Turbo Diesel Rabbits???? - page 1 - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• Turbo Diesel Rabbits???? by ThumperTheRabbit on 18 Oct, 2004 09:41
• Why is it that I am just now hearing about the 1.6ltr Turbo Diesel??? As far as I knew there was only one little diesel engine and that was the 1.6ltr NA Diesel...
  
  Were there alot of them in canada??
  
  Also, is it easy to do a Turbo engine swap into a NA rabbit?
• #1 by BlackTieTD on 18 Oct, 2004 10:30
• 
  
  there arent many 1.6TD mkIs around... but you can find em if you look. '83/'84.
  
  the 1.6TD swap from a mkII into a mkI is pretty straightforward, and made easier if you have the old mkI engine for mounts/etc.
• #2 by Dr. Diesel on 18 Oct, 2004 14:12
• 81, 82 jetta td too. some with p/s and a/c. they come with a neato factory cool air intake.
• #3 by moosiah on 18 Oct, 2004 20:47
• Hi   I'm doing this swap right now.........slowly........I have seen a real turbo diesel Rabbit  rear hatch emblem...... the owner of the bunny said that his kid found it in a junk yard.....  (and he didn't take the engine..:cry: ...dumb..:roll:...)
• #4 by VWRacer on 19 Oct, 2004 04:09
• Moose, maybe the guy's kid found a Canadian TD Rabbit? I only ask because I've read that there were no TD Rabbits imported to the US. That info could be wrong, though. :?
  
  In any case, I too am converting a Rabbit to TD. Only in my case it is an '84 GTI. The gearbox is all wrong for max fuel mileage, but since this is a race car, I don't really care about the fuel mileage.
  
  A Turbo Diesel Rabbit emblem would be just the touch it needs! Anybody know where there is a photo of one on the web? (Or better yet, where I can buy one?)
  
  TIA, Stan
• #5 by VWRacer on 19 Oct, 2004 04:17
• Hey, I found a source on eBay. The guy makes them in red/black and silver. Place it right in front of the word Rabbit on you car's hatch and you're all set. Check it out here.
• #6 by Red Rabbit on 19 Oct, 2004 15:43
• Moose, maybe the guy's kid found a Canadian TD Rabbit? I only ask because I've read that there were no TD Rabbits imported to the US. That info could be wrong, though.  
  .........I don"t know much about that, but since TD Rabbits were made in Pennsylvania, wouldn't they have been available in the U.S?
• #7 by BlackTieTD on 19 Oct, 2004 15:47
• i had a photo of a real "Rabbit Turbo Diesel" badge on this computer but i formatted a couple months ago... i will try to dig it up.
  
  TD rabbits are fun and mine's still only 'stock'.
  
  i used to hate going on the 401 with the rabbit when it had the 1.5L N/A... i'd always have to downshift to 4th to accelerate or to go up hills and top speed was about 125km/h.
  
  now with the TD, cruising up hills in 5th (same gearbox) at 130km/h is no problem... and top speed is 160km/h+, not that i'd ever drive that fast  :roll:
• #8 by KMD on 19 Oct, 2004 15:58
• I will try to get some pics of the badge on the back of my bunny.
  Factory 1984 turbo diesel bunny 2 door.
• #9 by BlackTieTD on 19 Oct, 2004 16:01
• 2-dr? uber rare then. nice.
• #10 by Red Rabbit on 19 Oct, 2004 16:48
• Hey BlackTie, that's what I have....84 TD Rabbit 2 door,  FACTORY A/C, (yes, it works ) sunroof,rear window washer, a bunch of minor mods. Body in not bad shape but, lordy, she needs a paint job.....Kevin.......
• #11 by craptastic on 19 Oct, 2004 22:33
• i've got a factory TD rabbit. but it's an '82. i thought i saw somebody say they only came in '83 and '84. i know it's an '82, and i know it used to have a factory 1.6 solid lifter TD that came in it from the dealership. i dunno what the deal is. now it has a later 1.6TD with a hydraulic head. i just finished getting it together. it's so much fun. i can't wait to get the coilovers and intercooler installed.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• #12 by fspGTD on 20 Oct, 2004 15:44
• That's not a factory Rabbit TD.  The first year for the factory turbo diesels in north america was '83.  That badge is the front badge of an A2 Jetta TD.  The fuel filter is also in the wrong location; on a factory A1 TD the fuel filter is mounted on the firewall.  That's not to say it doesn't look like a fun ride, though.  
  
  FYIL: There were no '81 or '82 factory TDs (except for '82, there might be a factory TD in europe only.)
• #13 by VWRacer on 20 Oct, 2004 16:04
• Quote from: "Red Rabbit"

  I don"t know much about that, but since TD Rabbits were made in Pennsylvania, wouldn't they have been available in the U.S?

  
  Could be, although they must have been rare. My first Rabbit was a 1980 1.5l D, and I certainly would have bought a TD had I known they existed.
• #14 by craptastic on 20 Oct, 2004 22:19
• Quote from: "fspGTD"

  That's not a factory Rabbit TD.  The first year for the factory turbo diesels in north america was '83.  That badge is the front badge of an A2 Jetta TD.  The fuel filter is also in the wrong location; on a factory A1 TD the fuel filter is mounted on the firewall.  That's not to say it doesn't look like a fun ride, though.  
  
  FYIL: There were no '81 or '82 factory TDs (except for '82, there might be a factory TD in europe only.)

  
  
  that car is killer weird then, cause it is an '82, i bought it from the original owner, and according to him, it was all original (but the engine was very kaput when i bought it). so, did somebody pull the ol' switcheroo when this guy wasn't looking? cause i pulled out a 1.6L TD solid lifter head motor. maybe this guy forgot that at some point in time he had a TD swapped in there. i don't know, but i do know that it's a whole lotta fun now that it's running again. oh yeah, i know that badge is from a MKII, i just like it.