New parts truck - 1981 VW Caddy (Rabbit Pickup)

[E30Kaiser]

I am seriously considering getting a Rabbit Diesel for daily driving and turning it into a mpg project, so I am following this car closely for motivation! If I had the money to blow I would put a TDI engine in it like the Top Gear Proj. Sipster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGBqBVoAcMs

Keep up the good work with your Caddy, and best of luck with the rust tackling.

[Hey-U]

I really like these little trucks, probably the only VW that I would own again. They look so good when they are super clean and lowered. Good luck with your build sounds like you are on the right track.

[TruEdrty]

Earnhardt WHEEW!

[FreedS4]

Replace your injector o-rings and cups.

Cups? Not sure what you mean. I'm gonna tackle the engine (the 1.8L out of an '83 Scirocco) once I get the brakes/suspension/bodywork all done. Good stuff to know though. Thanks.

Chris

I have not done the disc swap or anything else to the rear but pretty much any set up from a mk1, 2 or 3 with rear disc so mostly 16v cars or corrados.

I'd have to search around to get the model number of the monroes something weird like early 70's corvette application or something, but I've seen a number of guys running them with drop plates and when the need to haul something the air the shocks up with a portable compressor and raise the ride height and dampening rate. I'm planning on helper springs in the back to raise the ride height a little and help with hauling a lot. This site has some excellent info and products. http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/ForSale/

Good info again, thanks. I'll have to look into the Monroe rear setup. I'm starting to source the stuff for the rear disc setup. Found a guy that makes the e-brake cables over on Vortex and he's helping me put together a kit.

Chris

I am seriously considering getting a Rabbit Diesel for daily driving and turning it into a mpg project, so I am following this car closely for motivation! If I had the money to blow I would put a TDI engine in it like the Top Gear Proj. Sipster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGBqBVoAcMs

Keep up the good work with your Caddy, and best of luck with the rust tackling.

It's been a fun project so far. Sometimes I wonder why I bought one with so much rust, but I've always wanted to tackle bodywork and figured it be better to learn on this instead of my e30. That Project Sipster is crazy, 84 mpg, wow! I'll keep a decently good project log so everyone can see the progress. Haven't done much other than pull off of the doors and hood and all of the rusted out brake/suspension parts. Should be able to get a good bit done this weekend though.

I really like these little trucks, probably the only VW that I would own again. They look so good when they are super clean and lowered. Good luck with your build sounds like you are on the right track.

Thanks for the comments! I look forward to getting this truck in that "look so good" category.

Earnhardt WHEEW!

The pictures didn't show it, but there was some Labonte and No Fear stickers on the back glass. Have to admit, the stickers were pretty good. I definitely felt the truck slow down after I took them off!

[Ryann]

Cups: when you pull your injectors out to replace the cracked and burned leaky injector o-rings, you'll notice that they came out of plastic sleeves that are threaded into the head. They take like a 12 mm allen wrench to get out. Replace those too.

[FreedS4]

Cups: when you pull your injectors out to replace the cracked and burned leaky injector o-rings, you'll notice that they came out of plastic sleeves that are threaded into the head. They take like a 12 mm allen wrench to get out. Replace those too.

I'll definitely swap those out, thanks.

Chris

[FreedS4]

Got a little bit of work done on it today. I didn't snap any before pictures of the sides I painted, but you get the idea of what they looked like based on what the other sides currently looked like. I didn't tape anything off in the engine bay, because I'm going to be pulling the engine and painting the whole engine bay sometime in the near future, but I wanted to get the strut towers painted before I installed the new struts/springs. I didn't tape the side because I'm going to get it painted/Line-x'd as soon as I weld up all of the rusty spots. In the mean time, I wanted to put a nice coat of primer/paint to prevent it from rusting any more. I also pulled the dash, because I'm going to need it out to cut out the a-pillars.

[FreedS4]

I'm going to get some good work done on her this weekend. Standby for updates and pictures...

[delatlanta1281]

Standing by, can't wait to see the update.

[craiggroves91]

These things are sick! never noticed them before and now i want one!
Kinda the same effect the e30 had on me

[FreedS4]

These things are sick! never noticed them before and now i want one!
Kinda the same effect the e30 had on me

I have to agree completely. I had never heard of a VW truck, then I saw this one on the way home from the beach and I had to go back. It's going to be a lengthy project, but it should look pretty good when I get rid of all of the rust and finally get it painted.

[FreedS4]

QUICK UPDATE

Got the fenders off a few weeks back. Started pulling the engine so I can remove the rust in the engine bay, as well as paint the engine bay. There's a little more rust along the inner fender well than I thought, so it's going to be an even greater task, but it shouldn't be too bad. I've got a new goal of having it painted by the end of the month, so I've got my work cut out for me, but I can make it happen. Stand by for pictures and more updates.

[Ral]

soo... any updates? I heard you and another dude were trying to get the engine out today

[M-technik-3]

The later rear calipers on MK III disc braked cars don't not tend to seize up in the parking brake assembly like the early 16V cars. I would go that route. Like the progress.

83 1.8's will have 90mm half shafts so remember this when choosing a transmission. 83 will likely be a 4k which is very short the shortest A1 chassis gear box and gets buzzy. 4k is stronger than a 9a thou.

Looking forward to more caddy updates.

[Moto-Mucci]

Jeez man, use some masking tape!