Jettup update

I got the engine for the Jettup out on the carport today, installed the turbocharger/induction/exhaust, and got the oil lines to it on. I'll get the timing belt cover, tach magnets for the transducer & cruise control, and little things tomorrow, then the transmission goes on. The engine was pretty well complete, but I couldn't get it up the 4 steps and out of the basement on a two wheeler with that bigger stuff on it. I ramped the steps, tied a rope to the two wheeler axle, Doris (my wife), Cheri (my daughter) pulled the rope, Louie (my grandson, 14) pushed, I handled the two wheeler and we came right out with it. That little diesel is one heavy chunk, I expect to get it set in the mounts this week. Then comes about twice as many hook-ups as on my MG, the front suspension, drive axles, brakes, etc.

For those of you who don't know what the Jetup is click here and reead the captions. <http://community.webshots.com/album/31808295wTVxYxzwMT>

That picture of the dash wiring looks like it's guts are spilling out...

Wow, just think... One of these years you'll actually get to DRIVE the thing!

I now expect to be driving it by/in August........... this year.

Looks like it's coming together. How did you become interested in this particular truck?

I got interested in a low mile rustbucket Izuzu pickup, but couldn't get the guy to sell. I was going to drop the drivetrain in an S10/S15. While looking for an alternative I noticed how small and rare VW pickups were and got interested in them. The one I found had 285,000 miles and had once belonged to a company owned by a guy I know. It's worn out engine was out of it and an even smaller worn out diesel had been put in, but I got both engines in the deal. It was a real POS with a solid body and I had thoughts of fixing and flipping it for a profit when I bought a 1984 VW Jetta turbodiesel with a busted head for $100.00, that's when the dream occured; build a truck that's a car. I posted what I was doing and Pete Cummins who used to post here every day dubbed the project "The Jettup", Jetta + Pickup. So far, at used prices, I have derived about $3,500.00 of value from the Jetta and the truck is blossoming because of it. It has been a much tougher project than my MG Bea or my '76 Honda Civic 1200 Beastie, but is beginning to feel like it was worth every minute of toil. The engine is the most exacting and demanding one I ever worked on, just a complicated jewel that when once running has the heart of a lion. Installing the car dash and all it's components plus extra instruments, CD player, and cruise control, and entire wiring harness was pretty much of a challenge as has been the whole project. I could go on and on, but what it all boils down to is I'll have my third totally unique one of a kind vehicle and for some reason that is meaningful to me.

That's great, I've said before I've always admired diesels. It' such a great design. Other than Mercedes and VW, it's hard to find a company that still puts them in passenger cars or light trucks, despite their proliferation in other parts of the world. You will have a great one of a kind when your finished that will out last us all. Keep me posted.