Author Topic: Right place at the right time (Read 7200 times)

Kudagra · « **on:** June 26, 2008, 04:54:30 pm »

So Im working my butt off and I have to go back to the shop to pick up some parts. On the way back I stop by my friends shop just to keep sane. We start talking VWs and one of his other friends comes in and notices we are speaking of VWs. He mentions that there is a guy across the street from him that has a rabbit diesel he wants to scrap. This gets my attention and I ask for more information. I decide its best if I follow him the 1/2 mile to where this rabbit is sitting.

Just some back ground..I have an 86 Jetta TD that Ive stripped all the way down to the shell and Im collecting parts while rebuilding the engine. Ive got a Giles Pump and injectors sitting here, FMIC, Coated internals and bearings, balanced internals, Passenger performance clutch and 6lb flywheel and LOTS of other parts...but the engine is still not assembled (just had the balance shaft turned down and BALANCED)..I wasnt really in a hurry since I have a company vehicle to drive and I dont buy fuel. The interior was blue but this has all been removed to install some 02 GTI heated leather black seats. The body is really straight and not a bit rusty.

So I follow him there and there is the "rabbit" under a car cover. I pull the cover back to find out this rabbit has a trunk. And its Silver. With blue interior and a Turbo Diesel.. One flat tire and a bit of body damage at the rear passenger door..but the door closes and latches. I talk to the owner and get to the chase...how much does he want for it.. $200. Without hesitation I say SOLD. $30 later and its towed back to the shop. Have to go back to work...

Next day Im getting paid to fix air compressors and get done a bit early. I head to the shop. Toss a battery in the 85 Jetta and crank it over...sounds ok..starter bendix is noisy after letting off. Hmm fuel gauge shows empty. I dont want to crank it over for ever so I just put a fuel can and a hose/primer bulb into the fuel filter. Pressureize the system and crack the injectors. I crank it over a few times till IM getting fuel at the fittings. Tighten them up and crank it over...it chugs for a bit then smooths out and purrrs. It moves forward and backwards but the front left is locking up...think its a fubar wheel bearing. Thats all the time I had for today (about 1.5 hours) but Ill be finish it up more tomorrow.

To do tomorrow:

Swap injectors. These are leaking so Ill put my Giles injectors in there.
Swap out left spindle.
Swap out front calipers. These look like hell and I dont trust them.
Decide to or not to change the master cylinder
Change the Engine oil
Dig out proper hose from 86 Jetta to hook up the oil cooler and change coolant
Replace boost aneroid supply hose
Change out Front fenders and Areo set up with parts from scraped Golf
Install Black Mk2 Seat. I dont know who had this car before but I think they were damn fat and wasted the seat bolsters...on both sides.

Not bad considering the only thing I need to buy will be fluids and filters.

Pictures later. Not bad for 230 bucks.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #1 on:** June 26, 2008, 06:08:07 pm »

dang, well done. Pictures are a must

Kudagra · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2008, 09:02:43 pm »

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

dang, well done. Pictures are a must

I forgot...if the odometer is correct it only has 104k miles on it. It runs like it does.

DCC · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2008, 02:17:40 am »

Quote from: "Kudagra"

Pictures later. Not bad for 230 bucks.

Not bad at all. Congratulations for the catch!

FWD.MOTION · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2008, 10:02:57 am »

very nice steal, good for you man! Please post some pics if you have time

Kudagra · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2008, 10:54:07 pm »

Well I was up till 3am Sunday morning but I made progress...

I bought some red stripe small bumpers and put those on, swapped out the leaky injectors with some Performance Diesel injectors by Giles, Bled the brakes, aired up the tires, put on the 86 Jetta's front core support, changed the v/c gasket, DISABLED the lame blow off valve, fixed all the wiring gremlins, swapped in a gasser alternator ( no tach now ) and took it for a few 8-10 miles cruises at 1am.

Not to bad for only spending $390. I cant imagine registering it will be that expensive.

Oh and $27 of that is 5 gallons of diesel.

I bought a boost gauge, a water temp and an oil pressure gauge because I just dont trust the factory stuff...soon Ill get a EGT, Oil temp, and THEN...and only after those gauges a boost controller.

But even before that I need to find out where my exhaust leak is..Ill probably re-seal the manifolds. ID really like to get a PP downpipe and run some 3" all the way back...Im also debating on putting my Giles pump on there. I need to get a PP cam also..sheesh..

subsonic · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2008, 05:58:30 pm »

Dink!

Kudagra · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2008, 11:13:33 pm »

hmm.. found a $100 Jetta N/a Diesel...needs a starter...that I have..hmmm

Whats the value of one of these in Fair condition?

Need to sell to pay for TD parts from Passenger Performance

Kudagra · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2008, 10:27:36 pm »

Here are some crappy cell phone pictures..

This is the $200 Jetta with 2 evenings of work on it and driveable. Turbo A/c Manual steering, Non tach alt but has a Tach.

This is the $100 Jetta I just picked up today...it needs a starter and I have a spare diesel starter. Its a N/a with A/c and P/s. No Tach but has a Tach alt.

subsonic · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2008, 08:22:19 pm »

Back at ya. Looky what I just bought for $1500 bucks. Rust free baby!

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2008, 09:47:10 pm »

Very very nice, you dog !!

subsonic · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2008, 05:41:20 am »

It's a gasser, but that can change :wink: . Its is in Washington state so I will need to fly out and drive it home------to Maine :shock: but after looking at ones closer to home, they all had rust issues and/or were 2-3 times as much money.