1981 VW Pickup

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VanBoy
Cetane Booster
Posts: 82
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:38 am
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA

1981 VW Pickup

Post by VanBoy »

Okay, the Rabbit has bore offspring....a 1981 VW pickup w/ 1.6L NA. I was told that the head gasket is blown. Now, with out taking the valve cover off, if the engine is original, am I correct in understanding that this 1.6L diesel SHOULD have 11mm head bolts? Is there any other way to ID the block if it is a 11mm or 12mm 1.6L....casting number??? Other?

I prob. paid too much for it....$500 for a non runner...but 99.0% is there.
1999 E350 ClubWagon 7.3L Power Stroke
1990 E350 ClubWagon 7.3L IDI x2
1977 Kenworth K100 Cummins NTC-350
1977 IH Transtar II Cummins NTC-290
1977 IH Transtar II Cummins Formula 290 (ongoing project)
1978 VW Rabbit 1.5L (ongoing project)
And a few other gas rigs....
Fatmobile
Global Moderator
Posts: 7564
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
Location: north central Iowa

Re: 1981 VW Pickup

Post by Fatmobile »

An easy way to tell if it's an 11mm block is the head number usually has a B after it. 373B
An F head is a 12mm usually.
'91 Golf gasser converted to a 12mm pump, M-TDI.
'84 1.6TD Rabbit with a VNT-15 turbo, still setup to run on vegetable oil.
'84 GTI with 1.7TD pistons and intercooled.
2003 TDI wagon
2000 TDI Jetta.
VanBoy
Cetane Booster
Posts: 82
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:38 am
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA

Re: 1981 VW Pickup

Post by VanBoy »

Fatmobile wrote:An easy way to tell if it's an 11mm block is the head number usually has a B after it. 373B
An F head is a 12mm usually.
Thank you. Next silly question :mrgreen: , where is said casting number hiding? (Knowing my luck, it'll be behind the FI pump...) :lol:
1999 E350 ClubWagon 7.3L Power Stroke
1990 E350 ClubWagon 7.3L IDI x2
1977 Kenworth K100 Cummins NTC-350
1977 IH Transtar II Cummins NTC-290
1977 IH Transtar II Cummins Formula 290 (ongoing project)
1978 VW Rabbit 1.5L (ongoing project)
And a few other gas rigs....
Fatmobile
Global Moderator
Posts: 7564
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
Location: north central Iowa

Re: 1981 VW Pickup

Post by Fatmobile »

It is behind the pump but high enough to be easily seen, above the injectors.

Heads can be swapped so another good way to tell and probably more accurate is to open the oil fill hole and look for a head bolt,.. 11mm usually has a hex head,.. but owners sometimes use gasser triplesquare bolts when doing a headgasket.

The block code is near the head gasket notches and is the most accurate way to tell,
I can't remember the 11mm block code.
CK? maybe.
'91 Golf gasser converted to a 12mm pump, M-TDI.
'84 1.6TD Rabbit with a VNT-15 turbo, still setup to run on vegetable oil.
'84 GTI with 1.7TD pistons and intercooled.
2003 TDI wagon
2000 TDI Jetta.
VanBoy
Cetane Booster
Posts: 82
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:38 am
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA

ANOTHER VW Rabbit pickup......now I have two.

Post by VanBoy »

Dang Rabbits! :lol: I was always told they multiply quickly! Now I have three total! Over the summer, I picked up another WV Rabbit diesel pickup w/ a 1.6L. It has head gasket issues too, a few body issues, but hopefully nothing too big.... :? Looks like the rear bumper support was hit at some point, bed inside got pushed up. Got the whole thing for $300.00

My first VW pickup, still in the works.....just got the head studs ordered (yes, I take a long time). Lots of stuff, lots of projects....no time....
1999 E350 ClubWagon 7.3L Power Stroke
1990 E350 ClubWagon 7.3L IDI x2
1977 Kenworth K100 Cummins NTC-350
1977 IH Transtar II Cummins NTC-290
1977 IH Transtar II Cummins Formula 290 (ongoing project)
1978 VW Rabbit 1.5L (ongoing project)
And a few other gas rigs....
bscutt
Turbo Charger
Posts: 1720
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 4:49 pm
Location: Springfield, VA

Re: 1981 VW Pickup

Post by bscutt »

a diesel pickup for $300 is a steal if the strut towers are solid and no other structural rust issues. Crappy ones sell here for over 2000. Good luck with the project
Bob

'06 Jetta TDI
'82 Rabbit 1.6NA
Honda, 99 GMC Suburban, '41 Chevy Coupe
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