Quick intro and let me pick your brains (Please)

[Curt]

New to Dub diesels not to Vdubs been around them for more years then we will go into still have a couple of wetsy in the yard my sons 68 and my 72 weekender.
  Not exactly new to diesel either running an old 12 valve in a 90 dodge and a 01 Duramax that the wife claims . I have  been running them both on home brew bio for almost a year now (thought it was a year but won't be till feb) time flies when you are confused.  :?
  Any way my reason for being here is I am looking at an 83 Rabbit (thought it was 84) with 240k on it. I realize things like axles ball joints and the like are normal wear items my question is, does the little engine wear as well as the larger diesels? Can it still be expected to go for a while and can it be freshened up or does the block have weak points like main webs ands such.
 Any head probs the owner says he had a rebuild injector pump on before he parked it this year (new mother and not putting my babies in that)
  Sheesh better cut this short and let folks that know get some space.
   Thanks  Curt

[jtanguay]

i think the main weakness to these motors, is the maintenance required... other than that they're great!!!  :lol: timing belt has to be done every 60k miles, injectors around every 100k miles (but is subjective, as you're supposed to replace them as they wear out) change the coolant every year or two (depending on the type you buy) change the oil every 3k miles (unless you buy a really good synthetic - the main reason for changing the oil is the soot contamination)

so as long as regular maintenance was done, i'd say buy it.  if he has a receipt for the rebuilt injection pump, that will also be good.  if it was just a re-seal, then your pump won't leak for a very long time, and if it was re-sealed and calibrated, then you can expect excellent mileage, as well as a non leaking pump from the ULSD

the rest is pretty much body related...

[maxfax]

Maintenance makes all the difference on how long these engines last, as with anything I guess... There's some of these out there  with well over 300K on them and still going strong..

Luckily as of 1982ish and up they used improved 12mm head bolts which pretty much gets you out of the woods with head problems and cracked blocks.. Altough the head gaskets on these are known do decay with age so it not entirely out of the question that you may have to change one, just alot less chance for repeated failure unlike the erlier ones..   Check the coolant for traces of oil (in the expansion tank) That is usually the first sign of the gasket going..

  Timing belts and waterpumps are biggies on these..   IF you don;t know when it was last changed, change it..  If the belt brakes valves hit pistons and it's just not a good thing..  The water pump is easier with the belt off so it's a good time to do that as well..  

Other than that it's pretty much the normal glow plugs, belts hoses and filters etc... .   THe rebuilt pump is a big plus as long as it was done by someone reputable....  The new ultra low sulfer diesel is hell on our old seals...   If you're going to be running bio in this you'll need to replace all original rubber componets of the fuel system with new stuff made with dupont's viton, or equivelant..  Otherwise it'll all turn to goo....  Chances are the new seals in the IP are the viton ones so you won;t have to worry about that...

IF the injectors have never been rebuilt, that's not a bad idea either...   Good injectors do wonders for economy and power...

It's also necessary to replace the stock exhaust with very large diameter pipe with next to no muffler  :twisted:

Well okay maybe not on the last one...

[Curt]

The owner seems to like the little car so maybe took care of it has done cosmetic stuff to it carpet and such when pressed the IP was not rebuild but replaced with another used one  will have to run down the vintage if I get the car. Or are they pretty year specific?
  Seems the car is late 82 early 83 type thing here so hope for 12mm head bolts.
  Big open exhaust :shock:  I just happen to have an old 6.5 liter turbo laying
wonder if I could get enough venturi to spool that puppy  :twisted:  would not need a muffler at all then :lol:
  Thanks for the info will have to do more looking at the car I think still want one though and this one is cheap enough to maybe make it worth while.
  Thanks again Curt