Passat W8 Silliness and My Favorite Gambler Build Yet!

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
09/10/2020 at 17:17 • Filed to: gambler 500, W8

The next week is going to be quite busy. With another successful motorcycle flip in the bag and another unwanted vehicle being sent to a new home, my girlfriend and I have decided to do a “safari” build on a [redacted] for the Tennessee Gambler 500.

I’m keeping this one a surprise until it’s finished as when I’m done it’ll probably be the best and most gratifying wrenching I’ve ever done on any vehicle. I rarely can’t wait to work on something but this is something I can’t wait to work on!

The goal is to one-up my 2019 showing at the TN Gambler, where I got a “LEJUND” ring for taking a mostly stock smart places nobody expected it to go.

Lift kit will be handled by some hockey pucks to make a spacer lift kit. The only lift kit on the market for this vehicle is a poly spacer kit, so I’m just cutting out the middleman for a massive cut in price. From what I can see, it’ll take roughly a couple hours to raise the [redacted] 2 inches on both ends. The harder part is the front end, where one of the springs has broken and will need replacement. Still, shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll then source some large tires to fit.

Interior will have some 16 feet of RGB lighting, which I’ll probably install this weekend. I also have a cheap clone of a Toyota inclinometer just asking to be placed in/on the vehicle.

Roof rack towers and crossbars have been ordered. Front end will get a winch appropriate for its size.

And somewhere towards the end we’ll give the vehicle a fake racing livery. It’s blue so maaaaybe Gulf-inspired? This one’s definitely a keeper. Far fewer miles than my [redacted] with a TON more features! It was the cheapest running one in the nation and we somehow beat out people from PA and NYC to get it. Weirdly, it has some rust in an area I thought to be impossible to rust, so I’m definitely going to fix that.

Then after the TN Gambler we’ll be doing a similar thing to her Camry to prep it for the IL October Gambler...should COVID not cancel it again.

Meanwhile, my girlfriend tried to surprise me with helping me restore the W8...only to amusingly discover that most shops refuse to touch it due to rarity and others made up an arbitrarily high price to do something as simple as replace the sunroof glass. $4k for new glass? Nah man, I’ll just go to the junkyard and spend like $20. Can’t wait for my first job requiring removal of the front end, which *checks notes* includes bulb changes.

I knew what I was getting into with the W8, but she’s just now discovering this is no regular Passat! Well, the sunroof is regular Passat, but not what sits in front of the pedals! Ha.

DISCUSSION (7)

Jb boin > Mercedes Streeter
09/10/2020 at 17:25

This Smart move... was that a smart move ?

dogisbadob > Mercedes Streeter
09/10/2020 at 17:44

I heard the W8 timing chain redefines halloween :p

Mercedes Streeter > dogisbadob
09/10/2020 at 17:49

OH GOD I’m so glad the timing chain was recently done on mine. I can see why these old crazy VWs aren’t worth a whole lot of coin. lol

A W12 Phaeton remains on my bucket list for vehicles that can threaten to bankrupt me.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Mercedes Streeter
09/10/2020 at 20:51

The good news is that I’ve replaced bulbs on a B5.5 Passat without dropping the front end. But it wasn’t a W8. They can’t be that different, right???

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Mercedes Streeter
09/10/2020 at 21:58

Only one crap lift kit available and no rust except in an odd place? It’s a Toyota MR2 Spyder. No idea why, but you can mail me my prize.

Stef Schrader > Mercedes Streeter
09/11/2020 at 04:14

Oh dang, t hey announced a Gambler down here around the Big Bend area and I need to do it. I think it may finally be time to put the 411 back together and go.

Can’t wait to see the Gambler build. Holy crap, I gotta do another one.

dieseldub > Mercedes Streeter
09/13/2020 at 15:10

You sound like me now.

Need a W8 manual wagon and a W12 Phaeton to go with the V10 TDI Touareg.

What the hell is wrong with us?