[s-cars] used-car reconditioning

[Tom Green]

I think the first item on the list should be "wallet" in the category  
Budget.  If
you put a price in time and money on replacing all these items, you may
rethink this project at step one.  You won't be able to use the  
project car
until you complete the safety and reliability items, and won't enjoy  
it until
you do the rest.

Unless you know that you are going to check off much of this list as  
already
completed at purchase, I think you need to consider current offerings  
in the
market that have most of these items already completed.  You won't  
find many
where the owner is even attempting to recoup a portion of the  
reconditioning
and only a fraction of the performance upgrades.

Even if you have a neighbor who works for beer, inflation has  
seriously eroded
that benefit.  I only work for premium beer, and Rogue Imperial IPA  
has hit $16,
Fin du Monde $8, Arrogant Bastard $5, Ruination IPA $6, and Rocky  
Mountain's
Hercules and Titan IPA's are $7.  You are looking at a serious budget  
just for the
beer.  (Not necessarily in order of merit or value)  :-)
I am not suggesting that these fine brews are not worth the  
investment, but,
IMHO, you should spend your money on your own beer budget, enjoy it  
while
making this list, and then find a s-car that doesn't require a years  
work to enjoy.
This is just my take on how to enjoy s-car ownership.  YMMV

Tom


----Original message-----
> Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:23:38 -0400
> From: Kent McLean <kentmclean at comcast.net>
> Subject: [s-cars] used-car reconditioning
> To: quattro <quattro at audifans.com>, v8-list <v8 at audifans.com>,
> 	V6-12v at audifans.com, s-car-list <s-car-list at audifans.com>, 	200q20v
> 	<200q20v at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <4621465A.7060506 at comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Now that I have another new-to-me Audi ('91 200 20V TQA), I thought  
> I'd
> put a plan together with the goal of adding it to the Knowledgebase.
> Here is my first draft of what to do to get a tired old Audi back into
> fighting trim.  I broke the tasks/systems into 4 groups: safety,
> reliability, comfort, and performance. I figure the items should be
> addressed in that order, although some may want to ignore the last  
> one,
> or switch the last two. YMMV.
>
> Before I turn the following list into a Twiki version for the KB
> (maybe/probably with added comments), I'd like the collective input of
> those who've been there, done that.  Suggestions, additions,
> alterations, Audi-specific points, and other comments will be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> My Twiki plan is to keep this as a check list, with links to other  
> Twiki
> pages to give detail about a given topic. And sorry, but it won't  
> happen
> overnight.
>
> -- 
> Kent McLean
> '91 200 TQA, no name yet
> '94 100S Avant, "Moody"
> '89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy" up in smoke
>
>
> --- cut here ---
>
> Used-Car Reconditioning Checklist
>
> SAFETY
>
> 	Brakes
> 		lines, seals, pads, leaks, flushing, bleeding,
> 		rear caliper pin, emergency brake
> 	Tires
> 		age cracks, wear patterns, total wear
> 	Steering
> 		rack, control arms, PS, hydraulic leaks, alignment
> 	Suspension
> 		bushings, shocks, control arms
> 	Exhaust
> 		leaks, catalytic converter
> 	Lights
> 		cracked lenses, pitted lenses, relays, e-code lights
> 	Windshield
> 		cracks, dings, pits
> 	Wipers
> 		arms, blades
>
> RELIABILITY
>
> 	Battery
> 		age, charge, connections, acid leaks, electrical drains
> 	Alternator
> 		output, voltage regulator, belts, cables
> 	Ignition
> 		switch (Audi weak spot), wires, distributor pins,
> 		coils, POS, coil-packs
> 	Sensors
> 		TPS, MAF, ABS, temperature, knock, O2, RPM sensor
> 	Other Electrics
> 		door jamb wires, instrument cluster connections,
> 		battery-to-alternator splice
> 	Fuel
> 		fuel pump, relay, rusty fuel lines, rusty fuel tank
> 	Timing Belt plus
> 		T-belt, seals, water pump, t-stat, pulley bearings
> 	Cooling System
> 		hoses, clamps, radiator core, t-stat, reservoir,
> 	Heater Core
> 		core, bleeding
>
> COMFORT
>
> 	AC
> 		hoses, compressor, evaporator, condenser,
> 		convert to R134A
> 	Heat
> 		blower motor, vent flaps, squealing fan-in-dash
> 	Seats
> 		seat heaters, comfort or sport, leather conditioning
> 	Audio
> 		stock or after-market,
> 		speakers, head unit, amp, i-pod/mp3
> 		
> PERFORMANCE
>
> 	Brakes
> 		brakes pads; G60, UFO, BIRA options; stock v SS hoses
> 	Suspension
> 		springs, camber plates, bushings, coil-overs
> 	Engine
> 		blueprint, port and polish, valves, cams;
> 		CIS, Motronic, 3rd-party ignitions;
> 		bore & stroke, RS2 upgrades, transplants
> 	Exhaust
> 		stock v after-market, mild v stainless steel, pipe size
> 	Wheels
> 		16-, 17-, 18+ inch wheels
> 	Tires
> 		performance, all-weather, or snow tires
> 	Lights
> 		DOT vs Euro e-code, fog lights, driving lights