1980 2Door Rabbit Diesel C White on Lipstick Red
Posted: Feb Sun 24, 2013 10:16 am
Hello, I enjoy this site..even though I dont post much.
I need this like I need a hole in my head. But the price was too good to be true.
Cliffs:
Found for sale on a Minot local car forum
Went to look at it, couldn't believe my eyes at the condition it was in. Kept poker face
The only story I got was the mileage is true.
(can anyone run the VIN?)The PO said the head gasket went out, they replaced it, the head gasket blew 30 miles later. Bought a 1.6D/5speed engine/trans. Never got around to installing it.
They let it sit for ~10 years under a tree.
Strut towers look clean and rust free.
I towed it home, pulled the engine, cleaned up the engine bay. swapped in said good engine this evening. Will try to get it running sometime soon.
Successfully fired up the engine tonight, very happy to hear it run. I had doubts that it was a good engine. In the middle of getting items back together. I am currently looking for a upper trans mount bracket (as posted earlier in this thread), an alternator for a 1.6D. Any one have any parts laying around for sale?
Im not entirely sure what I want to do with this yet. Keep it, lower it, install some nice wheels on it, drive it, or sell it and keep the remodeling process going on in my basement. Argh...
her is a pix as it sits now
Had to "make do" with what I had laying around to get the battery hooked up. I will do it the proper way one I am sure the engine is good to go with new belts/pulleys. The tank needs removed and cleaned. There is a ton of mold in it. :/ That is why I am running diesel out of a Howes bottle. I need to replace some rubber fuel lines as well. I have a list of "to-do's"
The video and sound are out of sync for some reason.
small update.
The D/S window was inoperable. It was off the "keeper" that had a ton of rust in it. I pulled it apart and clean out the rust and soaked the rubber in wd-40. I am ready to put it back together but I believe this is what is causing the issue now. Is this supposed to be connected to something? A tube?
clean the rust out of the keeper
The list of items needed to be taken care of.
I may need to sell this. I had surgery on my back on Feb 14. I am unable to work for a month. I hope to keep it but...bills are just more important that a car.
Ill keep you fellas posted.
I need this like I need a hole in my head. But the price was too good to be true.
Cliffs:
Found for sale on a Minot local car forum
Went to look at it, couldn't believe my eyes at the condition it was in. Kept poker face
The only story I got was the mileage is true.
(can anyone run the VIN?)The PO said the head gasket went out, they replaced it, the head gasket blew 30 miles later. Bought a 1.6D/5speed engine/trans. Never got around to installing it. They let it sit for ~10 years under a tree.
Strut towers look clean and rust free.
I towed it home, pulled the engine, cleaned up the engine bay. swapped in said good engine this evening. Will try to get it running sometime soon.
Successfully fired up the engine tonight, very happy to hear it run. I had doubts that it was a good engine. In the middle of getting items back together. I am currently looking for a upper trans mount bracket (as posted earlier in this thread), an alternator for a 1.6D. Any one have any parts laying around for sale?
Im not entirely sure what I want to do with this yet. Keep it, lower it, install some nice wheels on it, drive it, or sell it and keep the remodeling process going on in my basement. Argh...
her is a pix as it sits now
Had to "make do" with what I had laying around to get the battery hooked up. I will do it the proper way one I am sure the engine is good to go with new belts/pulleys. The tank needs removed and cleaned. There is a ton of mold in it. :/ That is why I am running diesel out of a Howes bottle. I need to replace some rubber fuel lines as well. I have a list of "to-do's"
The video and sound are out of sync for some reason.
small update.
The D/S window was inoperable. It was off the "keeper" that had a ton of rust in it. I pulled it apart and clean out the rust and soaked the rubber in wd-40. I am ready to put it back together but I believe this is what is causing the issue now. Is this supposed to be connected to something? A tube?
clean the rust out of the keeper
The list of items needed to be taken care of.
I may need to sell this. I had surgery on my back on Feb 14. I am unable to work for a month. I hope to keep it but...bills are just more important that a car.
Ill keep you fellas posted.
I drove it today. 23 miles on the highway and a few around town. It was very windy on the highway. Snow was creating some icy spots on the highway. Had it up to 63 mph. Clutch needs adjusted. I passed a pick up truck that was going 55mph, I chuckled, then he passed me...probably not to be behind a diesel Rabbit. lol. I am going to replace the thermostat. I had no heat. I used my laser thermometer and had head flange temps at 165 and bottom of the radiator temps around 120ish IIRC. I really dont remember since the bottom hose/flange temps werent too high. The temp light is on though. Even from the start. No major vibrations, the tires are shot. I believe the heater control lever is broke. I cant move it. It went into all 5 gears. Although the white plastic ball piece was breaking up. I think there is an exhaust leak from an exhaust gasket.