Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » A2 Jetta Helios
  • John Brown

    Oct. 20, 2008 9:04 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

    So i fell into a 1989 Jetta GLI 16V Helios with a bad distributor for cheap. Put in a used dizzy that was out in the shop and drove it home. The Helios wheels are there, the Recaros are awesome. It ic rusty but it runs pretty well.

    I will be needing the following if anyone has any:

    • Shocks and struts (will consider springs if someone has a cheap complete set)

    • Short shifter or a way to make the shifter throw less than 3 feet?

    • Any other suggestions on on what makes a rusty VW better.

  • d_jabsd

    Oct. 20, 2008 9:40 a.m. d_jabsd Reader

    Its not really rust- VW engineered naturally occurring speed holes into these cars. Over time, the car will get faster and faster.

  • John Brown

    Oct. 20, 2008 9:45 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

    This morning I considered calling the car the "pantleg moisturizer".

    1990 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix... Yes, I am an idiot.

  • DirtyBird222

    Oct. 20, 2008 9:49 a.m. DirtyBird222 HalfDork

    this thread is worthless without pics.

  • Treb

    Oct. 20, 2008 11:17 a.m. Treb New Reader

    http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2471732

    And there are some Konis for sale in the $2008 classifieds right now -- double check the part #s, but I think Koni lists the same pieces for A2 and A3 cars.

    Matt

  • John Brown

    Oct. 20, 2008 11:46 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

    DirtyBird222 wrote: this thread is worthless without pics.

    Working on them. It was late when we got home last night.

    Probably tonight and tuesday night before I can snap a few nice ones.

    1990 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix... Yes, I am an idiot.

  • DirtyBird222

    Oct. 20, 2008 1:45 p.m. DirtyBird222 HalfDork

    nice, im starting to fall for VWs for some reason, even with all their damned socialists ties. I am just scared to buy a newer one for a dd b/c of reliability issues and the location of the damn oil filters.

  • VWguyBruce

    Oct. 20, 2008 6:03 p.m. VWguyBruce Reader

    Nice score on the Helios. It's worth a bundle if you ever want to part it out. The Vortex loves the Helios.

    I have some stock struts, a ghetto short shift bracket, weighted shift rod from A3, decent strut bearings, and probably all the new parts to rebuild the shift linkage I'll sell you cheap. This stuff is just taking up space in my garage.

    Much of this applies, disregard 8V portion: Definitive Cheap @$$ Buildup on the Vortex

    Short Shift: Shifter DIY

    I miss my Dork status.

  • fifty

    Oct. 20, 2008 6:56 p.m. fifty New Reader

    Should the short throw replacement be shorter, or longer? If it's longer, why not just bolt / weld a new piece to the old one to lenghten it?

  • Treb

    Oct. 20, 2008 7:03 p.m. Treb New Reader

    Longer.

    In the one I posted above, they cut a stock lever and welded 1" or so into the middle.

  • ignorant

    Oct. 20, 2008 8:04 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

    VWguyBruce wrote: Much of this applies, disregard 8V portion: Definitive Cheap @$$ Buildup on the Vortex

    Ok.. this was cool.. until

    whoretex said:The Tornado Fuel Saver will add power!!!!!!!! The tornado works on the priciple that it will pull air into the motor, kinda like adding a very small turbo. At top end, it will add about 1 to 2 psi.

    after i mentally blocked that part of the thread.. I was OK.

    no meat man? Damn!

  • JohnW

    Oct. 20, 2008 8:57 p.m. JohnW New Reader

    I have a set of Konis and Neuspeed sport springs I'll consider parting with for $325 + shipping.

    Nice score on the Helios. Even if there's too much rust, you will make your money back on the recaros and BBS wheels.

    It's also one of my favorite VWs ... ever.

  • AngryCorvair

    Oct. 20, 2008 10:10 p.m. AngryCorvair Dork

    if you part it, i'd maybe like to trade you something for those Recaros. they'd go into the $2009 V8 944, if that helps your decision any....

  • RXBeetle

    Oct. 20, 2008 10:38 p.m. RXBeetle New Reader

    I don't know if they swap but I have a full set of G60 Corrado springs I would let go for GRM friendly pricing. and I second the demand for pics!

  • VWguyBruce

    Oct. 21, 2008 7:40 a.m. VWguyBruce Reader

    I learned early on that everything on the Vortex must be filtered with scientific reason. Should've mentioned, consider everything you read suspect until you have proven otherwise with regard to the Vortex. Some good stuff in that post though.

    ignorant wrote:
    VWguyBruce wrote: Much of this applies, disregard 8V portion: Definitive Cheap @$$ Buildup on the Vortex
    Ok.. this was cool.. until
    whoretex said:The Tornado Fuel Saver will add power!!!!!!!! The tornado works on the priciple that it will pull air into the motor, kinda like adding a very small turbo. At top end, it will add about 1 to 2 psi.
    after i mentally blocked that part of the thread.. I was OK.

    I miss my Dork status.

  • ignorant

    Oct. 21, 2008 7:49 a.m. ignorant SuperDork

    VWguyBruce wrote: Some good stuff in that post though.

    indeed. that is a great post. It is amazing what you can do with some junk yard diving..

    no meat man? Damn!

  • JmfnB

    Oct. 24, 2008 7:33 a.m. JmfnB SuperDork

    Since I am going to keep HelBoy for a while I want to make it less... well sucky.

    Looking for a grille, lamps and front bumper from an A2 GTI like the ones on ken83gti's car below

    From HelBoy

    Looking for a set of good used 195/50r15s for the BBS wheels.

    Looking for a RF door speaker cover.

    Looking for a rust free LR door. Prefer helios blue but since I found three for $75.00 I am not going to be too choosy.

    I am still interested in the springs and the bundle of stuff we have talked about previously.

    From HelBoy

    From HelBoy

    From HelBoy

    From HelBoy

    1990 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix... Yes, I am an idiot.

  • jwc38

    Oct. 24, 2008 10:08 a.m. jwc38 New Reader

    might be a little late on this one, don't buy a short throw just flatten out the stock piece in a vice and drill a few holes in it, we did this on our BABE car, the front back throw could be adjusted from normal to short to retarded by moving the bushing and rod to another hole grab and extra one from a junk yard though, the guy at the register had no idea what it was and told me to just take it.

  • 16vCorey

    Oct. 24, 2008 10:30 a.m. 16vCorey Dork

    I've got a rear big bumper for a Jetta that you can have super cheap.

  • ignorant

    Oct. 24, 2008 10:41 a.m. ignorant SuperDork

    Ok.. so what is the deal with Helios anyway.. Vortex seems to love them. Is it just a rare color or trim level?

    I've worked on a gti rally car but am fairly VW illiterate.

    no meat man? Damn!

  • JmfnB

    Oct. 24, 2008 11:24 a.m. JmfnB SuperDork

    The Helios Jetta was a limited edition 1500 car build with a custom blue color, a GLI 16V engine, a close ratio GTI transmission, custom painted blue BBS 15" wheels and Recaro seats.

    1990 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix... Yes, I am an idiot.

  • 16vCorey

    Oct. 24, 2008 11:29 a.m. 16vCorey Dork

    Yep, basically just a blue GLI with color matched wheels.

  • Oct. 24, 2008 12:17 p.m. RoadWarrior New Reader

    I got a set of 4 rot free A2 doors at my hosue, and a set of strut tower braces, and a ghetto A2 GTI grille if you'r ein the market.... Too bad you aren't closer to MA...I even got 2 sets of wheels with 3 good 195 14's on em.

  • fornetti14

    Oct. 24, 2008 8:20 p.m. fornetti14 New Reader

    The local VW forum should help:

    www.michiganvw.org

    Lot's of nice people on there and I've picked up a ton of stuff for my Rabbit over the last few years. PM or email me if you want to sell the whole thing.

    '83 Rabbit GTI - SCCA ITB

  • ignorant

    Oct. 24, 2008 8:50 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

    16vCorey wrote: Yep, basically just a blue GLI with color matched wheels.

    understand.

    no meat man? Damn!

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