82 VW Rabbit Diesel Truck build

[EcoBill]

Here is one of my projects. I got this gas rabbit that doesnt run and plan on swapping my 1.9 AHU TDI diesel motor from my MK3 Jetta that was totaled.

I also will be making biodiesel again now that the weather is warming up again for both VW's I have.

1982 VW Rabbit pickup Truck
current mods are just coilovers and air shocks

Plans
MK3 AHU TDI swap
scan guage
Aero Cap
Rear wheel skirts
Aero truck front end (something like Shepherd777's aero truck)
side mirror delete
smooth wheel covers
bellypan
maybe front wheel skirt or at least wheel arch gap filler
solar assist
this is a good start for now..



almost have the gas motor out. Hopefully out by this weekend and do the diesel swap the following week. Just waiting on a few parts.

[Frank Lee]

Good candidate for an aerocap.

[oil pan 4]

Turbo that N/A diesel.
I figured I picked up 2mpg after much in town testing. On the highway it could be as high as 4mpg, but only have 1 less than ideal post turbo highway test to compaired to lots of non-turbo highway driving.

If you want a turbo I have two VW K03 turbos (one of them is the K03S the "sport turbo") and a down pipe I need to sell soon, if you were looking.

[Viturro]

turbo and aerocap, is exactly what the car needs. That car is like the one that my dad prepare for drag racing, but with longitudinal engine 2.0L. i did thought too much times for more aero on that car if you plan to make a new hood i have some ideas as also the aerocap, good luck!

[EcoBill]

I would like to do an aerocap after the swap.

Im only converting this from gas to NA diesel for now. It has some rust and my jetta doesnt, so the Jetta is getting the 98 TDI motor which you can see here Jetta build. The jetta is cleaner and I had that longer and been gathering parts to do this swap for some time now and got that motor rebuilt. Rather put it in a cleaner car.

Im just going to use this truck as a temp daily while I do the TDI swap in the Jetta. I would eventually like to put a turbo in this but not now.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Nice. I really like these older Rabbit Pickups.

And I'll also recomend you to turbocharge it...

[Cobb]

I hope you get close to your 40 mpg. My uncle had one and it got like 14 mpg like the convertible he had. We concluded they use the same tranny with the different gears in it for hauling. It was cute, like the convertible, but not efficient.

[oil pan 4]

Have you ever driven a diesel that is N/A?

Be sure to install an EGT gauge so you don't melt the pistons when you go out on the highway.

[EcoBill]

Originally Posted by Cobb

I hope you get close to your 40 mpg. My uncle had one and it got like 14 mpg like the convertible he had. We concluded they use the same tranny with the different gears in it for hauling. It was cute, like the convertible, but not efficient.

Why wouldnt I get the 45 range? Im taking the diesel motor from my Jetta and putting it in a lighter truck?

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Nice. I really like these older Rabbit Pickups.

And I'll also recomend you to turbocharge it...

I will eventually turbo it. More concerned about my Jetta TDI swap first.

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Have you ever driven a diesel that is N/A?

Be sure to install an EGT gauge so you don't melt the pistons when you go out on the highway.

Yea...my daily driver is the 89 VW Jetta 1.6 NA Diesel that I am putting into this truck for now. I dont think my jetta has an egt guage now..I never had issues on the highway, been driving it for a year now..mostly highway. But on both VW's I will be installing more monitoring and guages.

[oil pan 4]

A ram air intake wouldn't be a bad idea.

At sea level N/A diesels are not too bad. I never wanted a turbo while I was in eastern virginia. Then when I moved to newmexico, at 4400 feet and higher with 12% less air I gave up at least 2mpg, what felt like a lot more than 12% of my power and started running much higher EGTs.