1980 Rabbit Convertible in Kansas City

[kieferwabbit]

Hi everyone! A couple of months ago, my wife sent me a craigslist ad for a $150 Rabbit Convertible in pretty rough shape, but supposedly running. 105k miles only.

I bought it after giving it a once-over to make sure the rust wasn't too awful. I started it up, and despite running poorly, it made it 25 miles of surface streets all the way home.

I was baffled by the problem, having never worked on anything with an old Bosch Jetronic system. I addressed everything underhood that seemed like an obvious source of trouble -- plugs, wires, cap and rotor, fuel filter, fuel injector o-rings, cleaned the injectors, replaced the air filter, replaced a few vacuum lines, and re-routed a few vacuum lines that were, according to the underhood diagram, going to the wrong thing. I got it to idle fine, and set the timing that way, but any time I would rev it, loaded or unloaded, it would stutter and pop, like the fuel air mixture was way, way too lean. Either I still had a vacuum leak, or it wasn't getting enough fuel.

Fuel, it turns out, was the issue. A friend noted when I went to start the car "the fuel pump should not be so audible." So, I bought a re-manufactured replacement pump, bolted it into place yesterday, and now it runs well!

I commuted to work in my topless, 80-horsepower (I think) beast. I didn't feel safe over about 60, though. The brakes were nice and firm, but the shocks are obviously shot (it goes over 3 bumps for every 1 that is actually on the street), and the tires probably date back to the Clinton administration.

And it truly is topless for the time being. Only a bare frame remains where the top once was. It did come with the back window and a bag of hardware for the top from the PO, however, and I've ordered a replacement vinyl top. I need to get those in place before winter gets here in earnest. It was cool enough at 50F this morning on the highway with the windows up and heat on full blast.

[CalAltaDubber]

Hello and welcome to TRF.

Sounds like you have a great story going here on your car.

You have (in my opinion) found a great place to share storries and tips about these cars.

Hope to here more from you soon.

[Briano1234]

Welcommen to the brotherhood of cabbiness.

Now post a pic or 3.

[kieferwabbit]

[CalAltaDubber]

That looks like it is better shape than my '88 was when I bought it.

[Briano1234]

Gotta love them 80's and that Radiator mount (clip) was one of the most asinine ways to mount a radiator I have ever seen.
(I had a 81 Diesel rabbit for 20 years)

If that clip backs out, and the plastic rattle rivet isn't there it allows the radiator to vibrate from the top to the bottom, with the bottom being Bolted tight to the valance.
Over time it will allow the radiator to split at the seams literally... Happened to me on my 81 at 20014 miles.... Or 14 miles outside of warranty....

You will want to get a radiator card for the gap between the frame and the radiator shroud.

see WWW.CABBY-INFO.COM for most of your basic questions.

You have the York A/C compressor, if you wondered, it was a "Factory Add-on" after build. Basically the original owner wanted A/C installed on a Car that didn't have A/C installed at the factory.

Nice looking Original Rabbit Vert.

[84Vert]

Welcome to the sickness. Your rabbit looks good

[Hoppy]

Hi Keifer... We're not far from eachother
I'm in Leavenworth.

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[Briano1234]

Hi Keifer... We're not far from eachother
I'm in Leavenworth.

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And when do you get out?

[Hoppy]

Lol, I thought about clarifying that after I posted.