My first Scirocco Build thread 88 16v

**Sanityana** · 06-23-2012 03:48 PM

Nice day for enjoying my Scirocco

What's next?

The Corrado Brakes up front and mk4 caliper conversion in the back

Race Header (thanks gatorhator!)

H&R Sway Bars front and rear

**GliGirlDriver** · 06-25-2012 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Sanityana

First off,

Find some decent matching wheels
Get the emergency brake working again
Install new shifter bushing

Originally Posted by Sanityana

Just got my plate, title, and registration. It's a good day

Thanks guys for all the replies and interest

Ahh I remember the day when I got all mine too..although I'm pretty jealous that mine wasn't for a scirocco

I'll be watching

Subscribed

**Sanityana** · 06-25-2012 09:59 PM

A little side project done tonight.

Installed a beefed up primary ground wire, cleaned up my ground points, and installed new headlight bulbs.

Things are much brighter now

**Sanityana** · 06-26-2012 03:04 PM

Ordered drilled and slotted Corrado rotors for the front today. When I get them in I should have everything I need to upgrade to Corrado front brakes

Waiting on my header to get here is killing me

**Sanityana** · 07-02-2012 09:47 PM

Header is here, hoping to get it on my car Wednesday

Still waiting on the Corrado rotors and front brake hoses to get here, but maybe I can get that done this weekend if they make it here.

Wish me luck with the header install, will post pics

**Sanityana** · 07-05-2012 10:14 PM

Some boxes showed up today...

Hrm...what could be in them....

Looks like it's going to be a good weekend

Here's a sneak peak of what's happening next week

**GliGirlDriver** · 07-06-2012 09:12 AM

**Thrasher** · 07-06-2012 12:08 PM

I spy a header without a flex bellow... hope you plan on running one on the before the cat. Keep an eye on those rotors too, there have been many who've had bad luck with the drilled/slotted rotors for our cars. I'm a Zimmerman man myself... but pimpin' ain't easy (or cheap). Good luck and keep up the progress.

**Sanityana** · 07-06-2012 01:50 PM

Zimmerman's would be nice, I agree

**Sanityana** · 07-07-2012 06:03 PM

Slight setback. Went to test fit then install the new rotors, calipers etc. and I can confirm that upgrading 88 16v scirocco brakes to corrado brakes requires an adapter which I currently do not have to bolt the carriers to the spindles. I had been told it was a direct bolt on but it is not.

Anybody have a pair of adapters for sale?

**nuctech** · 07-07-2012 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Sanityana

Slight setback. Went to test fit then install the new rotors, calipers etc. and I can confirm that upgrading 88 16v scirocco brakes to corrado brakes requires an adapter which I currently do not have to bolt the carriers to the spindles. I had been told it was a direct bolt on but it is not.

Anybody have a pair of adapters for sale?

Momentummotor.com

**Sanityana** · 07-08-2012 09:40 AM

Nice, but $105....OUCH

**Sanityana** · 07-09-2012 02:01 PM

Thanks to some help from my friends the Header may make it on tonight, fingers crossed

**Sanityana** · 07-10-2012 01:23 PM

Race Header is on

Before

After

**Sanityana** · 07-10-2012 01:48 PM

As a side note does anyone know which aftermarket front sway bar has enough extra clearance to fit under a race header that is about 2+ inches lower then the stock down pipe?

H&R? someone else?

**Sanityana** · 07-11-2012 10:34 PM

My new high beams came in and I got them installed, small thing but if you'd driven around with the ones that came on the car you'd understand why it's a big deal for me

**Sanityana** · 07-14-2012 04:34 PM

I wanted to put this here as well. In addition to all this I have the brake adapters I need on the way

I'm still working out the best way to mount the spacer. Anyway here are some build pics and some test fit pictures.

Feedback, Ideas, Jokes all welcome

On the ground, speed bumps may be a problem

**Sanityana** · 07-16-2012 10:45 AM

Honestly, this isn't getting anywhere. To run a sway bar with this header you need a sway bar designed to run with it.

The factory sway bar can be made to fit with the header using a spacer, but it is not a proper fit and is way to close to the ground on a lowered car.

It would be nice to see one of the aftermarket companies come out with a sway bar designed for this application.

Until when/if they do, I will probably pick up a try y in the next month or so and swap headers.

**Sanityana** · 07-20-2012 09:22 AM

Finally got a parcel shelf, now if I can just find some spiffy 4x6 speakers

**Sanityana** · 07-22-2012 09:04 PM

Today I finally installed the Corrado brakes.

The adapters, hardware, and instructions from http://www.momentummotorparts.com we're top notch. I highly recommend there kit if you are thinking about doing this.

Pics!

**Thrasher** · 07-22-2012 09:36 PM

It's pretty well noted that the factory sway bar will not work with the race header, you kinda stepped into that one. On the other hand, had you listened to old Thrash, you would have gotten the street header and been much happier.

Secondly, corrado brakes on a ~2200 pound car are not only overkill, but the added unsprung weight isn't helping anything either. Looks cool, but you probably won't see much else on the side of performance unless you plan on hardcore tracking that thing, and if you do, those rotors probably won't last half a track day before heat-cracking.
Looking good though, good progress.

**Sanityana** · 07-23-2012 09:24 AM

Thanks Thrasher, I agree with you on the header and will probably wind up swapping it out for a Try Y in the next month or so. Chalk this one up to a learning experience

If you don't mind passing opinion is the Techtonics TRY Y really worth the extra cost over Raceland? A friend of mine runs a shop here in town and says he hasn't see major issues with the Racelands and recommend I go with them and save the extra $250 for something else. Thoughts?

On the brakes, I got the calipers along with my seabrings a while back and wanted to give them a try. I'm keeping all my original equipment in a nice neat box in case this goes badly. I agree they are overkill for this car, but in brakes I kind of like that.

We'll see how it goes and if I don't like it or it feels unsafe/unstable they are coming right back off.

I took the car for a nice and gentle test drive last night just to see how things would feel. On the positive side the gripping power is MUCH higher, but I've also picked up a little more pedal travel despite extensive bleeding.

Keep in mind I kept things slow and took my time braking.

It was late last night when I got in, but I plan to go back over everything and make sure it's tight, in proper alignment, etc. before I take another drive. Thankfully I have two other VW's to drive so I can take my time and be as through as I need to on the brake experiment.

**Sanityana** · 07-23-2012 09:43 AM

I forgot to mention I'm thinking about picking this up in a few weeks to rebuild/build up over the winter.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...4#post78125544

As always feedback appreciated

**Sanityana** · 08-25-2012 07:40 PM

Added front and rear upper stress bars a couple weeks ago. Very noticeable improvement

**Sanityana** · 08-28-2012 09:20 AM

New Speedometer came in last night

No more golden speedo....(Someone painted all the needles gold in the one my car came with)

Before:

After:

**Sanityana** · 09-02-2012 12:59 AM

Finally got the MK4 brakes on the rear, looks super nice

Before

After

Also for the first time since I got my Scirocco the emergency brake works

Next weekend I'm picking up a complete 2.0 litre 9a to build over the winter and if all goes well a pair of NIB rear 16v tail lights.... Sick of the cracked 8v's

**rocco858488** · 09-06-2012 08:49 PM

Ana, so glad to be contributing to this rocco! Looks beautiful! The squishy pedal is normal when upgrading to the corrado setup. Looking forward to meeting you on Saturday.

**Sanityana** · 09-09-2012 01:36 AM

Today my winter 9A project came home. Thanks rocco858488

It also came with some extra goodies:

Upper + lower intake
Complete wiring harness
All boxes (even spares of some)
Complete cis-e system including good boot
exhaust manifold and down pipe
various gaskets

Hoping to get the oil drained and the pan off tomorrow

Awesome day!

**Sanityana** · 09-20-2012 09:35 AM

I just couldn't take the cracked 8v lenses anymore...

Thanks e-clown

**GliGirlDriver** · 09-20-2012 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Sanityana

I just couldn't take the cracked 8v lenses anymore...

Thanks e-clown

Everything is looking nice.

**85roccoZ400** · 09-20-2012 10:10 AM

Coming along nice!

**Sanityana** · 09-20-2012 02:17 PM

Thanks guys

After much deliberation I've decided to take care of a few more things on the car before I jump into the long term (read expensive 9A 2.0 or 2.1 litre NA monster engine project)

In no particular order I'm planning to:

Swap the headlights for Euro's
Replace the radiator fan with the thin flex-a-lite unit
Move battery to the trunk

Why wait on the engine? I want the car and the current strong 1.8 to reap the benefits of better cooling, better weight distribution, and a less cluttered engine bay.

The lights well...I have the brightest US spec lights I can get and am woefully under impressed even after painstaking cleaning of grounds and contacts.

...the Euro's look a lot better too