[Vwdiesel] incredible Diesel journeys

[Mark Shepherd]

Nice story.
Some vehicles just keep going as long as the wheels turn...
Some of the Fiats I used to drive in the 70's used to get to the point
where the engine would rip itself out of its mountings in an attempt to
leave the rusting bodies behind as I raced off down the street.
Mark
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "S. Shourds" <sshourds at flash.net>
To: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 12:00 AM
Subject: [Vwdiesel] incredible Diesel journeys


> Many years ago, I got the family '80 1.5D Rabbit on my 17th birthday.  I
> drove it through college and graduate school up to 182,000 mi. where I
> picked up an '85 Jetta TD.  The Rabbit got towed from Dallas, TX to a
> barn in Indiana, 900 miles North, and not touched for eight years.  My
> dad, seeing the gas prices and his 100 mi. round-trip daily commute,
> hatched an ill-conceived plan.  He flew to Indiana, put a battery in the
> car and started it, first crank.  We talked him out of the journey and
> he agreed to wait until I was going to be driving down after
> Thanksgiving so I could at least come along behind and pick him up if he
> broke down.  I knew that the car had two severely cracked CV boots, a
> bad radiator (which Dad replaced with a non-matching one from a
> different junk Rabbit and tied in with baling twine--seriously, he did),
> four dry-rotted tires and a matching spare, a blown a/c idler clutch
> bearing, and a really bad inner tie rod end.  After Thanksgiving day, he
> flew up to retreive the car.  While I was sleeping, I woke up vaguely
> and thought I heard a very familiar engine sound.  At 0100.  He decided
> to leave before me.  A long long time before me.  And I don't have a
> cell phone--the plan aparently being that I was supposed to look for
> brown Rabbits on the shoulder, in rest stops, gas stations, etc.  We got
> a few calls through the morning and afternoon.  Owensboro, KY: sparks
> started coming from the rear of the car.  When stopped at idle, the
> tailpipe looked like a roman candle.  He decided it was carbon breaking
> loose and drove on.  I think it was mouse nests in the exhaust.  Little
> Rock, AR:   the taillights and windshield wipers went out in a
> tremendous line of thunderstorms with 30 mph winds.  The winds were
> causing severe front end vibration.  He stopped and figured out that the
> two bolts on the passenger front wheel that adjust the camber were
> loose.  Texarkana, TX, Greenville, TX, and then I'll be if he didn't get
> that thing 900 miles home.  Back to the exact same place where I'd
> parked it under a mesquite tree to be towed to Indiana.  Just like one
> of those treacly Disney movies.  And he says he burned 15 US gal. the
> whole way--about 58 mpg driving at 60 mph.
>
> I drove back after we knew he was home.  I drove back in the TDI.  No
> problems, just windy and boring.
>
> I always wonder when contemplating a road trip, how bad of shape does
> the car have to be before you just won't make it.  Looks like if it's a
> Diesel Rabbit, the engine compartment would have to be on fire as you
> were pulling out of the driveway.
>
> -Shalyn
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
>
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.8/184 - Release Date: 27/11/05
>
>