Hate to be a Party Poop....but...

[rs899]

I'm sick of paying the absurd price for diesel around these parts.

RUG is $3.17 today and diesel is $3.79.  Diesel efficiency does not make up for that 20% spread.

Time to dust off that old '81 Rabbit Convertible (early Cabriolet) and do some silly gas thing with it.

I bought this hulk with a plugged up fuel system years ago and tried to fix the tank, but never got it running right. Considered converting to diesel, but now with the absurd price of diesel, it's time to have a gas alternative.

I have been squirreling away parts for years. I have a complete JH engine to swap in to replace the tired EN, and a new fuel tank.  Also a 34DMTR Weber on manifold if I can't get the blasted CIS to cooperate.

 It's my Christmas holiday project while my family is out of the country. Wish me luck (or not)

[8v-of-fury]

I dont know about you.. but i could get twice the economy out of my diesel as opposed to my 1.7 EN gas engine in the same car.. So for me.. diesel would have to be twice the price of RUG for it to push me back to gasoline..

[rs899]

Well, that's what I'm not sure of as I never got the EN  (or JH) to run.  I was thinking I might get low 30s if I babied it.  My commute is basically a 55mph romp with a few odd lights.

[8v-of-fury]

81 cabby should have a 1.6 engine, and its carbd? Do you know what transmission it has?

[rs899]

No, it came with a 1.7 (EN) that had CIS lambda, and has an FF transmission.  I picked up an '84 (I think) 1.8 JH for $50 (complete with all CIS) that came out of a crashed Scirocco that I am going to swap in.

[burn_your_money]

I used to think along those lines until my brakes failed in the middle of winter on my diesel and I switched to a 85 Jetta. Man that car was expensive to drive...

[rs899]

Well, I got the time, I got the beer, I got the engine, I got the Weber, I got the fuel tank..

I have another 12mm IDI block head etc, but need oversize pistons, machine $hop involvement etc.

If I am unhappy, by then it will be Spring and maybe diesel prices will approach reality once again and I will rebuild that.  Or maybe I will just never get this pig to run on the evil fuel.

[srgtlord]

For shiggles I bought a rust free 1992 cabriolet with a 3 speed automatic. Lo and behold the computer system died on me. I swapped a 2bbl holley carbuerator onto the pig with a holley to weber adapter [plate for the 1975 rabvbit manifold, replaced the distributor with a rebuilt 1975 rabbit points distributor, and a mechanial fuel pump. It consistantly acheived 21 mpg for the 2 weeks that I actually drove it. I feel bad the poor thing is sitting now but I had to downsize from 3 cars down to 1. I sold my gas golf with the 1.8 engine to my parents. That pig just barely acheived 23mpg . Now I just have my trusty rusty 1987 diesel golf that gets 40+ mpg. Do yourself a favor, fix the damn diesel.

[mtrans]

end on D you can finish wit some alt fuel,with petrol no no.

[bajacalal]

If you can drive 20% farther on diesel, wouldn't the price be worth it?

I can get about 42 MPG in my 85 turbo diesel golf, and that's cruising around 70 mph. My sister's 2.0 gas Jetta gets about 32 mpg.

That makes up for the difference in price, although I do agree we oil burners are being hosed.

Of course, there are other factors, like performance and drive-ability (and cold starts too). I like going fast. But I'm convinced I have the faster of those 2 cars, especially with a few mild modifications. I would be loathe to drive an 80s gas VW, unless it was a GTI, and I wouldn't really be thrilled with a non-turbo diesel either.

[8v-of-fury]

I feel the money you will spend to get the Gasser going properly, it could be used to offset the cost of diesel.

[R.O.R-2.0]

no way you will ever get 30+ mpg from a carburator. my CIS runs PERFECT, and i still only see about 30mpg..

my 86 GTI takes 1.5x the fuel of my 84 rabbit diesel..

so, would you rather buy 50% more gasoline? or pay 20% more for diesel?

the diesel is still cheaper than gasoline, if you look at the big picture.

sure, you pay 20% more for 50% more miles..

[8v-of-fury]

Its unfortunate because a JH would be fun, but I see more than double the mileage out of a highway tank from 1.7 gas to 1.6 diesel.

[rs899]

I am hoping for the ROR2.0 scenario , with CIS working without fuss.  I would be OK with 30.

I am a dieselhead but what if the price spread just keeps getting worse?

[8v-of-fury]

I am hoping for the ROR2.0 scenario , with CIS working without fuss.  I would be OK with 30.

I am a dieselhead but what if the price spread just keeps getting worse?

start running alternative fuels. lol