you have these zip-tie style clips, these are awesome.



Here are the screws that hold in the HVAC control/radio panel. One here



One here



And one on either side down there



Broke the extra harness clips that I had, so the harnesses behind the cluster only get one for now.



Cluster's in



I had to rush to put stuff together to meet my friend after this, so I don't have finished pics yet. Well, it's not totally finished, but mostly... still need to find a short that just popped up in the interior/cluster lighting somewhere.

The next day I came across some wheel cleaning agent, so I tried it out... worked well. Rest of the car is still dirty. :p

[kronus]

aw man that dask swap looks like it sucked. nice work though! Around this weekend?

[Wh33lhop]

It really wasn't that bad--I had some help from a friend. Only real problem was breaking the clips and the A-pillars.

I won't be around actually. I need to drive to LA to get my car smogged. I haven't been helping you guys out nearly as much as I'd like to, so I'm sorry for that--and I don't expect to be able to drive at lemons, which is probably best given my current financial situation. But I'll continue to help out whenever I can regardless--I can help out during the week as well if that's doable.

[kronus]

drive to LA to get smogged? wat

and no prob dude, you're under absolutely 0 obligations, thanks for all your help so far :)

[Wh33lhop]

drive to LA to get smogged? wat

Shhh.

and no prob dude, you're under absolutely 0 obligations, thanks for all your help so far :)

Fair enough, I wish I had been more present I guess. How far are you guys through the swap?

[kronus]

I mean, if you're looking for a smog guy i know a guy who probably knows a guy...

also, for the swap, we've got the motor sitting in the bay but it needs to come out so that we can put the flywheel and trans on. Still waiting to receive the flywheel. We made the rad support removable which makes taking the motor out a 10 minute job when it's not hooked up to anything.

[Wh33lhop]

I mean, if you're looking for a smog guy i know a guy who probably knows a guy...

It's cool, I'm also going down to visit some friends. Should be fun.

also, for the swap, we've got the motor sitting in the bay but it needs to come out so that we can put the flywheel and trans on. Still waiting to receive the flywheel. We made the rad support removable which makes taking the motor out a 10 minute job when it's not hooked up to anything.

Yes I remember exactly how you "made the rad support removable" :p I'll try and help out whenever I can, are you guys still limited to weekends only?

[kronus]

Yes I remember exactly how you "made the rad support removable" :p I'll try and help out whenever I can, are you guys still limited to weekends only?

you were there for that one? it's all becoming a blur to me, working too much :(

Yeah, we're still weekends-only. We have 2 weekends left to do work, so no need to take time off work just yet, I think we can probably get it done. Austin got the electronics mostly done, so when the motor's in properly we can hopefully just start it and it'll work.

[TimKninja]

How much did you have to take off the M50 to make it fit in your trunk? Im thinking i my have to do the same thing. >_<

[Wh33lhop]

Just remove the manifolds (intake and exhaust), it will slide in.

[Wh33lhop]

So here is the hardware that was holding up my exhaust



A chain, you ask? Why, yes. That's what happens when you need something quick because your last exhaust hangar just broke in the middle of a canyon run.



Grabbed some new hangars from Dinan, ironically their prices were about 40% of what the dealer wanted ($19 for one of those donuts at the dealer).



On they go (this was a bit of a bitch)



Finished product. I don't scrape over speed bumps as much either since my exhaust doesn't dangle down like nuts on Danny's chin any more



Yes I need new RS3s, they are in the mail! I am going to have to squeeze another trip to LA out of these though.

[MR 325]

Damn, those tire wore out FAST!