TDI swap in a Rabbit truck anyone?

Anyone have this type swap? I have a 81 caddy and want suggestions on what yr TDI is the best and easiest to go in it. Heard a 96 is a good year. I still have the 1.6 NA but it needs a rebuild and a head. So if I have to do that might as well put in a TDI and have a lot more fun driving it. Have already stripped the bay down. Only battery tray left to do. Any thoughts?

Have a look through the conversions section, I'm sure someone either did it or was thinking about doing it not long ago and it was the same sort of age. I could be dreaming but might be worth checking.

I just did this exact swap. 81 pickup/96 1z motor. Look in the conversion pages for any mk1 based vw swap, and start studying.

Will do. I found some threads right after I posted this. He had pics. Was a great build. (2manydiesels) Any major mods and fab to get to fit 2 ? Mounts, subframe? Dash and steering column looks to be a challenge. Any pics?

So I wasn't dreaming

Its been done many times now, the original i think was MrDave on vortex with an alh tdi into the mk1 truck. Lots of info if you dig, keep in mind it will basically be the same swap as a regular mk1 scirocco rabbit or cabriolet even! We each have our own spin on it though!

Like BegVWman says, we all have our own spin on it. You can do this without mods to the steering column, but I did a minor mod. I used the 02a trans, which you will have to spend 300 for mounts, or build yours, as I did. I did something quite different for my hydraulic clutch. Have lots of pics, just havent figured how to post them yet

oops...I meant BigVWman...sorry

I know what you mean. I have lots of pics too. Instead of changing the mounts, won't the whole subframe be better to fab up and install?

What would be the advantage of the subframe versus the mounts? I would think the mounts keep the stress points on the mk1 unibody in the same place it was engineered to be originally, where as with the subframe you may be attaching to material that was never meant to support the weight or stress. On the mk1 the control arms mount into the body where as later ones mounted into the subframe, same with steering rack. Not saying it couldn't be done but it seems an awful lot of extra work for little gain. Not to mention aren't they also different width? So you would also have to shrink the span on the subframe!

Good point vwman. Did not think about the diff widths. Thats right. Much much more work. The front mount is on top of the cross piece I think. Has a rear one also but won't use the original side mounts. Is this correct?