1981 Turbo Diesel 5spd in Grass Valley, CA

Last Updated: 9/3/2025 | Ad Source: Direct

Asking Price: $5,100 $4,000 (Final Sale Price)

 

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The best thing about this USA manufactured truck is that it was undercoated against rust when new. There is very little rust. The original paint is in fair condition. I bought this truck 14 years ago and have used it regularly and had a great time caring for it. The original engine was run out, so I replaced it with a stock 1.6 turbo diesel from an ’84 Jetta, together with its 5 speed transmission and a new clutch. It turns out this engine had been newly rebuilt and it runs today without any oil burn or leakage. It has MUCH more power than the original setup and runs very smoothly. I have consistently used Mobile1 full synthetic diesel truck oil. I’ve done lots of work on this truck: new wheel bearings and front struts, new brake pads, new rear wheel bearings. New rear brakes. Two sets of wheels, one with studded snows. Always stored inside or under cover. New battery and clear California title.

I modified the glow plug circuit so that each glow plug is separately fused, and the high amperage does not go through the firewall. The original Jetta glow plug relay operates an aftermarket relay under the hood to deliver maximum amperage. I can provide detailed documentation on this mod. This truck starts and runs like a new vehicle. Fuel lines have all been replaced with modern biodiesel resistant material. A K&N air filter keeps the turbocharger fed with clean air. The engine has a plug-in engine block heater which I have used rarely (in Montana!) The windshield wipers have intermittent as well as slow and fast settings. All four fan speeds are working for heat and defrost. Shift linkage has been updated and adjusted. Timing belt has less than 10,000 miles on it. The windshield is 3 years old. The ignition key switch was replaced when it wore out, and the same key operates the ignition and the door locks. This truck comes with a complete set of tools for timing and valve adjustment, as well as a Bentley service manual and an extensive library of printed web information, some of which is no longer available on the internet. I also have two big boxes of spare parts to go with it including a spare radiator, alternator, 3 instrument clusters, wiper motor and linkage, and many other bits of hardware from the Jetta. I have two extra doors and a front bumper from the Jetta that can be installed to replace the originals if needed. Mechanically this truck is in excellent condition. I once drove it 450 miles through summer heat on 10 gallons of fuel. I have always used Stanadyne diesel additive to protect the injection pump from modern low sulfur fuel which is known to be hard on old pumps. I would not hesitate to drive this truck on any very long trip!

The bad: The seats have a couple of splits in the fabric. The dash has two cracks, but I have seen worse! The carpet is original and not in great shape. The door cards are loose. No radio. The passenger door has been replaced with a Jetta door only because it has a good side mirror, and the original doesn’t. The removed original door is in great shape, except for the missing mirror. (Both doors close and lock easily.) The right front fender has been replaced because I banged up the original, so the paint does not quite match. Nor does it fit perfectly. No air conditioning.   The bumpers are not in great shape. The pickup bed has been heavily used but is not rusted. The horn does not work.

We recently downsized into a smaller house and I don’t have room for this truck any more. The time has come to find it a new home.

Last Updated on September 3, 2025 by TruckAds