1981 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup

Volkswagen

Rabbit

1981

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Mods

1.6 Turbodiesel swapped from a 1985-86 jetta
Power steering
Lots of seam seal

Build story

VW Rabbit Pickup, used to belong to a diesel mechanic who retired last year. According to my buddy who sold it to me, the guy apparently really liked the truck, enough to take the turbodiesel from a mk2 Jetta, rebuild it and swap it in. Oddly enough, it has the original naturally aspirated diesel fuel pump, so its SUPER slow. Rolls a bit of coal too. He also threw in power steering from probably a mk1 Cabrio or Rabbit L, something the trucks never had. It sat for about three years not long after the engine swap, with just about 100 miles put on it. When I got it, it hardly ran at all, just enough to get it on and off a trailer. Some new fuel lines, oil change and gear oil change, and boom, runs and rattles. Been my daily(ish) for the past couple months, even fired up in the bitter midwest winter.
A lot of Mk1 GTI interior bits too, including the much more comfy bucket seats.
I almost debated leaving the topper with who i bought it from, but when I saw the truck in person for the first time, it just had to stay with it.
Leaked a good bit when the snow started melting, so I tossed on a ton of seam seal around the B pillar. Its disgusting.
Rough around the edges with a good bit of rust, but a fun little truck nonetheless.

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