weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

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Diesel Dean
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Location: Michigan

Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by Diesel Dean »

Image
1981 VW Diesel truck / 1984 Rabbit car welded together
Diesel Dean
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by Diesel Dean »

This is how it looks now, I have had no problem with the welds still looks great. Image
1981 VW Diesel truck / 1984 Rabbit car welded together
82vdub
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by 82vdub »

I wish I had your talent to do bodywork.
Everybody else lists their cars here - but not me.

I have too many to count
bscutt
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by bscutt »

That is very, very nice. Amazing job.
Bob

'06 Jetta TDI
'82 Rabbit 1.6NA
Honda, 99 GMC Suburban, '41 Chevy Coupe
dirtroad
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by dirtroad »

That's awesome!!!! What kind of fuel mileage are you getting out of it?

My brother stretched the front fenders and hood of a Jeep one time. Took him a lot of work.
Diesel Dean
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by Diesel Dean »

Thanks I am very proud of the truck, It's the biggest project I have ever worked on. I just hope it last for a long time. We have been lucky with our weather here in Michigan. Almost no snow up untill yesterday now we have 6 inches on the ground. It was 50 deg, on Wednesday now its 25. I hate winter.. I just put the truck up for the rest of the winter. I'm not going to let the salt get under the truck and rust it out again. I put a turbo on the engine I have been getting 40-44 M.P.G.
1981 VW Diesel truck / 1984 Rabbit car welded together
Fatmobile
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by Fatmobile »

Hey Dean, Would you mind if I put this in the project fora?
It doesn't move as fast so would stay near the top.
If you'd rather keep it here that's OK.
'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.
Diesel Dean
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by Diesel Dean »

Yep that would be ok with me.
1981 VW Diesel truck / 1984 Rabbit car welded together
motomike33y
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by motomike33y »

very nice project dean-thanks for telling me about it.
Diesel Dean
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by Diesel Dean »

Welcome to the forum, Glad to see I have someone near me that enjoys the older VW diesels. I may be interested in that 12mm block, just don't have the cash right now. PM me with your ph number I lost it.
1981 VW Diesel truck / 1984 Rabbit car welded together
VanBoy
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by VanBoy »

Wow. Nice project. Didn't seem crazy to me at all....people build chopped top older cars (1950's) or stretch the body to make a limo....
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....
Diesel Dean
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by Diesel Dean »

I am still driving this everyday. No signs of anything coming apart. :)
1981 VW Diesel truck / 1984 Rabbit car welded together
VanBoy
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Re: weld 1984 Rabbit to 1981 vw truck

Post by VanBoy »

Diesel Dean wrote:I am still driving this everyday. No signs of anything coming apart. :)

I would assume your reinforcements are helping out too. When I skimmed the thread, I saw where you added more support near the center hump and cut the floor out & replaced it w/ a whole (if I understood it) plus the rocker panel reinforcements.

The thought of a crew cab or extended cab would be "interesting". Using the 4 doors from the Rabbit and back end of the pickup. Not quite sure how one one have done the transition. Something like that would have needed donor doors or 3 vehicles. Remaking a rear door of a Rabbit to get rid of the wheel well cut out so that the glass stays the same, but mates up to the door striker of the pickup frame....(sorry, thinking aloud).

I'm sure it could be done w/ lots of planning (and looking at the uni body construction to see how things could mate up). For something THAT long, I'm thinking some kind of tube frame support would have to be used for the extended length. Be it bolt in or welded....

The turning radius would suck though.... :lol: (For all we know, someone may have already....)
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....
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