My A2 'blog'...
- Thread starter <tuffty/>
- Start date
Alan_uk
A2OC Donor
Hi. Just spent 1/2 hour or more going through this informative thread (mainly looking at the pics and captions). You're doing a superb job restoring this A2; it will be like new soon!
What's the state of the rear subframe? Judging by the pics of the underneath so far, it can't be a pretty sight. Have you plans to refurbish or replace? Sandblasting or electro-plating seem to be the main two refurb options.
Do keep photographing and posting your work
What's the state of the rear subframe? Judging by the pics of the underneath so far, it can't be a pretty sight. Have you plans to refurbish or replace? Sandblasting or electro-plating seem to be the main two refurb options.
Do keep photographing and posting your work
<tuffty/>
Member
Thanks mate... as she is the daily I won't be spending as much time etc on her as my S3 seems to demand but as a daily she ticks all the boxes so this sort of remedial work will continue...
The rear beam is a mess too tbh... along with the brakes and god knows what else under there... I plan to keep replacing stuff as and when I find suitable bits at the right prices so of course will update the thread as I go along...
If you like a good read and pictures then you should check out my S3 build thread
<tuffty/>
The rear beam is a mess too tbh... along with the brakes and god knows what else under there... I plan to keep replacing stuff as and when I find suitable bits at the right prices so of course will update the thread as I go along...
If you like a good read and pictures then you should check out my S3 build thread
<tuffty/>
Last edited:
<tuffty/>
Member
The old girl was due an oil change... I have been using fuelly to track the mileage since the day I got her in May last year... I have been changing the oil every 9-10k but tbh I think I will just do it every 6 months regardless of mileage as the engine always seems to be quieter on fresh stuff and with 175k on the clock and not to mention derv engines ability to turn fresh oil black seconds after starting the engine its got to be better in the long run...
While doing the oil and filter change I noticed it was a little sooty by the flexi... disappointing...
Cleaned it up, used some exhaust sealant and then a bit of heat wrap and a couple of clips to hold it all together until I can weld a new flexi in...
I did debate on making myself a new exhaust but the system itself is fine so a new flexi will give it a new lease of life...
Next thing was to change the fuel filter as these get mucky even after a short space of time... for whatever reason VAG decided to make the housing from plastic rather than the much easier to replace metal ones... and of course the inevitable happened!!... The bl**dy bleed fitting snapped off
This of course meant it leaks like a sieve... needed to do something until I could get a new housing ordered so tapped the inside of the broken piece with an M4 tap (just the right size)
Added an additional o-ring seal for the bleed cap to seal on... (not the smaller one in the middle of the larger o-ring... left the smaller one out as it wasn't needed)
Used a little sealant and screwed it all together... also trimmed the edges off the bleed cap as this prevents using a socket to remove the main cap... preferable over a spanner as it slips off easily...
Refitted with a new filter and so far so good... no leaks...
A new one will be ordered in the week... from what I can see its not going to be cheap though
Needs must etc...
<tuffty/>
While doing the oil and filter change I noticed it was a little sooty by the flexi... disappointing...
Cleaned it up, used some exhaust sealant and then a bit of heat wrap and a couple of clips to hold it all together until I can weld a new flexi in...
I did debate on making myself a new exhaust but the system itself is fine so a new flexi will give it a new lease of life...
Next thing was to change the fuel filter as these get mucky even after a short space of time... for whatever reason VAG decided to make the housing from plastic rather than the much easier to replace metal ones... and of course the inevitable happened!!... The bl**dy bleed fitting snapped off
This of course meant it leaks like a sieve... needed to do something until I could get a new housing ordered so tapped the inside of the broken piece with an M4 tap (just the right size)
Added an additional o-ring seal for the bleed cap to seal on... (not the smaller one in the middle of the larger o-ring... left the smaller one out as it wasn't needed)
Used a little sealant and screwed it all together... also trimmed the edges off the bleed cap as this prevents using a socket to remove the main cap... preferable over a spanner as it slips off easily...
Refitted with a new filter and so far so good... no leaks...
A new one will be ordered in the week... from what I can see its not going to be cheap though
Needs must etc...
<tuffty/>
Last edited:
<tuffty/>
Member
Got hold of a housing from my man at TPS...
Didn't realise but it came with a filter... the one I just used was just under £20 trade!... so reused that and kept the new one for the next change
Next job was to file flats on the bleed screw so I could get a socket on without ever having to remove it again...
Removing the old one proved challenging... it slides into a bracket and then secured with a screw but while the screw came out fine it looks like corrosion was preventing the housing from sliding out... I even tried a slide hammer to try and shock it loose but in the end destroying it won
Removed the bracket to clean it up...
Swapped the hoses over... and despite my best efforts I was covered in diesel fuel which just stinks quite frankly!
Put it all back and job done... phew!
I also treated her to a winter protection detail and good old clean as she rarely gets washed bless her...
Scrubs up ok for an old un'... which is more that can be said for her owner lol
<tuffty/>
Didn't realise but it came with a filter... the one I just used was just under £20 trade!... so reused that and kept the new one for the next change
Next job was to file flats on the bleed screw so I could get a socket on without ever having to remove it again...
Removing the old one proved challenging... it slides into a bracket and then secured with a screw but while the screw came out fine it looks like corrosion was preventing the housing from sliding out... I even tried a slide hammer to try and shock it loose but in the end destroying it won
Removed the bracket to clean it up...
Swapped the hoses over... and despite my best efforts I was covered in diesel fuel which just stinks quite frankly!
Put it all back and job done... phew!
I also treated her to a winter protection detail and good old clean as she rarely gets washed bless her...
Scrubs up ok for an old un'... which is more that can be said for her owner lol
<tuffty/>
Last edited:
<tuffty/>
Member
Been a while since I had a worthy update as to be fair the A2 has been doing what she does best and just working
I finally got around to sorting the flexi out on the exhaust...
I cut the exhaust so I could remove the front section...
Downpipe off and new flexi
I cut the old flexi off then refitted the DP and cat section so I could tack the flexi in place to weld...
Seems I made a slight miscalculation on the size as I measured the main exhaust to get the size... turns out the downpipe is a smaller diameter...
So after a bit of fettling....
New gasket for the turbo/downpipe and an exhaust sleeve from GSF to join the exhaust back together...
While underneath the car I found why I had an advisory that the handbrake lever had excessive movement
So thats a job for a later post
<tuffty/>
I finally got around to sorting the flexi out on the exhaust...
I cut the exhaust so I could remove the front section...
Downpipe off and new flexi
I cut the old flexi off then refitted the DP and cat section so I could tack the flexi in place to weld...
Seems I made a slight miscalculation on the size as I measured the main exhaust to get the size... turns out the downpipe is a smaller diameter...
So after a bit of fettling....
New gasket for the turbo/downpipe and an exhaust sleeve from GSF to join the exhaust back together...
While underneath the car I found why I had an advisory that the handbrake lever had excessive movement
So thats a job for a later post
<tuffty/>
Last edited:
<tuffty/>
Member
....so next up... I eventually succumbed to the blight of our highways... a pothole!
Two new tyres later and all is good but I did report it and have a claim form to fill out
While replacing the tyres I noticed the front brakes were looking a little tired and seeing as GSF were having a 40% off weekend I got some new brakes...
Old ones were pretty past it...
...pads were pretty shot too...
New pads and disks fitted
Another job off the list
Next on the list will be to replace the rear brakes and hand brake cable... I have all the parts, just waiting on a ramp to be car free on a sunday so I can get it sorted
<tuffty/>
Two new tyres later and all is good but I did report it and have a claim form to fill out
While replacing the tyres I noticed the front brakes were looking a little tired and seeing as GSF were having a 40% off weekend I got some new brakes...
Old ones were pretty past it...
...pads were pretty shot too...
New pads and disks fitted
Another job off the list
Next on the list will be to replace the rear brakes and hand brake cable... I have all the parts, just waiting on a ramp to be car free on a sunday so I can get it sorted
<tuffty/>
Last edited:
<tuffty/>
Member
Nothing mechanical but I was out taking pictures of the full moon tonight and grabbed this shot while playing with camera settings for starry sky shots...
ISO 1000, 10mm, f4.5, 10sec
...I also got a shot of the moon
ISO 100, 800mm, f11, 1/160sec
...which is quite tricky as its very bright and detail is a nightmare to capture
<tuffty/>
ISO 1000, 10mm, f4.5, 10sec
...I also got a shot of the moon
ISO 100, 800mm, f11, 1/160sec
...which is quite tricky as its very bright and detail is a nightmare to capture
<tuffty/>
Last edited:
<tuffty/>
Member
That's beautiful .
The A2 looks like it's in a hall of mirrors though
Thanks... the joys of shooting at 10mm lol... not far off a fish eye lens at that point..
Was more an exercise for settings than composure... I probably would have shot at 18mm or used my 24mm in reality but the night sky was so bright from the full moon these type of shots are tricky at best... could almost pass for a sunny day if it weren't for the stars in the sky lol
<tuffty/>
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
Taking shots like this is far more technical than most people would imagine.
Getting the exposure (ISO, shutter duration and aperture) right is no mean feat.
Loving the shot of the moon too, the detail is great.
Hats off to you.
Massive swerve here though.
The moon!
Plenty of people doubt that man ever walked on the moon, with the lenses and telescopes we have, surely there is visual evidence that could be picked up by long lenses, telescopes etc.? After all a module blasted off from the moon, lunar rovers were used (and are still there?
Any scientists on here? Are the lenses / telescopes we have not capable of doing this at all.
If that isn't possible surely any probes we send out could get close enough to the moon to photograph the surface in sufficient detail?
Steve B
Getting the exposure (ISO, shutter duration and aperture) right is no mean feat.
Loving the shot of the moon too, the detail is great.
Hats off to you.
Massive swerve here though.
The moon!
Plenty of people doubt that man ever walked on the moon, with the lenses and telescopes we have, surely there is visual evidence that could be picked up by long lenses, telescopes etc.? After all a module blasted off from the moon, lunar rovers were used (and are still there?
Any scientists on here? Are the lenses / telescopes we have not capable of doing this at all.
If that isn't possible surely any probes we send out could get close enough to the moon to photograph the surface in sufficient detail?
Steve B
Last edited:
<tuffty/>
Member
Thanks Steve....
Shooting manual was a bit alien to me as I use shutter priority for the subject matter I normally shoot (motorsport) and aperture priority for most everything else
Getting more comfortable with it now and last night was another learning exercise... really difficult to find somewhere thats dark enough to take pictures of the stars without having to travel some distance so that will be something I will be doing later in the year I hope... (brecon beacons is the closest place to me)
As for seeing objects on the moon unfortunately this is not currently possible from Earth... good article here...
http://www.telescopes.com/blogs/hel...2-can-you-see-objects-left-behind-on-the-moon
I use a Canon 100-400 L lens and a 2x teleconverter to get 800mm focal length... beyond this its £8k lens setups or a couple of grand on a telescope and tracking kit... astrophotography can get quite expensive especially for taking pics of deep sky objects...
I have bought a Canon 2x teleconverter now to replace the Sigma one I currently use as this should hopefully improve the detail as I know I can get it better with a bit of tweaking in technique etc...
This is one I took recently with the same 100-400L lens and the 1.4x tc... better detail but huge crop on the image...
..and one during the day
Its a bit of a passion of mine lol... but I use it as a way of improving my knowledge and technique as the moon can be quite a challenge to photograph well
I plan to take some shots like the one of the A2 where the milkyway is visible in the sky but that requires a pitch black location with next to no light pollution so its more challenging to find the location in the UK than to take the actual shot lol
This was a test shot from a darker night taken in the same location as the one I took of the A2...
<tuffty/>
Last edited:
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
They are amazing pictures and the moon when you see it close up is really fascinating.
Our own view of the moon leaves out so much detail that it is more difficult to really understand it and how it has eveolved.
Well done, these images are fintastic and getting a decent image of the stars and night sky takes a lot to achieve, the contrast is not as much as people imagine and so once again, well done, please keep it up.
Perhaps we need a "Photography" section / thread in the "relaxation room"?
Steve B
Our own view of the moon leaves out so much detail that it is more difficult to really understand it and how it has eveolved.
Well done, these images are fintastic and getting a decent image of the stars and night sky takes a lot to achieve, the contrast is not as much as people imagine and so once again, well done, please keep it up.
Perhaps we need a "Photography" section / thread in the "relaxation room"?
Steve B
<tuffty/>
Member
Ok... last moon pic on this thread I promise then I'll get back to doing things with the car lol
My new teleconverter (Canon call them extenders) arrived today so was rude not too...
ISO 100, F16, 800mm, 1/50sec
Bit more detail this time so happier with this shot...
<tuffty/>
My new teleconverter (Canon call them extenders) arrived today so was rude not too...
ISO 100, F16, 800mm, 1/50sec
Bit more detail this time so happier with this shot...
<tuffty/>
Last edited:
Crazylegs
Member
Wow superb moon shots there Tufty
I am very jealous of the kit and lenses
As for the exposure surely your Canon has live view like mine does!
I get great pics using it in live view mode..
Now I know why your pics on the blog are so good, knew you had to be into photography somehow...Would be great to meet up with someone else on the forum who actually has an interest in photography, I used to shoot semi years ago..Its just hobby now though and a Mirror-less Canon
Keep on posting mate..Lovin the L lens!
I am very jealous of the kit and lenses
As for the exposure surely your Canon has live view like mine does!
I get great pics using it in live view mode..
Now I know why your pics on the blog are so good, knew you had to be into photography somehow...Would be great to meet up with someone else on the forum who actually has an interest in photography, I used to shoot semi years ago..Its just hobby now though and a Mirror-less Canon
Keep on posting mate..Lovin the L lens!
Last edited:
<tuffty/>, You have only made 108 posts, but they are so informative and with such superb photography, I've just got to say a big "thank-you" for your contribution to this club! How I wish that you were nearer to me so that I could meet you in person! You make any job on the Audi A2 look so easy! If you're ever over here in North Wales, then there's a warm welcome at my home!
David
David