My 1980 VW Caddy (Rabbit truck)

[JP Fabrication]

This is my Caddy I've owned for 28 years. It's time for a major overhaul. Some history on it:

Purchased from original owner in 1988.

1989-installed 1.8L GTI motor, CIS-E fuel injection , complete wiring harness/fuse box/relay panel and dash from a '86 GTI

1991-2.0L 16V and trans from a GLI with 8XXXmiles on it, rear disc brake conversion,
-all new fenders, hood and front clip, repaint.

I will be using some old and some new equipment I have ended up with over the years.

Headunit-I have 3 Alpine head units to choose from
iPad2
Components-Illusion Audio Carbon C6
Midbass-Alpine SWR-8D2
Subs-(2)JL12W3v3's

PDX-4.150 bi-amped-Carbons
PDX-4.150 bridged-8" Type R's
PDX-1.1000-12W3's

Jetta 3 serpentine belt system with 140A alt
2nd Optima Yellow Top

1988




From 2 months ago













Amp rack welded in for 2 PDX amps I did a couple years ago.

[JP Fabrication]

I scored a mint E30 dash. I had previously removed factory heater/ac box and installed a heater unit from Summit. I removed all the ducting from the dash until I get it to fit. The plan is to get the defrost and center ducts working with the heater.










Took care of some rust issues. Added some Dyanmat to the fenders, sprayed rubberized under coating to the fenders and the front end, rear air shocks, control arms,3.5" drop plates, tie tods, ball joint and ST coilovers installed.











Mocking up new steering column position.

Steering column brackets welded in.

Glove box installed and brackets welded in.

[JP Fabrication]

Picked up some 15" BBS RS 3 piece wheels

Installed my Pro Comp Ultra Light gauges

[JP Fabrication]

I cut a hole form interior to fender area. Fabbed up some enclosures for the midbass drivers out of 12g steel.

[JP Fabrication]

I decided to go further into the mid bass enclosure install and cut open the lower A pillar. I plated the hinge supports with 3/16" then boxed and plug welded it with 12gauge.
The amp rack I previously made was cut out so I could add a 3rd ALPINE PDX amp.
I also added brackets so the rack is removable. An 1/8" plate was added between the A and B pillar to help support the amp rack.
The baffle for the mids are two 3/4"mdf stacked rings with 10/32" nutserts and a band of sintra to recess a flush mounted grill. The mid fiberglass/mdf portion is attached with seven 1/4-20 rivnuts and bolts on top of a rubber seal to form a sealed enclosure.

[JP Fabrication]

[JP Fabrication]

Layered up with mat, sanded smooth with body filler. A mixture of Marglass and resin was poured into the inside of the pods then a layer of Dynamat was added. A grill was made out of 1/2"mdf and expanded metal then the grill and pod were wrapped with black non backing carpet. The entire enclosure was stuffed with Focal Black Hole Stuff.

[JP Fabrication]

Next up is installing my iPad. First the iPad and dash were tapped off and layered up with fiberglass mat, trimmed to size then the two were attached together using Marglass. A bracket with two 1/4"-20 bolts was glassed to the back of the iPad mount.

[JP Fabrication]

Polyprimed

Guidecoated

Wet sanded to 600

Sprayed with SEM Flat Trim Black

[JP Fabrication]