Big Sky Euro

Saturday was a good day

Wade and I, plus my kids went up to Bozeman to check out a Caddy for sale and ended up trailering it home:

From the CL ad:

1982 VW Rabbit Truck. 5 speed. Gas engine. Price includes topper (see photos).
CURRENTLY DOES NOT RUN. Reliable front wheel drive truck for 17 years of regular use. A fantastic truck when it runs. Needs engine work - not sure how extensive. I don't have the time or know-how to work on it. In great shape otherwise - minor surface rust. Interior is in good condition. The perfect project truck for someone with know-how. Offers considered.

All in all it was a clean truck...no strut tower rust except for a minor amount in the rear passengers tower, pans are good. No brainer, so I made the deal and we rolled it up on my trailer.









Going over the guys story, some things weren't lining up. We were told it ran, it was parked, and the next day it wouldn't turn over, and couldn't be turned over with a wrench...so most likely something internal or a seized motor. We spotted a deep dent in the oil pan, which could be the problem, but it was decided to check it out when we got back to my house. Either way I already had a replacement motor or two I could transplant if needed.

So we got it home and rolled it into my garage and pulled the plugs...they were corroded pretty bad, need replaced. Buttoned up the starter, which was not fully bolted in. Pulled the timing cover...belt is intact and aside from some oil leaking, it looks good. Pulled the plugs...inside of #1 we found a broken off piece of Phillips screwdriver!?! Someone was tapping on the top of the cylinder(s)??...wow. That would be a problem, but everything else looks fine, so I grabbed a 19mm and from the cam bolt turned the motor over Vacuumed out any other debris through the spark plug hole, and used the starter to turn the motor over a few times.

Then checked timing...checked @ TDC and the marks line up.

Ran to Orellieys and grabbed some plugs and a jug of coolant.

Installed new plugs, and grabbed the battery from the other Caddy. After about a minute of cranking, the motor right started up


Wade made a great video:

Damn!!! Talked to that guy some time ago. Nice dude. Almost bought it

. Awesome time.


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Wow! Fantastic buy, Mike. That is one clean ass truck. I'm glad you got it! what are the plans now?

That's an awesome buy! Looks like that was a pretty big chunk of screw driver in there huh? It blows me away that someone could leave that in there and not know why it doesn't run right!?

When that piece came out...Wade and I just looked at each other and laughed in disbelief I'll have to get a picture of the piece and post it up, it was about 2" long.

Shout out to Ben...thanks for posting that up in the CL thread!!

Plans are to polish it up and drive it. It's a 5 speed so I'll cruise on the highway, and it's in better shape, body and paint wise, than my 1980.

I'll probably have my other Caddy up for sale...I want to get to someone who will appreciate it. It's kind of special to me since it was basically left to rot and was saved, plus it's got a lot of features that are only available in the 1980 MY.

Very glad you bought it. I didn't know you still had the '80, how much might you sell it for?

congrats on the new caddy!!!!! that trailer looks a lot easyer then the car dolly for the jetta lol

Man, can you imagine the damage if you tried to turn it over with that screw driver chunk in there? You avoided the motor swap right there! Nice find!