83 rabbit diesel resto

This is a place for us to share progress on and upgrades to our vw diesels.

Moderator: Fatmobile

brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

hello i just joined this forum, and wanted to share my resto on my 1983 4 door rabbit diesel i just bought.
plans are to keep the keep engine stock for gas mileage, other plans are to fix all rust and then slam it 8) but not to low, i live in PA we have (profanity removed by moderator) roads. Most of my time will be spent inside the car the interior was wrecked, carpet is shot. hopefully the floorboards are in good shape(looked good underneath) I havent heard it run yet ethier, but it does turn over freely, its been sitting in a yard since 03.


stuff i need to get
1) rebuild injection pump i got a leak around the input shaft.
2) raceland coils
3) carpet
4) buy a mig welder 8)


Image
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

Image
Image
Image
some other parts i got not sure if iam using them or not.
Image
coke

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by coke »

You mean fuel mileage, right? :P
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

good news got her runing today, bad thing is that the injection pump is leaking behind the timing gear, I assume that its pulling in air, because it wont idle. looks like ill be replacing some seals on the injection pump
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

lol yea, im so used to saying "gas" this is my first diesel.
coke

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by coke »

Probably the shaft seal on the IP. It can be changed with the pump in the car, lot easier with it out. Pull the sprocket off, get the seal and replace it. Good as new. Mine was weeping on my 84 years and years ago, replaced it and never had an issue.
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

Got all the interior out, carpet seats... etc, I was really happy to see the floor panels are in great shape, i was expecting to see rust holes everywhere.
Image
Tore up all the sound dead material on the floor.
Image
Image
started to wire wheel the floor.
Image

got kinda side tracked with replacing the door, some one shot the old one with a rife or something, It put a big hole in it :cry: and broke the glass, lucky my friend has a replacement, almost the right color.
Image
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

coke wrote:Probably the shaft seal on the IP. It can be changed with the pump in the car, lot easier with it out. Pull the sprocket off, get the seal and replace it. Good as new. Mine was weeping on my 84 years and years ago, replaced it and never had an issue.
could this be why its hard to start? i noticed after i leave it sit, all the fuel is almost gone out the lines.
coke

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by coke »

Yes. If the seals leak the IP won't hold fuel. The incoming air allows the fuel to siphon out of the pump. It will also cause driveability issues and rough running. The IP is a two stage pump, low pressure supply and high pressure distribution. When air leaks, it sucks air which causes all kinds of problems.
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

That what i was thinking, ill order a new seal seal and go from there, thanks for the info
surfcam
Turbo Charger
Posts: 1482
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2004 8:43 pm
Location: Canada Southern Alberta
Contact:

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by surfcam »

Air in the line will make it hard to start. The diesel leaking on the belt and hoses will eventually soften the rubber. If it's leaking quite a bit the best route is to get a seal kit from a Bosh service center and install it.
99 TDI Jetta (Z1 engine code)
94 Grand Caravan
89 Dodge Gold Stream B class
http://www.antiquedollhouseofpatterns.ca/
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

Once i pull the pump ill install new timing belt and tensioner, I am going to order a new seal kit.
coke

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by coke »

Be warned the main shaft seal usually does not come in the seal kit. It usually has to be ordered separately.
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

ok thanks for the heads up.
brettj20
Cetane Booster
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:01 pm
Location: Everett,PA

Re: 83 rabbit diesel resto

Post by brettj20 »

pulled the dash out today for some major cleaning.
Image
took apart the heater core box found a couple mice nest.
Image
Took me a hour to clean the box up, it was a mess.
Image
Post Reply