[Vwdiesel] '81 Rabbit questions

[mikitka]

Before I came into the Air Force my parents bought brand new a 79 rabbit
diesel.  Now I can relate to the heat issue not being the best, in the cold
winters of the western mountains of Pa. I do remember it being cold out, I
want to say in the single digits and the engine running but the temp gage
not moving off cold with not much for heat output. Just like our old 72
square back. Now there was a no heat producing vehicle.

It does get cold here in NC, tonight suppose to get down to the teens. I
have ran it into work in the am around 5am and it being that cold last year
and I get heat. My one friend that I work with couldn't get over how hot it
gets inside the jetta. The coolant system was all new when I rebuilt the
engine, new radiator, hoses and all.  I do notice that the temp gage runs
warmer with the heat on full hot. Once I move it back to full cold it drops
back down to slightly off left of center where it normally runs, but on full
hot it runs dead center.  I must have a magic jetta, great heat, no oil
pressure and so far 30k miles on the rebuild with mpg average of 47mpg.
Tony Hoffman drove it and can tell you it runs pretty good. Brian from NJ
got to see it but didn't have enough time to drive it when he came through
NC.

Nick

-----Original Message-----
From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com] On
Behalf Of B & R Decker
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 9:47 PM
To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] '81 Rabbit questions

Hi Nick;
	I have never had a VW as new as a 91 Jetta but I have had many
different Rabbits and the heaters worked pretty good till the weather gets
cold. Try Wyoming in the winter in a Rabbit and you better hope you have a
good lap robe plus toasty shoes and gloves. Been there done that many times
and will be going to Texas from Washington State in early January in my 1981
Dasher diesel station wagon. The 50 mpg is great and down comforter will
keep me comfortable.
Brian Decker