My Scirocco thread, not a build, but a fix to drive thread

[natetheman77]

I got the 1981 S from my brother who owed me money at the time. I finally have free time now that I am out of school and have a better work schedule, so progress should be a little better than before. She needs a lot of love and work which I am now already working through. I just wanted to share and have a place to ask questions and track progress.

This is what it looked like when I got it, also someone has done a 1.8 JH swap into it already as well. So it being my first VW I figure this is a good place to start.


It is a lot different now and will get more photos as I get a chance to work on it.

An idea as to where I am going with the car...



the To Do list is long so I will keep updating as I go

First thing on the list is going through the brakes and suspension as well as fixing the blown head gasket and other little tid bits to get it road worthy again.

Thanks for checking it out

[Brycejoseph]

I am excited to see progress!

[prom king]

Don't forget to update like me lol

[natetheman77]

Today I finally crawled under the car and got some work done.

Installed-
4 point lower bar
New control arms with poly bushings and new ball joint
New Hubs and New bearings pressed in with stud conversions
Rebuildable strut mounts with poly bushings
New CV joints

Need to do list- ( for front suspension at least)
Ordered brake calipers today because the slid portions of the calipers on it are no good, those should be here tomorrow so I should be able to get it all back together before work wednesday.

Figure out new mounting for the sway bar on the car, I am not sure the manufacturer and have never seen one like it?

Need tie rod ends and to install new boots on a the rack.

Also torque down the rear control arm mounts, cv axles and the axle nut.

A few pictures...

Started with a pallet of parts too



Ended with this for the day...

[natetheman77]

Any one know anything about the front support brace sway bar on my car? I have never seen anything like it and there is no name brands on anything? Is it original?






Sway bar goes back to the control arms, I might need to drill holes to mount up the hardware again into the new arms.

The support runs across the front of the engine bay and bolts up to both sides like seen in the picture. also the front motor mount is mounted on it and the sway bar mounts to it as well

[DKScirocco]

Any one know anything about the front support brace sway bar on my car? I have never seen anything like it and there is no name brands on anything? Is it original?
Sway bar goes back to the control arms, I might need to drill holes to mount up the hardware again into the new arms.
The support runs across the front of the engine bay and bolts up to both sides like seen in the picture. also the front motor mount is mounted on it and the sway bar mounts to it as well

I must say it looks very similar to mine. May have an answer you are looking for, I'll let the photos speak for itself.







-Rob

[twardnw]

That is quite the interesting setup

[prom king]

Where did you get your control arms from?

Also the dust shields?

[natetheman77]

Awesome thanks! that looks just like my set-up but much cleaner

But my control arms came from Imc through my work, they are meyle aftermarkets.
And the dust shields came from my brothers rabbit, I have the set off my car if you need some.
Just PM me.

[first_rocc]

It looks just like a GMP bar from about 1985-86. I have one on my car.

[DKScirocco]

Where did you get your control arms from?

Also the dust shields?

I got my Control Arm with bushings pressed from GermanAutoparts.com
http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volks...uspension/60/1
Ball Joint
http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volks...Suspension/9/2

As for Brake Dust Shields its NLA. So your best bet is to hunt for 81-85 Vanagon Shields. Very Close to MK1 version.
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/pag...3_thru_85.html

-Rob

[natetheman77]

That is a really cool add thank you for that!

[natetheman77]

Getting stuff ready to put the head on pretty soon. Stainless studs for the exhaust manifold, TT adjustable cam gear and a G grind cam.
Got a fox intake manifold converted to run on a regular 8v with the cold start valve moved and a few ports blocked off and also a neuspeed throttle body. Picked up an autotech header as well.





More to come soon...

[California 16v]

Great thread with lots of good info in it, please continue

[natetheman77]

Wow has progress been slow, nothing notable done... all front suspension all back together and moving though.

Still need to get the head gasket done, but I picked up a Rabbit and focus has been on that because it is my daily now.

Also going to be moving into my own place very shortly, so things are on the back burner for the moment.

Once I get settled into the new place things should be back on track.

[sciroccohal]

Nate. Congrats on the progress.

some comments about the front sway bar mount.

I'm not a lover of that type of sway bar mount. Vw doesn't EVER do it that way and that should be a hint.

Attaching a 'turning moment' to a long unsupported cantilever is not terrific engineering.

This puts constant and repeated stresses on the front frame horns. Constant flexing creates cracks.

you might want to re-evaluate those sway bars.

[natetheman77]

I have heard that a few times now, I might get rid of that sway bar and find another neuspeed bar or something along those lines. I do not know yet though

[petebee]

You don't need a front sway bar at all...just get one for the rear.

BTW where did you get the complete hubs and bearings? Did they come with the brake splash shields too?

[natetheman77]

I had a spare set of hubs/knuckles laying around and took it all apart.
Then I cleaned, painted, and pressed in new bearings. It is original stuff just cleaned up.

[TBerk]

You don't need a front sway bar at all...just get one for the rear.

<==== Note Laughing Emoticon, he is Pot-Stirring, Big Spoon Style.


I found one of those Front Sway Bars on the 81 when I bought it.

To tell the truth, I'd like to learn more about 'the Normal Way', that kind is the only type I've had my hands on.

[petebee]

To tell the truth, I'd like to learn more about 'the Normal Way', that kind is the only type I've had my hands on.

The design of any front swaybar on these cars is somewhat problematic.

I have a fairly simple setup: Bilstein Sport struts/shocks, Neuspeed Sport springs, front upper and lower stress bars and a 28mm rear Autotech bar. Ride is firm but handles well, car is neutral and I haven't been able to induce any significant oversteer due to stiffness of rear vs. front.

[Chris Barnes]

Im liking the build and the car. Im glad that you are doing "original" type upgrades

[natetheman77]

Well, the new place I moved into has no room for a second car, I have to decide to keep this or the gti

Or if anyone in the santa cruz are knows where I can store a car cheap I can keep one.

PM me if anyone locally knows somewhere please.

[iluvmyveedub]

I got the 1981 S from my brother who owed me money at the time. I finally have free time now that I am out of school and have a better work schedule, so progress should be a little better than before. She needs a lot of love and work which I am now already working through. I just wanted to share and have a place to ask questions and track progress.

This is what it looked like when I got it, also someone has done a 1.8 JH swap into it already as well. So it being my first VW I figure this is a good place to start.


:

HA! I knew I wasn't the only one that thought it would be good idea to take pictures of their Scirocco in the Redwood Elementary parking lot.