All this ur-quattro talk, may as well throw in status report

[GaidosIII@aol.com]

 My ur-quattro project is moving right along if not a little slowly. When all
was said and done the manifold with all new studs cost me $709. The manifold
itself was $366 and the rest of the cost was the studs and gaskets.
 As I went with the OE manifold I am thinking of having it hot coated (Steve,
what's their web address again?). The company I emailed suggested this may be
a way to keep the new one from cracking.
 Speaking of the manifold, I've noted that there is a threaded hole in it for
some kind of fitting that the original did not have. The ID numbers are a
little different too and I am hoping perhaps it is an improved version that
won't be as prone to crack.
 I've removed four studs from the head so far and one was broken. By the
discoloration I'd say it's been broken for a while.
 When my buddy Ron the Audi master mechanic was over the other night. I asked
him why he didn't tell me it is such a pain in the ass to work on these cars.
He says "I don't know, are you having fun?". Yeah right! I asked Ron about
motor mounts and showed him the solids Carlsens sold me. He likes the solids
better and hasn't seen one fail. Ron made out pretty well for his time over
here. My wife made him two dozen cookies for his trouble. I don't if the
cookies are that good or if they're so good because my wife is such a fox.
It's one of those mysteries but if it gets Ron over here ....
 Today I'll finish pulling the studs. I'll also finish putting my instrument
panel together. The odometer stopped working and it is because the pin that
holds numbers slipped out of it's mounting. I've had the same problem with my
Scirocco odometer. While I have it a part I bought another flex circuit
because there is a lot of corrosion on the original. $64 at Carlsens. That
project is cluttering up my desk so that I can't sit here without reminding
myself to finish it.
 So basically I've got everything apart at this point. Now I can do the front
seals/coolant pump/timiing belt/idler without being too cramped. I am not too
excited about putting the manifold/turbo back together. The clearences are a
little tighter then my frustration level.
 It looks like I'll go with factory replacement struts. I'm not too happy with
that but there just doesn't appear to be any other option. I already have one
car I drive everyday that knocks my fillings loose so I want to keep the
quattro a softer ride. It really sucks I can't find something along the lines
of a Progas ro Turbogas but there just seem to be anything out there like it.
 In closing, I sure am looking forward to getting the car back on the road.
It's been up on stands for two months now!
Thanks
Anton