Audi 80 TDI Avant

Didnt think for a minute you would...it was just a good excuse to post them up!

Although... I keep thinking how they’d look with the colours reversed 🤔

So, suspension... 
mistake no.? Where were we?
originally it had *(un)professionally shortened spax springs (you get the idea) and updated shocks, now the 80’s springs are double pig tailed, so when you shorten them they no longer wish to sit nicely in the strut, I slightly modified the seat, so it accepted the larger diameter of modified spring, the ride was surprisingly good, so with the initial idea being a cheap rebuild, why change? 
I did fit new shocks, new poly bump stops, blasted the springs, and casings, painted in dark sea grey and black.. 
fitted adjustable drop links new roller top mounts etc..




I also painted the new wishbones and associated parts..

Then.. after much thought, I knew I wasn’t going to be overly happy with the set up as the rest of the car had creeped into being of a higher standard (although, at this point the motor was reasonably standard, the previously mentioned spec didn’t happen until recently)

I made my mind up it needed coilovers, now, coilovers for these are expensive! Real expensive! (£1800+)
Thanks to the nature of the front strut casings, I’ve an abundance of front casings, so I figured why not make a couple of sets!
I used mk2 escort conversion kits from one of the rally type distributors, had shocks made up by Gaz, I also brought the springs from them, I made three front sets for about £600 all in😎





With the fronts done, I needed a solution for the rears, I started cross referencing photos and information on the web trying to find something that I could use from a more popular model, the avants use a casing that bolts to the wheel arch tub, I found the some vectras also used this method, but, coilovers for vectras were about as popular as Audi 80’s🤦‍♂️
Then, I accidentally stumbled upon an add on eBay, Mk3 golf estates!!
A very similar design, coilovers readily available, in fact, the seller sold me three sets for around £100 per set!
They worked perfectly, they bolted up into the Audi housings with no issues at all😎


And of course... they had to be painted, in dark sea grey, to keep with the theme, starting to get boring 🤣





Excellent, that’ll be a good job jobbed😎 stance was perfect, fitment was bang on, well done me, *pats self on back...
But wait🤦‍♂️

I’ve driven lowered cars all my life, I’ve only ever owned one car that wasn’t lowered! (I like them proper low, not no -60mm rubbish)

Emma however, she’s only ever driven standard ride height vehicles..
She got to the point of now worrying about it being finished and driving it, so much work effort and time had gone into everything she was worried she would break or damage it!
“Ok, it’s got adjustable suspension, we can just raise it up😊 then you’ll be able to drive it yeah😊”

Nah, that looks Chocolate sprinkles😐.... the savage response she gave

Ok... so what can we do🤔











TA technix was the solution, their all singing all dancing top of the line kit, ecu controlled, which in itself is incredibly adjustable, 0.5 psi increments to dial in the front/rear heights, four presets, extremely easy to set up!
To say I was impressed is an understatement!
(We were so impressed, we applied and got accepted to be a dealer for them😎)
I wasn’t ridiculously expensive either!

So, of course, I stripped it all down, prepared it all, and painted it all....

DARK SEA GREY🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

















I’ve a video of it in action but I’m struggling to upload it? Any help😊

And here’s a few with some of my TSW wheels, for some unknown reason, I’ve developed a like for late 90’s TSW wheels and I seem to be hoarding them😐










The TSW’s are not staying, neither is the black bonnet, (the black is actually black primer with a quick clear coat on it, my per hate is wibberly wobbly bonnets, this process helps get it as straight as my skill set will allow 😅)

Thanks for the comments up till now

Indeed, and

the ups and downs will continue...

sorry, couldn’t resist 🙄🤣

There’s loads of details and work I’ve left out, it’s been a 4yr build on and off, first 6 months I was flat out working on it with every spare minute and every spare penny thrown at it, saving for the more expensive parts slowed the build.. then, an opportunity to start my own business seriously held everything up! 
I say all this as going back through my posts it’s a bit retrospective and all over the place! 

But, as my memory allows I’ll add details etc along the way... promise 😝

Next up Interior..
I wanted a certain look, I want certain front seats, early Audi S4 (100/A6) seats to be exact, to use these I just need to adapt audi 80 bases onto the seats, but and bolt job, I thought anyhow 🤦‍♂️ Lots of messing around and eventually I had them bolting in as per the standard seats.. best part is, they look exactly like the standard 80 seats, just with lumber supports and the pull out extension base... absolutely not worth the hassle! Ha

On to the Upholstry, I knew I wanted tartan and leather, I knew I wanted ribs as per Porsche seats, Emma and I deliberated over tartan choices for far to long, settled on something we hoped would work, and, ten ordered the hides.. once I recovered from the cost of the hides (£1200😳) we got a local firm to carry out our wishes...



 

Just realised this is the only photo I have of the front seats! I’ll grab some more tomorrow.. please do excuse the random mess, I was excited to see how they looked!

Rear seats are the standard 80 Avant seats, trimmed to match


The leather needs a little heat here and there to pull it up nicely, but I’m super happy with the whole look😎
next I butchered the door cards so I could trim the pads in matching tartan..

next up was the boot air install/stereo speakers etc..
like the actual upholstery work, this was another task I farmed out, namely because Bobby, the guy responsible for the install has done a few for me, he’s great at what he does, and, it’s fun having him around for the time it takes😎


we thrashed out ideas, the requirements were air system in and on display, amps on display, retractable load cover needed to retained etc, and, most importantly, access to the spare wheel! 

This will be trimmed in a mix of tartan and veltrim, with the load cover pulled Chocolate sprinkles, hopefully it’ll look reasonably standard 😎


few weekends ago I extracted a digit and finally *finished the last of the paint, and, reworked some parts..



it actually felt good to get the last bits into colour, I think due to the length of the build it felt a bit to much like a chore.. but this has reignited the drive to get on😎

With all those last bits done, I pulled an all nighter one weekend and......



I’m told there’s bank holiday coming up this weekend... that’s 3 full days playing😎 

I love being predictable....! That is looking stunning.

One word: Superb

All looks pretty stunning from where I'm sat.

Minus points for having the roof up on a stunning SW eve

Evening all, small update, I’ve done loads of little bits but nothing worth an update, until yesterday, yesterday saw the exhaust completed (still would like to make a stainless down pipe) I then hung it on it’s extremely time consuming custom mounts! very happy with it!!

I was so excited to hear it, so I attached the fuel lines, added oil and coolant to the correct areas, primed the turbo, force feed the filter some brand new diesel, attach the new battery.....

prayed a little that I’d be spared any fires....  
I’ll mention that it hasn’t run since I turned it off seconds after the crash some five years ago.. (checked everything, practically rebuilt everything... but... we still worry don’t we!) 

first kick of the key, it burst into life!! Then died as it obviously emptied the pump, another kick of the key, 5 seconds and it fired😎 overjoyed!! 
It was a little tappy, but after a few heat cycles, it settled!

See the mid mount overkill! This lead into the down pipe..


Mocking up .... it does actually sit straight.. promise 



I beefed up the lower part of that mount after I accidentally pulled on it and realised it wasn’t as strong as I’d hoped🤣





The finished tail pipe... I need to get it on my bigger ramp now, once I have I’ll fire up some more photos😊