'80 westy Rabbit, 4-door,.. with an '85 diesel 900$

[fatmobile]

I spent last summer building this project.
The engine is from an '85 Golf, trany is a long 4-speed GL, should have a .71 4th.

Injection pump is resealed, new belt, passenger side motor mount and seals on that end of the engine.
I took a look at the I-shaft bearings while I was doing the timing belt and they looked/felt good.
I sorted through all my CVs, cleaned, inspected and used the good ones so axles are in good shape.
Brakes were gone through, new wheel cylinders and stuff.
Rad fan relay is mounted on the rad fan shroud, Heater fan on high is relayed.
Headlights are relayed too.
I haven't tried to start it in over a month and winter is a good time to test an engine,.. so I tried starting it today.

Stuck a good battery in and it started easy today at 5F. Didn't seem to work the starter very hard at all. Did way better than my daily driver.
rear seal, clutch and trany seals where done too.

The bad news, this is basically a parts car.
I know to check where the rear beam bolts to the frame and thought it felt solid.
Ends up there was a layer of tin over a thick layer of rust.
One of the rear end bolts broke and when I went to repair it I noticed how bad it really was.

Windshield has a wiper scratch.
Floorpans are very solid.

Body isn't pretty and it smells mousey,.. I did pull the heater box and cleaned it with bleach.


So if anyone is looking for a good, sorted-out diesel engine and parts for an '80 westy parts car, I can drive it for you no need to trailer it.

[thedeezel]

This is tempting...I have access to a cheap 2dr Rabbit gasser that is dying for a diesel swap. If anyone is interested in this, I would be willing to get you the 2dr rabbit for a body donor for cheap.

[dubrpwr]

pictures would be nice...

[anchovi777]

yes pics please! is it an early westy? if someone else grabs this id be interested in the front clip.

[thedeezel]

if it is an 80, then it would be an early westy

[MurA1]

I'd be interested in pictures also.

[Mkvdubnjetta]

Damn that's cheap I would like to see too!

[fatmobile]

I didn't take pics yet, it's not pretty.
The previous owner took a sander to the hood and roof, removed surface rust,.. then never coated it.
Light blue interior,.. the dash is shot.
I'll get some pics taken tomorrow, 28 degrees yeah.

[anchovi777]

well, if someone snags this. and the front end isnt all rotted and shot. id def. be interested in the front clip. i loveeee early westy's.

[fatmobile]

Sorry, didn't get the pics taken before the sun set.
It'll be back up tomorrow.

[fatmobile]

I'm having a hard time getting pictures to load on imageshack.

[SirRangeALot]

I'm having a hard time getting pictures to load on imageshack.

Photobucket ftw

[fatmobile]

I installed their new downloader and it's much easier.



http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8641/80westyrr.jpg (http://img291.imageshack.us/i/80westyrr.jpg/)

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1065/80westydriversdoor.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/80westydriversdoor.jpg/)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/619/80westyinterior.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/i/80westyinterior.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/9488/80westyfront.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/80westyfront.jpg/)

Here's the engine bay:
Brass/copper radiator no plastic.
Under the windshield washer resevoir is a fuse box for relayed headlights, rad fan and heater fan on high.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6272/80westyenginebay.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/i/80westyenginebay.jpg/)


The floorpans are speckled with surface rust but are very solid, along with the pinchwelds at the bottom of the rockers.
The support bars are hardly dented and I don't think they are available new.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/228/80westyfloorpanres.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/i/80westyfloorpanres.jpg/)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/8972/80westyfloorpan1.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/80westyfloorpan1.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/276/80westyrockerpside.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/80westyrockerpside.jpg/)

http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/4615/80westyfloorpan.jpg (http://img814.imageshack.us/i/80westyfloorpan.jpg/)

Saving the worst for last:
I always check this spot before I buy a Rabbit shell.
This time it felt solid,.. but when I tore into it, there was a thin layer of tin over a thick layer of expandorust.
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/9061/bluerot2.jpg (http://img832.imageshack.us/i/bluerot2.jpg/)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2839/bluerot.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/bluerot.jpg/)
That last picture was from inside the hole I cut in the dside rocker.
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/4615/80westyleftside.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/80westyleftside.jpg/)

I started it with a lame battery yesterday, put some antigel/lube in the tank.

[anchovi777]

so how bad is the front end? fenders, front pan, supports etc. whatever is needed to do the early westy swap front end onto my caddy. do you still have the grille?

[fatmobile]

The grill is in pieces, but I think they are all there.
I'll have to check the fenders an rad support.
Might be a dent in the driver's fender, hard to tell in the picture but that's what it is; a dent I hammered out.

The rad support looks good,
I'll check the lower apron.

[fatmobile]

bump, still have it

[anchovi777]

What's the deal with this? Still interested in the front end!

[fatmobile]

I sold it to a guy near MPLS. for $900.
His first Rabbit diesel and he loves it (former geo metro owner/fan)
He has gotten up to 51.5 mpg,.. and went to Milwaukee for one with a better body.
If he does the engine swap to a better body, I'll let you know.

[anchovi777]

hell yeah! please doooo i want a early westy front on the caddy really bad!

[rubberpenguin]

i need donor panels BAD :D

[Dubtuner]

i need some blue sun visors

[fatmobile]

What kind of door panels are you looking for?
Probably 4-door because this car was one right?

[rubberpenguin]

not door panels... DONOR panels... provided they are solid i need a hood and and a quaterpanel with the wheel arch... gots some patchin to do before i start on the straightening. yes mine is a 4 dr

[fatmobile]

Damn old eyes, ha.
I think I just used my last blue sun visors.