Automotive Interest

Explore my journey through my automotive hobby.

Growing up with my father as a mechanic inevitably got me into cars. Adding to the early on-set fascination, I watched him drag race as a child and I was brought up on a plethora of 99¢ Hot Wheels cars. Ultimately this has led to an attachment to the vehicles I have owned, driven, and worked on over the years.

I have enjoyed working on vehicles and have learned a lot from them in the process. I perform maintenance, repairs, and even some modifications to improve the look, feel, or performance of the machines. More recently, I purchased a 1990 Audi Coupe Quattro to restore, and it came in shambles.

In the process of restoration, I have learned a lot and used my skills as a mechanical engineering student in the process. I have modeled and printed different parts to replace aged, failing, or simply no longer available (NLA) parts, a term that is synonymous with vintage car ownership.

Below you can find links to separate writeups on my journey. Many of them will be about my new project Audi.

I don’t live where it’s stored and can only work on it weekends in which I travel back home from school. I bought it in a disheveled state and am trying to resurrect the 1/1700 Audi brought to the US. My current goal is to restore a car that was infested with mice, reeking of gear oil (which is the worst smell known to mankind), rotted and cut vacuum lines, motor barely running, no working gauges, and with about 10% of the remaining electronics functioning.

1990 Audi Coupe Quattro Project

Audi Coupe Quattro
Gauge Cluster Round 2
Gauge Cluster Round 2

Attempt at cluster repair for the second time with unfortunate findings.

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Struts, Suspension, and Brake Problems
Struts, Suspension, and Brake Problems

Strut cartridge replacement and closer inspection of the remaining suspension components.

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The First Real Engine Service
The First Real Engine Service

Timing and accessory belt service, replaced water pump, seals, and fixed engine timing after faulty part delays.

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Designing the Dash Vent and More Cleaning Up
Designing the Dash Vent and More Cleaning Up

Finally printing the 3D modeled piece and touching it up before installing two into the dashboard. Cleaning out auxiliary gauges, replacing the bulbs, and assessing dash damage.

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The Dreaded Heater Core
The Dreaded Heater Core

The heater core replacement in the car, the biggest pain of any repair I have ever done. Removal, restoration of the heater box, replacement.

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Gauge Cluster Repair?
Gauge Cluster Repair?

The first attempt at repairing the cluster where only the fuel gauge works. No lights, no on board computer, no clock, no temperature gauge, no tachometer, and a speedometer that shows 34 MPH at all times.

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Window Regulator Rebuilds
Window Regulator Rebuilds

Window regulator cable fix, motor salvaging, and window-door alignment.

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First Look
First Look

First look at the car and minor investigations. Replace cracked tail light, inspected some radio wiring, and found some mice and their doings.

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1990 Audi Coupe Quattro Restoration Models. All printed and in use currently.

  • Dash Vent

    This is a replacement dash vent for the defroster vents on the Coupe. The model was created off a partial vent that I had and images I found online of what it should look like.

  • Speaker Mount Adapter

    The factory Nokia speakers in the car connected via twist-on pegs that were molded into the speaker surround. This adapter bypasses the factory mount and mounts to the metal speaker support.

  • Power Connector Clip

    As with all of the 30+ year old plastic in the car, clips, in particular, like to snap. Therefore this left me with many loose power cables laying around without a lock to keep them in place, thus a replacement.