Filmed And Edited by Ron Gold @rongoldx
Photography by @__chash__
Early Westmoreland VW Mk1 Perfect patina car, done by enthusiasts, keeping oldskool performance alive. The end, is a true, and moving story.
Don’t hesitate to tag us in your #perfectpatina
#Volkswagen #oldschool #rabbit #PATINAHANDLE
New product release!
These BMW quick-change axle adapters are now available during our 90 days pre-order. Designed for all medium case BMW 86mm axles, they allow you to adapt your quickchange 930-flanges while reusing your OEM axles saving you from needing expensive custom axles when converting to a quickchange setup.
Let us know which chassis you’d like to see quick-change mounts and axle adapters developed for next!
For the past few weeks, Fred has been on the road making the journey back from California with his newly acquired MK1 pickup.
On April 26th, Fred and Gabriel flew out to @tomassporttuning and began a 5-day swap challenge to turn this rolling shell pickup into a properly functioning vehicle capable of driving over 5,000 miles back home. After running into multiple surprises including body harness wiring issues and a donor engine harness that had been cut apart at the junkyard, they were still able to get the pickup running and road-ready with the help of the TST crew!
On May 3rd, Gabriel was dropped off at LAX to head back to work at the shop while Fred continued the journey home solo. We’ve been posting daily videos whenever possible to document the trip and show everyone just how solid this swap setup really is!
Is a 1.4T swap something you’d put in your own MK1?
Day fifteen of the 5,000 mile 1.4T swap road trip adventure!
After getting towed to his hotel in Helen, Georgia for AVF, Fred was able to source a new Bosch 044 fuel pump from the local AutoZone. Thanks to the amazing people in the community, Paul gave Fred a ride to pick up the new pump!
With minimal tools and low quality gloves, Fred swapped the fuel pump in the hotel parking lot in no time, even with the wiring differences between the old and new pump. After removing the old pump, we believe the failure was caused by low quality fuel line hoses. It appears that rubber particles made their way into the pump and caused it to seize.
With the new pump installed and no leaks in sight, the pickup is ready to hit the road once again! Still running the old fuel line for now, let’s hope Fred makes it home safely!
Let us know if you’re attending AVF this year, and make sure to check out the pickup in person!
Day fourteen of the 5,000 mile 1.4T swap road trip adventure!
After a quick sleepover in Little Rock, Arkansas, Fred hit the road once again, this time heading toward Helen, Georgia for the Alpine Volks Fair. Unfortunately, less than 20 minutes away from arrival, the fuel pump finally gave up.
A few days ago the pump had shown signs of a possible failure, but after several more hours of trouble-free driving, we assumed it may have just been fuel debris causing the issue. Although this replica 044 fuel pump survived many hours of driving without the PWM, this situation proves how important proper components really are. With a genuine brand name fuel pump and a functioning PWM setup, we believe this issue could have been avoided entirely.
After a AAA tow into town, Fred is now on the hunt for a replacement pump in hopes of making it to the show this week. Do you think he’ll be able to make it happen?
Day twelve + thirteen of the 5,000 mile 1.4T swap road trip adventure!
Two more uneventful days on the road! Both the drive to Fort Collins and into Kansas went smoothly without any hiccups. With average driving days ranging from 8 to 10 hours at 80–85 mph, Fred is covering some serious ground every day.
Friday night was the @_vancafe_ meet and greet, which was covered by the Van Cafe team. Once we receive the event coverage, we’ll be sure to share it with everyone!
After staying at a rather noisy @airbnb in a trailer park area, Fred is now heading toward Little Rock, Arkansas before making his way to Helen, Georgia for a Volkswagen meet where he’s excited to connect with more people from the community.
To close this one off, Fred has a message for everyone: drive your cars! Finish the build, take the road trip you’ve always dreamed about, and enjoy it while you can!
Day eleven of the 5,000 mile 1.4T swap road trip adventure!
Fred arrived in Fort Collins after a long and uneventful drive, definitely something worth celebrating after yesterday’s fuel pump scare.
With green trees and open plains now in view, the change in climate is a refreshing contrast to the deserts and snowy mountains from earlier in the trip, bringing Fred one step closer to the familiar Canadian landscape. Eager for the Van Cafe meet and greet, Fred can’t wait to meet you all!
A special shoutout also goes to @chris_has_a_mk1 for inspiring Fred to take this adventure seriously and see it all the way through!
Day ten of the 5,000 mile 1.4T swap road trip adventure!
Lots of driving done by Fred! Traveling from California to Nevada to Arizona, then stopping to sleep in Utah before heading toward Colorado for the @_vancafe_ meet.
After a fuel stop in Vegas, the truck encountered a low-pressure fuel pump issue that left Fred stranded on the side of the highway for a bit. We’re not sure if it was a fuel pump malfunction or debris in the fuel causing the issue, but thankfully the truck was able to make it to the next @airbnb .
This road trip has been the perfect test for our 1.4T swap kit, and we’ll reassess the fuel pump options if this issue comes up again. We also noticed that in high ambient temperatures, running only a reservoir for the water-to-air cooler is not recommended if you’re trying to maintain good IATs.
If you’re near Fort Collins and want to check out the 1.4T swap and meet Fred, make sure to swing by @_vancafe_ between 4:30–6:30 PM MDT!
Friday, May 8th, Fred will be with the 1.4T swapped pickup at @_vancafe_ for a meet and greet from 4:30–6:30 PM MDT!
This collaboration event is just the beginning of TECH53’s presence in the VW van community! With plans to release a 1.4T swap kit solution for VW vans in 2026, our goal is to bring new life to these vintage vans with reliable daily driving and road trip performance.
If you are near Fort Collins, Colorado, this is the perfect opportunity to meet Fred, ask questions, and check out the pickup in person. Whether you are into old VW vehicles or planning your own project, Fred will be happy to chat, share his experience and help point you in the right direction!
Day nine of the 5,000 mile 1.4T swap road trip adventure!
This marked Fred’s last day in California. With so much to do and so many people to meet, his stay went by fast.
Before hitting the road toward Cedar City, Utah, he stopped by @fontana_motorsports to meet Rory, the owner, along with @oxtaco , who fabricated his own Renault Dauphine featuring a carbon widebody and a supercharged VR6 powerplant. Let’s just say the build is pretty amazing.
Despite a few small issues with the pickup, it still isn’t running at its full potential but it continues to carry Fred across the country!
Friday, Fred should be at @_vancafe_ in Fort Collins for a get-together organized by Mike, so if you’re in the area, make sure to stop by and say hi!
Next week, he should be in Helen, Georgia for a couple of days, so if you’re from the area, know any shops he should visit, or just want to link up, make sure to let us know!
