So I have been on a search for a small truck to get atleast as good of mileage as my camry gets (~27mpg average) and switch to driving it full time. Came across a couple of reads about the VW Diesel Rabbit Pickups known as a Caddy overseas. Very interesting to see people getting 40-50mpg with them being a truck and all. Seached for one in my area and found 2 about 200 miles away for $2500 with the current owner not knowing much about them. Both are 1981s with issues and toppers (rare like the trucks).
First one can be started, but has a bad brake line. The owner drove it ~35 miles home and said there was preasure in the coolent system. He thinks the head gasket is blown (common issue for these). Other than that the truck is solid. Truck has around 100k miles, but owner thinks odometer isn't working which is fairly common for these as well.
The Second one hasn't been attempted to be started and is "loosely bolted in". Owner also says the floor is soft but says strut towers are good. Truck has around 200k miles and looks solid in the photos.
Now to get to the point of my post, I'm planning to drive down there on Friday to look at them and probably buy them both, but was wondering what I should keep a good eye out for on these trucks / engines. Here is a quick list i'm going to check when I get there.
- Double check strut towers on both, looked at photos to see how they break to get an idea where to check.
- Check for rust as always since the truck is a unibody style
- Check oil in coolent / coolent in oil - hope the owner just don't know much about cars and the presure build up he talks about is just from normal operation.
- Check over the non-runner, hoping the engine is good in it, but no one knows why it isn't bolted in good.... weird
- Check MFG Date, of my research early 81s had 11mm head bolts and the later 81s had 12mm head bolts (12mm being good)
- Ofcourse the normal stuff to go over when looking at something to buy, fluid levels, known maintence history, body damage, etc.
If I do end up buying them, I'll be looking to fix up the running one asap and start driving it to work every day (75 miles/day should add up fast in savings!). The other I think I'll work on fixing it up, replace the areas with rust, fresh paint, get it running (if engine is good), etc. Then switch to driving it and either sell the one I drove every day or keep it around as a backup and switch what one I drive every other year or something.
If the headgasket does end up being bad, what else should I look into replacing at the same time? Here is a quick list that comes to mind.
- Headgasket of course
- Intake and exhaust gaskets
- valve cover gasket
- if head bolts are 11mm upgrade to "racing studs" to reduce the failure rate of the new head gasket
- thermostat
- timing belt + tensioner
- water pump
- any rubber hoses that are going bad, or just replace them all
- brake lines
Ball park guess for cost of parts is around $300-400 + unexpected issues + the specialty tools for the timing belt change. Seems to be a fair cost even if the second truck was purely for parts. Good running Caddys appear to value around 3000-4500 depending how good it looks.
Any input or experence with this engine/truck would be great.
Thanks!