More Rabbit

"I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa)
11/25/2019 at 09:06 • Filed to: None

Pulled the valve cover, no sludge! But also barely any oil. Pulled the intake, no nests in the runners, so I won’t pull the head. I started doing timing, but the crank wouldn’t turn (notice cylinder 3 is open), so I’ll have to throw ATF and acetone in to free it up.

Coolant is dried up in at least part of the block. The overflow hose still had green in it, so it’s probably fine. Will replace all hoses and cycle water through it a few times. All the pullies turn, so the water pump is probably fine.

Brake hoses aren't crispy and the brakes hold pressure. I'll still do new soft lines and fluid because I am not an idiot. I'll likely hold off on rebuilding the cylinders.

DISCUSSION (13)

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
11/25/2019 at 12:16

I would look to rebuilding the calipers. Any oxidation in the cylinder will tear the o ring once they start getting actuated.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
11/25/2019 at 12:53

I’ll do that before I start driving it regularly. I just need it to be barely drivable so I can get it plated and in storage before real winter gets here.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
11/25/2019 at 21:55

When you replace/reinstall the injector pump, there are a couple of special tools. One is a flat bar that locks the camshaft in position and the other is a pin that goes through and locks the injector pump drive pulley in place. I have those (I think) . If you need them, we can probably work something out. Drop me a line if you’re interested: oliphant.chuckerbutty@gmail.com

Also, from back in the day, a dieselmeister in the area said that injectors from (I think) a 1.9L engine had a better spray pattern.

There was a big snafu in California 25 years ago when they changed the diesel fuel formulation for better emissions by removing some sulfur. The sulfur kept things lubricated and injector pumps failed all over the state. Two years later the state allocated money to pay for the replacement pumps and since I’d saved the receipt, I got $325 back from the state.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
11/25/2019 at 22:31

I replaced the - likely factory- brake hoses on my 85 Jaguar this year. They were still amazingly supple and not cracked at all.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/25/2019 at 22:33

Pump wise, a deep well socket does the job as well. The cam tool you’re talking about has some workarounds as well. I don’t think anyone is making those tools anymore and they’re a bit hard to come by.

Are you talking about the ALH/AHU pump? I’d do that if I was interested in getting fast. Right now I just want it drivable.

I'll send an email in the morning. Thanks!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
11/25/2019 at 22:49

I think the chances of my ever needing them again are essentially nil. If you lived closer, I’d ask you for 12-pack of Diet Mountain Dew in exchange. But since you don’t, and if I can find them (probably can), I’ll mail them to you if you’ll reimburse me the postage.

And regarding the pump and the 1.9L injectors, they just made the engine run more smoothly. I think even the turbodiesel was only rated at like 52 horsepower. W e got something like 40 mpg, but the fuel was more expensive...

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
11/25/2019 at 22:50

You don’t see rusty scenes like this where I live.

Kinja'd!!!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/26/2019 at 11:28

I mean, it’s Midwest clean. I don’t consider things with surface rust to be rusty.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/26/2019 at 11:31

I’ve read a bit on forums about upgrades for the 1.6 NA and come to the conclusion that it’s not worthwhile to make it faster. I’ll likely drop some type of ABA-hybrid motor in this eventually.

As far as the later pump design, it’s probably a direct drop-in since the motor is built on the same architecture. It would be very easy to roll coal with that pump since it has a higher output.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
11/26/2019 at 11:49

What is the point of rolling coal?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/26/2019 at 12:11

There is no point, really. It’s a waste of fuel. If I took it to VW shows, I would probably turn up the fuel so it could roll coal just for the occasion to make the kids happy, though. It’s like doing burnouts.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
11/27/2019 at 18:30

Tire smoke is better than diesel smoke.

Those tools... I might have given them to the guy who got my Jetta turbodiesel. It was an ‘84 with a remanufactured engine that the folks I bought it from had had done at a VW dealership. It was a great car. Some guy was stargazing and hit it and ruined it. I got the guy who hit us to give me $500, and then another guy gave me $500 for the car so that he could redeploy the engine into a Vanagon. I know I gave him the Haynes manual. I might’ve given him the tools. That’s been 15 years ago now...

Will still initiate Level 2 search...

Apologies for any hopes that turn out to be false.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/27/2019 at 19:42

Seems that rust and crashes are the only things that kill old VWs.

Don’t sweat it if they don’t turn up. I can come up with “close enough ” substitutes. It's a bit hard to get a belt a tooth off unless you're trying to....