MK2 Scala restoration what to do next...?

[frlrubett]

In 2019 I re purchased a Scala I owned in the 90s for three times what I sold it for. It was running just about and the body work was in pretty solid. I thought I would have the car for a few years and then get bored (as I often do with cars) then sell it on. Soon I realised that I wanted to keep the car as a classic of sorts, garaged and looked after. Since then I had the engine rebuilt (top/bottom), the bad bits of body work resprayed, alloys re furbished and the last MOT resulted in quite a bit of welding.

Initially I was going to keep everything original and try to have a perfectly restored stock Scala but I don't know if the stock ones look as good as some of the slightly modified ones out there..

Here are my options if I was going to go away from the stock, any opinions would be great!

Full respray.

Never been a huge fan of the Saphire/Silver Scirocco. Would it make sense to have everything stripped to make sure the body is completely restored before committing to this?

New interior.

Have struggled to find a Dove Grey interior. My boulsters have no holes but the drivers seat is very saggy and uncomfortable and the door cards are need re covering as someone has stuck ones in with electric window switches and they are grubby. I have a price to have the whole car reupholstered in a Porsche 924 style tartan which will look brilliant.

I also need a dash which isn't cracked and a parcel shelf which does not have HUGE speakers in it.

Mechanical.

Ride is jarring, corners pretty bad and stops pretty slow cos its on stock parts. Thinking coil overs but don't know anything up upgrading breaks?

Here are the current pics.

https://ibb.co/KqwhTxH
https://ibb.co/55Xvcqw
https://ibb.co/svTFgTg
https://ibb.co/8cw76yb
https://ibb.co/m94z9g6
https://ibb.co/HhgnxRD

Thanks!

[mark1gls]

I’m keep it original side of the fence.. the ride on standard suspension should not be “jarring” I’ve changed mine from standard to lowered then, a spring broke then back to standard and find the standard set up a smoother ride, I’ve since gone for the eibach springs and bilstein shock absorbers as I like the slightly lower look, it’s stiffer than the standard set up.

The dove grey material is available here.
https://www.werk34.de/en/water-cooled/g ... pholstery/

If the seat saggy you could add more foam it or buy a new seat foam or buy a 2nd hand passenger seat and fit that foam, some Mk2 Golfs have the same seat foam.

Mk1 golf cabriolet also have similar seats
https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.ph ... urb-with_2


Just some ideas but at the end of the day it’s your car and wallet so the final decision is yours...

[kidcrewbob]

I think it looks great as it is (same year and colour as my auto Scala) & Saphire is one of the better colours IMHO - I'm going for standard with subtle / sensible improvements to running gear and brakes etc.

[RussGLAuto]

Looks great as is... go with your initial gut and keep her original. Few left that are still stock.

I've seen a few unmolested parcel shelves on eBay recently and some sound leads on the above replies.

Whatever you decide, wish you luck.

[frlrubett]

So, I have thought about this over the last few hours. Going to keep it original-ish but also add things which can be removed if I change my mind later.

Definitely want it to ride a bit lower so looking at a Bilstein/Eibach combination. Did you use the Bilstein B4 shocks?

My cousin also has a pair for mk2 golf seats going which I am going to rob for foam and maybe get a custom interior in the future.

The one thing I really like the look of is the louvres the guy is selling from Poland. http://mowad.opole.pl/wp-content/upload ... inne1m.jpg

[mark1gls]

Kit a brought as it comes with shorter bump stops and new dust covers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eibach-Lower ... SwzQFZ-eze

I fitted it to my Mk1 scirocco but I guess the Mk2 is similar weight? Might be worth dropping them an email to check it’s ok for a Mk2, really helpful guy who owns the company as they are just up the road from me so I drove up to collect my parts.

[mark1gls]

Good idea on slight mods which are changeable.

How old is the brake fluid as if more than a 3 years old it’s worth changing it and braided hoses can help make the pedal feel firmer. Good adjustment of the rear shoes helps a lot as the automatic adjuster does not always work very well.

Lots of info on the web or on this site on how to adjust up the rear shoes or shout out and we could go over it again for you.

[frlrubett]

Kit a brought as it comes with shorter bump stops and new dust covers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Eibach-Lower ... SwzQFZ-eze

I fitted it to my Mk1 scirocco but I guess the Mk2 is similar weight? Might be worth dropping them an email to check it’s ok for a Mk2, really helpful guy who owns the company as they are just up the road from me so I drove up to collect my parts.

yep, they have said this fits a MK2. Drops 3cm to the ride.

[frlrubett]

Good idea on slight mods which are changeable.

How old is the brake fluid as if more than a 3 years old it’s worth changing it and braided hoses can help make the pedal feel firmer. Good adjustment of the rear shoes helps a lot as the automatic adjuster does not always work very well.

Lots of info on the web or on this site on how to adjust up the rear shoes or shout out and we could go over it again for you.

I think the previous owner replaced the hoses with braid, I remember an mechanic who checked over the car said something about braided hoses but that might have been an engine part. Will have a look under.

[mark1gls]

I’m happy with the suspension set for the price you can’t go wrong, just check you have the original style front struts as you need to re use them, add a little anti freeze (about 10ml) in the strut housing before sliding in the new front shock as it will stop them rusting in the strut housing.

To get a good ride from aftermarket coilovers you need to spend some serious money (about 3 times the cost of the kit in my link) and they need to be set up properly at each corner on car scales to get the best out of them.

You will need to re set the tracking and front camber angle but wait a couple of days to get this done so the springs and shocks can settle.

Also worth fitting some new front top mounts, Febi seems the better brand to go for.

Same part for any Scirocco and golf
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-Mk1- ... SwLndfpN37

[frlrubett]

Same part for any Scirocco and golf
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-Mk1- ... SwLndfpN37

These are cheap so would be rude not to!

I am wondering is 3cm lower is enough/too much. Anyone got pictures?

[mark1gls]

I don’t have a Mk2 Scirocco, I’ve a Mk1 and a Mk1 Golf cabriolet, both on the Eibach and Bilstein set up so no pictures which help you. A quick search on the web and found a Mk2 Storm on 14” wheel like yours and the 3cm drop.

https://drive-my.com/en/test-drive/item ... p-53b.html

There is a few on this site with the same set so maybe someone will post a picture of there car?

The 3cm drop is enough to tuck the wheels in the arch and no problems with rubbing or worries about driving over those standard height speed bumps in the middle of the road but always be careful incase they are made to tall...

[daveyheats]

The one thing I really like the look of is the louvres the guy is selling from Poland. http://mowad.opole.pl/wp-content/upload ... inne1m.jpg

I had a set of those louvres arrive last week, and can't recommend them highly enough. Great seller, well packaged and really good build quality. You will need to remove your rear wiper and plug the hole, but it's another reversible change if you did want to revert back to stock in the future.

[frlrubett]

The one thing I really like the look of is the louvres the guy is selling from Poland. http://mowad.opole.pl/wp-content/upload ... inne1m.jpg

I had a set of those louvres arrive last week, and can't recommend them highly enough. Great seller, well packaged and really good build quality. You will need to remove your rear wiper and plug the hole, but it's another reversible change if you did want to revert back to stock in the future.

Yeah he said that he had posted ones to UK recently. What plug did you use?

[daveyheats]

I've got a plug from dreadnought that I need to glue in when I get some adhesive:
https://dreadnoughtcustoms.co.uk/collec ... iper-blank

But for now I found a 25mm one of these just about works:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blanking-Gro ... 2749.l2649