1984 Rebuild

Doing a restoration or putting the car back to stock, post your builds here

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84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Yesterday I was able to do a little on the Rabbit. Got the radiator fan motor in, was not a straight forward replacement. The new fan had a 3 connector plug and the old one was a 2 pin connector. Robbed the spare harness of the 3 pin connector and wa la it works. Then the rain came :( Next is to replace the shifter bushings. Pictures to follow.

My lovely wife got me a spot sand blaster for Christmas, can't wait to try it out
84 Rabbit Convertible
84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Worked on the Rabbit some this weekend. Shifter bushings replaced, Raidator fan motor replaced, exhaust back on. All of that was good, then I filled it up with water and started it. The pictures will show how much oil is in the water. The pictures are after radiator flush, this was the 2nd rinse water.
Oil In Radiator.JPG
Oil in Water.JPG
New Fan Motor.JPG
84 Rabbit Convertible
84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Shifter pictures
Shifter Before.JPG
Shifter After.JPG
84 Rabbit Convertible
CalAltaDubber
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Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by CalAltaDubber »

Wow! That shift rod looks like new.
Phil

'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
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Briano1234
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Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by Briano1234 »

84Vert wrote:Worked on the Rabbit some this weekend. Shifter bushings replaced, Raidator fan motor replaced, exhaust back on. All of that was good, then I filled it up with water and started it. The pictures will show how much oil is in the water. The pictures are after radiator flush, this was the 2nd rinse water.
Oil In Radiator.JPG
Oil in Water.JPG
New Fan Motor.JPG
A mech told me that when that happens they fix the leak then run a bottle of shout in clear water, allow it to come to temp and work for about 15 minutes, then cool and drain, they then do a flush/backflush and all is well and devoid of oil.....

Was the cause a bad head gasket or leaking oil cooler?
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Not sure where the leak is. My first thought is the head gasket. I had not even thought of the oil cooler. There is no water in the oil, just oil in the water. I will look into the oil cooler. The shout sounds like a good idea

Wow! That shift rod looks like new.

Thanks, it is amazing what a brass wire brush on a grinder will do.
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Briano1234
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Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by Briano1234 »

Oil pressure exceeds the a/f coolant pressure, so oil in the water can happen if the oil cooler goes. Since the a/f pressure is always lower It usually don't contaminate the oil.

With the check valve in the flange and the blow back in the filter, pressure is usually there keeping the a/f at bay when stopped.
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Thanks Brian, the more I read about the oil cooler the more I am leading towards that is the problem. It is the original and after sitting for 8+ years I am sure it has corroded away inside.
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Briano1234
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Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by Briano1234 »

84Vert wrote:Thanks Brian, the more I read about the oil cooler the more I am leading towards that is the problem. It is the original and after sitting for 8+ years I am sure it has corroded away inside.
Here is the one I took off my 89, small hole... caused by da da da da da hose clamps.

Image

Ron has a pic of one with a internal leak....
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

New oil cooler has arrived now just waiting on the rubber gasket to come. Since you need to replace the gasket when replacing the oil cooler how come the oil cooler does not come with one?
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84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Wahoo, parts are in hopefully this weekend the weatherman will be kind and I can get the new oil cooler installed
84 Rabbit Convertible
84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Installed the new oil cooler and wala no more oil in the water! Flushed the radiator a couple of times to get all of the oil out, filled it up with antifreeze. Now ready for the next part to be ordered.

Out with old in with the new
New Oil Cooler.JPG
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84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Started the Rabbit this weekend and put on the new radiator cap. Low and behold another leak pops up. This time is the the heater control plastic thing. Luckly it is just a small leak and not a gusher. Now to fine one of those. Or move to the Keys and not worry about a heater :D
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Briano1234
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Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by Briano1234 »

84Vert wrote:Started the Rabbit this weekend and put on the new radiator cap. Low and behold another leak pops up. This time is the the heater control plastic thing. Luckly it is just a small leak and not a gusher. Now to fine one of those. Or move to the Keys and not worry about a heater :D
www.napaonline.com replace it now as it will go and spew a/f and your car will over heat.
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: 1984 Rebuild

Post by 84Vert »

Yes, it will get replaced. Lucky for me the Rabbit is still on blocks and not drivable or the wife would be driving it.
84 Rabbit Convertible
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