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Subject:Re: What years diesels?
From:Robert A. Alexander
Date:Sun, 14 Mar 1999 23:42:11 -0500

Harmon - I drove a Diesel Vanagon back in '93 that I noticed at a
hock-shop in Chattanooga I believe was an '82(?).  They wanted $1000 for
it.  Five-spd.  Wouldn't pull a hair off your butt when it came to
acceleration, BUT it seemed to hold its speed up and down hills around
here pretty well for 50hp!  When I went back to buy it, several days
later, some damn Marine, on leave, bought it and headed back to LeJune!

Also, Earth Day '90, in Chattanooga, had an old German dude and his son
promoting his "conversion kit" for VW Rabbit Diesels to run them off
vegetable oil rather than diesel fuel.  He was running a Rabbit off of
used vegetable oil he was getting for free from KFC, Burger King, etc.,
etc.  I'll testify to the fact that the exhaust fumes smelled just like
someone was popping popcorn!  Seems his conversion kit he was selling
had something to do with eliminating whatever the problem is with the
"gumminess" of used vegetable oil?

One of my friends who bought an '80 diesel Rabbit, new, told me the
dealer told him, due to the lack of diesel at regular gas stations at
the time, to carry 5-6 quarts of Mazola in the rear, just in case!

BOB