Silly me.
Its been a year since ive graced the mk1 discussion forum with a new buy. I always like to share my wonderful car whoring stories with everyone.
Bouncing around on craigslist - i was actually looking for a Audi S6 wagon. Came across small ad for 1979 Rabbit C Diesel. 98k ( its not 98k, it 129k actually ) Needs transmission - Picture showed repainted White rabbit with chrome bumpers - who doesnt want 40+ MPG?
So i drive 260 miles this morning - Temp when we left my house - was 87 at 745am. Driving a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee up to grab the car was enjoyable - AC is so nice.
Get to the guys place - hatch is locked - i ask for key - he cant find it - he looks and looks and looks - oh its in his pocket. He tells me the hatch doesnt open - i say well that cuz its locked , so i unlock it and open it up - the rear hatch is CLEAN - no rot , nice paint.. Some rust bubbles on lower rear apron along seam - a knick here, bubble here, bubble there....
1978 Rabbit is what 48hp? Its a 4 speed.... but he said 1st gear dont work, have to start in second.
I fire it up - open up hood - new alternator , new / rebuilt injection pump ( its all shiney ) fires right up, ahhh the smell of diesel fuel at 11am - nothing beats it.
I get on the ground and shocked to see - a new cat back exhaust ( maybe there isnt even a cat on a diesel , i dont know , downpipe back , what ever )
So i hope in - he right - hard to get in second - so i do the go into second first, then up to 1st trick - works fine. Putt around town - return ,make him an offer and hope in for my long hot journey back home.
No sunroof , no smoker windows, no ac , not even a power brake booster - He forgot to mention to me on the phone the previous day that the passenger side window regulator dont work - luckily it goes down, but only goes half way up....
Stop at the local CASEYs fill up 4 1/2 gallons of diesel at $3.96 and we are on the way.
After the first hour home, i realize - crap i forgot sunscreen lotion for my arm, which naturally hang out the window.... that gonna hurt later...
car runs great - going up hills - not so much.. 48 HP - WHY? WHY ? even 65 might help ya get up these back hills - so i learned quickly to speed going down hill - so you can actually get up the next one...
Once i got on the interstate and up to 80 MPH - i did great - i stayed around 75-80 on the down hill slides - i was actually passing people which felt good in a 33 year old car.
Got to my cabin - right outside between omaha & lincoln - waved my friend following me in his Jeep a :thumbup: and quickly got out of car and jumped in the lake to cool off my arm and myself.. here the heat index today was 107 - my shirt was drenched, shorts were drenched and i am pretty sure i smelled.
My kids come running up to check out my new found VW and it has 2 external horn buttons - one is a dual air horn - the other sounds like a meat grinder ( you will see it in the pictures )
Silly small town folks......
So i need to find me a 4 speed shifter rebuild kit and a passenger side window regulator - once it cools off tonight, i will probably remove the bug shield and donate it to my 84 year old neighbor for his el camino.....
i should take a pic of my left arm - its RED, might be able to fry an egg on it.....
I did not enjoy the AM radio - on the FM band i couldnt get anything so i did listen to a local baseball game on the sport radio on the AM....
I am not sure if i have ever seen this under hood thing on a car..
Looks like came from PNW -
interesting sticker
Much better without bug shield
And i will beat everyone else to the famous punch-line - " Yes it will be for sale someday "
I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit diesel
Moderator: Fatmobile
Re: I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit di
Well done!
(and the photos make me miss my gasser '79 mk1)
(and the photos make me miss my gasser '79 mk1)
Currently working on shoehorning a 1.6 TD out of a 1984 Jetta into a 1971 VW Camper (Hardtop)
"Huppity Hup! Rev! Rev! GO GO GO GO!"
"Huppity Hup! Rev! Rev! GO GO GO GO!"
Re: I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit di
Sweet! I have the same Harbor Freight air horns (red ones) in my 82 running in parallel with the stock horn - gets people's attention with both of them working.
Car looks great - makes me miss my 79 that I sold to someone who immediately burned the clutch out off it. :~(
Car looks great - makes me miss my 79 that I sold to someone who immediately burned the clutch out off it. :~(
Bob
'06 Jetta TDI
'82 Rabbit 1.6NA
Honda, 99 GMC Suburban, '41 Chevy Coupe
'06 Jetta TDI
'82 Rabbit 1.6NA
Honda, 99 GMC Suburban, '41 Chevy Coupe
Re: I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit di
i think it needs a oil pan - leaking and looks someone " used valve cover gasket maker " to cover up a crack or something, its leaking on driveway.
Are these different than all other VW pans or all they all the same?
Are these different than all other VW pans or all they all the same?
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- Global Moderator
- Posts: 7574
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
- Location: north central Iowa
Re: I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit di
If the oil pan isn't dented up,
there is a rubber oil pan gasket available,.. for MK3s
Love the non-power brakes.
there is a rubber oil pan gasket available,.. for MK3s
Love the non-power brakes.
'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.
'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.
Re: I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit di
Fatmobile wrote:If the oil pan isn't dented up,
there is a rubber oil pan gasket available,.. for MK3s
Love the non-power brakes.
its been so fricking hot - i am going to attempt to look at it tomorrow - i checked the oil and its pretty darn low - glad it made the almost 3 hour trip home - all that attention and driving must of made the poor car " blow a gasket "
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- Glow Plug
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:17 pm
- Location: Georgetown (Southwest) Ohio
Re: I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit di
Great Find!
Very nice!
Very nice!
Re: I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit di
That car looks really clean, for an Iowa car. The Oregon sticker under the hood was a telltale sign it's probably had a dry life. You'll figure out how to drive a 48HP car (with a tailwind) or go insane. It took me probably 6 months to not get pissed off everytime I wanted to pass someone or speed up. It gave me patience in a different way.
Everybody else lists their cars here - but not me.
I have too many to count
I have too many to count
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- Global Moderator
- Posts: 7574
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
- Location: north central Iowa
Re: I wondered into Iowa and came home with a 1978 Rabbit di
I was a little pissed about him coming into Iowa and grabbing our Rabbit,..
but then I remembered I got my 1.7GTD body from a friend of his in Nebraska.
but then I remembered I got my 1.7GTD body from a friend of his in Nebraska.
'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.
'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.