An 86 hydro NA diesel that needs rings? Everything else checks out. I plastigauged crank and rods, they need no attention. cylinder head was completely done. Runs but has unburnt diesel out the exhaust. I would be selling it with my old injectors and old IP, but everything else would come with it. It has new water pump, thermostat, crankseal and crankbolt. Let me know what you would give for it please.
Maybe $650? Personally, I wouldn't buy a NA at all unless the body was rust-free and I needed it.
I got my 86 Golf for free. It ran enough to get me home after I worked on it. Since then it has gotten new rings, a redone head with all new parts, a new Giles injection pump, new tires, a new windshield, all new belts, some hoses, recharge on the a/c, and new linkages on the shifter. There is zero rust, but the paint is shot. I probably have $2500 in it right now, and still need to finish the glow plugs and injectors, and paint it. It depends on what your car needs. People are paying crazy money for good MPG cars on ebay, it might be your best place for top money. IMHO
I paid $1200 for an 86 NA safetied and e-tested. It had a good BC body. Mind you that was a couple of years ago when fuel prices hadn't entered the stratosphere. Problem is that anything that needs work, especially an engine teardown, is not going to get decent bucks. If you could get the rings done you should more than double what you could get for it. A 93 that wouldn't start just sold for under 400 on eBay in Ontario. A couple guys I know that regularly pick up diesels don't pay more than $100-$200 for anything in that year range that needs engine work.
I don't know....you're going to miss being angry all the time!!!!!!!
You will look in the mirror and say, "Who the hell is this guy?"
I paid $700 for a nice 84 Jetta TD just yesterday. Good Body and Interior and Glass. Has some Fuel Issues, maybe the Pump.