Well I adopted another project, couldn’t pass this up. Parked at 94k and was running a few years ago, the timing belt broke at idle on the original 1.6D, 1981 Rabbit Truck. Black with red and white pin stripes on the side. Lots of patina, 0 rust holes. Plans are to get an ALH, VNT17, 11mm pump, front mounted intercooler, 02J or 02A. Possibly stage 4 malone tune, it’s all a pipe dream as of now but I will be using some S & P products. It’ll get rolling once the current project is finished. This car will be my fun car/learning car for making good power that is also very fuel efficient. I’ll take what I learn and apply it to my daily, an 03 jetta wagon ALH 5 speed.
1981 Rabbit Pickup ALH 5 or 6 speed Build.
- Thread starter JayWagn03
- Start date
The Cream Dolphin
Veteran Member
Oh yeah, I am excited for this oneWell I adopted another project, couldn’t pass this up. Parked at 94k and was running a few years ago, the timing belt broke at idle on the original 1.6D, 1981 Rabbit Truck. Black with red and white pin stripes on the side. Lots of patina, 0 rust holes. Plans are to get an ALH, VNT17, 11mm pump, front mounted intercooler, 02J or 02A. Possibly stage 4 malone tune, it’s all a pipe dream as of now but I will be using some S & P products. It’ll get rolling once the current project is finished. This car will be my fun car/learning car for making good power that is also very fuel efficient. I’ll take what I learn and apply it to my daily, an 03 jetta wagon ALH 5 speed.
JELLOWSUBMARINE
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
- Location
- yes
- TDI
- 2011 Jetta Sportwagen, 6M, red/tan, navi, pano, 83 5m diesel pickup, 82 p/u trailer,.04 5.5 TDI Passat wagon (gone), 80,81,82 diesel p/u (gone), 80,82 sportruck (gone), 59 passthru bus (long gone), 79&87 westy (gone), 57 baja bug (long gone), 73 914
Wish you well. A worthwhile save. Very few decent pickups left.
I thought about that too, I think I’m going to touch up the pin stripes, possibly bring back the tailgate some to match the truck more then use some kind of seed oil to preserve it. Haven’t looked into the process yet but yeah I don’t want to change much about it.
Agreed, that patina is awesome
Follow up with what you end up doing please, i have a truck with the same patina that ive been debating what to do with. Im not too keen on sealing it up with a clear, seems like a bad idea. Ive been looking into this stuff called patina paste, it’s relatively cheap but ive also been researching homebrew paste/oil mixtures
jmodge
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2015
- TDI
- More than I need, less than I want
I’ve seen patina clear coated. It takes away from the effect, my opinion. The sheen and the patina conflict each other.
jmodge
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2015
- TDI
- More than I need, less than I want
I’d say paint the underside, engine compartment, wheel wells, inside of the bed, keep the rest ugly or a satin finish. Satin magenta with lavender flames tipped with turquoise.
That's why I said matte clear.
jmodge
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2015
- TDI
- More than I need, less than I want
Sorry, wasn’t listening
I was told to wipe it down with degreaser, then wipe it down with boiled linseed oil. Still debating but I will probably do that unless I find out it’s a big no no. I don’t want to do anything to it with how bad the pollen is right now. It’s stored outside, washed it really good on the way home and installed new side markers. Still haven’t figured out what kind of wheels are on it. I was told they look like knock off bbs wheels from the 90s and there was a date on the back. But back to tdi stuff… I have a lead on a donor car, 2000 automatic with a brand new auto trans and 11mm pump. Haven’t decided if I’m getting it yet but I’d like to.
RexNICO
Veteran Member
Are they whitewall on the opposite side?
If so, I had a similar style of "boat trailer" tires from Sears on a Chevy Vega back in the early '80s. I think the slash was supposed to make it look like rope.
Seeing this makes me wish I still lived in Georgia/the South where you can find 30-40 yr old cars that aren't crumbling.
If so, I had a similar style of "boat trailer" tires from Sears on a Chevy Vega back in the early '80s. I think the slash was supposed to make it look like rope.
Seeing this makes me wish I still lived in Georgia/the South where you can find 30-40 yr old cars that aren't crumbling.
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No the sidewall was peeling off showing metal in the tires. I’m out of town this weekend but I’ll get some better pics. Still haven’t searched for tire manufacturer date.
burpod
teh stallionz!!1
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2004
- Location
- cape cod, ma
- TDI
- 82 rabbit vnt ahu, 98 jetta vnt ahu, 05 parts car, 88 scirocco.. :/
for a rabbit, i would suggest the eurotuning.cz 6spd add-on kit with an 02j - or you could do an 02s 6spd from a gasser. eurotuning is what i did in my rabbit ahu swap. much simpler than fitting a (heavier) 02m in there... drives so nice especiall with LSD installed at same time while trans is apart for surgery
Noted. I’ve gotten a good amount of parts from this wrecked tdi golf. He had this fuel filter adapter that I’ll post in a few. It takes a Caterpillar 1R-0750 filter. Thinking about using that along with the original rabbit filter housing.