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> Looking for a decent vw rabbit pick up, south west/west coast
orange914
post May 1 2011, 11:16 AM
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I'm on the hunt for a decent diesel VW Rabbit pick up. I'm learning more than I really wanted to know on these things. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

One of the main things that I'm zero'd in on is finding a solid mechanical drive train. decent body, paint not a real deal breaker.

Any help finding one is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Mike
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rick 918-S
post May 1 2011, 12:18 PM
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/
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orange914
post May 1 2011, 12:36 PM
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thanks, Rick

Actually the water cooled 80-83 rabbit pick m' up as below example

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1079242

Diesel, 5 speed preferred
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racerbvd
post May 1 2011, 01:35 PM
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I have had several over the years, great trucks, better mileage than a sMART & Prieus(how ever it is spelled) and can carry more than a 6 pack of beer & you don't look like a Smug Dweeb driving one.. I think my last one had either 3 or 400K when I traded it off for a 944.. Will carry Fuchs too...
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Try and find an 82 "Sport Truck", a 5 speed & a Turbo diesel, those were peppy little trucks...
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orange914
post May 1 2011, 02:04 PM
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QUOTE(racerbvd @ May 1 2011, 12:35 PM) *

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Try and find an 82 "Sport Truck", a 5 speed & a Turbo diesel, those were peppy little trucks...


fact OR fiction???
I've heard the 80' had electrical issues...
I've only seen "sport trucks" in gas...???
Did they come w/ turbo option?
Is the 1.9 in the 1.6 family? bolt over?
82'... better/why?
is the LX the upper model?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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jmill
post May 1 2011, 02:05 PM
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There's 3 on ebay right now. The one in OR might be worth a look. Very little info on it. The others are either gold plated or a salvage title.



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orange914
post May 1 2011, 03:04 PM
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QUOTE(jmill @ May 1 2011, 01:05 PM) *

There's 3 on ebay right now. The one in OR might be worth a look. Very little info on it. The others are either gold plated or a salvage title.

Yup, I talked to the "flower powered" Oregon pick up. It has to be road worthy enough to drive home (one day drive). It had road worthy issues. The owner was nice enough, but one mushroom shy of a vegtable oil powered diesel.

The blue has a lot of isses, but I do have a cheap bid in on it. Cheap enough it might be worth towing home.

I have a bid in on the nice NICE one, but $8k buy it now.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

I've learned that part of the reason these $1500 trucks are going so high $ is because they have diesel registration/no smog check and are being bought by "tuners". They can throw any gas engine in it.

thanks
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736conver
post May 1 2011, 04:40 PM
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QUOTE
I've learned that part of the reason these $1500 trucks are going so high $ is because they have diesel registration/no smog check and are being bought by "tuners". They can throw any gas engine in it.


or it could be the fact that they get 45 to 50 mpg.

I just gassed up my rabbit diesel and I was at 52.5 mpg. Turbo diesel do even better when tuned right.
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jmill
post May 1 2011, 05:47 PM
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QUOTE(orange914 @ May 1 2011, 04:04 PM) *

I have a bid in on the nice NICE one, but $8k buy it now.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)


No such thing as a $1500 diesel rabbit anymore. With gas prices sky rocketing again I wonder if this guy is just fishing for big money. He'll never get 8k but I bet bids get close to 5k.
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Cap'n Krusty
post May 1 2011, 06:48 PM
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Before you get all nutso on a Rabbit diesel, remember that there are essentially NO cylinder heads available anywhere, and the heads are the weak point. In most cases, high mileage cylinder heads are not rebuildable, at least by any machinist with an ounce of integrity. You might be able to fine one of the elusive 1.9 Brazilian diesel engines, although I couldn't a few years ago. Of course, you could always put an early TDi engine in it, electronics and all. Later ones have to use the instrument cluster that came with the engine, making the job somewhat more complex.

The Cap'n
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orange914
post May 1 2011, 08:59 PM
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QUOTE(Cap'n Krusty @ May 1 2011, 05:48 PM) *

Before you get all nutso on a Rabbit diesel, remember that there are essentially NO cylinder heads available anywhere, and the heads are the weak point. In most cases, high mileage cylinder heads are not rebuildable, at least by any machinist with an ounce of integrity. You might be able to fine one of the elusive 1.9 Brazilian diesel engines, although I couldn't a few years ago. Of course, you could always put an early TDi engine in it, electronics and all. Later ones have to use the instrument cluster that came with the engine, making the job somewhat more complex.

The Cap'n

That crossed my mind. I know of a low mile 05' TDI that was stuffed under a truck. Too much work unless I could find a really nice pick up cheap. Probably not. I understand 04' down is less electronics...???

I'm just looking for a solid occasional driver.
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Cap'n Krusty
post May 3 2011, 07:42 AM
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QUOTE(orange914 @ May 1 2011, 07:59 PM) *

QUOTE(Cap'n Krusty @ May 1 2011, 05:48 PM) *

Before you get all nutso on a Rabbit diesel, remember that there are essentially NO cylinder heads available anywhere, and the heads are the weak point. In most cases, high mileage cylinder heads are not rebuildable, at least by any machinist with an ounce of integrity. You might be able to fine one of the elusive 1.9 Brazilian diesel engines, although I couldn't a few years ago. Of course, you could always put an early TDi engine in it, electronics and all. Later ones have to use the instrument cluster that came with the engine, making the job somewhat more complex.

The Cap'n

That crossed my mind. I know of a low mile 05' TDI that was stuffed under a truck. Too much work unless I could find a really nice pick up cheap. Probably not. I understand 04' down is less electronics...???

I'm just looking for a solid occasional driver.


99 down, or just maybe a 2000. The others have the immobilizer built into the instrument cluster. You may not want to make a career getting one of those puppies to work. Call the folks at BW Dismantlers in Roseville about an engine.

The Cap'n
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racerbvd
post May 5 2011, 10:44 AM
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QUOTE(orange914 @ May 1 2011, 12:04 PM) *

QUOTE(racerbvd @ May 1 2011, 12:35 PM) *

Attached Image

Try and find an 82 "Sport Truck", a 5 speed & a Turbo diesel, those were peppy little trucks...


fact OR fiction???
I've heard the 80' had electrical issues...
I've only seen "sport trucks" in gas...???
Did they come w/ turbo option?
Is the 1.9 in the 1.6 family? bolt over?
82'... better/why?
is the LX the upper model?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Yes, but after 31 years,I woud think they have been fixed.

A buddy had a turbo diesel one in high school, it was pretty quick too....
Some did..
I have seen a lot of engine swaps in Rabbit trucks, even converted a diesel to GTI spec myself BITD..
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Newest, last of the breed..
Yes.
You gotta remember, I love these old trucks and have own a few.
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moparrob
post May 5 2011, 08:49 PM
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Did you see this one on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-Volksw...=item2eb4e03f17
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orange914
post May 5 2011, 11:00 PM
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Just got back from a trip to San Jose... picked up a very solid 81 diesel. I'm very happy with it's overal condition for what I need it for.

Funny thing is just minutes before I made a deal on a Very nice gas 5 speed w/ air, nice rims ect. driver. Gotta go up to seattle, but thats part of the fun.

I'll post more info/pics tomorrow.

THANKS ALL for the input I learned lot about these lil' guys

Mike
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moparrob
post May 5 2011, 11:14 PM
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out of curiosity, what is the cost of a nice gas pickup these days?
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orange914
post May 6 2011, 03:48 PM
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QUOTE(moparrob @ May 5 2011, 10:14 PM) *

out of curiosity, what is the cost of a nice gas pickup these days?

From what I've seen over the past several month's a nice gas runs around 3k and the same diesel at least 2x's that.

Most west coasters seem to be in Seattle, Oregon or So. Cal.
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orange914
post May 6 2011, 03:54 PM
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QUOTE(racerbvd @ May 5 2011, 09:44 AM) *

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Ha! Those 1980 shorts! My wife loves black mailing me using a 1981 shorts picture
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orange914
post May 6 2011, 04:06 PM
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Well a quick picture of the 81' diesel I picked up yesterday. It's definately a 20 footer paint, but the interior is EXCELLENT. It drove home in 96+ degree, pulled the grades good and always ran at or just a hair over 1/2 temp. The truck has high miles but you'd never know it from the driver seat. It is just about as tight as a new vehicle.

I found a good deal on a nice gas with air that we will be bringing down from seattle soon. I think we'll drive them both awhile and ebay the loser.

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Cap'n Krusty
post May 6 2011, 04:37 PM
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The electrical problems are VERY real, and are almost invariably the result of rust through on the windshield frame/cowl. Water drips, or even pours, onto the fusebox, which sits just under the left side of the cowl. The secondary issue is the fuel pump relay melting the fuse box. There's a remote setup for the relay, and one would guess they've nearly all been done.

The Cap'n
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