zyewdall Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 I'm going to use this thread to post updates on my '82 GL wagon project over the next year (or two, or more....) Bought the wagon from Luvmybrat two weeks ago, and picked it up from DrKrazy's house last weekend. It's a gold wagon, no rust, and only very slight body dents. Pretty sweet. I'll post a few off-road pics when I find my camera. Here's the plan: -Lift it 2 or 3 inches -15" pug rims -swap in a turbodiesel engine. The engine of choice right now is a volkwagen 3 cylinder 1.4 liter direct injection variable vane turbo engine that was used in the little cars in eastern europe around 2001 or so. It's only rated at 75HP, barely more than the stock EA81, but it gives 130 ft lbs at only 1800rpm, which will be really nice. I'm hoping by switching to the 5 speed and the larger tires I can keep the highway rpm below 3,000, because this engine redlines at 4,500 intead of 6,500. -5 speed dual range manual from a EA82 car. I'm not parting out my '89GL to get this, so if anyone on the board has a good tranny like this laying around, PM me, especially if you are in CO or WY. -snorkel air input for the engine -Brush guard/push bar on front -4,500lbs winch on the front, with synthetic line -heavy duty roof rack -Put 85 watt driving light behind third eye -New two tone paint job (currently thinking of using black bedliner below the door moldings, and some metallic light green to complement the gold metallic base paint, but haven't settled on this for sure. -remanufacture the vintage plaid seat covers -new sound system with good speakers and mp3 player -solar panel on the roof, upgraded starter battery and 800 watt inverter or so to provide AC power Any other suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 I would go for a little larger diesel. If you want diesel that's fine, but that engine probably will not cut it on the highway. Especially with the 5 speed D/R. The RPM's are all wrong for the gearing in the 5 speed, and if you add a lift and tires you will be lucky to get that thing to 45 MPH. The 5 speed is very tall geared. 5th gear at 60 MPH is 3,000 RPM, which I'm sure is past the power band of that diesel. Diesel engines have a very narrow power band, and something that redlines at 4500 likely has a useful power band between about 2000 and 2500 RPM. Past that and the power/torque drops off badly. This is why semi's have a tough time with hills. The power band can't rev up enough to get you to the next gear, so up a hill you are stuck going 15 MPH in 2nd..... etc. Take it from someone that's driven diesel trucks with engines too small for their own good..... It will work off-road but you will hate life on anything asphalt. What about the 4 cylinder diesel used in the old rabbits? Apparently you simply can't kill them..... and no electronics. They used them in the rabbit trucks too.... GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the sucker king Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 wow that's a lot of plans! more power to you! are you gonna run vegatable oil in this? i'm the guy up in lyons that talked to you about a certain 70's coup. i'm still interested if you are willing to give up the location. let me know. also if you want to run veggie oil i know some folks in hygene that could be of great help. you're in ward now? FREAK!! you gonna take on that viking guy at bare knuckle boxing and try to win his sword? oh my god, what if you ARE that guy??!! i'll watch your progress, i have a lifted hatch and i live less than 30 minutes from you. i am definately willing to help you out and i have loads of parts in my yard, drop a line if you need. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted October 6, 2006 Author Share Posted October 6, 2006 I hear you. I was thinking of the 1.9 liter TDI that's in the new VW jettas (the four cylinder version instead of the 3 cylinder). But the problem is fitting an inline four into the place of a horizontally opposed four.... The three cylinder is a shorter and shouldn't require relocating the radiator and grill. And only 3/4's the power of course. But given how much power the 1.9 has in a much heavier car than an '82 wagon, I'm hoping the 1.4 will be okay. If not, the 1.9 bolts to the same mounts and everything.... Gearing, I don't know.... It's going to be somewhat of an experiment. I know my mitsubishi diesel truck has that rpm gap between 2nd and 3rd, so on some hills I can pull third easily if I start in third at the bottom, but if I have to start from a stop, I can never get out of 2nd. I own one of the old rabbits too, and it's got good torque and can rev high as well (apparently the 1.6 liter engines rev way better than the larger 1.9 liter ones due to shorter stroke). Even though it's only rated at 52 horsepower it will get to 85mph on the highway if you give it time. But I've smashed the oil pan once already in less than 6 months driving it off road... Hence why I want the subaru. I would go for a little larger diesel. If you want diesel that's fine, but that engine probably will not cut it on the highway. Especially with the 5 speed D/R. The RPM's are all wrong for the gearing in the 5 speed, and if you add a lift and tires you will be lucky to get that thing to 45 MPH. The 5 speed is very tall geared. 5th gear at 60 MPH is 3,000 RPM, which I'm sure is past the power band of that diesel. Diesel engines have a very narrow power band, and something that redlines at 4500 likely has a useful power band between about 2000 and 2500 RPM. Past that and the power/torque drops off badly. This is why semi's have a tough time with hills. The power band can't rev up enough to get you to the next gear, so up a hill you are stuck going 15 MPH in 2nd..... etc. Take it from someone that's driven diesel trucks with engines too small for their own good..... It will work off-road but you will hate life on anything asphalt. What about the 4 cylinder diesel used in the old rabbits? Apparently you simply can't kill them..... and no electronics. They used them in the rabbit trucks too.... GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted October 6, 2006 Author Share Posted October 6, 2006 Yup, in Ward. It's sort of different for sure, but more affordable than Boulder, and I like it so far. Yesterday afternoon our fun event was moving a house by picking it up with a tracked excavator as a crane. Haven't met the viking guy yet, but I've heard about him. Yes, planning on veggie oil eventually, or maybe just biodiesel (the newer diesels don't like straight veggie oil as well as the old mercedes and vw's from the 80's). And yes, I can give the location of the '70's coupe. I actually have to talk to the owner (or owner of the land it's on at least) soon so I'll mention it. I'd love to talk to you about exactly how to do the lift on mine, since it sounds like you've got one already. Z wow that's a lot of plans! more power to you!are you gonna run vegatable oil in this? i'm the guy up in lyons that talked to you about a certain 70's coup. i'm still interested if you are willing to give up the location. let me know. also if you want to run veggie oil i know some folks in hygene that could be of great help. you're in ward now? FREAK!! you gonna take on that viking guy at bare knuckle boxing and try to win his sword? oh my god, what if you ARE that guy??!! i'll watch your progress, i have a lifted hatch and i live less than 30 minutes from you. i am definately willing to help you out and i have loads of parts in my yard, drop a line if you need. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SakoTGrimes Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 I doubt the 3-cyl VW diesel drops power after 2500. The VWs from the 80s redlined between 4-5K. My 3005cc 5 cyl redlines at 4350 and produces lots of torque right up to that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted October 14, 2006 Author Share Posted October 14, 2006 I think I found the 5 speed tranny for it. A parts car, '86 GL sedan, with a bad rod in the engine (that's what he said, but I haven't looked at it yet). Anyway, after I pick it up, I'll post it as a parts source for anything that I'm not taking from it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daeron Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 "bad rod" IS occasionally a mis-diagnosed TOD, the hydraulic lash adjuster (lifter) tick... just to let you know... it would be worth firing up the motor to make sure its not something that simple. you never know what you might do with it later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted October 16, 2006 Author Share Posted October 16, 2006 "bad rod" IS occasionally a mis-diagnosed TOD, the hydraulic lash adjuster (lifter) tick... just to let you know... it would be worth firing up the motor to make sure its not something that simple. you never know what you might do with it later The thought occured to me that it might just be tick of death. Especially because he says it still runs.... Hopefully I'll get a chance to take a look at it today. Zeke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted April 21, 2007 Author Share Posted April 21, 2007 Hey, the snow here is melting, so I'm starting to work on the wagon again. Got a set of 14" alloy pugs (no tires on them yet ). And I decided on a paint sceme for it, and have started working on it. Black hammerite from the rubber door strips down, dark metalic green above (1999 Volkswagon color), and white roof. Here's a pic of it today. I was doing some landscaping in my yard to reroute the drainage ditch from the highway and decided to see if I could park it on top of the hill behind the ditch. Yes! even with lousy street tires. click the picture to make it bigger And John gave me a 5 speed dual range tranny for it. So I might put it in there sometime. Old EA81 is still running great though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 Hey, the snow here is melting, so I'm starting to work on the wagon again. Got a set of 14" alloy pugs (no tires on them yet ). And I decided on a paint sceme for it, and have started working on it. Black hammerite from the rubber door strips down, dark metalic green above (1999 Volkswagon color), and white roof. Here's a pic of it today. I was doing some landscaping in my yard to reroute the drainage ditch from the highway and decided to see if I could park it on top of the hill behind the ditch. Yes! even with lousy street tires. click the picture to make it bigger And John gave me a 5 speed dual range tranny for it. So I might put it in there sometime. Old EA81 is still running great though. But its not that old Zeke! Its a year newer then that car and only has 73k miles on it IIRC. Hope to see this when its done cause it sounds like its going to be an awesome project:headbang: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted April 22, 2007 Author Share Posted April 22, 2007 But its not that old Zeke! Its a year newer then that car and only has 73k miles on it IIRC. Hope to see this when its done cause it sounds like its going to be an awesome project:headbang: True, true. I forgot that. You have to stick around the area for a while, and I'll bring it to the Colorado meets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 True, true. I forgot that. You have to stick around the area for a while, and I'll bring it to the Colorado meets. Yeah around for awhile for me is like 25 days... I'm moving to the land of Subarus... Washington! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted April 22, 2007 Author Share Posted April 22, 2007 Yeah around for awhile for me is like 25 days... I'm moving to the land of Subarus... Washington! Ah. I'm somewhat jealous -- I've been reviewing all of the hatch patrol pictures in the off-road thread. I like the sun here in Colorado, but I have to admit I miss the green and rain and trees from WA (no, something under 75 foot tall doesn't really count as a tree, and it isn't really raining unless its the fourth straight day of constant hard downpour). And, yes, it's the land of subarus too. Lived up north of Spokane for 21 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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