Covid caddy project

[Ben.B]

Good job, love mk4 look

[fishynos72]

Good job, love mk4 look

Thanks, me too. big jump from the Mk3.

Finished the axel flip install today.

Went 1 notch higher on the rear and 15mm higher on the front vs the height the previous owner of the kit.



Some shorter rear shocks and some Kw front shocks would finish it off nicely.



The new height, or lack-there-of is a definite improvement, but thankfully it's not dragging it's guts over every speed hump.

The consumables in the front end have made a huge difference. So direct feeling and quiet compared to before.
Alignment tomorrow should hopefully bring an end to the mechanical work, until something breaks or I decide to re-plate the brake callipers.

[Stedlocks]

Good effort!
I’m seriously considering putting my stock steels back on……I think they actually look a bit ‘different’ to the standard crop of alloys!

[Caddy1691]

where I see it that way, wouldn't it have been possible to convert to LED/xenon headlights?

[fishynos72]

@Stedlocks

Yeah I'm a fan of the steel wheels. The 17" Vito wheels are the easiest way to get the look without going for Mk5 caddy steel wheels or custom

@Caddy1691

A set of factory xenon headlights are on the wishlist.
Though I've installed a Osram Xenon kit in my current headlights.

For the factory xenon setup, a set of kufatec adaptors, or a re-pinning of the headlight plugs would all be possible.

I have done similar installs on Mk5 golfs. You can run them without the self leveling setup in Australia legally so long as the mechanical adjustment is set correctly.

[Caddy1691]

but then it would be a wash
Here in Germany, the automatic headlight range adjustment and headlight cleaning is unfortunately obligatory. So far I only have the cleaning system, with the headlight range adjustment it is unfortunately not as easy with the caddy as with Golf, Touran and co

[fishynos72]

@caddy1691
TUV inspection each year make it more difficult also. The state of Victoria in Australia doesn't have annual inspections, so thankfully it's one less thing for me to worry about.

In other news: my mk4 caddy instrument cluster arrived today.

Unfortunately it seems to have coped quite a beating in transit



45 minutes of plastic polish over lunch break helped improve it.





Just awaiting the adaptor loom to arrive.

With some helpful tips from @doc Ive already installed the newer ABS controller to suit the speed pulses required by the new cluster.

Currently also annoying stanthevwcaddyman also for some more electrical upgrades.

Also sorted the wheel alignment out today. Can't believe how well that's ended up.

Hopefully some more goodness will arrive by mail today.

Cheers

[Caddy1691]

Of course that's annoying. Where do you get the parts from? Directly from Germany or are there VW workshops in Australia?

[fishynos72]

@Caddy1691

The cluster came through a 2nd hand parts supplier locally who I don't normally use, but they had the cluster I was chasing in stock.
Buying new through Volkswagen, a cluster is far too expensive for what I intend to do with it.

Who I buy from depends on the item in question.
For instance my backorder of new genuine parts arrived today.


Most of this won't be installed until the vehicle is painted but some of it will be NLA if I waited any longer.

[Caddy1691]

Such a speedometer new, that's going to be priceless at VW
What are all these small parts for?

[fishynos72]

That batch of backordered VW parts include;

• Mk4 Alltrack factory tinted taillights (1 is LHD the other RHD to retain twin reverse lights) and tinted bumper reflectors to suit.

• Mk4 Caddy life front guard sound insulation foam pieces

• Mk4 caddy hazard switch plug as it's one of the last parts of the dash conversion I am still yet to do.

• Rear caddy life rubber floor mats to match my fronts

Most of the items won't be installed until paintwork is completed.

Few other odds and ends are still making their way to me via postal services from other sources.


Yesterday the van thanked me for all my recent hard work by destroying the feed line seal into it's new clutch slave cylinder.
Thankfully this happened as I pulled into the carpark where I work, with no obstructions in front of me.
Tonight's plan is to replace the seal and bleed the system in the carpark.
Gotta love cars.

[Caddy1691]

Where is this sound insulation installed?
If you install the rear lights, how do you implement the rear fog light or is this not absolutely necessary in Australia?

[fishynos72]

See the images from the toffee thread, my inspiration for the sound deadening.

Inside the front guard.



Then installed



Its then covered/protected by the wheel arch liner. Makes a significant difference in the transfer of road noise apparently.

For the rear fog light; Technically for the state of Victoria in Australia- if the feature isn't fitted it doesn't have to work.
So I have no front fog lights. If I loose the rear and installed a USA spec Jetta headlight switch then there's no evidence of the vehicle ever having fog lights.

Id love a mk7 style headlight switch in the style of the Jess switch, but such an item doesn't seem to exist.

[Caddy1691]

Ok, if it helps, I'll treat myself to that too. I've already treated my Caddy to the bonnet insulation mat and the insulation on the water tank, as well as an engine cover and underbody paneling.
That's relatively easy to regulate for you. I would also immediately block the newer taillights, but I don't want to block an additional rear fog light.

[fishynos72]

I have the under bonnet sound deadening and some more scheduled for inside the vehicle. Every little bit helps.
My new tyres and wheel bearings have done wonders for the road noise.

Not needing the fog lights I wasn't worried about the taillight update.
You could of course maintain the factory Mk4 taillight setup and run 2 LHD taillights, that way you keep the rear fog light. But will loose 1 reverse light.