My 2.0 16V VW Pickup

[greggearhead]

Well, I am prepping to build a TD Pickup, so need to get rid of the hot-rod VW pickup.  Uber fun, but I need to generate $$ to finance the TD buildup.

1981 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck / Caddy Specifications

ENGINE:
   •   2.0 16V From a Passat
   •   Techtonics Tuning CIS Motronic chip
   •   K&N Filter
   •   Airbox opened
   •   Aftermarket downpipe and emptied Cat (Passes Colorado emissions in current configuration)
   •   2 1/4" Exhaust with chambered muffler (no packing to blow out) - it is aggressive sounding, but with a cat or resonator it would be very civil
   •   Scirocco 16V Radiator, low temp fan switch, thermostat, Redline water-wetter


TRANSMISSION:
   •   AGB Scirocco 16V close ratio gearbox with Peloquin 80% kit
   •   Lightened (9lb) Flywheel - revs very freely, idles smooth and takeoff is easy
   •   remanufactured axles installed 20k miles ago
   •   Adjustable short-shift linkage and weighted shift rod (bushings replaced recently)

CHASSIS:
   •   Old School Koni front lowering springs
   •   Gas front struts and rear shocks
   •   All Polyurethane front suspension bushings
   •   10.1" front rotors and redbox Mintex pads (EXCELLENT brakes)
   

INTERIOR:
   •   Installation of BLUE interior components - door panels, dash, carpet, headliner, etc.
   •   115mph 1-year-only GTI Tach cluster
   •   Sony CD player with 4 x 45 watt setup, 6.5" Sony X-Plod door speakers, 6x9 speakers in boxes in rear
   •   Factory Fuba amplified bee-sting antenna, connected and powered correctly.
   •   GTI center console with gauges - including air-fuel ratio gauge
   •   Factory slider rear window (helps with ventilation immensely)

EXTERIOR:
   •   Hella H4 headlights
   •   JOM - German Strobe lights in headlights
   •   removed chrome trim and stripes
   •   Nutserts in the bed for a motorcycle chock (flush when no chock there)
   •   tie downs mounted in corners of bed for easy & secure mounting of anything
   •   Rabbit GTI grille with blacked-out red stripe (MUCH better looking than the egg-crate pickup grille)
   •   Tinted front turn signals
   •   Aluminum black front bumper, air deflector and lightweight mounts from 84 Rabbit GTI
   •   Paint is not the best and there is a dent in the drivers side front fender
   •   



This truck has been an absolute blast to own.  I used it to haul my motorcycle across the country (Colorado to Wisconson and back) and at sea level, the power is almost scary.  Leaving it in 5th, I beat up on a 24 Valve Cummins Turbo Diesel *up* a big hill in Iowa.  He gave up by the time I reached 115-120mph and he was getting small in the mirror.  Honestly, I had to put extra straps on the bike (from front to rear) to keep the bike from rolling back under acceleration.  

The truck is great fun to drive - from acceleration, to handling, to hauling loads across town or across the country.  If you keep your foot out of it, you can get 30+ mpg easy.  If you don’t, the worst I have gotten (at altitude) is 20mpg.  That was a lot of “spirited” driving.  

I had a coolant temperature sensor go bad recently, so I have completely gone through the entire Motronic Injection system.  By completely, I mean I tested system and control fuel pressure with my special gauges, the differential pressure regulator electrical values, coolant resistance values, open and closed throttle switches, voltage at the fuse panel, fuel pump, coil, alternator, etc.  I have added grounds at the alternator and a few other places, just because more and better grounds can only help a VW electrical system.  I recently had the alternator load tested and it made over 14 Volts.  I replaced the fuel pump with a brand new unit 4000 miles ago.  Fuel pump relay was replaced about 10k miles ago.  The CO-pot works, but the truck runs much better with it disconnected - I don’t know why and have gone back and forth many times, but I run it disconnected.  Once in a while on a cold morning it will take a few extra cranks, but it always starts, and only takes a few seconds to warm up.  If it had a heavier flywheel and the air-preheat hooked up, this probably wouldn’t be an issue.  

I would jump in this truck tomorrow and drive it anywhere in the USA.  It would be a fun, fast trip.  But some things in my life have changed, so I don’t need this truck as much as I need some other things - I will be building a turbo-diesel motor for my other VW Pickup, so would take TD parts in trade.  I will miss the fun this truck provides on a daily basis.  It is my daily driver.  The transmission is an AGB with an 80% peloquin kit.  4th gear can crunch if you shift anything other than slowly, I have another AGB from a Scirocco 16V that I personally drove, so can guarantee it good.   The heater blower motor does need to be replaced - as it is not reliable and smells funny when it works.  The cosmetics are not perfect by any means.  The clear coat isn’t pretty, there is a small dent in the drivers front fender, the right rear bed corner doesn’t match, the tailgate is well-used.  In my opinion, it is the perfect sleeper vehicle that is still practical and you don’t have to worry about parking anywhere.

I have a few options that I can offer people.  If my asking price is met with cash, I will include the excellent condition Recaro power-base seats in it, the italian suede leather steering wheel and 15 x 7 Alloy wheels.  If anything less is offered, it will come with a factory sport steering wheel, 91 GTI seats, and 14" steel wheels.  I also have many other items I can include, like a couple cab-fitting fiberglass toppers, rear bumpers, front swaybars, 16V Exhaust camshaft for intake cam swap, extra 16V head I was going to port, lower 16V intake manifold and GSXR throttle bodies, 50mm Euro intake manifold, TPS Passat Auto throttle body, etc.  

I will take $4000 for the truck with the Recaros, 15" wheels and suede wheel, or $3600 without those items.  I will flex/trade for the topper and other items.  Cash or increased price with other methods.