Alternator, Bracket, and Compressor: No Disasemble? Yes Disasemble!

The 86 has been here for a week and a day. I don't think I will be able to work on weekdays. The paying job has been pretty trying and the hours it takes (including the commute) have been a little long.
So Saturday is the first chance I get to work under a Sun and despite the snow and cold I work determinedly. I will get the alternator bracket out! I will overcome!

Actually I almost gave up a couple times. The bracket was stuck and things were just not moving. After taking the nut off the alternator bracket, the hinge bolt would not budge, the bracket would not swing. The reason as I found out was that one of the bolts that had come loose from it's job of mounting the compressor pump had fallen down into the "hinge" pinning it tight so it could not swing. I was able to tap it out with hammer and punch, and by monkeying the compressor pump out of the way after being able to move the bracket (and hopefully not compromising it's seal) I was able to get a brass hammer and punch to tap out bolt holding the bracket in.
Whew, that was a bunch.

I also found that the 2 wires into the compressor were mashed and either cut or short circuited. Maybee that is why the air conditioning doesn't work. The two bolts that the compressor hinge on for tensioning were missing, and the compressor wedged itself down into the "V" between the brackets, the wires never had a change and were massed in the mess and miles of vibration.

The first job is to get that bracket welded and back into the 86.

 
 
 
  

  

No It Really IS Free!

I have started this to chronicle the time spent on restoring a Classic VW 1986 , Diesel Golf. By restoring I mean chopping, cutting, welding, breaking, fixing, by whatever least expensive method that will get me by on keeping it running, and if that doesn't work, convert it into parts for use on other projects.

My friend Pete actually GAVE me the Golf, yeah, I know, he must be crazy. I don't think he is though. I suspect all the problems he has had with it, and the fact that he was getting a new vehicle have conspired to make him blind to what a great car it is. I suppose he could have sold it, but I had been working on him to give it to me, plus most buyers would be too unsophisticated to see what a great car it is. It probably also helped that most people would not be able to see past the minor holes and malfunctions even if they could appreciate the car itself.

Overall it is in pretty good condition, all things considered. With only half a dozen holes in the body. Good news is that they are not immediately life threatening, either structurally or by carbon monoxide! I did take a brief peek underneath and nothing was immediately scarry.

Well, enough of that for now. There is alot more to tell I am sure!