When Well Enough Can't Be Left Alone; Backdate, EFI/ITB, AC, and more!

[mikesarge]

Man I’m just glad you got to drive the car after all that! My car has been similarly testing and I folded and handed it over to a professional. I commend your persistence on this. Hopefully you get to enjoy a bunch of easy miles on it now

[Showdown]

I have contemplated throwing in the towel and sending it to a pro but I just can’t.

Every time I reach that breaking point, I (or the equally delusional members of the Full Send Society: Nate, Gabe, Chris and Tony) remind me that this was the point: to have something that pushes me, challenges me, forces me to learn and constantly evolve.

If I were to quit, I’d have to somehow make peace with that every time I looked at or drove the car and I’m not sure that I could.

For the most part, I’m ok with taking punches and struggling as long as there are some reprieves, some rewards and some triumphs.


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[shoooo32]

Knee deep in organizer duties left me somewhat paralyzed to offer any type of assistance leading up to the event. And cell service is non-existent by design in WV, so I'm catching up via the thread.

I feel for every car/driver that doesn't make the trip after planning for months. But staying back and using the allotted time to "finish the job right" has a massive amount of merit. Let's get a hang scheduled ASAP. It won't be WV but we'll have all the HP at WI elevation

[montauk]

I'm glad you're back on the road. Do you, or does anyone, have a source for rubber boots for the wiring end of those COPs? I've looked but haven't found anything yet.

Do you need the clips for the COPs? The Denso copies I'm using firmly hug the plugs so I didn't bother with them.

[Showdown]

The COP connectors actually don't come with boots- you use the little silicone wire seals that get crimped to the wires to create a clean seal.

I thought about designing and printing some boots out of TPU, but 1.) my printer is still down, and 2.) I'm not sure the TPU would sustain the head right near the valve covers... Also, it seemed like just too. much more work when I needed a win.

The Audi/Vw coils are super secure on the plugs but I have some metal brackets to hold them in place... partly because it looks cool but also belt and suspenders...

I'll probably replace them with 3D printed brackets eventually as these look a bit sloppy and I'll need somethign to do over winter...

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by shoooo32

Knee deep in organizer duties left me somewhat paralyzed to offer any type of assistance leading up to the event. And cell service is non-existent by design in WV, so I'm catching up via the thread.

I feel for every car/driver that doesn't make the trip after planning for months. But staying back and using the allotted time to "finish the job right" has a massive amount of merit. Let's get a hang scheduled ASAP. It won't be WV but we'll have all the HP at WI elevation

That's ok, I'll forgive you this time...

[montauk]

Originally Posted by Showdown

The COP connectors actually don't come with boots- you use the little silicone wire seals that get crimped to the wires to create a clean seal.

I thought about designing and printing some boots out of TPU, but 1.) my printer is still down, and 2.) I'm not sure the TPU would sustain the head right near the valve covers... Also, it seemed like just too. much more work when I needed a win.

The Audi/Vw coils are super secure on the plugs but I have some metal brackets to hold them in place... partly because it looks cool but also belt and suspenders...

I'll probably replace them with 3D printed brackets eventually as these look a bit sloppy and I'll need somethign to do over winter...

I didn't realize that I was supposed to crimp those silicone donuts with the wires. I just slid them over the wires and then pushed them into the connectors. They seem to prefer to pop back out. A nice boot would hide my mistake.

[Showdown]

Yup, they seal the connector from dirt and debris when a boot isn't available... THey use the larger part of the connector.

[montauk]

Originally Posted by Showdown

Yup, they seal the connector from dirt and debris when a boot isn't available... THey use the larger part of the connector.

Yes, I figured that out with the last few I used. I wish all connectors were the Deutsch type. Easy to use and easy to de-pin.

[Jonny042]

Life and paying the bills have been getting in the way of me catching up on this thread but I've finally done it. Now I'm glad I could read through to the happy ending! Although sorry you missed the rally.

One small detail - all heads (and cam carriers) are aluminum, regardless of the material the block is cast from.

As always, thanks for posting these very enjoyable updates. I did LOL at "the miracle of death"!

[Showdown]

Well, it's been a minute for sure, but that seems to be the pace of this thread lately.

After the disappointment of missing Ruchlos, I kind of just walked away from the car. I contemplated getting rid of it or storing it long term... it was just such a frustrating experience, I needed a break. So, I didn't' do anything with it for a week, then two, then a month and then six weeks...

No projects, no drives, not even starting it.

Sometime in July I took it up to Wisconsin one Saturday for a drive. It performed admirably, without any issues at all. In fact the new coils had an appreciably positive effect on the feel of the car- pulls were harder and stronger and acceleration significantly improved. I'm not sure if I had bad coils or the Audi coils are just better but I'll take it.

On said drive, somewhere west or Racine, I rounded a bend and spotted a cop sitting on the top of an overpass. Naturally I slowed down but sure enough; berries in my rear view.

Mark it 0, Dude.

After giving her my license and registration she goes to the car and then comes back:

Her: why the speed, where where you going:
Me: nowhere, just out for a drive…
Her: what year?
Me: the car? 77
Her: (looking puzzled) backdate?
Me: (looking puzzled) yeah…
Her: still have the 2.7?
Me: yeah…
Her: stock?
Me: no, ITBs, cams…
Her: (nodding and then seeing the shock on my face) my dad was huge into Porsches, had a ton of them, I grew up driving them around here. Listen, I clocked you at 80, this is a 45. Take it west, away from town and just keep it under control.
Me: you bet. Thanks.

Mark it 8.

--

Anyhow. I've been tinkering away at the digital gauge and am happy to report that it's freaking awesome and rock solid. This fall I'll be posting a new thread about the gauge with details, video, and whatnot and potentially taking on commissions to make custom gauges for those with EFI. I've also been tinkering away at another version of my AC mods while also working on a secret AC project as well.

For a shorter-term project (haha, yeah right) I decided that I wanted rallye lights. In Chicago there's never not enough light but out in some of the places this car has been and will go, that's not the case and the H4's, even with 100w halogens aren't stellar. So, I started looking at lights. I didn't want something new looking but the Cibbie Palas are like $700 and that's stupid. In addition, I really didn't want to drill through my hood as I don't want the lights present all the time- just when I need them... So, I decided to design and fabricate some of my own.

These are angle-adjustable magnet-mounted rallye lights that fit a standard 5.5" H4 motorcycle light that can be bought on Amazon in clear or amber for $30. They're wired through fuses and relays to a switch under my dash (where all my switches are) that activates the high or low beams. The wiring under the hood runs in the side channels and is affixed with magnets to the underside as well to keep everything tidy. No holes anywhere, fully removable and storable for when not needed.



The 3D render after scanning in some 5.5" amber lights I bought off amazon for $30. These take H4 bulbs and look the part.




The 3D printed pieces after prep for paint. Sanding, high build primer, sanding, primer, sanding... you know the drill.




Detail of the paint. I'm really proud of how well I've gotten at painting things. Kinda makes me wish I had another car to build...hmmm...


At this point I though I would paint the retainer ring that holds the light in place but then I decided why not try to electroplate it... I've watched a YouTube video, how hard can that be...




The retainer ring after painting with conductive graphite paint.




After a bunch of trial and error I finally got a copper coating that was good, or so I thought. Good isn't good enough here, it needs to be absolutely perfect. Like way more perfect than a pre-paint surface.


There's no way to properly electroplate chrome. One must first electroplate with copper and then brush plate with palladium, which isn't chrome. At best the palladium will give you a chrome-like finish but again, it's super finicky. But that's what's available so I tried. Remember when I said good isn't good enough... well, that's pretty clear.




The palladium plated ring. It's ok. Maybe 5/10. Not bad for a first try but certainly not good enough to run on the car. Perhaps a rat-rod or a patinated car, but not this one. I'm not terribly mad though as this was my first go-round and I am already starting experimentation with different materials and approaches. I'll get it eventually, but for now, this won't cut it.



The lights with the aforementioned palladium rings.




My copper wasn't pristine and so the palladium is spotty. Not bad on its own but not good compared to true chrome.




So, I decided to print another set of rings and wrap them in the same vinyl that I have on the hood. Looks much better even if it's a bit too much amber/gold. It'll suffice for now.




And the lights in action on low. The wires are visible and for some that may be a deal breaker but I'm ok with the compromise and if ever I get a fiberglass hood, I'll use induction power transfer through the hood for a cleaner look... but really, I don't think that's all that necessary... I may print some magnet holders for the wires though... we'll see.

All that's needed now are some lens covers which I'll print out of flexible TPU and fashion some straps. I won't mimic the Cibie or Sev Marchal logo but something would be nice on that surface.... I'm open to suggestions.

Anyhow, that was a fun project and I learned a lot about electroplating and once I figure it out it'll be fun to make all sorts of "chrome" bits for these cars.

I'm about to go camping with my kids for the Labor Day weekend and then after returning on Monday afternoon, I have to unpack, and then right away repack for a 2-week trip to Japan as I leave Monday at midnight! It's going to be a helluva wild ride.

When I return it will have marked 9 weeks in a row that I haven't spent a weekend at. home due to traveling.

And then in October it's Overcrest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina so these will come in handy for sure!

[911 tweaks]

nice work Julian as always...
I am very interested in your "update" to the ac system...
I'll stay tuned to this thread a/o feel free to pm me & if you ever start to sell your controllers for the hvac sys I am interested...
FYI... I have been in contact with classic retro & their electric ac system WITH HEAT will soon be released...