Apparently a faulty rear main engine seal is causing the fuel trims to become very unstable and the car's developed a substantial miss. The smoke machine is the only way to track this apparently common VW problem down. 

You could have sprayed this engine with brake clean all day and the numbers would not have changed.

A couple new acquisitions came the other day. Not Starrett but I like em.




This one is a Starrett

looks great, wish I had been out working on my Mustang but my get and go must have got up and went as I've ignored it for a couple months Nice car you have there.

I know the feeling...sometimes it will be a couple weeks between times in the shop.  I've heard it said that if you can get out there and do even one small thing each day it helps.  I try, but yeah, there are doldrums especially when the end seems so far away!  I didn't think I'd ever finish the floor pan.

But now, the car is starting to look like something again and I can see the various subsystem tasks being a little easier to get through now.  I'm hoping to drive the car in June but probably won't be until near the end of June (if I'm lucky!).

Every step seems to be full of challenges, which can be expected considering that pretty much everything is not stock to the car.  I'm happy that the stock accessory brackets are fitting nicely at least!  Now I'm into the hydroboost braking system which gets plumbed into the power steering lines, fabricating a bracket to mount the combination valve and line lock solenoid under the master cylinder, making and extending brake lines, etc.

We fit the fender up today to check clearances for the brake lines and it was great seeing the front end of the car show some shape.  Unfortunately the fender had to come back off until later.  I'm waiting for some more parts to show up including some firewall/dash insulation, new starter, quick ratio steering box but the next push will be to get the car ready for a trailer ride out to get the exhaust installed in 3 or 4 weeks.

  Yep I have used that rounded hook end of that snap-on pick to remove and install several GM fuel line o-rings. Used it last week to remove the timer knob on my old Kitchenaid (Whirlpool) washing machine. I sure dont want to damage that irreplaceable snap-on hook working on a washing machine so i ordered that cheap pick set.

I have been buying odds and ends machinist stuff several times a week for over 6 months and 90 % comes from states along the Eastern seabord, with a lesser percentage coming from Florida, and a few from other states. For the last few weeks, alot has come from New York.By far, most has come from Pennsylvania.