New Owner of a 1981 4door VW Rabbit Diesel**47.5MPG**Baseline

[bigchelis]

I will post pic later today.of this 1.6L N/A 5speed yellow monster.

The top end is suppose to be rebuilt and the block was ok. Runs good and I just drove it home yesterday so I have to see my baseline MPG.

Things to do:

• Replace the 4 worn shocks
• Replace front signal lights (not working)
• Install E-brake cable
• Remove passenger mirror
• put Aerodynamic front bumper, maybe a Euro Plastic one
• Move outside antena to inside
• have my Diesel Mechanic cousin give it a good look
• Look into lighter rim/tire package...I think it has 14 or 15in steelies

Things I hope to eventually do are the Giles Fuel Pump.
I also had a 3300lb car with manual brakes and it was doable, so converting this to manual brakes would make engine bay alot cleaner. Not sure if there is a manual brake conversion kit for these MK1's?


side note: the engine doesnt have the AC unit at all and no moonroof..yeah..The car drives plenty fast and honestly way faster than I anticipated. fun as heck!

Here we go

[bigchelis]

Does putting a smaller or muffler removal do anything for MPG's/HP on these?

Any air filter mods that would increase MPG/HP?

Thank you,
bigC

[bigchelis]

Here is the 1.6 N/A diesel engine. No AC unit at all.
I wonder what else I can remove to make the engine more efficient?

Previous owner made a DIY cold air kit, but this engine like most diesels runs cold. Maybe I need to get rid of it.






Car has a Oil Heater already and it works too.

[Jyden]

Bigger dia exhaust will do some good on that car. Also keep cold air intake - it good for milage on diesels like the old rabbit.
Pump up tires to max, and do some grill blocking and a front airdam.
The good about the old rabits is that they dont wigh so much.

Good luck with it.

[Cobb]

If it has the factory exhaust it should be a 4 to 2 to 1 tri Y header and down tube. The GTI exhaust is a bit bigger for the 1.8 engine and gives more flow. THe PCV tube coming down on top of the air filter is great for fouling it. You may want to add a washer inside the pcv or crank case breather hose thats right on the top rear of the valve cover to keep the oil in the engine.

Yes, get a free-er flowing filter. Dont recall if the diesels like that like hot or cold air. They made a super charger for those that is driven by the cam sprocket,but its hard to find.

Yeah, my father was a fan of the type 17. His was crushed by a tree in one of the hurricanes that came up the east coast.Maybe Gastone? The dasher has a 1.3 engine or 90 cid, so that is a bit larger.

[dmafanp]

lucky ******* Peanut Butter interior, i would do a Kamm on the rear and block the front

[bigchelis]

Thank you all.

Ok. So, a bigger exaust system is a definite.

The PVC is the cold air per say. I may block that off and get rid of the flexible tubbing and close it off with a filter type screen. I think Diesels run better warm and this one runs cold all the time.

The Cam cover is in the trunk, I will put that on this weekend and hopefully some shocks.

An air dam and Euro Plastic front bumpers with some grill blocking are also a good and hopefully cheap way to increase mpg.

I also want to make the car nicer looking so, fix some dents and bruses the car has on the exterior.

Thank you all,
bigC

[bigchelis]

I just realized it has those stock 13in steel rims.

175/70 R13

So, I dont think I can find lighter rims than those.

[LeanBurn]

Just a hint that your camera lens might by dirty...we love pics and the clearer they can be the more we like them.

Nice find. My friend had one of those growing up. Cool car.

[Jyden]

Originally Posted by Cobb

If it has the factory exhaust it should be a 4 to 2 to 1 tri Y header and down tube. The GTI exhaust is a bit bigger for the 1.8 engine and gives more flow. THe PCV tube coming down on top of the air filter is great for fouling it. You may want to add a washer inside the pcv or crank case breather hose thats right on the top rear of the valve cover to keep the oil in the engine.

Yes, get a free-er flowing filter. Dont recall if the diesels like that like hot or cold air. They made a super charger for those that is driven by the cam sprocket,but its hard to find.

Yeah, my father was a fan of the type 17. His was crushed by a tree in one of the hurricanes that came up the east coast.Maybe Gastone? The dasher has a 1.3 engine or 90 cid, so that is a bit larger.

Old Rabbit diesels like cold air, and as free a flow as possible.