Where things stand right now.
The wagon is not finished.
That's probably obvious.
Some things work better than they did when I brought it home. Some things still need attention. Some things looked fine until I started working on them.
This page is a snapshot of where the project stands today.
As the wagon changes, this page will too.
Progress is progress.
🟢 Interior
Some of the biggest improvements so far have happened inside the wagon.
- Sagging headliner repaired
- Power locks working again
- Interior cleanup underway
- Instrument cluster partially sorted
- Most interior trim still present
The wagon feels much better inside than it did when it arrived.
🟡 Electrical
Some wins. Some mysteries.
- Disconnected dash harness discovered
- Dash troubleshooting underway
- Lighting issues partially identified
- Future LED conversion planned
Like most old cars, every answer seems to create another question.
The current project list.
🔴 Cooling System
Current highest priority.
- Overheating concerns
- Cooling system inspection
- Thermostat evaluation
- Fan operation verification
- Head gasket monitoring
This is the area I am taking most seriously right now.
🟡 Paint & Body
- Orange peel correction
- Primer burn-through repair
- Mystery roof bondo investigation
- Continued sanding
- Bodywork assessment
The paint project turned into something much bigger than expected.
🟡 Suspension
- Coil spring spacer experiment
- Rear shock research
- Ride quality improvements
The wagon currently drives more like a boat than I would prefer.
🟡 Engine Bay
- Vacuum line evaluation
- Previous-owner repairs assessment
- General cleanup
- Continued troubleshooting
The deeper I look, the more stories I find.
The wagon keeps revealing itself.
Instrument Cluster Harness
An entire disconnected wiring harness was hiding behind the dash.
Finding it answered some questions and created several new ones.
Mystery Roof Bondo
While sanding the roof, I discovered a large amount of body filler underneath the paint.
I still don't know the full story.
Previous Repairs
The deeper I dig into the wagon, the more evidence I find that previous owners had their own unique repair strategies.
Every Project Expands
Almost every repair has uncovered another repair hiding underneath it.
Small victories count.
Paint Mistake Recovery
The article where I discovered the paint situation was much worse than expected.
Read Repair →The current plan.
- Cooling system diagnosis
- Suspension improvements
- Continue paint preparation
- Speaker grille restoration
- Dash lighting upgrades
- More driving, less diagnosing
Keep exploring.
What I Didn't Expect After Buying This Wagon
The surprises, discoveries, and lessons so far.
Read Story →2.2 Turbo Survival Guide
Everything I've learned about keeping one of these weird wagons alive.
Read Guide →