WTB: Rabbit Pickup - Diesel

[bxfl]

Hi all,

I am looking for a Rabbit Pickup in working condition diesel engine, would love if it was manual (were they even made in automatic?)
If it's 10 hours or so away I'd fly in and drive out.
Willing to pay cash.

Thanks!

[Quantum TD]

There are a lot of variables in your quest. Perhaps you can help us help you by giving us some more info, such as...

Price range
Specific location
level of acceptable rust (they all have some)
Other concerns?

[stewardc]

Yes, price range would help. Everything is for sale...for a price.
Even my restored 1981 Caddy with torquemonster AAZ.
Like the man said, "I'm easy, but definitely not cheap".

[dieselherb1]

I'm working on 5 right now but they are all in all stages of rust and completion. Sometimes are cheap to find expensive to rebuild(limited parts for pickups) I do this as a second job but really like the Caddies so it can be fun too.
Herb

[bxfl]

If it's high mileage and original engine, I would pay around 2000.
If it's been rebuilt significantly I would pay more for it.
I'm not looking for a really souped up one - just a functional one that will keep running for years.
I'm looking within a 10 hour or so distance of Akron, Ohio.
If it's 15 hours, try me.
Cosmetic rust is OK; but rust on the frame I would be wary about.
Biggest concern is if the owner anticipates it will need a lot of major work in the next couple years to keep it running.

I don't know if it sounds unreasonable... Just though I'd put it out there. These pickups are really hard to find in my area; I've found one... that is sitting in someones yard; it wont start and they dont know if it runs at all if you can get the starting problem fixed. So yeah, big gamble and I've never worked on a diesel before.

[ilikevwdiesel]

I have a nice 81 with a 91 TD motor and 5spd. I got it in Oregon last May so there's no cancer rust. Just went all through it. I'd take 3800 for it. It cranks right along and has a  matching cap too. If you're interested you can pm me your number and I'll call you.

[burn_your_money]

Biggest concern is if the owner anticipates it will need a lot of major work in the next couple years to keep it running.

You don't want a caddy then. It's going to rust in critical areas , it's inevitable.

[ilikevwdiesel]

my west coast caddys will last several years before rust becomes an issue. of course, if they are run thru road salt and never washed that will shorten the life span considerably.

[Quantum TD]

You don't want a caddy then. It's going to rust in critical areas , it's inevitable.

Indeed. I've yet to see one that does not have rust, usually in critical areas. The floor pans rust due to leaky rubber windshield seals, and the strut towers rust due to a design/manufacture flaw in the double-layer steel panels. If you find one without rust up front, you're pretty lucky. Also, it doesn't matter where the truck comes from, the rust will appear no matter what. I've got 4 Southern Rabbit trucks. All have rust to some degree, and two have rust in the towers and pans.

[ilikevwdiesel]

You don't want a caddy then. It's going to rust in critical areas , it's inevitable.

Indeed. I've yet to see one that does not have rust, usually in critical areas. The floor pans rust due to leaky rubber windshield seals, and the strut towers rust due to a design/manufacture flaw in the double-layer steel panels. If you find one without rust up front, you're pretty lucky. Also, it doesn't matter where the truck comes from, the rust will appear no matter what. I've got 4 Southern Rabbit trucks. All have rust to some degree, and two have rust in the towers and pans.

Moisture makes them rust. You can still find them in the southwest US with NO rust. They are getting harder to find but they are out there. They don't rust until the moisture and road salt get at them. If you find a good one like that there are many ways to delay but not stop the inevitable rust.

[mystery3]

The only rust mine has is surrounding what used to be the battery tray, I know the truck sat for a while and apparently it had a battery in while doing so. The usual areas are rust free, it's lived in california it's whole life as far as I can tell.

[ilikevwdiesel]

The only rust mine has is surrounding what used to be the battery tray, I know the truck sat for a while and apparently it had a battery in while doing so. The usual areas are rust free, it's lived in california it's whole life as far as I can tell.

I scored a Caddy in Boulder Creek that had been sitting for a couple years and it had no rust at all except a tiny surface spot in the bed where redwood needles had piled up and got wet.

[ezekiel]

Biggest concern is if the owner anticipates it will need a lot of major work in the next couple years to keep it running.

You don't want a caddy then. It's going to rust in critical areas , it's inevitable.

Depends.  I'm 2nd owner of mine, the only rust it has is on the lower radiator support where the PO hit something.  Otherwise, no rust anywhere.  I also have a 75 Rabbit that only has a couple pencil holes through the floorboards.  It all depends on where it came from.  Desert cars are usually free of rust, but the PNW (OR and WA, Iunno how BC treats their old cars) doesn't have much of a rust issue, long term, maybe, but well over 10 years before it would ever show up. 

As I've always said, cars don't rust in the PNW, they just turn green.

[stomperz71]

Hey bxfl,
      that caddy that is in your area how bad is the rust? I'm in Ohio myself andmight be interested in that truck if you pass it up.

[bxfl]

Hey bxfl,
      that caddy that is in your area how bad is the rust? I'm in Ohio myself andmight be interested in that truck if you pass it up.

I found it on Craigslist. Search Akron/Canton or Cleveland for one in Hinckley. Never saw it in person, gave up on it when the guy told me no one could get it to start.