Working on another project - VW Rabbit Pickup 16v

Since my '72T is now (mostly) in maintenance mode, it became time to find a new project to occupy my time.

Found it. An '81 VW Rabbit Pickup (Caddy) with a '92 2.0 16v swapped in. Had it towed home yesterday.

Mostly straight, but parked for several years. PO spent over $3k last year at a shop attempting to get it back running decently. While they did have it running, it still wasn't right and they never finished the work as the estimated additional cost was more than the seller could spend. By the time I got to it, it wouldn't start at all again.

I spent some time with it yesterday afternoon, and got it running again. Hot-wired the fuel pump due to a bad relay and it started right up. New relay will arrive today.

It's more than a little rough. Really bad color change from Silver to Mars Red in the past. Wiring for the engine swap is pretty amateur as well. Not sure how far I'll take it. Maybe fix all the function parts and leave it as a rat-rod. Or a semi-refresh to GTI-look. We'll see.

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Had 1 of these in the 80's. Best little ute I have ever had until it rusted away. (lived on Waiheke Island at the time and the sea salt loved it too)

VW's Giugiaro period produced some crisply elegant packages... I had a first gen Rabbit as well as a '76 Euro Scirocco and both were excellent cars. A buddy inherited one of these from his dad, a non-turbo diesel.
It was a snail but didn't care what it hauled, and gave 50 mpg doing it. Always thought it would be cool to build one with GTI underpinnings, or how about goin' Quattro with an early TT drivetrain? Go for it Arne!

Interesting side note - this one has Fuchs on it...

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Nice Arne! Looks like a fun project. How's that T doing?

I gotta get over the hill to see you and your T. And soon, as I could use a Porsche pep talk to keep me from selling my '72 and picking up more VW's!

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Originally Posted by SD Swede

Nice Arne! Looks like a fun project. How's that T doing?

I gotta get over the hill to see you and your T. And soon, as I could use a Porsche pep talk to keep me from selling my '72 and picking up more VW's!

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The T is quite nice at this point, Pete. Over time I'll refurb the factory A/C and upgrade some of the trim I reused. But mostly it's good. https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...T-coupe/page13

Come visit us on the Saturday before Labor Day. PCA C&C in Eugene, but not the normal location as we need room to maintain distance. At least one other Florence person will probably be attending, PM me and I can hook you up.

It now runs, but not 100% correct. Motronic ECU appears to be in "limp home" mode, gone full rich and no ignition advance. So doesn't run really great yet. Looks like the failsafe is being triggered by one or both knock sensors being bad. New ones coming soon.

In the mean while, new brakes (fronts upgraded to vented GTI spec) and front suspension are in progress.

I'm in shock a bit at parts prices. I guess I've been working on Porsches too long, I'd forgotten how cheap some other cars' parts can be!

Fair amount of progress over the past few months. Truck seems to be running right after a replacement AFM and ECU. Suspension and brakes are under control, been working on structure lately. Passenger floor pan has been replaced, will start on the driver's side soon. Much of the new and updated trim has arrived and is being fitted prior to paintwork.

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The truck looks great Arne!!

Yeah, probably no top end, what with the aerodynamics of a brick and the short final drive and close ratio 5 speed from the first US GTIs. But it is quick, almost certainly faster to 60 mph than my '72T. Lots of wheelspin in 1st and 2nd, even from a moving roll on. Of course, the tires are 15 years old and hard as bowling balls.

Front ride height went up at least a ½" when I replaced the heavy Caddy bumper with the plastic one. Will address that later.

Seats - I picked up a pair of VW Mk3 sport seats for it. Had to do some mods to get them to fit, but they were both local and cheap.

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Since the last update, the fuel pump and tank have been replaced, and the second half of the floor pan welded in. New tires next week (the ones on it now are almost 20 years old!). Starting to test fit all the new trim pieces, as I don't want to have to drill holes or tweak fitment after the truck has been painted. While there is still a little non-structural rust left to repair, I'll be talking with the painters about the job in the next couple of weeks.

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Finally have the fuel injection pretty much settled, after working to reverse years and years of abuse, neglect and ill-advised tampering. It runs pretty well now, and dang! This little thing is QUICK!

Going back to the remaining welding now, just a couple areas of non-structural rust I need to patch. Have been in touch with the man who painted my 911 and he figures he can probably knock it out in a few weeks early this summer. I've been fitting all the new trim bits on it now, so that any drilling or other work that is needed can be done prior to the new paint.

The antenna was a recent addition. The little truck had no radio, speakers or antenna when I bought it. No antenna hole, either, as the fenders someone mounted when it was converted to round headlights had no hole. I plan to put it together "radio delete", but a future owner might want to add a radio. It would be a shame to then have to drill a hole through fresh paint for an antenna. So I decided that while I would not install a head unit or speakers, I'd go ahead and add an antenna now. And since it is a 16v VW, only one type of antenna will do...

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Progress continues...

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Wow... that looks straight. So the only metal work was the floor replacement? Good on you... BTW, staying with red or color change in the works?

The little truck was remarkably straight. Damage was limited to just a few areas. The passenger door was the worst.

The plan as of now is Audi's Nardo Gray...

Nice color choice.
Thanks for the update.
Fred

This thing is going to be epic. Wish I had room for something like this. - Ang

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Just stole this image, Arne... love the look, so crisp in that gray. Similar direction?

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Originally Posted by Bullethead

Just stole this image, Arne... love the look, so crisp in that gray. Similar direction?

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Yes. The color is similar, but mine will have a few more black accents, and won't be lowered like that one is. Much the same idea, though. Much like the rest of my projects, I'm trying to keep this more practical to use at least a little bit, it will not be a show truck. So no engine compartment wire tucks, or ridiculous detailing under the hood.

New paint is on! The truck was not in a spot that lent to good pictures, though...

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Arne -- You should be really proud of this project. This has really come a long way! Thank you for sharing.

David

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Originally Posted by beaker

Arne -- You should be really proud of this project. This has really come a long way! Thank you for sharing.

David

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Looks like it will be coming home sometime next week. I need to add some lights, a seat and a seat belt, then get it running again after 6 months sitting around in the paint shop.

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Closer...

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Home from the paint shop today, one week shy of 6 months. Still loud, still quick, but MUCH better looking.

Now it's time to start working through the details.

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Looking good!

Got the right door and exterior trim pretty much wrapped up today.

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Dressed the tailgate today, letters and badge.

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The exterior is pretty much done. Working on the interior now, then on to cleaning up under the hood.

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Getting closer now.

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Great little truck!

Really nice job Arne !!

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Originally Posted by Arne

Getting closer now.

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Yeah, it's turning out pretty nice. I'm afraid I'm underwater, value-wise. But I was in it deep enough that it didn't make sense to try to stop, once past a certain point you can't really stop. The job has to be finished to sell it. I'm probably going to start posting it on the appropriate FB groups within the next couple of weeks. That will be the true test. The pictures attract a lot of attention and a lot of "likes" but whether people will be willing to pay what I've got into it is a whole different story.

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I've been working on the Bunny Truck's engine compartment over the past few days, making some progress. It's never going to be pristine, but that's not really my goal. It does need to look presentable, though. Still a little more I want to do there, but realistically there's a point of dimishing returns on a job like this, and I'm probably already past it.

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Flashback to when I bought it:

https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...7&d=1598551862

I'm calling it essentially done, other than some final cleaning and such. Posted this along with some pictures on a couple of FB groups and the requests for price and more info have been rolling in. We'll see if any are serious...

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Arne,

GREAT project... GREAT outcome... Use the hell'out'of'it !!!!

@#%!


https://vwvortex.com/threads/mk1-2-0...ystem.3245185/

It doesn't need nitrous, the 2 liter 16v coupled to the early close ratio 5 speed with a short final drive is startlingly quick already.

Posted to FB and Vortex this afternoon. Let the games begin...

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Sold and delivered.

It's hard to beat an 80's VW, my first car, an 82 Scirocco, had lots of them after that.

---Adam

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Originally Posted by Arne

. . . Sold and delivered . . .

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https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...rabbit-pickup/







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