From Previous owners old for sale thread
81 Rabbit LS Diesel
1.6l Diesel and 4spd with just a hair under 300k. Still gets 30-42mpg depending on temp etc
Shifts smooth as butter and runs as smooth as a diesel this old can when its warmed up.
Replaced while in my possession- water pump, glow plugs, glow plug relay, muffler, front rotors and pads.
Currently has three sets of wheels.. take em or leave them all 13s. Black steelies with usable tires (on the car), silver steelies with good Hakkapellita snow tires, and old skool Enkie Mesh with various tires.
No stereo, tan vinyl "leather" interior.
Very minor rust on the inner fenders, none on the strut tower. Floor boards are good too
I have a fuel filter and fan switch as well as extra fusible link that go with the car too.
Quirks:
Leaks from the block heater.. nothing major. The block heater doesnt work and needs to be replaced anyway.. $25 part
E brake is not hooked up- everything is there the handle just needs to be taken apart and reassembled
Intake manifold is held on by one bolt and zipties.... I believe it was like this when I bought it. Engine runs fine regardless, no issues.
Water will collect inside the car.. usually if the drains in the rain tray get plugged. Made it through last weekend no problem
I know I am forgetting a ton of stuff.. so feel free to ask. I am not going to part it out .. sorry. Would make great basis for a project or keep on going as a daily.
Now to the current status, Now the car has it’s got 308 almost 309k on it. I'm selling this because I've found a diesel caddy shell I'd like to put a turbo diesel engine in.
A recap of what he’s replaced:
- water pump
- glow plugs
- glow plug relay
- muffler
- front rotors and pads.
Things I’ve fixed or replaced().
- The intake is now held on with 4 out of 7 bolts (I couldn’t get the other three that had busted off out of the head with out pulling the head)
- I changed the air filter when I fixed the intake
- I changed the fuel filter when I got it
- I’ve replaced the e-brake handle with one that works
- I fixed (well replaced) the vent windows with bolt threw vent windows
- I’ve put in a cheap aiwa radio, ran new speaker wire from the back to the front and put in 2 passat speakers. (their kinda crappy, but they work) it has one front driver side speaker that I left.
- I’ve put in gti seats and steering wheel (I have the old ones still)
- I fixed the mirror that was busted on the pass side
- I picked up a couple cabrio window cranks (the good kind with the metal insert that doesn’t break) for the front, I think it’s missing a rear window crank, but this is 3 more then what was originally there.
- I replaced the thermostat and anti-freeze trying to track down an elusive leak, found traced it to a hose clamp that had come loose, fixed and have not had any other coolent related issues.
- I just replaced the timing belt at 308k, Timed the injection pump and replaced the valve cover gasket with a neoprene g60 gasket from GAP this is *re-usable* if you are careful when you take the valve cover apart.
- I replaced the vacuum pump gaskets so I had brake assist and vacuum actuated accessories again.
- I've replaced the alt belt @ 305k
Things it needs (aka ‘the bad’)
- Its due for another oil change which I will do shortly when it hits 309k
- it needs new shifter bushings (it’s a 4 speed) and although it upshifts fine, if you downshift from 3rd to 2nd when going more then 15mph you risk grinding gears.
- it needs a new windshield (it’s the non-glue in type) and seal. The windshield has no cracks but it is pitted something fierce from years of sand? I just drive it though and I’ve been keeping my eye out for a cheap windshield.
- Apparently the block heater does not work (although I’ve never had it leak) I currently do not have a place to plug it in. (it’s still started with out complaint every day this winter)
- Because the windshield appears to be leaking when it’s wet, the fuse box gets wet when it rains out. I’ve managed to do some pretty crappy body work with jb-weld putty and silicone where I found a few holes in the firewall. This is no show car by any stretch of the imagination.
- The Body has damage from where it hit a curb from a previous owner
- With 309k on it the body is showing it’s age, there is some rust along the windshield, on the pass door, inner fenders. I honestly haven’t poked around to hard to find it because I have no way to fix it (other then my patented jb-weld fix) because I have no other place to work on it then in my driveway.
Things I’ve not tried:
- AC it has it, but honestly, I have no idea if it’s good or bad, all the parts are there, the belts are there. BUT the wires to it are hacked, I haven’t had time to play with it and no desire to make it slower *grin*
- The ‘ash tray’ part had fallen off before I got the car, I haven’t attempted to fix because I have enough rattles. But I have the piece if you want to fix it. Along with the original seats.
- The shocks seem to drive ok for me, but when I have my tools in the back I get a sweet reverse rake going on, so I was going to upgrade the suspension to something a little better (I've got a bead on a GTI strut/spring combo.)
This past summer, the car was getting about 45-50mpg (around 400 miles per tank) after I fixed the intake, I’ve changed jobs since summer and now don’t drive nearly as far which I think has had a negative effect on my fuel efficiency. That coupled with the winter fuel mix I’m getting about 35-40mpg (around 300-350 per tank)
Here's some pics of the car this fall when I got with it.
orginal seats, and steering wheel
rocker/door damage
engine shots
under shots
Larger Pics here
http://fuslit.org/photo_gallery/index.php?album=misc/car/rabbit/ There are some other parts that will not be sold with this car (namely the turbo diesel parts shown in the pics if you click on that link)
Overall I'm extremely happy with this car (minus the body rust) the first car I owned was a diesel rabbit and this one has been more reliable, more fun to drive, and dare I say faster? I've taken this on road trips 3.5 home to my parents and wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere. I feel with the work and parts that I've put in the car is worth $800.00 Feel free to make an offer of what you think it’s worth. Remember, I drive it every day, it is on the road if you want to take a test drive in it let me know.
My cell number is 315-651-2725, please call after 6pm week days, week ends are spotty to catch me, but leave a message and I'll return your call. This is my cell phone and my work frowns on the use of cell phones during the work day.
Because those pics are kinda old I'll see if I can't get a few newer ones (I'll just need to clean it first)
-Todd
Topic: 81, yellow, 1.6 n/a diesel 4 door rabbit in upstate NY: $800 (Read 4068 times)
