Slightly OT - new path?

I've thought about this for fuckin' ages. Ever since I started my second year of Uni, I've always thought about dropping out and pursuing a different future. Apprenticeships/traineeships have always crossed my mind, and honestly I wouldn't mind being a mechanic of some sort. However, chances of getting an apprenticeship/traineeship for that are much slim compared to someone else who has done their Certs at TAFE first, and right now I don't think I can handle any study. I'm still at Uni now moreso because of what is expected of me than what I really want.

So, scrapping the mechanic idea aside for now, I looked up seek.com and found a traineeship that caught my eye: car detailing. Now I know a lot of people out there are thinking, how much are you going to earn cleaning cars? Right now, to me, it's not about the money. I'd rather do something that I will enjoy waking up early and coming home late for.

Anyway, I've applied for it on Wednesday (right after my last exam for the semester) and am still waiting for their reply. I've been anxiously and frequently checking my inbox only to be disappointed with a Nigerian king or whatever asking for my help (I'm sure everyone has received these kind of emails before). I do hope to get an offer for the traineeship though, just so I can be happy to try something different out. I've printed out a suspension form for my enrolment to the Uni, but I haven't filled it out yet.

Just something I wanted to get off my e-chest. It's another case of the "my heart says yes but my brain says no".

Blog update

Wow, I just had a terrible 3 weeks, "preparing" and doing exams for Uni. It didn't really stop me from progressing with the car though, but it has hampered the time I could spend on it haha.

A few things have happened, though not "ground-breaking". I bought a used Eibach front upper strut brace from Steve on the VWW. After some digging, I found that they are a discontinued piece from the late 90's (I have the flat bar) and are starting to get big $$. There have been samples in the US going for as much as $400USD (though this was marked down later in that particular sale) and can definitely fetch a few hundred. I was so surprised, considering no-one on VWW wanted it. I was actually approached by Steve about it and after some talking, I went for a $60 offer (knowing that the previous owner who sold it to Steve gave it away for $70), and a few hours later, it was sitting in my room. It's in pretty bad shape (watermarks and fine swirl scratches everywhere) but nothing a bit of wetsanding and polishing won't get rid of. Pics:

It came with the set of nuts and bolts required for its fitment, and instructions from Eibach and a certificate in Deutsch was even provided. Cool. Fake or not, it's still a great deal for $60.

I've also started on polishing the centre-caps of my BBS wheels. I've only barely started on one but and have sanded it down completely and got rid of the failing clearcoat and corrosion. On to 320 grit at the moment and planning on getting it down to 2000 grit, but I honestly don't know if I've got the patience to! I'll definitely try though - the finer I go, the better the mirror polish result that I'll get. A pic, but I'll put it all together in a DIY on metal polishing ;)

I've bought new centre badges for the BBS as well in preparation of the rebuild (still a long way to go, but I just couldn't help it). Got them in black with gold BBS lettering. Hoping to get gold bolts along the way and I've found an eBay item on a close-to-original BBS gold paint but I'm going to wait out on that until I'm actually rebuilding them. As with new lips, I'm thinking of re-widening to 8" all-around or 8" front 8.5" rear, but I'm gonna research on prices first.

Also ordered some stuff from TMTuning - some new pedals and lowering caps. Got some grip-taped pedals as I'm getting annoyed with the current standard plastic items as it's been raining like crazy in Sydney these days. Not that I lose grip, but it squeaks everytime I move my feet. Lowering caps are rated at 10mm; I'm ignoring the VWVortex talk about it and giving it a try myself. At $20+USD a pair, I've got nothing to lose really. I'm due in to re-set the damper settings on my Reds anyway as I think I've dialed the fronts too soft in comparison to the rears. And I need an alignment. And I gotta install the Eibach brace too. See, lots of excuses to waste more money :P

All those things are coming from Germany, so I'll be waiting here in drabby, dull Sydney for them to come.

A bit more eBay perusing and I came across a fault finder. Reminds me of a VAGCOM, but much simpler. Asked the seller how it works, and he says it's just a matter of slotting it into the same interface, and searching the provided book/list for the fault code if any gets spit out. Should be a fun device to whip out at a GTG - and it looks small enough to fit in my glovebox.

Oh! And I purchased a glovebox from Matt which he got from a wrecked late model Mk3. I just looked back at my previous entry and I've mentioned before. Well, I've bought it for $100, which is still quite overpriced but I just felt that I needed one. At least now I have a closed space to store all my receipts/tickets/CDs into.

Also bought a handbrake boot (yes, another) from Peter Jones, also a member of VWW. It's actually off a Seat Toledo that he was wrecking, and I spotted it in some of his pics so it was worth a try asking. He was willing to part with it for $10 shipped so I just snapped it. Got it today, and it looks much bigger than what I think would fit for my Mk3, but it could be a template for something later that I want to make myself :)

Anyway, I think that's it for now...

DIY metal polishing should be up next :)

SEQ Drive Day

The VWWatercooled folks of south-east Queensland had a Drive Day on Sunday the 3rd. It was a cruise in memory of a loved one of a fellow member of the VWWatercooled forums. John a.k.a. Golfer's fiance Jasmin recently passed away from a battle with cancer. Her progress was kept on the forums as Golfer expressed his emotions in what was unfortunately and sadly inevitable. She fought on longer than the doctors expected her to, which gave many a feeling of hope. She was only 24 years young. Sometimes the world is a cruel place to be, taking loved ones away far too early in theirs and our lives.

The Drive Day was originally supposed to be organised by Golfer before it happened, so shaneth took up the job. He managed to get 32 cars signed up, which is a magnificient effort, and photos have been taken to prove it. Being in rural south-east Queensland, it looked like there was much less traffic than the time we had our cruise to Wollongong. I'm so jealous!

I haven't been on a cruise/GTG since the Nats, and that's partly my fault since I've been lazy and also bogged up with Uni shit :( There was a cruise to Canberra as well, but it looked like there would be a lack of VWW members (was organised by VWVortex - there seems to be invisible beef between the two). I said I was going to make it, but with 2 assessments due in 12 hours, it wasn't possible :( I've missed out on too many events already.

There's a cruise/GTG organised for the 30th of June, so I'm anxiously waiting for that to happen :) I will have finished my finals by then so I'll be free to do whatever! And that includes the wheel repairing!

Anyway, here's the forum link to the post-event discussion/pics for the SEQ Drive Day.

Enjoy!

Installed: K&N High-flow Air Filter

I ordered a K&N High-flow (panel) Air Filter from Phil and went to pick it up a week ago. At $98, it was much cheaper than what Autobarn quoted me (@ $140). Installed it on the spot at his place as well (10pm, had to test out who had the better light output from our mobiles). First thing I noticed once I started the engine and gave it a rev, it sounded the same as before (i.e. with the mutilated airbox). However, upon driving it, I felt it being much smoother. Maybe it was coincidence and I was rev-matching spot on while I was up- and down-shifting, but I definitely did not feel a lot of chugging. After a week, it still feels smooth. I don't know what brings this or if it's just a feeling of mine, but it definitely feels slightly more comfortable while cruising around.
I've opened up the throttle a few times and it sounds more aggressive than before, but not too much to arouse attention. Stock exhaust means none of that anyway :P

Phil also ordered a K&N filter for his new Ford Falcon XR8 GT. He gave it a spin around the block and I can tell you that it gooooes. Damn scary with him behind the wheel, taking side streets and weaving in and out of roundabouts at 80km/h. It's only run a few hundred kilometres, so he was actually going easy with it, never passing 4500 RPM, but being a V8, the extra revs aren't required :P That said, he still ripped a burnout and, remembering what he said about the car still being in its run-in period, took a glance at the tacho only to see it hit 6000+ RPM. So much for taking it easy!