O2J SPEED SENSOR WIRING INSTALL

Prior to the paintjob the plan was always to 20vt the build, but as time ticked by it became clear that the Mk3 2.0 ABF route was more in keeping with the retro vibes team AF were pursuing. “We always spend time focusing on the smallest details for these builds, but cleaning and restoring can only go so far if the parts are missing altogether, Heritage were absolute lifesavers,” Matt rationalised. Despite having a large stash of OE parts hoarded away in boxes, the Heritage crew helped resurrect V2 from the dead by supplying the rest. “As with any resto it’s the bits you’ve lost along the way that are always the most difficult to replace,” says Matt, and with a serious lack of clips, bolts, catches, latches, seals and belts to make it roadworthy there was only one place to turn. Naturally those luscious hoops are mounted on PCD adapters to allow for a millimetre perfect arch, lip and face ratio when the compressed air leaves the system.

While they were at it the arches were also rolled to allow for the wider lips of a set of stunning BBS E50 Porsche fitment wheels in 7- and 8×17” dimensions – cheekily rebuilt with a reverse mount face up front and a standard fitment rear setup. The lower chassis legs at the front were also notched out to allow for driveshaft clearance to permit the perfect drop when those sills seek the tarmac. “The truck had already been on the receiving end of NOS wings, bonnet, tailgate and pickup bed, so it didn’t need a lot of welding or bodywork as such,” says Matt, “it was remarkably solid to be fair, but we had to switch out the rear leaf springs for a bolt on Eurowise four link back axle setup to accommodate the Air Lift bags and separate KYB shocks.” Luckily Stuart had a massive shed in which to carry out the paintjob, but before that could happen most of this bagged VW Caddy, V2, was dry built by Matt to ensure everything bolted up correctly, leaving nothing to chance – the same ‘built in a barn ethos’ that underpins the famous R32 Auto Finesse VW Caddy still rings true with this substantial resto. “We’d had this white Caddy ‘shell kicking around in the yard for a while,” says Auto Finesse primo mechanic, Matt Waldock, “It didn’t really pick up any pace until the start of Lockdown when one of James Batty’s (head honcho at AF) pals volunteered to spray the truck to keep him busy while everyone was locked away and staying at home. For many, that roarty 16v remains the perfect swap for the Mk1 chassis, and who can blame them?Īnyway, we’re getting ahead of ourselves here, let’s rewind to pre COVID times when life was more sociable. Add the cacophony of open trumpets to that mix using some thoroughly modern tech to govern the ignition and the fuel delivery, with an aesthetic nod to retro carbs of old, and the overall recipe is one of utter old school perfection.

O2J SPEED SENSOR WIRING INSTALL

Sure, it might not necessarily make all the ponies or generate the same amount of twisting torque as VWs new-age offerings, but for relative simplicity, ease of install and that all-important 7500rpm redline the good ol’ ABF lump remains a no-brainer. We know that for the purists there’s nothing more invigorating than the off-beat, high RPM intake growl of some open trumpets in the morning. No matter what happens with more contemporary turbocharged and bigger capacity, multi cylinder VW engines the trusty ol’ valver can still be relied upon to dish up the goods when it comes to period correct induction roar. There’s something so simple, so raw and just so god-damn-right about a Mk1 bonnet with a snarling valver lurking beneath it. Yep, Auto Finesse definitely has Caddy issues… as V2 of the AF truck fetish continues to evolve with this bagged VW Caddy.įeature from Performance VW. A ‘simple’ lockdown project that seems to have spiralled out of control.

O2j speed sensor wiring