,
This would be a good time to point out a very important detail about our quest to build this 7-second, 70-mph car for only $7,000: We’re not going to pull it off. Oh, we’ll beat 7 seconds to 60 mph, and we’re pretty sure we can do that 70-mpg thing, but remember, this is the first time we, or to the best of our knowledge, ANYBODY, has done this. We will make mistakes along the way, like paying $1,700 for a car that was worth $0 a few months ago. So there will be two tallies being kept on this car: one for what we actually spend, and another for what you could spend if you were smart enough to learn from our mistakes. In column A, then, $1,700. In column B, the $0 you could find this car for if you spend more than one day shopping.
But back to the proud father and his malformed little German baby. At 30 mph, the drive to Regina would take nearly three days, not counting stops for pee and burgers. When Jared called ahead to say he’d be late, Cam Waugh (owner of CWS Tuning and our mechanical hero who said our upcoming engine swap would be easy) did the math a different way. Twenty-eight years old + death by french fry = a fuel filter full of potatoes. Twelve dollars later, the car was roaring down the freeway at more than double its original top speed.
Again, perspective is key to understanding how fast the car is now. In its original state, the Chrysler Sebring Convertible rental car our dynamic duo took Rabbit shopping could outrun the Rabbit simply by shifting into Drive and letting off the brake. Faster than an idling rental, then, suddenly felt neck-snapping. With 0-60 in the car’s performance envelope for the first time in years, the boys decided it was time for some cold, hard numbers to give perspective to our 7-second goal. Pulling over to the side of the nearest level road, Chris grabbed the stopwatch and Jared buried the, uh, Diesel pedal. Twenty-two seconds later, the needle finally quivered past the big 6-0.
Science dictated turning around and running the other way to eliminate the effects of wind and whatever subtle incline they may not have noticed, but seriously, would it matter if it was really 21 seconds? Instead, they kept the hammer down all the way to Brooklyn, stopping only when they reached Ralph and John and Sons Auto Repair. The shop’s Dynojet would offer all the science needed at this point. As home of several pavement-melting Mustang drag cars, these guys don’t flinch when a car makes 700 hp, but they had never seen a dyno number like this. When the computer was done crunching our Rabbit’s run, it spit out a peak of 33 hp. After Ralph and John and a few of the sons removed the air filter, it made 34. But, again, does it really matter?Back to that long drive to Regina: Against all odds, and with the last 400 miles gingerly driven on 2-inch-thick sheets of ice, the boys clatter up to CWS Tuning just before sunset, still traveling under their own power. The dying engine has consumed nearly a gallon of oil and a gallon of antifreeze. In preparation for their next breakdown, Jared had memorized a prioritized list of objects close at hand and the order in which he would burn them to stay warm. Chris, thankfully, was near the bottom of that list.
From here on out, we’re in the very capable hands of Cam Waugh. In the days leading up to their unlikely arrival, Cam had purchased a 2003 1.9-liter TDI engine from a Jetta and an 02A five-speed transmission from a ’98 TDI (the ’98s had taller gearing that will help with our mileage goals) and had test-fit them in a rusted-out European-spec 1980 Rabbit GTI. So all the engine mounts, plumbing, axles and wiring are already ready. Time to bust out the wrenches and get dirty.
