The BIG killer of the rabbit truck is in the tail light fixtures. The design of the tail light bulb plug gets hot in the summer on these and melt the plastic short out the wiring and fry the alternator voltage regulator and then fry the battery. Something to watch out for on the rabbit truck. Every time the brake light goes on the battery would get a short to ground. Many Rabbit trucks went to the grave over this design issue in the rear tail lights. Really nice truck and shop you are blessed.

I really enjoyed the video. I know your car intimately. My 1966 wagon is also in the California Vit color with a green interior. It was in very rough condition when I bought it. I liked the ideas that you had for the brakes. Do you have the front on air bags as well? I have a Volvo 850 with a turbo. The car had low miles on it when a tree came down on it in a wind storm. I was considering the idea of saving the motor, ECU and wiring harness for a possible swap. The 1966 wagon had quite a bit of rust and a rod thrown through the side of the block so I decided that this one would be the modified Amazon. For good, inexpensive disk brakes, I used the stock front disk setup and replaced the stock Girling calipers with Wilwood calipers. Wilwood make a caliper that is a duplicate of the original calipers and they weigh about 40% of the cast iron originals. I used the largest calipers from this Wilwood series for the front calipers. For the rear brakes, i took a set of the front disks and put them on the drum brake hubs. I then used a slightly smaller size of the same Wilwoods on the back with very simple brackets. I used a Wilwood clutch master cylinder and a Wilwood dual chamber brake master cylinder. For the emergency brake, I came up with Wilwood remote mount brake master cylinder that looks just like the clutch master cylinder. It has the brake bleed off valve, but there is no fluid reservoir on it. I ran the rear brake line through this cylinder and on to the rear calipers. This brake cylinder uses the main brake master cylinder as the fluid reservoir. I can step on the brake, pull up the brake handle. This adds a bit more pressure to the rear calipers and then I set the E-brake handle which holds the pressure in the calipers. I mounted this remote cylinder under the car and connected it to the stock Amazon E-brake handle. I also used a modified VW Vanagon rack and pinion steering in the car. I have a built ALH VW TDI that puts out about 190 hp and a Toyota W-59 OD five speed transmission that will be going in next. I will use the stock rearend for know, but I just picked up a 2002 BMW and I am going to see if I can make the IRS work in the Amazon. My wagon is also a 1966 Herrgård vagn (kombi in Sweden or station wagon in NA). This will be the hotrodded Amazon. I also have a 1966 coupe with a built B20, M41 OD trans, and IpD suspension. There is also completely stock 1969 wagon with the B20 and automatic that will get some attention in good time. Sorry for going on so long here. I wanted to share some ideas to get other peoples juices flowing a bit. Again, nice job on the video and I look forward to seeing your future progress.

Maybe I missed something, but I can't for the life of me figure out why you removed the transmission on your back. And you lowered the lift so you could do so! WTF?

Nice

I I would like to know what transmission that fitted into this 5 Cyl engine

I had a 1981 vw rabbit pickup with a 1.6 turbo diesel out of an 85 vw Jetta paired with a 5spd. I could regularly go well over the 85 on the gauge running 20 psi boost. Someone following me once said I was doing just over 100mph but I can’t confirm since they didn’t video or anything. It did have a slightly larger aftermarket turbo on it as I blew the original turbo seals after pushing 32psi through it. Lol

Gotta love an old Amazon kombi!

A TOTALLY AWSOME BUILD. WITH TOTALLYA WSOME ENGIEERING!!! THE PERFECT DAILY DRIVER. THANKS FOR SHARING. AND PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED ON THE UPGRADES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SUGGESTION: MODERN RODDING: VOLVO SPECIAL ISSUE!!!!

SUGGESTION: VOLVOS AT SEMA 2024!!!!!

SUGGESTION: VOLVO: REPRODUCTION PARTS TO KEEP THEM ON THE ROAD FRO YEARS TO COME!!!

SUGGESTION: WILLWOOD DISC BRAKE KITS FOR THE VOLVO FAMILY OF CARS.

It’s crazy that diesel vanagons were sold with the 1.6. Like why did they think that was enough?

I was about to bail within the first few minutes, but then I thought, maybe those bird dropping welds on the tunnel aren’t yours. Nice work sir. As you sad; not a show car. I’d say, certainly presentable and strong.

hi, what suspension angles have you set on the front axle? i have one but dare not do more than 50mph.....

Hey was this truck just in Canada recently?

How does it make the xar steer ? Easier or harder ?

What is the cost without trading?

Love it. What front struts did you use?

Cool Truck!

Hay I just bought a 1966 volvo 122s station wagon for $500 looking for a few parts I am in northen indiana if you could help

What a cool ride! And nice conversion too

It’s been a year since you uploaded this video. That is one sweet little truck. Regarding the front grill, I say leave the original grill on and put fog lights underneath the front bumper. I wish I could find one of these trucks out here in Los Angeles. There are some here and there. But every time I come across one, the owner doesn’t want to sell it. I’m considering bringing a 1999 Volkswagen Pointer Pickup from Mexico since the 25 year rule would make it legal to bring one into the U.S and register it. If I had your little truck, I’d hit up the lowrider community about getting that dashboard made over.

He needs to painted the teddy bear hub caps give it a graceful dead looks

I have an 81 in similar original condition. I’m in western NC.

Cool wee cars,, 🌟 cheers from Sweden,, 👍‍‍😎🍻

Hella grill for sure

Egg crate grill for sure

All that and you got a FRAM oil filter 🤔

An old trick that Jay Leno taught me. Push in the clutch and go into 2nd first, hold the clutch in, and then put it into reverse. Works 99% of the time. My 2020 R-Line does the same thing.

If the truck is powered will the stock oil pan hit ?

Stock grill.

I have an 81, put a 1.6td (it was a stock 85 Jetta engine) and with that extra 18-20 hp, it actually drives quite well in modern traffic, does highway speeds easily and will go over 90 if needed which surprised me because I wasn’t expecting that at all.

Very cool, my first car was an 83 242 Turbo 4sp w/ OD. Still have a mint 94 850 Turbo, under 50k miles. My new game is MK4 jettas and modified ALHs. So my kind of content. I appreciate it!

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I had a 1984 as well, I bought in California back in 1988, the car has low mileage and kept for almost 4 years but I've missed that car all these years that I'm thinking of getting another one, it was a black body blue interior with gold bbs wheels. Great car and I'm looking again

any 242 action?

My first car, around 2003, was an 81 Rabbit diesel hatchback. 52 angry horsepower....I loved that car and deeply regret selling it.

@Long Automotive did you follow any particular guide for doing the swap? I haven't been able to find very much on the 'how to' aspect of the swap.

Love it ❤ .i have a 73 144e. That was my 2nd high-school car it has just been sitting since i parked it in 1999 .i want to do something similar to what you have there .but im going to go more of a touring car look

What did you use for a bell housing and transmission?

You are going to ruin the suspension, get an IPD kit with the lowered springs and have it actually handle corners, it won't be dropped to the ground, but it will handle like a race car.

We drove by you today. My daughter really liked your car. So I geeked out a bit about how common a swap is for it. Even googled swapped volvo 240s. And this popped up. We are both impressed. She might want to build one as her first car. Great ride.

Just now seeing this..great video and music choices. I own the Black Scirocco. TY!

It's rare for a reason. Not pretty.

I’m doing the same thing soon with my 81 (lots of patina, 0 rust, 94k miles, broken timing belt)

I'm using Pegasus 17" with R brakes. Spacer needed though.