Eric's '90 80QT: rustic bits

[ur20v]

Those Fuchs are too silvery... need some contrast! Black lug bolts and black center caps. Right now they look like cheapo hubcaps

[elaw]

It's the metal strips inside the trim rusting out. I pulled mine off, cut the metal out and re-taped them on. I also discovered at some point someone had re-attached them with polyurethane glue, hopefully yours are not similar and taped on like they should be. There are no fasteners though, if that is what you are asking.

Great! That's what I was hoping to hear.

I'll probably end up doing exactly the same thing... unless I hit the lottery, I certainly won't be buying new trim.

[elaw]

Those Fuchs are too silvery... need some contrast! Black lug bolts and black center caps. Right now they look like cheapo hubcaps

Aah... don't get me started on those!

They're not actually lug *bolts*, they're nuts, as the hubs have been converted to have studs. And not just that, they're super-spiffy Porsche *alloy* nuts, they're insanely light - they feel like plastic in your hand.

So what's not to like? Well, it seems they really don't like road salt. After going through the winter, there are little chunks flaking off the seat part on a few of them.

And... they're 8 bucks a pop! So my options are to spend $160 on a new set of lug nuts that probably would have the same vulnerability to salt, or a lot less on steel ones that are considerably uglier. :x

[ur20v]

Ah, I see! what about the center cap? I think a little black to contrast wouldnt hurt any ;-)

And the aluminum lug nuts intrigued me... Found you some here for $5 each:

http://www.pacificcustoms.com/WHL019.html

[elaw]

So first today a road-test report!

I finally managed to get the AWA (Amazing Wonder Audi) out on the highway today and it was a joyful experience! Dave's work seems to have left me with a well-centered wheel, and the shop that balanced the new tires seemingly did a fantastic job - this car vibrates less on the highway than any I've driven in recent memory. Yay! 8)

And now as always, a question. It seems like the bearing holding the shaft for the steering wheel has some play in it - the wheel can be moved up-and-down or sideways maybe 1/8 of an inch. Not the worst problem in the world, but it feels funny driving and the thing actually sometimes rattles going over bumps.

It seems Audi's solution is to replace the tube that holds the shaft - it comes with the bearings but costs a tad over 400 bucks if you can even get it... ouch!

Has anyone tried just replacing the bearings? Or, is this such an uncommon problem that a used part from someone might be okay?

[chris.miller]

On my '81 Scirocco, easy solution was to zip tie the bearing in position. Bearing was fine, support was bad.

[elaw]

Chris,

Can you elaborate on that a little?

I'm wondering if this car has the same setup as you're thinking of... on the 80, the steering shaft goes through an aluminum tube, and the bearings are pressed into each end. So you can't really get access to the individual bearings... that's if I'm interpreting ETKA / the Bentley correctly! :?

[elaw]

So here's a question: does anyone know whether there ever was (or is) a receiver-type trailer hitch available for this car?

I actually don't want to tow a trailer with it, but I've got a bike rack that mates up to a receiver hitch (the small size receiver, 1-1/4") and would love to use it on this car!

[DE80q]

In Europe they were available. That was why they had adjustable height headlights.

[90quattrocoupe]

Euro hitches don't use a receivers like ours.

http://www.drophitch.com/1989-Audi-80-S ... 54380.html

http://www.jimellisaudiparts.com/showAs ... rchString=

Greg W.

[my2000apb DrBeastCar]

there is one on the beater 4kq I can get a pic post carlisle

[mr_aj_johnson]

LOL, eric, I was just double checking your shifter setup when I saw the question about hitches. I've got a reciever that uses both rear bumper shocks, and requires drilling two holes for the remaining two mounts. I'm not willing to get rid of it, but I'd happily let you borrow it for replication purposes. It's suprisingly simple, and I would trust it to tow a tire trailer or similar. gimme a ring if you are interested.

AJ

[elaw]

Hey thanks!

I've been looking at those, and what it would take to install them, and thinking it might be easier/better just to get one of those racks that straps onto the trunk lid. My goal here is to carry bicycles only - I'd never actually be towing a trailer.

[DE80q]

Eric, just be carefull with those. I have had a couple friend that have used them. They thought they were great, untill their trunks started leaking. I think you would be better off with a roof rack. Just my thoughts on it though.

[Toph]

Roof rack, or build your own 2" receiver...

There are a few 90 racks around these parts (not mine though). I'll give the coupe a feel, then check to see if I can tell whether or not the used ones are bad. I'd say a used one would suffice - someone probably hung off of the wheel trying to get to the relay panel or something too many times..

The beater4kq has a ball hitch, no receiver style. I wouldn't tow much or really anything with it, I'm not sure why it's there besides someone's light dump-run trailer perhaps. Eventually it'll get about 8 2" receivers at stratigic points throughout the bumpers and rock sliders, but I digress...

[my2000apb DrBeastCar]

lol @ rock sliders

[elaw]

Okay so I've got a confession to make: when it comes to installing car speakers, I'm a dinosaur! Maybe in some other respects too, but that's not important right now.

I've never installed speakers in the door of a modern car - one that has "sculptured" (presumably made of foam) door skins, vs. just flat ones with a covering on top. I don't understand how (or if?) you can attach speakers to door skins of that kind.

Specifically, I've got a set of old BA ProSeries separates... the woofers are 5" I think... too big to fit in the dash. So I'd like to put them in the doors. The tweeters of course can go anywhere.

Does anyone have any photos of speakers installed in B3 (sedan, if the coupes are different) front doors, maybe with some details of how it was done? I'm assuming you can't just cut a hole and screw the drivers onto a non-flat surface.

[oil_me]

Okay so I've got a confession to make: when it comes to installing car speakers, I'm a dinosaur! Maybe in some other respects too, but that's not important right now. ...........................

Dude I think we're both from the Cretaceous Period or maybe late Jurassic. The last speakers I installed were in my '78 Rabbit D in 1988. The one open spot on B3 door panels is right where the window regulator is. I have a wind up handle there now on mine. I've cut stand-offs out of plywood, Hard foam, or composite board. Or use metal tubes of different lengths as stand-offs if the speaker can't be recessed into the panel. Don't you have enough mechanical music to listen to? Someone might sell speaker mount solutions for difficult applications as well. Best of luck.
Rich

[elaw]

What... nobody's ever done this?

Or are you just too busy listening to your fancy-schmancy "sounds better than a cheap cordless phone" stereos to post?

[mrmotorhead13]

This is a pic of a "Phonocar" speaker pod that Huw used. They're pretty much unobtainium anymore but something like this could be fabricated. I had a set then sold them, brand new and uninstalled, after I sold my first 90Q... and kicked myself later when I got the 20V.

[ur20v]

This is a pic of a "Phonocar" speaker pod that Huw used. They're pretty much unobtainium anymore but something like this could be fabricated. I had a set then sold them, brand new and uninstalled, after I sold my first 90Q... and kicked myself later when I got the 20V.

Yeah, Phonocars are the ultimate. From what everyone tells me its not that hard to do custom pods on your door cards, but I've never used fiberglass for more than simple repairs or reinforcement, and the stuff is just so nasty and messy I'd never attempt to do it on my own. You might contact a few of the better independent car stereo shops nearby and see if they can do similar fiberglass enclosures for you.

[ur20v]

Oh, forgot about these... a little pricy, however:

http://www.jehnert.de/produkte-doorboar ... lang=de_de

[ur20v]

And just found these!

"We speak English, please contact us"

http://www.car-doorboards.de/einbaubeis ... udi-80-b4/

[elaw]

Hmmm... looks like there are some interesting options. Thanks!

[ur20v]

I decided I'm going with car-doorboards.de product for the 80q project. The Jehnert stuff is nice but you have to buy their complete package, and the price is astronomical.