OT: VW rabbit & pickup [Archive] - BimmerNut.com Forums

stilljester

01-25-2007, 10:02 PM

I have a chance to get a 81 vw rabbit diesel and a old vw diesel fwd truck for cheap, do you guys know anything about these, relibality wise?
Thanks for the input!!

I've owned 8+ of them - It really depends on your use. The engine is good for about 250-300k when properly cared for before it will need a rebuild. Also if you live a cold weather climate your glow plugs and battery need to be in top shape or you will have starting difficulties. I encourage you to drive one on the highway prior to purchasing them as "speed" and "acceleration" are not words I would use to describe them. If you have any other questions let me know I'll do me best to answer them.

Rigmaster

01-25-2007, 10:03 PM

They are loved by many, and despised by many- especially once they have been overheated or once they have been sitting for a while.

Parts are not too hard to come by, even for the old stuff like this- some of it can be pretty expensive if you have to buy new (injection pump, etc).

If you can work on them yourself and you have a decent understanding of things diesel- then go for it!! If you have to take them to a shop every time there is something wrong, then they're probably not for you.

Basically, if they are currently running well, they will likely continue to do so for many miles- with basic upkeep. If they are not running well, it's impossible to say what's wrong with them or how much $$$ it will take to get them running well.

Bret.

Phatty5BMW

01-25-2007, 10:11 PM

Awesome. I know for sure the rabbit has 100,000 miles on it, runs excellent but doesnt start in the winter (glow plugs), I priced them 12 bucks a piece, thats no problem at all. I am all diy so workin on it will be no biggy, as I work with diesel's all day and my dad is a semi-driver so he has the knowledge.

As far as the truck, I was told it runs and starts easier than the rabbit and has 70-80k on it, and both run great.

The reason for the inquiry is my 535 sucks the gas down and i drive 95 miles round trip to work and back and 55mpg sounds better than 20 mpg and i can get free diesel at work :) I am familiar with beetles as I have owned 2 baja's and my parents have a super beetle so I know how the whole old school vw frightning interstate experiences but i think i can get over it.

I am hoping to get both these p.o.s's for bout 500 bucks so i guess that would pay off real soon. I can put my 185lb St. Bernard in the back of the truck an make the springs sag like i got hydraulics in the back :)

Thanks for the help guys.

dennyg

01-26-2007, 12:53 AM

I owned a 1980 rabbit in Michigan. Used a water jacket heater. Its a hassel if you don't have a plug in near but it will start up almost as easy as gas car with this device. Winters do get cold here.......its now zero degress...........yukkkkkkkkkkkk

92E34

01-26-2007, 03:16 AM

My dad had an 1984 Diesel Dasher. That thing went forever and it was in Pennsylvania. The Guy that does our inspections said he couldn't believe that it lasted so long. We sold it about 3 years ago after the engine caught fire. Total mileage before sale: 300,000. But our 1986 Turbo Diesel Jetta had so many electrical problems that we had to junk it.

Dave M

01-26-2007, 06:56 AM

But our 1986 Turbo Diesel Jetta had so many electrical problems that we had to junk it.

Here here. I used to be a relatively large vw fan (2 golfs, jetta, scirroco), but after owning a 90s golf, I realized that for a DIYer that isn't electrically inclined, the hastles outweigh the engine reliablity. Even my trusty scirroco had issues. Want the lights on? Turn them off of course! Want to listen to the radio? Turn the lights back on! Need to defrost? Forget having interior lighting................

I hope the 'newer' models were assembled by an adult :D

Ahh, what am I saying, I still love that scirroco :) Vent over.

Ross

01-26-2007, 07:03 AM

A former colleague of mine bought one of these new in the early '80s when gas prices reached the absurd price of a DOLLAR a gallon.
His constant reports of the fuel economy became tedious so another fellow and I decided to have fun. We alternately siphoned fuel from his tank and sometimes added back. It drove him nuts and we never let on to him.
My recollection is he loved the economy but nothing else and only kept it a short time.

RallyD

01-26-2007, 08:53 AM

they will run a long time as others have said. Parts are quite cheap although I don't have much experience with the diesels. My 84 GTI had 550,000 miles when the engine block cracked due to overheating. My 89 Cabriolet has about 300,000miles but i'm not sure because the odometer has never worked since I've owned it.
germanautoparts.com has a good selection of parts if you need them

Phatty5BMW

01-26-2007, 10:14 AM

Rigmaster

01-26-2007, 10:46 AM

Thank you guys so much for the replies. I am hopefully getting both of them for 450-500 bucks, so sounds like a good deal. Hopefully i dont buy 2 p.o.s. and not beable to drive them lol. I will let you guys know how it goes as should be buying within a few weeks. thanks again!!!

Pat

If you get them for that price, then you really can't go wrong. Even if they are POS's, you should still be able to sell them for at least what you paid.

www.vwvortex.com is a pretty good site for VW's, with a diesel section.

Bret.

PaulJ

01-26-2007, 07:41 PM

If you're ready and able to work on'em, go for it! Lots of fun, lots of mileage, lots of parts. Get to know a VW mechanic for the rough stuff. Diesels last forever and the trucks are way cool! Both are easy to work on.

Paul

Phatty5BMW

01-27-2007, 09:36 PM

Yea this is going to be funny if you ask me lol. I just cant picture me cruisin in a lil vw truck but it should happen, as im going to go take the truck for a ride atleast.
Total I should spend about 100 bucks in replacement parts to make everything 100% mechanically sound. I also found out that the truck was owned by a diesel mechanic and there are about 6 guages under the hood hooked up everywhere. The seller has no idea what they are for but seems like the orig. owner had a set of issues and got sick of it so he put the guages in but who knows! All the help you guys have given is very appreciated, and when I buy, I'll post some pics :)

Pat

winfred

01-27-2007, 10:01 PM

id have a hard time not o-ringing the head to keep the gasket in check then turboing the truck and maybe getting the injectors edm'd, if that wouldn't be enough fun propane and nitrous injection, traction would probably be the only thing to save the transaxle, clutch life optional :D

Phatty5BMW

01-27-2007, 10:06 PM

LoL i was thinkin turbo & nos. I read a discussion about bio-diesel and doing a veg. oil conversion... lol damn vw's

winfred

01-27-2007, 10:36 PM

i am going to do make biodiesel for da truck if we ever sell this place and i get to have a shop at home, but i want to build my own processor instead of buying a overpriced unit or using a old hot water heater for a apple seed style processor, svo conversions always seemed like a messy pain in the ass to me and you still need to carry diesel to start and shut down on

LoL i was thinkin turbo & nos. I read a discussion about bio-diesel and doing a veg. oil conversion... lol damn vw's

Phatty5BMW

02-14-2007, 06:35 PM

Back on the VW subject.... I got the 2 of them for $200 bucks :) The truck needs a clutch, it is getting bad but whatever there 100 bucks for a sachs kit. I fixed a bunch of little issues in the truck but now the bastard is overheating. It never did before but it is now.

Someone jumped the pins on the plug for the fan and you plug it in = fan unplug=no fan. Even with the fan on, still overheats, found that out on the interstate :) There is no bleeder screw and just learned from the un-informational lame vwcaddy forum that the thermostat is on the water pump?
I think that there is an airlock in the system.

At idle, i have heat, at revs no heat, even when the coolant temp is at 3/4 mark. I saw on there if both heater core hoses are hot there theres an airlock. I don't know if i should just drain the system and start from scratch but I haven't had the thing a few days and I am already getting pissed :)

Any help and anyone even reading this, thanks for the help! :)

Pat

winfred

02-14-2007, 11:34 PM

looks like it has a normal thermostat from the picture on world pac, id drill a air hole in the new one to stave off airlock, diesels in general don't get hot till you are on it and it's under a load

Phatty5BMW

02-15-2007, 07:23 AM

It will overheat at an idle. Drill a hole in the thermostat?. I don't see why vw doesnt make a coolant bleeder screw.. I will have to get a clean bucket and a screen and drain all the coolant and take the thermostat out and inspect it all I guess. I wanted to try to get around that but I guess not :)

RallyD

02-16-2007, 10:45 AM

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeroforum?id=11

Phatty5BMW

02-16-2007, 07:20 PM

I can't find anything at all on that site. All of the vw forums i've seen suck....

Phatty5BMW

02-16-2007, 09:14 PM

Well I took the truck into the garage after towing my bimmer out :( I took the thermostat out of the truck put it all back together with it not overheating. I will get the replacement thermostat tomarrow ( I was at autozone for the alternator and they actually stock it and spaced it off)\

Do you guys think this will hurt the truck on a 100 mile round trip? I ran it a few miles and temp was pretty cold and barely any heat but enough i guess.
I am kind of stuck without a vehicle and this truck is pretty much my only option.. Should I go for it and just be cold on the way? Will anything freeze/gel up if i do this?

Thanks guys
Pat

winfred

02-16-2007, 10:25 PM

it should be fine just keep a eye on it getting hot if you get on it hard, should cool off during low load

Phatty5BMW

02-17-2007, 07:48 AM

Awesome, I am about to walk out the door and see if I can actually make it, if not im going to be very cold and very very pissed :) Wish me luck!!

Phatty5BMW

02-17-2007, 06:20 PM

I made it to work just fine in the truck. It ran pretty cold and barely any heat but I made it there and home safe and sound. I picked up a thermostat for it and bout to go put it in. This should be the problem and im bout to fix it.

Pat

P.S. 75 in the truck is nothing like 75 in the e34..... ****in scary lol