My '82 rabbit build

[vanbcguy]

So much has changed with the car, hard to figure out where to start.

Got the hillclimb bug, so started running my little TD on the hills.  It's a blast, even in a diesel rabbit.  Can't believe I never did it earlier.

I've done a ton of stuff to the car since i last posted, but I'll just give a run down of the diesel specific stuff I've installed or changed:

-lowest temp T stat I could find
-new H2O pump
-Dual scirocco fan set up
-removed the front mount intercooler (didn't like having it sandwiched with the radiator, felt like both were running hotter than they should)
-Installed a top mount intercooler
-built a naca duct-like scoop in the hood to feed the intercooler
-built and installed 2.5" downpipe
-trying a k14 this year

the turbo spools instantly.  It's probably not any more powerful that it was before, but the power/torque curves have moved so it's much different to drive.  I really like it, can't wait to get it finished and get some more seat time.

Just curious, what was the motivation behind the lower temp thermostat?  As far as I knew diesels like to be hot...

[JunkcollectorJ]

I was doing some hillclimb events, so I definitely had no problems with keeping the engine warm.  Hillclimb is like a 2 or 3 minute dyno run, so it's under load at full boost for a long time.  The temp gauge was getting close to pegged after a run, so I changed to the lower Tstat and added the dual fans to keep coolant temps in check.

[Smokey Eddy]

I was doing some hillclimb events, so I definitely had no problems with keeping the engine warm.  Hillclimb is like a 2 or 3 minute dyno run, so it's under load at full boost for a long time.  The temp gauge was getting close to pegged after a run, so I changed to the lower Tstat and added the dual fans to keep coolant temps in check.

I plan on doing a few hill climbs of my own this summer through the rockies so im adding a switch to turn my fan on manually as well as i added a much better higher flow fan. i kinda like it when it turns on, the lights dim...
only ever on for like 5 seconds though.
PS I absoLUTELY love that hood scoop.... straight ballin.

[JunkcollectorJ]

really getting close to time to pull the car out of the garage...it's been hibernating for the winter, and I'm anxious to drive it again.

At the end of last year RACE Metalsmiths, and myself, built an intake manifold for it.  I haven't had a chance to run it on a flow bench or anything, but it sounds like it flows better, hehe 

I had plans of swapping in a TDI this winter, but it hasn't been in the cards...so lets see how much more abuse this 1.6 will take.

I'm going to run a K24 this year.  I feel like the K14 was awesome off the line, but restrictive toward the top end.  Didn't seem to pull like it used to up there.  I never ran my T3 with the exhaust and intake, so it'll be interesting to see what the K24 is like.  I'll run 20psi, like I used to with the k14.

Going to try water injection and maybe a couple more psi.  Car ran strong last year, but I have to back off the fuel slightly at hillclimbs to keep my EGTs below 1300.  The thought with water injection is that I can run the extra fuel and keep those EGTs in check.  Probably a larger intercooler would be better, but I like my current set up, and spent too much time on it to abandon it now

[ktzdsl]

Beautiful implementation. Let us know about the performance of your intake. How did you make your dash bezel? Is that aluminum?

[dodger21]

Beautiful!

[sdwarf36]

At speed (?)  
http://daveestey.smugmug.com/Cars/Ascutney-Hillclimb-May-23-2010/12274961_nHQTa#876601808_KCpRA

[JunkcollectorJ]

hehe, yeah at "speed".  it'll probably just be even slower this year, with the addition of about 114lbs of tubing I have laying around...and then some day I'll build a power plant that might be able to haul it up the hill fast enough to need it   Still love my diesel though