TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1984 VW Rabbit

Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:28 am

First and foremost:

Thanks to everyone for contributing to such a wonderful website. I have found much useful technical information here and I have spent hours just laughing at the banter between members.

Now for the good stuff:

I am no longer a Volkwagen virgin. Yesterday I purchased a 1984 Rabbit - 1.6L diesel, 4spd, 2 doors. The car has ~200,000 miles(difficult to be accurate when the odometer is broken). The body is very solid with no rust whatsoever on the strut towers, firewall, and floorpans. Minor surface rust in various other places. The engine runs well and the transmission shifts nicely. Pics to come soon.

My technical question:

Where can I find good quality replacement parts for this vehicle? The timing belt needs changed ASAP, definitely before the car is driven another mile. I am having difficult finding a thread about a timing belt change - someone please point me in the right direction. A Bentley service manual is ordered, but not here yet. I would also like information on where to buy additional replacement parts such as: brakes, fuel lines, filters, specialty tools, transmission bushing kits, etc.

Please let me know what you already know.

Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:37 pm

It's good thing you're getting the Bentley, it's the best book you can get for it. You did buy the one for Diesels, I hope!

The dealer, of course, is the best place for the best quality parts, if you can't wait for a mail order to come in.

The timing belt on a Diesel requires special tools to change the timing belt. There's a lock plate to hold your camshaft in place, then a pin to hold your fuel pump's pulley in place while you change the belt. That's the way to do it and hopefully not mess up your timing. But if the timing needs checked or reset, another tool - a dial indicator - is needed that is bolted onto the engine that will let you see where the timing is at.

There is this one russian website I know of that has some (english) service manuals archived - try this link:

http://volkswagen.msk.ru/index.php?p=page02

then scroll down til you find the link for Engine: JK, CY

This is supposed to be a good online seller for later model parts:

http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volkswagen

Lastly - There's not a lot of watercooled owners that use this forum, which is probably why you didn't find much info. A better forum, informationwise, is this one: http://forums.vwvortex.com/ - it's mostly for watercooled and is a good place for info, although I much prefer the format of TheSamba's forums.

-Andy

Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:47 am

for parts and a techincal forum, try www.vwdieselparts.com the site host has alot of techincal write ups, quality parts at decent prices, and then there is also a forum that has alot of friendly helpful memebers. also, the bentley repair manual is extremely helpfull.

Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:36 am

Congrats on the Rabbit. Check out TDIclub.com for a wealth of diesel information and resources. Have fun.

Welcome to TheSamba!

Sat Jan 13, 2007 4:42 am

We can get T belts at local auto parts store. Make sure you get a Contitech belt. If your T belt breaks on a diesel you get to buy a head (non clearanced valves).