Former VWDieselParts.com Forum

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 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

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

You mean fuel mileage, right?

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

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

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.

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.

Tore up all the sound dead material on the floor.


started to wire wheel the floor.


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 and broke the glass, lucky my friend has a replacement, almost the right color.

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.

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.

That what i was thinking, ill order a new seal seal and go from there, thanks for the info

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.

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

Be warned the main shaft seal usually does not come in the seal kit. It usually has to be ordered separately.

ok thanks for the heads up.

pulled the dash out today for some major cleaning.

took apart the heater core box found a couple mice nest.

Took me a hour to clean the box up, it was a mess.