A good day... Or, share your best "score" story. - page 1 - General - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• A good day... Or, share your best "score" story. by Quantum TD on 25 Feb, 2008 17:26
• Yes, there is hope...
  
  Today, I managed to fire up a 1987 Golf 1.6NA lump that I bought from a pick-your-part junkyard a few months ago. Usually, I steer clear of the motors at those ***-holes as they're usually wasted, but I made an exception for this one. I spun the crank by hand without the accessory belts on it, and it had amazing compression: you could feel the compression on each stroke as you spun the motor. I think I paid $125 for the motor and another $65 for the AOP 5-speed trans mounted to it.
  
  When I brought it home last summer, I tried to start it on the floor of my garage with a quick 20 seconds to the glow plugs, and a squirt bottle of fuel hooked up to it. After about an hour of trying, I gave up: wondering if I was wrong about the compression. The ambient temp was about 85-90, but it didn't want to start. So, I put it away, and worked on other projects.
  
  So today, I managed to finish a 1998 TDi I was working on, that had a blown head gasket; I finally got it out of the garage (I'll post an update on that if it all looks good: so far...). When I got it out, I swung out the 1.6 lump and replaced all the glow plugs with new ones. I checked the old ones: 3 out of 4 were bad. Hmmm, wonder why it didn' start before?
  
  So, I hooked up a trans, and a starter and did a run thru. Then I remembered that I'm a total retard. When I tired to start it last time, I forgot about the stop solenoid. DUHHH!! So this time, I powered the stop solenoid, glowed the plugs for 15 sec, had my father-in-law hold a squirt bottle of dino-juice to the pump, and cranked it over with 2 batteries (one was half dead, and the starter was a gasser). She fired right up!!! It kinda rocked across the floor. After belching out a bit of smoke, like a lumbering bear waking from hibernation, the smoke cleared and I revved it up. The thing runs like a raped ape! (well, about as 'raped' as any 1.6 NA can be). After revving it up a bit, I let off the idle and she purred like a kitten. The neighbors will probably call the cops for the noise (straight manifold), but f*ck it; it runs.
  
  Not bad for $150. I'm gonna clean it up, reseal the pump, change all of the accessible seals, and put it in a rust-free 1982 Caddy I bought a few months ago for $400. I'll be full pimping in the Metallic Gold Caddy LX in about a week, for only about $1000 after new parts, motor, 5-speed trans, and tires. I just thank god I don't have to do another head job (fingers crossed).
  
  These sorta things never happen to me. I always hear the story from the guy who found a set of BBS RS01 rims at the -j-yard for $50, or the dude who scooped up a 1975 Swallowtail with 25k original miles that some granny owned and kept it garaged for 30 years, only to sell it to him for $50.  This is not the best story, but a win nonetheless.
  
  I'm so amped, I may actually try to fire up the 1985 1.6 TD lump I bought from the same yard about 2 years ago that's been sitting. It seems low on compression, but if I can confirm it runs, I'll feel alot better.
  
  Anyway, I'm not looking for kudos: just wanted to share.
  
  Feel free to share your best "score" story. It's part of the VW nut heritage.
• #1 by burn_your_money on 25 Feb, 2008 17:38
• Very nice, It's always a very satisfying feeling when something you bought that may or may not work actually works
• #2 by RabbitJockey on 25 Feb, 2008 18:24
• i just got a rust free 81 diesel ls with ac and chrome all over with only 85k miles, it was garage kept and owned by an old man.  only 400.  it was sold to me as a non runner haha, the timing was just off.  someone replaced the passenger side mount and then didn't time it back up right.   this is one of those cars that would fetch 4000 on ebay.  and i got it for 400.  what a steal
• #3 by jackbombay on 25 Feb, 2008 18:41
• I got a wheelbarrow full of IC plumbing from several saabs and Volvos from the junkyard for $20, I mentioned what I was looking for and the guy behind the counter said he needed some 2.5" IC plumbing, I got him a piece that matched the description of what he needed, he then let me have the whole wheel barrow full for $20. Wooo WOOOO!!!
• #4 by Quantum TD on 25 Feb, 2008 18:43
• Pimp. Keep em comin'.
• #5 by jimfoo on 25 Feb, 2008 18:50
• I got a free all aluminum Saab IC and an air oil cooler as well. I didn't even have to pay postage. From an internet friend.
• #6 by Dennis Froelich on 26 Feb, 2008 17:36
• I was able to score a factory 83 Rabbit TD for the cost to drive out to Vermont and drive it back home. 830 miles 1 way. Flawless drive back.
  
  The cars powertrain now powers my 79 Rabbit TD. 83 rotted away.
• #7 by burn_your_money on 26 Feb, 2008 19:51
• My uncle just gave me a 91 golf diesel. All I need to do is work on his other golf (gas) or his 79 diesel rabbit
  All it needs is a timing belt
• #8 by Powered by Spearco on 26 Feb, 2008 19:56
• Not a diesel but a good buy. My friend owned a vehicle donation in Sac, Ca. and someone donated a '78 2 door Rabbit, 76k original miles, Pannama Brown, last tagged in '84 and probably last time ran too.
  For $160.  :lol:    
   Did a tune-up, and fired right up and drove it 860 miles the next day to home.  Now has all new goodies added to it and is my perfect dream car.
  I'll never get rid of it, as long as I live.
• #9 by Slave2School on 26 Feb, 2008 20:07
• I found a $10 bill on the beach once and some change under my uncle's deck.
• #10 by Quantum TD on 26 Feb, 2008 20:09
• Ouch. Yeah, those are the types of stories I hear all the time that never happen to me.
• #11 by stewardc on 27 Feb, 2008 03:11
• After searching for 4 years and posting want ads on a number of european websites, I found this 10 minutes from home.
  
  
• #12 by Slave2School on 27 Feb, 2008 12:41
• I notice you don't mention a price...is it really a score?
• #13 by stewardc on 27 Feb, 2008 13:56
• Quote from: "Slave2School"

  I notice you don't mention a price...is it really a score?

  
  
    LOL ...ANY Caddy in this condition is a score IMHO.
• #14 by jtanguay on 27 Feb, 2008 17:11
• Quote from: "stewardc"

  Quote from: "Slave2School"

  I notice you don't mention a price...is it really a score?

  
  
    LOL ...ANY Caddy in this condition is a score IMHO.

  
  
  well the person must have bought it and left it in a garage... because cars don't last too long out there