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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: Clankin-Rabbit on January 30, 2008, 08:33:48 pm
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I'll soon be acquiring a rabbit (a year of which I dont know because I havent seen the car) in good condition that I plan to turn into a daily commuter car to school and back. I was told that it only needs a timing belt to get running. I dont know the specifics of the car yet as I haven't been to see it but I will be going to get it Saturday regardless of the condition because the price is right.
My questions are: (after discovering the search function sucks here like many other boards)
1. Does anyone have a thread (possibly w/ pics) that has the procedure of changing the TB out close to the bentley manual?
and..
2. Where can I find a TB for this car @? Any auto stores (NAPA..?) nearby that may be able to get one or will I have to order? If so...where would be the best place to order from?
Thanks very much. I am new to these little diesels so I appreciate your replies.
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step 1. Why does it need a timing belt? If it broke count on needing a couple valves, maybe a piston or two and possibly a new head, plus all the other gaskets that come with taking the head off
Step 2. buy a new tensioner as well as a t-belt, most stores should carry both
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and of course
http://vincewaldon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=28
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step 1. Why does it need a timing belt? If it broke count on needing a couple valves, maybe a piston or two and possibly a new head, plus all the other gaskets that come with taking the head off
Step 2. buy a new tensioner as well as a t-belt, most stores should carry both
Indeed. These cars are not plug and play. They have interference motors. So, if you're buying it with a 'bad timing belt', then you're in it for a head job (all new guides, seals, resurface, pressure test, and minimally 4 new exhaust valves). Then there's the head gasket, bolts, etc.
You can find the parts online at several places, probably cheaper than at your local NAPA, etc. Also, most fly-by-night places (Advance, Autozone, Pep Boys, etc), sell just crap. Try googling 'discount VW parts'. They sell good stuff at fair prices. Just the belt and tensioner will run about $35-50. But you might also consider the water pump, cam seal, front main seal, intermediate shaft seal, etc.
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Tyler,
# of miles are unknown by me..but the specifics of the owner are that he is a diesel mechanic and the car was driven by him for a while. To my knowledge...the TB may be frayed and in bad condition and in need of replacing? I dont believe that it broke leaving way to a catastrophic engine failure.
I hope I'm not buying a complete POS...and I will make sure that nothing is locked up before I put it on the trailer. But if it has a belt on...it should fire if all goes well, enough to get an idea that the car does run, maybe even make it home? I dont want to push it and have the belt break on me...
Thanks for the quick reply.
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I dont want to push it and have the belt break on me...
I think what you mean to say is you want to push it, that way there is no chance of the belt breaking :wink:
Oh yeah, mechanics cars are most often the most neglected cars
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step 1. Why does it need a timing belt? If it broke count on needing a couple valves, maybe a piston or two and possibly a new head, plus all the other gaskets that come with taking the head off
Step 2. buy a new tensioner as well as a t-belt, most stores should carry both
Indeed. These cars are not plug and play. They have interference motors. So, if you're buying it with a 'bad timing belt', then you're in it for a head job (all new guides, seals, resurface, pressure test, and minimally 4 new exhaust valves). Then there's the head gasket, bolts, etc.
You can find the parts online at several places, probably cheaper than at your local NAPA, etc. Also, most fly-by-night places (Advance, Autozone, Pep Boys, etc), sell just crap. Try googling 'discount VW parts'. They sell good stuff at fair prices. Just the belt and tensioner will run about $35-50. But you might also consider the water pump, cam seal, front main seal, intermediate shaft seal, etc.
So you are saying that NAPA would have the belt but it wouldn't be as good as quality as say a genuine VW parts dealer? I do plan on making this a dependable car..as well as learn alittle along the way.
And Tyler...yes I may have to push it....all the way home. :lol: Still having a tough time finding a trailer. a U-haul dolly may have to work.
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Oh yeah, mechanics cars are most often the most neglected cars
You're squishing all the joy I've had in finding one of these little buggars by raising all these questions and bringing up all these good points... :lol: (in other words thanks for the fair warning in advance!)
He is a diesel mechanic involving farm equipment but I know that doesn't make him any less innocent. He is a good friend with the guy who happened to let me on to the fact that he had the car. This guy wouldn't screw me over...so we shall find out whats up with the car and get to the bottom of this. I won't make a bad decision and take it on a whim...
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Nothing wrong with car dolleys, that's how I roll.. er tow.
Get german quality stuff (especially the oil and filter)
you can browse www.autopartsonlinecanada.com for idea's of quality brands but they don't ship to the US
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My first diesel (and rabbit) was from a farmer, he thought it was dead so he went terrorizing the fields with it before hearing from his brother who heard from my friend that I was looking for a rabbit. It served me well for about a year before the headgasket crapped out. They are good cars
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What brand oil do you recommend using?
I see alot of people using royal purple or?
Excuse my newbiness please...I know its overwhelming.
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My first diesel (and rabbit) was from a farmer, he thought it was dead so he went terrorizing the fields with it before hearing from his brother who heard from my friend that I was looking for a rabbit. It served me well for about a year before the headgasket crapped out. They are good cars
You mean to tell me I'm not the only person who was obsessed enough with idea of owning a diesel rabbit, who had to tell all their friends and relatives I was looking for one? I've been searching for atleast a good yr.
Some will point and laugh at my choice of ride...but I will be pointing and laughing as I know the amount of money I will be saving. Plus I think driving it will be a complete blast. I've always loved diesels. I just couldn't afford a modern, full size one.
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I think maybe something missing in this thread is:
Does the car run? Sometimes people say a car needs a timing belt because of various reasons. Here are some reasons:
1. It broke and I am trying to unload a car with a screwed up engine
2. It looks bad (oil soaked, frayed whatever)
3. It is due for scheduled timing belt replacement.
BYM: I resent that statement. I put a ***ton of money into my cars to make sure they are in top shape. No, I'm not a mechanic. I am an engineer of sorts. Yeah, I own a shop and fix cars and do swaps and all that, but be careful about blanket statements. All of the people that works for me drive highly modified cars that are kept in top shape. Most of the mechanics that drive POS cars are crappy mechanics or they work on domestic. ;)
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You are right, it was a rather broad statement. Not all of them are, but most of the ones I have personally looked at were neglected either because the mechanic did not have time, knew how far he could push things, knew what things he could let slide or just didn't feel like working on it. I definitely did not mean to imply that all mechanic's cars are heaps waiting to explode. My apologies.
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So you are saying that NAPA would have the belt but it wouldn't be as good as quality as say a genuine VW parts dealer? I do plan on making this a dependable car..as well as learn alittle along the way.
No, NAPA is about the best of the big chains. If I had to buy from someone, it would be NAPA. Actually CarQuest carries all the good brands, but you'll have to have the part numbers to buy them. Basically, they carry WorldPac: perhaps one of the biggest foreign auto parts distributors in the US. They and IMC are pretty big. So, if you go to Carquest, you're about certain to get good parts like:
1) Timing belt: should be Continental. Gates is a good second choice too,
2) Tensioner: INA is good, as is SKF. Those are the big brands that WorldPac carries.
3) Seals: Reinz are great. Kaco are good too
4) Water Pump: Hepu, Graf, GMB, Meyle. They're all good. Quality is listed in decending order.
That should take care of the TB job.
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Quantum TD...thanks for the reply. My sister is the only person who owns a VW in our family and when it has a problem she takes it to the dealer. I've only ever owned Chrysler vehicles so the VW/German engineering is new to me.
Vanagonturbo...The car does run...to my knowledge is needs a routine belt change. This is all I've been told, and no more. I understand there are people out there who try to pawn off complete pieces on people...but I will make sure the car will run before I take it home with me.
Thanks for the replies guys. :wink:
-Evan
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Update:
I picked the car up today and it turned out to be a very good day for myself. I feel I did well with what I purchased. The car in question was indeed a white '81 4-door Rabbit 1.6NA (not abused and taken well enough care of) in very good condition for being a Rust Belt (Midwest) car. There are the usual rust spots (edges of doors, edge of hatch, rocker panels) in the most common areas but the underbody and strut towers were surprisingly in good enough condition. and none of the rust had penetrated through in the previously stated areas. As I was told, the car needs a new timing belt and I was even given the parts to make it ready to go, which include a new timing belt and tranny pan gasket as well as a valve cover gasket. ODO stops working at 140K and previous owner stated that they didn't put over 4K on it so I'm guessing it has anywhere from 145K-150K on the original engine.(Not too bad?) The MK1 Dashboard is surprisingly in mint condition which is rare and it has tan vinyl interior which is surprisingly in good condition too. The owner also included a manual (Haynes I think?) he purchased with the car in hopes to do some work to the car which included installing the new belt which he had purchased. He stated he had hoped to get it running well enough to take it to the diesel nationals to blow it up at the burnout contest in hopes to win the prize money... :roll: :x :( Thank god I got to this little bunny in time. I'm very happy with it and am still glad I found it to make into my project that I've so badly wanted to start for a long time.
Well I guess thats enough for now. I just like posting my stories about my finds because I myself enjoy reading other peoples finds and purchases.
-Evan