Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
Thats sort of odd cause I've seen anything from 62 to 64 and some even say as high as 67hp. Oh well, even if its a gasser it'll still be as good as some of the newer cars. As I said for free you can't go wrong no matter what. Harry 69 280 SEL 135,000 Miles 72 350SL 118,000 Miles 2004 VW Passat 4 Motion 1999 Mazda Miata -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Fri, 6 Apr 2007 1:44 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit It's a gasser Bunny. I know that the 1.6L diesel only makes about 52hp. I was hoping that it was a diesel as I pulled off the fuel cap, but oh well. It's still more than worth the $0.00 price tag, a fun little project. Hopefully, I'll have her hoppin' down the bunny trail in no time, after all, it's almost easter. Kevin in Hillsboro, OR 1983 300SD 266K miles, Ursla 1978 Rabbit gasser, mileage unknown, FNU,LNU ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
would do nearly 100 all day long i had one of those and really loved that car On 4/6/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yep, that is a german made Rabbit and from what I know they are good for 300,000 to 400,000 miles with no major engine work needed. I think they made about 67hp, but they're pretty snappy with the 4 speed. Can't go wrong for free... Harry 69 280 SEL 135,000 Miles 72 350SL 118,000 Miles 2004 VW Passat 4 Motion 1999 Mazda Miata -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Fri, 6 Apr 2007 2:25 AM Subject: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit Hello fellow MB-ers. I have an opportunity to pick one up for nothing since the owner and his father want it gone from the driveway. I believe it's a '78 which would mean that it's a German-made Rabbit not the US or Mexican models since it has round headlights and the horizontally slotted grill. The story is that the alt gave out and it wasn't thought of as being worth fixing. The car has been sitting for 2 or three years, so the plan is to set it up with a known good battery, fresh fuel and filters, and see what happens. I'm not sure if it needs oil put into the cylinders for added lubrication for the first few revs before oil pressure can be established, but it's easy enough to do. It's straight and has an OK interior, but it needs a MAJOR MAJOR cleanup. If it works out, it will be Papa's run around town car. I believe it has a 4 speed manny tranny which could be quite fun. Kevin in Hillsboro, OR 1983 300SD 266K miles, Ursula 1978 VW Rabbit, FNU, LNU. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
Yep, that is a german made Rabbit and from what I know they are good for 300,000 to 400,000 miles with no major engine work needed. I think they made about 67hp, but they're pretty snappy with the 4 speed. Can't go wrong for free... Harry 69 280 SEL 135,000 Miles 72 350SL 118,000 Miles 2004 VW Passat 4 Motion 1999 Mazda Miata -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Fri, 6 Apr 2007 2:25 AM Subject: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit Hello fellow MB-ers. I have an opportunity to pick one up for nothing since the owner and his father want it gone from the driveway. I believe it's a '78 which would mean that it's a German-made Rabbit not the US or Mexican models since it has round headlights and the horizontally slotted grill. The story is that the alt gave out and it wasn't thought of as being worth fixing. The car has been sitting for 2 or three years, so the plan is to set it up with a known good battery, fresh fuel and filters, and see what happens. I'm not sure if it needs oil put into the cylinders for added lubrication for the first few revs before oil pressure can be established, but it's easy enough to do. It's straight and has an OK interior, but it needs a MAJOR MAJOR cleanup. If it works out, it will be Papa's run around town car. I believe it has a 4 speed manny tranny which could be quite fun. Kevin in Hillsboro, OR 1983 300SD 266K miles, Ursula 1978 VW Rabbit, FNU, LNU. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
Hi, Harry, and thanks for the info. 67hp is pretty good for a light, little Rabbit. I'll keep everyone posted on how it turns out. Do these 1.7L? engines require periodic valve clearance adjustment? Kevin in Hillsboro, OR 1983 300SD 266K miles, Ursula 1978 Rabbit, FNU,LNU, getting dragged in but hopefully driving out under its own power
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
Kevin Kraly wrote: Hi, Harry, and thanks for the info. 67hp is pretty good for a light, little Rabbit. I'll keep everyone posted on how it turns out. Do these 1.7L? engines require periodic valve clearance adjustment? I believe all the bunny motors, gas and diesel, required valve adjustments. Which is yours, btw? Diesel (1.6L?) won't be anywhere near 70hp, but the early gas engines were in that range. I'd pull the spark (or glow) plugs, squirt in some oil, and crank it a while after the oil pressure comes up, then reinstall the plugs and attempt to start.
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
the adjustment is done with shims. It is a pain in the butt unless you have a selection of extra shims on hand. What I had to do the first time, was take a card write down the 8 valve positions and then mark down the existing clearance for each valve. Then you have to take out the shims of the valves that need adjustment and mark down what you have. I put those in the third row on the card. Unless you have the luxury of leaving the car sit while taken apart for a few days, the next step is to put it all back together. Order the shim sizes you need (Rusty has em) When you get the shims, then you pull out the ones you need to adjust, then put the ones that are the right size for another position into their new position, and put the new shims in the correct position. The size is supposed to go down so you can read the size next time. Then turn it over a few times and measure the clearance to be sure they are correct. wrap up the used shims because next time you may be able to reuse some of them. SAVE the CARD! Next time, you will be able to get the existing shim size from the card. Just measure the clearance, figure out what shims can be used in new positions, and if you need to order any new shims. Once in a while I was able to adjust the valves with existing shims and my spares. Having a metric micrometer is handy for the shims that some bozo put in with the numbers up so the cam wears off the size. You are supposed to have a special took to depress the valve so you can pull the shim. I never had the special tool. I love the OM 60x engines! thousands and millions of miles and you never have to adjust the valves. The Wabbits are nice because of the 50-60 mpg. Now tell me again why a 40 mpg prius is supposed to be so great... .. . oh yeah, cause they are so ugly. Lt Don's Quantum is WAY more car than a POS prius.(IMNTBHO) Loren 78 Wabbit Dissel (gone on to somewhere) (probably became a 92 buick that is now a stinking ugly prius) 83 Quantum 5 spd turbodiesel, (now Lt Don's) At 08:01 AM 4/6/2007, you wrote: Kevin Kraly wrote: Hi, Harry, and thanks for the info. 67hp is pretty good for a light, little Rabbit. I'll keep everyone posted on how it turns out. Do these 1.7L? engines require periodic valve clearance adjustment? I believe all the bunny motors, gas and diesel, required valve adjustments. Which is yours, btw? Diesel (1.6L?) won't be anywhere near 70hp, but the early gas engines were in that range. I'd pull the spark (or glow) plugs, squirt in some oil, and crank it a while after the oil pressure comes up, then reinstall the plugs and attempt to start. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com Loren Faeth
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
The 1.5L in that car produced a pavement-pounding axle-swapping tire-grinding 48HP. The 1.6L produced 52HP. And, the 1.6L turbo produced 68HP (I think). I still pine for a pristine '79 German-built four door.
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
It's a gasser Bunny. I know that the 1.6L diesel only makes about 52hp. I was hoping that it was a diesel as I pulled off the fuel cap, but oh well. It's still more than worth the $0.00 price tag, a fun little project. Hopefully, I'll have her hoppin' down the bunny trail in no time, after all, it's almost easter. Kevin in Hillsboro, OR 1983 300SD 266K miles, Ursla 1978 Rabbit gasser, mileage unknown, FNU,LNU
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
I still pine for a pristine '79 German-built four door. Gas or Diesel? That would be quite a nice one to have in either flavor. When did they switch over from being German built to being built in the USA/Mexico? My memory says 1980 although the Rabbit/Cabriolet convertibles were all built in Germany. Kevin in Hillsboro, OR 1983 300SD 266K miles, Ursula 1978 VW Rabbit of unknown mileage. FNU,LNU
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit.
Once nice thing is that VW engine swaps are EASY most are bolt-in. You could put in a FI 1.8l probably, even a basic 8-valve would be PLENTY of power. AJ RN [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The engine is only 1.6L at max (they made a 1.5-- then increased it to 1.6, I think for the US built versions). The 1.6 produces 52 hp-- the turbocharged ones (later '80's) produced more, obviously.. The valves are solid lifter type-- and do require adjustment.. They don't have the cool adjusters Mercedes use. They use little measured pucks (shims) that have to be exchanged to make clearances. They are good little engines, but they don't tolerate overheating-- even a little... I own two.. Neither is a rocket, more like a 240D with a full trunk and an automatic.. -- 1983 300D 1966 230
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit.
On 4/6/07, Allan Streib [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Once nice thing is that VW engine swaps are EASY most are bolt-in. You could put in a FI 1.8l probably, even a basic 8-valve would be PLENTY of power. Or a TDI 1.9l for that matter! I know my ex's Beetle TDI is nearly as heavy as my 124, but a Rabbit can't weigh much more than a ton. With roughly 100 hp and 150 lb-ft, that'd go like stink. (No pun intended.) Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo '93 Isuzu Trooper
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
I've owned two rabbit gassers and a Jetta Diesel, and a Vanagon Diesel and Vanagon Turbodiesel. THe gassers are very lively. Ideally, you'll have a FI engine--the carb engine had a throttle damper and loads of vacuum-actuated emission controls that I found irritating. The Diesel Jetta was fine--43 mpg at 65 mph, better real-world mileage than a PRius, very good handling, lots of room for the size, and a huge trunk. Quite slow, but a nice shifter and well-spaced gears and good handling meant it was still fun to drive. Empty, on the highway, it seemed undergeared, but put 4 adults and a full trunk in it and you were wide open through every gear and up every hill, and any taller final drive ratio would have resulted in glacial performance and an unusable top gear. Turning on the AC felt like pulling halfway up on the e-brake no matter what the load. TD Golfs and Jettas were reputedly the best of both worlds-- performance as good or better as the gassers, with diesel mileage. Unfortunately, I never owned one. My biggest complaint with my diesel jetta was noise. At 75, it was really wound out, and very noisy. I tried sound deadening everything-- hood, trunk, doors, intake, firewall--and it was better, but still too noisy. My second complaint was it was hard to work on--everything stuffed in a small space, and at least on my '92, not very good build quality. I sold/gave mine to my brother with 130k on it. He's been cursing it ever since--the head cracked at 160k (typical), doorhandles all broke off and had to be replaced, impossible-to- tighten alternator belts (due to poor belt geometry) keep loosening, PS pump quit, coolant leaks, clutch rod pushed through the pressure plate, etc. He loves the fuel mileage, tho, so keeps fixing it. Fortunately, he's a diesel mechanic. If he had to pay someone to work on it, a chevy caprice would probably cost him less per mile. I think my SD is not much more expensive to own, actually. 27 vs 43 mpg, but the thing is so much easier to work on that I can do more of it myself, no expensive head or IP failures, and the build quality, long-haul driving experience, capacity, and crash survivability, of course, is incomparable. Even around town I find the SD at least as much fun to drive. A vanagon with an NA will loose a drag race with a loaded semi. Literally. The TD vanagon is pretty nice, actually--a full-featured, sleeps-4 RV that rides and handles well on or off-road, with a cathedral ceiling (thanks to the pop-top) that gets 25 mpg and will cruise at 65-70. All it lacks is a shower, available at most all campgrounds and truckstops anyway. But the engines are still pretty high-maintenance: heads crack regularly every 150k or if overheated, the IPs and turbos wear out, unlike MBZ units, and as loren said, the valves are a pain in the ass to adjust. I'd love a TD Jetta. I hear the turbo made them quieter as well. My Vanagon TD is WAY quieter than my NA jetta was. But if I could swap in a 617, I'd do it in a heartbeat. It won't fit, of course, and if it would, it would screw up the 50/50 weight distribution that makes it handle so well. My .02. Dan
Re: [MBZ] OT VW Rabbit
The good thing is that I've only had to do an ajdustment on one of those engines once -- not counting the head for my sister's Volvo which uses the same system. Use Mobil 1 and you won't need to adjust anything more than every 200,000 miles or so. Peter
Re: [MBZ] OT VW rabbit conv w/1.6L diesel engine!
Kevin wrote What do you think about that price? Seems high Yeah, $3500 does seem a bit over the top. If one bought the good diesel engine and the complete gasser convertible with blown engine, it wouldn't be that expensive. There mighnt be some complications involved in the engine swap, but $3500...? Once upon a time I almost traded my diesel Rabbit pickup for such a conversion, but didn't in the end. If I recall, modifications were minor- figure out a place for the timing advance in the car and where to hang to the fuse holder for the glow plugs in the engine compartment was about it; the original fuel tank was used. WIth the 1.6 NA diesel the convertible was a dog- I think it had something like 300lbs extra reinforcement to make up for the lost roof structure. That way, the car only folded up in an accident, and not just driving down the road! Tony Wirtel
Re: [MBZ] OT VW rabbit conv w/1.6L diesel engine!
Tony Wirtel wrote: WIth the 1.6 NA diesel the convertible was a dog- I think it had something like 300lbs extra reinforcement to make up for the lost roof structure. That way, the car only folded up in an accident, and not just driving down the road! Yeah, 300 pounds is almost exactly right, from what I've been able to find. Even with that amount of bracing there's some noticeable cowl shake over expansion joints. They aren't hacked-down hardtops, though -- most of the unibody panels are unique to the convertible, and they were built on their own assembly line by Karmann. It's still a very light car by modern standards -- my '89 weighs about 2400 pounds, versus over 3000 for a 2007 VW Rabbit hardtop. Of course, the 2007 has a lot more horsepower, too. ;) By modern standards it's not a terribly safe car, but compared to other 1980s convertibles it has superior rollover protection (thanks to the basket-handle loop connecting the B-pillars.) $3500 seems pretty steep unless it's in really good shape. For that price I would expect a brand-new or like-new top with no leaks, a low-mileage engine, and a straight body. I paid $1300 for my '89, but it needed a new top, new engine mounts, and a tune-up. It's a real hoot to drive. The handling feels very direct, like a go-kart, and the car has a pleasant air of simplicity to it.
Re: [MBZ] OT VW rabbit conv w/1.6L diesel engine!
What do you think about that price? Seems high. Brian On 12/15/06, kevin kraly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I just spotted this one on Craigslist Portlend Oregon. http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/car/249130187.html I've always wondered why the diesel engine wasn't put into this car from the factory! I've often thought of replacing a blown gasser with a diesel since my sister had a brand new one in '82. Kevin in Hillsboro, OR 1983 300SD 265K miles, Ursula ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
