Non-running '80 diesel Rabbit, what to do?
 

I'd like to get this running to use only around my town which has only a couple of block-long hills, and I'd need only about a 40 mph top speed.
Engine needs a total rebuild but I have two other engines with enough good pieces to wind up with one good engine if I decide to keep it stock.
But then it would still be IDI and smoky unless I could do some mods such as feed some propane to it when accelerating--which I think is worth a try.
I thought of trying to do a cheap electric conversion but need to have a 30-40 mile range. It appears from what i've read here about EVs that it would take only the equivalent of about 5 HP to maintain an in-town steady speed.
Another thought is to put a VW gasser in it and run it on 2 cylinders.
I'm not hurting for money but would like to keep the cost under $1000-1500.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Ray Mac

A properly set up IDI does not smoke. It's all going to come down how well everything is machined and assembled. If anything, go anal on the details and get her tight. Get the pump and injectors set up right.

I agree, Diesel rabbits are hard enough to find and can get 60mpg on the highway so keep it diesel and put the engine together right.
Only draw back to your plan is that you want to use it for around town, short trips with a diesel tend to be bad so you might be better off offering it up for trade to someone who has a gas rabbit and wants a diesel rabbit.

Use it for around town AND as a generator for your home. That'll keep it warm!

well put! IDI's of the 80's aren't the smoke billowing machines they were made out to be if properly maintained, 1100/ppm sulfur didn't help either

My golf didn't smoke at all, even under full load in 5th gear lugging the engine, sm until I choked it back off with the stock rear section of the exhaust.

Let breathe, and it will reward you with a very clean burn.

Then use old waste oil so you can run it basically for free.

Think about it, drive and power your home for free! Or close to it.:D

This was non-running when I got it, so I've never driven it to really find out if it did smoke. I was basing my "smoky" statement on my experience with 3 Olds 5.7 diesels and a 1982 Datsun 2.8 diesel (a notorious smoker).
My bad--I assumed the same for the Rabbit, thinking that all IDIs were the same.
Good point to stay with the diesel in the Rabbit-then I can drive it fast enough to try aeromods.