Northern Newby

I just found this site, and being interested in all things diesel, I thought I'd join up. Here's my oddball ride, a 1981 VW Rabbit Pickup. She's got a highly modified turbodiesel from a 1997 Passat wagon. I daily drive it all summer (have for the past 7 years) since we have a lot of slush and salt in the winter, and love it more every day. Where else will you find a truck that can obliterate any ricer and still give 60 mpg (Canadian) when I stay out of the turbo?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/100_1608.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...k/100_1609.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Truck/Dash.jpg

Dubdoc,
Welcome to The Diesel Page. You have a rare little jewel of a truck. Back in the 1980s I had two VW diesel pickup trucks like you have. They are great transportation and get great fuel mileage. You also were smart to turbo charge the little guy. If I remember correctly the original NA diesel was only rated at 48 hp. I think you have a keeper, just stay out of the road salt. Both of my trucks rusted away in the salt air on the North Shore of Oahu, Hi.

John

That is a beautiful VW you have there, and Welcome to The DP. How about a pic of under the hood?

Matt

Thanks guys. As requested, here are a few under-hood pics. First is the old 1.6TD that was basically stock, then the moneypit 2 liter that has made this little truck so much fun to drive.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psdabb1992.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps2ed93e18.jpg

Very nice work! :)

Matt

Looking good :)

Glad to have ya aboard


Missy

Thanks for sharing! Sweet ride.

Casey

My parents have owned VWs for the past twenty-eight years. Their current ones are a TDI Passat and TDI Golf. Nice little cars. I’ve been contemplating a TDI swap into something if I can find time for it.

I've also been thinking of a TDI swap into something 4x4, like maybe a Suzuki. These guys make great adapter kits.

http://www.acmeadapters.com/index.php

I know the VW TDIs are a pretty popular swap for the Suzuki crowd and have also seen a few Toyota pickups/4Runners with them swapped as well. I’ve considered a full transaxle swap into another car as a possibility.

Cute little truck,.

compared to my old 94 3/4 ton extended cab 4x4,.. i always thought your vw fit into the ricer category,.:D

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Originally Posted by phantom309

Cute little truck,.

compared to my old 94 3/4 ton extended cab 4x4,.. i always thought your vw fit into the ricer category,.:D

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:eek: Now please play nice ! Those is fightin words !:mad:

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Originally Posted by trbankii

I know the VW TDIs are a pretty popular swap for the Suzuki crowd and have also seen a few Toyota pickups/4Runners with them swapped as well. I’ve considered a full transaxle swap into another car as a possibility.

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Cool. There is an older 4x4 Toyota here with a TDI conversion. It works better than the original 4 cylinder. What car is planned for this ambitious endeavor?

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Originally Posted by Dubdoc

What car is planned for this ambitious endeavor?

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No plans yet, mostly just dreams. :)

Let me know if I can be of any help.

Very clean and neatly done. How many work hours have you invested in building it?

It was a solid chassis to start with, so I've been driving it more than actually working on it. I have been at it, off and on, for about 8 years now.:rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dubdoc

It was a solid chassis to start with, so I've been driving it more than actually working on it. I have been at it, off and on, for about 8 years now.:rolleyes:

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That is good to know!:)

It's like any "project" I guess. Are they ever finished? This winter, it's a little more electrics, some exhaust work, some more AutoMeter gauges, and on, and on, and on......:D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psmsyotz3a.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psvhm46kua.jpg