Test your Smarticles.... How much do you really know?

[climbinghalfdome]

I just bought a 1980 rabbit pick up truck and want to learn as much about it as I can. I posted this on the TDI Club forum, but perhaps the IDI crowd is a little more in the know about this engine.
I'm going to tell you everything I know, and we will see who can tell me more about what I've got.
The 1.6 diesel engine in the truck was made in 1984 and imported from Germany. The shop's invoice says "NA hydraulic lifters TH #408"
The heads casting has the following number 068 103 373D  WWO
What do I have?
What's with the "WWO"? (Wanka Wash Owwouu?) (Wimbledon Watching Omnivore?) 
Tell me anything you know.
What is so cool about the 'hydraulic lifters" or the "TH #408"
Kevin in the Grand Canyon

The Red Bently Manual came about 2 days ago and I've read the first 20 pages. (Not as dry as you might think).
Where else can I soak up input on this thing?

[Rabbit on Roids]

the only plus about hydraulic lifters, you never have to adjust them. just replace them every 100k or so. on a performance stand point, the solid lifters are better.

[arb]

Hi Kevin,

Your engine is somewhat improved over the 1980 it replaced... for one thing, the head bolts are 12mm rather than 11mm the 1983-1977 used. Personally I like the hrdyo head better as Roids said because it is self adjusting. Periodically adjusting the mechanical lifter's puck with the correct thickness is not something many people will do according the the VW schedule.

On learning, you have come to the right place. There are some real guru's on this forum. If you simply read the various posts there daily, you'll learn a lot.

[burn_your_money]

After you are done reading the Bentley this is also a good read

http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=16687.0

If you want to verify that your engine is in fact hydraulic then this thread will be of help

http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=16688.0

[lovinthedeez]

and because the hydro heads weren't introduced until 86, its a good time to see which block you have.  there are two very pronoucned "bumps" in the center and just to the left of center(running perpindicular, or straight up and down) on the front of the head.  look for two similar bumps on the block, which will tell you if you have a true hydraulic setup, or a hydro on solid block setup.

[climbinghalfdome]

there are two very pronoucned "bumps" in the center and just to the left of center(running perpindicular, or straight up and down) on the front of the head.  look for two similar bumps on the block, which will tell you if you have a true hydraulic setup, or a hydro on solid block setup.

Are these two bumps your referring to are the oil retune ports in the block?
http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=16688.0
If it is what you are referring to, yes my block does have these two bumps. Does that mean I've got an 86 engine? In fact the top photo in that link looks exactly like my head. Exact same head numbers but mine ends with a "D" not "T". Does the "T" mean turbo?
Kevin

[Rabbit on Roids]

there are two very pronoucned "bumps" in the center and just to the left of center(running perpindicular, or straight up and down) on the front of the head.  look for two similar bumps on the block, which will tell you if you have a true hydraulic setup, or a hydro on solid block setup.

Are these two bumps your referring to are the oil retune ports in the block?
http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=16688.0
If it is what you are referring to, yes my block does have these two bumps. Does that mean I've got an 86 engine? In fact the top photo in that link looks exactly like my head. Exact same head numbers but mine ends with a "D" not "T". Does the "T" mean turbo?
Kevin

not necessarily..

[8v-of-fury]

If it is what you are referring to, yes my block does have these two bumps. Does that mean I've got an 86 engine? In fact the top photo in that link looks exactly like my head. Exact same head numbers but mine ends with a "D" not "T". Does the "T" mean turbo?
Kevin

Also, not necessairly. as any engine after I think 85 will have the two bumps.. so it could be an 86, it could be a 92..

[Baron VonZeppelin]

I have an 82 12mm Mechanical head with that same part number but the suffix is "B".

We don't know what the exact decipher is on the head suffixes.
Or the WWO casting (they all have that so must have something to do with the casting foundry).

TH #408 was probably the sellers inventory protocol.

I would be be glad it has that engine, instead of the 1980 1.5ltr 11mm engine - if it is a factory Diesel Truck.

Diesel came with larger fuel neck opening, a non-catalyst decal in driver door jamb, passenger strut tower had yellow decal giving diesel injection pump timing specs, DIESEL FUEL ONLY printed on speedo, in-dash cluster yellow glow plug indicator, cold start pull knob between clock and radio, washer reservoir on driver side next to battery, and underhood insulation blanket.

[Rabbit on Roids]

I have an 82 12mm Mechanical head with that same part number but the suffix is "B".

We don't know what the exact decipher is on the head suffixes.
Or the WWO casting (they all have that so must have something to do with the casting foundry).

TH #408 was probably the sellers inventory protocol.

I would be be glad it has that engine, instead of the 1980 1.5ltr 11mm engine - if it is a factory Diesel Truck.

Diesel came with larger fuel neck opening, a non-catalyst decal in driver door jamb, passenger strut tower had yellow decal giving diesel injection pump timing specs, DIESEL FUEL ONLY printed on speedo, in-dash cluster yellow glow plug indicator, cold start pull knob between clock and radio, washer reservoir on driver side next to battery, and underhood insulation blanket.

my 84 car has the yellow tag up on the core support, but my 81 has it on the shock tower. and the washer reservoir on both of my diesels is next to the batt. my grandpas 2 diesel cars and CADDY have them on the pass side. factory. and ive seen quite a few other "appearing to be factory diesel" cars with the setup on the pass side as well. my 84 also never came with the under hood blanket. that i can tell atleast. the hood has ZERO marks on the underneath from the blanket or retaining hardware.

not trying to negate all of what you just said. just what i have noticed.. alot of the differences could just be that the 84 is a weird year of rabbit..

[8v-of-fury]

i just took my blanket off Kevo, and for being on there for the last 30 years opening the hood now leaves no trace it existed. Its held in by spring rods in the slots in the hood frame.

[Baron VonZeppelin]

No probo RoR, I was aiming all that info at Diesel Trucks (80-83).

Some of it/most of it "should" apply to Diesel Rabbits of same years of vintage, and "should" even apply to most Diesel Jettas that fall in that range.

I need to remember to use 'should' and 'would' more often - it slips my mind too often and leaves too much room for complications/errors after 30 years.

The underhood blankets are nice to have, ALL Diesels from at least 80-92 should/would have come with them off the line. Its getting hard to find them in good shape now. A lot of them have been scrapped due to raggedness and nastyness, hood swaps, etc.....

I have felt lucky that both my trucks and all 3 jettas still have pretty nice ones intact.

[Rabbit on Roids]

the hood blanket from my first rabbit, weighed about 23 pounds when i took it out.