Mk1 Jetta body swap 1st gen tundra

I'm that guy in my hood. There are 2 of "that guy" actually but in the only one who blasts music and works on cars on this end. The other guy is down the block and since he's a sheriff the neighbors like him.

Rock on.

 

Figured we’d swap the motor mounts to the inside of the frame and now we have to fix the frame I thought was much better than it was. Here’s to two hours of grinding rivets!

 

So I got a little more done today and am happy with my weekends progress. Please don’t critique my welds too bad since it’s the first time I’ve used a welder since I was in college 10 years ago

frame is patched and reinforced with 3/8 plate top and bottom since I removed the rotten inner structure. I figured if it worked for GM it SHOULD work for me. I plan to add some sort of something inside the frame again.

Of course I plan to go back and actually finish welds and make them look pretty but I didn’t want everything to rust overnight since I live in new York, blue rattle can works for now.

The rear “cab mounts” were 3” outside the rockers (yeah I actually measured three times) so next weekend I’ll move the fronts to the inside of the frame to match the rear. This makes it easier to make a floor pan down the road.

keep in mind I have 0 math ability and usually measure once cut twice throw it away and try again

 

So as I’ve said before I’m no mathematician or engineer so today me and my grandfather used out John Deere 300E to put the car on the frame so I can fabricate the floors and firewall

 

All right guys it’s been a few days since I got to poke around at this car. Finally getting around to making some rough cuts to see where the body needs to be tubbed if that’s what you’d call it so the frame can sit up inside the trunk floor.
Also realized there’s ALOT more rust repair to do than I thought.

no real progress just keeping the thread updated step by step..

also found out today how hard it is to weld on paper thin 30 year old tin covered in cavity wax spot welds and seam sealer will do just fine

please don’t judge my half assed methods

 

Holy shit. Thread watched. You're a madman

 

This got me reading: Jetta body swap 1st gen tundra

This kept me: Neighbors hate me

subscribed

 

You kidding me? This is the kind of can-do attitude that makes me proud to be an American. Don’t let up - this is awesome.

 

Awesome! So many posts to catch up on. Just found this and it brought back memories. My late brother put a ‘70 Nova body on a Mid 80’s Blazer chassis. He had to lengthen the frame though. Lots of blood sweat and tears, but when you drive "Franken-gruven" it will be well worth. I agree with previous post, American ingenuity…unfortunately your neighbors disagree. So sad when people don’t have a life of their own and have to fuck yours up. Best of luck with the build, can’t wait to see the test drive.

 

'MERICA !!!

You guys got me pumped up !!!

FINISH it OP !!!

 

This is gonna be sweet

 

Started making the main floor structure today before it started raining and shut me down for the day. I plan to cut a “square” in the new inner rocker we made to insert the main floor brace and then weld it up but thanks to the rain my weekend is over

 

The rain went away long enough to pull all the tools back out and finish the front cross brace!!! I feel accomplished for this weekend

any advice or insight is highly accepted

 

Play this when your out side working on your Franken Build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbfOXrQ0N84

 

Decided to do some more chopping today after installing my gutter guards on the house.
I’m happy to say the firewall is tacked in!
I’m sad to say that the steering wheel is going to be so close to the driver that the back seats are going to be for kids only. Didn’t get any pics of it with the column in because it got dark. Stay tuned!

 

Glad to see you got the air freshener installed, at least. Don’t want ‘er gettin’ musty.

 

Just to continue lastnights update, the steering wheel is pretty far back, I even shortened the column about 2” to makeup for it but it’s as good as it’s going to get. Also kind of tight to the driver door so I figure a smaller aftermarket wheel will help a bit.

 

If steering wheels almost touching your chest are good enough for NASCAR drivers...

 

Could always do a releasable one. You can sometimes find them cheap on FB / EBay, etc.

Looking better every time, dude. Keep it up.

 

Here’s a pic of it in the driveway for you guys to pipe dream with me. Untill next week guys

 

I formally nominate this build for membership to Truck Gang! All in favor?

 

Aye.

 

AYE !

 

Add this to your pipe dreams fellas

Happy Saturday!

 

It would be helpful if anyone with information pertaining to 1981-1984 parts get in contact with me!

(headlights tail lights grill trunk fenders) I will pay good money for parts and shipping too. These things are hard to come by, forums and eBay only go so far. HELPP

 

So I made an account and a build thread over at VWvortex and within one hour I go to see what people’s opinions are, to find this…


Thanks for being cool guys I know it’s not a “tundra” anymore…but the bones, veins and heart are

 

That my man is awesome!! I’m a reformed VW guy, that was an expensive hobby maybe more so than the tundra..love what your doing there!!

 

Hahaha. Chop up a Mark 1 Jetta and tell the VW crowd about it, see what happens.