swapping parts from GTI to MK1

[Johnta]

I have a 1979 1.5L diesel Rabbit and am considering purchasing an old 1980's tricked out GTI to get some parts from. Mainly I would be swapping out suspension items along with a full roll cage. I was wondering if these parts are interchangeable. I have looked around the forms and other web sites, but have not found much if anything.
Thanks

[briano1234]

Mk1's are Mk1. There wasn't any design mods between the years. The Suspension sway bars should be beefier and mount the same as the mk1 rabbit diesel. It wasn't till 84 mid year that differences happened but only on the Cabriolet as that was a different tank area, and bigger gas tank.

[Johnta]

Thanks you for the quick response, I am fairly new to owning a VW of this kind and am still trying to get an idea of the relationship between the different years and models. So from my understanding my 1979 Diesel Rabbit is a MK1 produced from 1975 to 1984. The MK2 came after starting in 1984, do any of later year parts work on the MK1? Also can I assume that if the car has a similar body style to mine parts will be interchangeable. Another example is that I saw a car at the local Pick-n-Pull that has a rear hatch with a wiper in it and is in good condition, not sure of the year but it looks to have the same body style as mine.
Thanks again.

[briano1234]

Any cabriolet suspension will swap over, but there are 2 major differences.
81-84.5 cabriolets had a 10 gallon fuel tank.
84.6-1993 cabriolets have a 13 gallon tank and they don't interchange.
There are 4 types of engines in the mk1: Carburetor, Diesel, CIS, and Digifant.
Digifant is from 1990-1993.

For everything you want to know about models and trim versions across the years.
www.mk1vw.info