'80 2Door Rabbit Diesel C White on Lipstick Red

[gtiguy1994]

Hello,
I need this like I need a hole in my head. But the price was too good to be true.
Cliffs:
Found for sale on a Minot local car forum
Went to look at it, couldn't believe my eyes at the condition it was in. Kept poker face
The only story I got was the mileage is true.:rolleyes:  (can anyone run the VIN?)The PO said the head gasket went out, they replaced it, the head gasket blew 30 miles later. Bought a 1.6D/5speed engine/trans. Never got around to installing it.
They let it sit for ~10 years under a tree.
Strut towers are clean and rust free.
I towed it home, pulled the engine, cleaned up the engine bay. swapped in said good engine this evening. Got that running. Sorting out some odds and ends before I take it out on the road.






















Had to "make do" with what I had laying around to get the battery hooked up. I will do it the proper way one I am sure the engine is good to go with new belts/pulleys. The tank is hooked up now. I just ran diesel out of a bottle to test fire the engine. No need to waste time doing one thing when I need when I should do something major.  I need to replace some rubber fuel lines as well. I have a list of "to-do's"
The video and sound are out of sync for some reason.




In my opinion, its is good shape. I do need to find some odds and ends. You input is appreciated.
I need to part out the 1.5D so I can put money into this, whether it is paint, parts, etc.

[8v-of-fury]

I wouldn't spend a dime on interior or the exterior.. The car is near flawless.. Spend the money upgrading and replacing what needs it.

IE. All the crap that went bad when it sat for 10 years. Be safe, it needs all new brakes. Might as well do suspension, don't lower it.. that sucks.. Keep it stock or SLIGHTLY lower and you will love it.

Yes the NA is slow as a mule, but it can still whip corners like any other.

Nice pull brother, I wished I liked rabbits.. but most of them are built in Murricah, and that is a no-no.

[CRSMP5]

hell me id keep and fix the dealer ac even.. get new lines made up to fit a serp ac set up.. the dealer installed ac stuff inside is just perect/undamaged..

[shorttimer]

Round eye fenders & very little rust. Nice find!

[Syncroincity]

That is remarkably clean! Congrats!

A few cans of VHT plastic/interior paint will even out the shades of pink.

[gtiguy1994]

thanks for the replies! I will look into the interior VHT paint. I look forward to driving it around as soon as the snow melts away...which wont me until may.

[8v-of-fury]

Put some winters on it and drive it

[scrounger]

Merricah.....
Bud you live in North America. Get used to it

Nice car!

I wouldn't spend a dime on interior or the exterior.. The car is near flawless.. Spend the money upgrading and replacing what needs it.

IE. All the crap that went bad when it sat for 10 years. Be safe, it needs all new brakes. Might as well do suspension, don't lower it.. that sucks.. Keep it stock or SLIGHTLY lower and you will love it.

Yes the NA is slow as a mule, but it can still whip corners like any other.

Nice pull brother, I wished I liked rabbits.. but most of them are built in Murricah, and that is a no-no.

[8v-of-fury]

Merricah.....
Bud you live in North America. Get used to it

Nice car!

No sir, German built Jetta all the way I got 5 German built Jetta's in my driveway right now

3 are mk1 's

[gtiguy1994]

Looking for some online help here.
I cannot get the upper transmission mount on. I think the wrong rubber mount was pressed in.
Maybe someone can help me out.
It looks like the PO of the mount pressed in the Engine side mount. Can anyone verify this? I looked on Germanautoparts and it shows that the mount pressed in is the incorrect one.

[gtiguy1994]

Hmm, Its still a project thread I drove it today. 23 miles on the highway and a few around town. It was very windy on the highway. Snow was creating some icy spots on the highway. Had it up to 63 mph. Clutch needs adjusted. I passed a pick up truck that was going 55mph, I chuckled, then he passed me...probably not to be behind a diesel Rabbit. lol. I am going to replace the thermostat. I had no heat. I used my laser thermometer and had head flange temps at 165 and bottom of the radiator temps around 120ish IIRC. I really dont remember since the bottom hose/flange  temps werent too high. The temp light is on though. Even from the start.  No major vibrations, the tires are shot. I believe the heater control lever is broke. I cant move it. It went into all 5 gears. Although the white plastic ball piece was breaking up. I think there is an exhaust leak from an exhaust gasket.
 Waiting on word for the guy in Seattle with the 5 speed swap parts.
Installed the correct bushing in the mount today. Installed the mount and a new battery.

[8v-of-fury]

Don't figure a thermostat will help you, unless it is stuck open.. ?

The 45 degree drop between top and lower flange says that the thermo is closed with no coolant flow, or you checked it right after a drive and the radiator is over cooling the engine because of a stuck open thermo.

I think the thermo is closed (as 165 isnt hot enough to open it) and that is just from the cold air blowing in through the grille and using the aluminum head as a giant heat sink and sucking the heat away. what was the ambient today?

[gtiguy1994]

I kinda thought that too (stuck open t-stat) but the lever on the heater controls is stuck. (PO tried to glue it back together) I let it run in my garage after the cruise and it still had no heat. Temps were up. Im pretty sure the heater control valve is stuck on cold.
I wont be driving it today for 3 reason. 1) I am waiting on the 5 speed swap parts. 2) The snow is melting and there is a lot of salt/slush/water on the roads. 3) I have it up on jack stands at the moment.

[gtiguy1994]

It has heat now. The wire cable that goes from the heater core hose valve to the control in the dash is inop. It was closed the entire time hence no heat while traveling.

[CRSMP5]

temp light.... wrong sensor on the neck... gauge vs light is 2 different sensors... if you went to a delux cluster w/temp gauge problem solved.. else get right one