Scirocco Register

Hi all i've recently bought a Mk2 Scirocco so would like to share what plans i have and the progress as i move along in stages.

First of all i was just scouring my local "facebook" classifieds when i came across a lad had posted "anybody want a project car??" as i had just moved into a new house with a nice clean garage i was very intrigued to what the car might be, so looked through the comments and quickly found it was a Mk2 Scirocco, with it only been posted a few minutes it had quite abit of interest, so i thought id ask how much and location ect, the lad got back to me with a price and turned out he lived about 15 miles away so i cracked on with sorting out a trailer to fetch it.

The Scirocco was a non runner due to the head gasket failing, popping an insecure water pipe off spraying the electrics and shorting the ignition. The lad had not touched it since he got it towed, as i pulled up i saw the nice flat sharp front with the debadged grille and from how low it was i pretty much fell in love with it straight away, by the time i got it home it was 9pm so to dark to start looking around it so i shoved her in the garage and left it.

A couple days later i managed to finish work early and started on looking around her.

Here is a couple of pics of the day i first saw her in the light.





I soon found out she was a GT2 1.8 8v as i had not even asked the lad prier to buying it.

After a good look around i found some nice little modifications/enhancements which i will list further down.

The next day i started stripping bits back as i always do when buying a new project so i know what im dealing with, underneath is very solid with no work needed or been done for that matter, only thing i want to get sorted is straightening and strengthening the sill lip for jacking points, i then started stripping the engine.





Ill try not to bore you all with major details but after half an hour i had the wiring taped and labelled up, then started undressing the head with all the pipes and trims, exhaust manifold ect, tryed taking off the inlet while the head was still bolted but the bolts were badly rounded, got the tensioner and cambelt off then it was time to unbolt the head to see if i could pin point where the head gasket had blown, took it off had a little look but couldn't see any cracks or disperse pitting in the gasket so decided to get all the head stripped for a rebuild, brought it into my kitchen (missus went mental but needs must and all that)



Got the inlet off and the cam out then started on removing the valves.

Here is a little list of the parts i've found since digging deeper into the rebuild

Its started life as a 1.8 8v DX head but is now running the 1.8 8v PB injection head which is from the Mk1/2 golf GTI giving it increased flow over the DX and then it has been port and polished nicely.
It has a 4 branch stainless exhaust manifold with full powerflow stainless exhaust.
It has an uprated weber 32/34 progressive dmtl carb with Stainless K&N filter.
It has a brand new Newman 268 cam.

Anyways, after stripping the head i thought it best to clean it abit before sending it for a skim.



As you can see from the picture the previous owner had tried blocking the injectors up with what looks like chewing gum or exhaust paste, from what he told me he had actually had this on the road for a few months like this but i would have thought it would be losing compression through the insecure injectors as it would need a nice firm seal and to be kept tight from the injector rail.

When picking up the head from the skimmers he told me it was well bent and he had to take 1100's off which in aluminium skimming terms is quite alot, i got onto the lad i bought the Scirocco off and he had really bodged it up, i found out he had changed the head gasket twice without skimming the head as he had over heating problems.

Pic of the head after the skim



Then after a few days waiting and having the week off work i finally got a few packages through the door

Nice OEM quality head gasket set.



I went for some FEBI Bilstein uprated head bolts



Then some valve grinding paste and a lapping stick



Today i have been cleaning the head again



Then while that was drying i got the inlet manifold, stripped the hedgehog from it and chopped off the spikes, then started cleaning it



Here is a picture of the hedgehog complete



Now this is the hedgehog removed



This is when i fitted the new custom injector cup blocks, now i can be sure there will be no compression leakage



I then decided to reface the valves as there was quite alot of carbon build up on the exhaust valves but thought best to clean them all up and the shafts







Last thing was cutting in the valves with the paste and lapping stick which took me about half an hour but couldn't get a picture while spinning them in.

Tomorrow i will be building the valves back up, then concentrate on cleaning all the niggly bits and giving them a coat of paint before putting everything back together.

More updates tomorrow.

Just before i go i thought i'd share the plans i have as i have build many cars from scrap to show condition and i like to be different in what i do.

With the Scirocco im planning on taking all the trim off the bottom of the car, as literally 99% of roccos still have the kit fitted and i think it looks awesome without it even tho many people may not even realise its gone, im keeping the single headlamp and debadged grille, keeping it de-spoilered, all red rears, retro style single upswept exhaust tailpipe, slamming it on 16x9 rota cups which i'm refurbing at the moment.

Pretty much want it to look like this but with my own touches



Thanks for looking

All comments appreciated.

Top work fella.

Looking forward to it

welcome indeed - look forward to the story to come.

Had a cracking day on the rocco

Made sure the valves were nicely ground in

Fitted the new valve stem oil seals



Then brought the head back into the kitchen, not to my missus's amusement but after sending her shopping she soon shut up :)



Then i started refitting the valves and springs.





Next was the tappets and cam to be fitted, here you can see how new the cam is.



I thought i'd take abit of time to tidy some engine bits up so heres that manky inlet manifold i put pictures of yesterday.



While that was drying i wet flatted the face of the block ready for the head gasket to be fitted





Now i was going to delay fitting the head back on due to cleaning the block and painting it, i decided to fit the head and leave the block as ill be ripping the lump out after christmas so will get it looking very tidy at that point, just now i want to get her running to see what the setup is like, i may end up getting bike carbs or twin 40's for her yet but will hopefully be up and running tomorrow.

Here is a pic of the head bolted down and cambelt fitted



Then i had to actually take the engine half way out to get the exhaust manifold behind the head :/



Will update with more tomorrow hopefully ill have her running and will know more of the plans :)

Thanks for looking

Well i've got to say i'm really happy with how the old girl has turned out, shes running very well i've still got a tiny bit of tweaking on the weber but nothing to worry about.

I will get a couple better pictures up tomorrow when i've given her a wash but here's 2 snaps i got today after a little run





I will be starting on the body work this week but then unfortunately she will have to sit for 6 weeks as i work for Bernard Matthews and as were coming up to christmas i'm working 14+ hours a day 7 days a week on the turkeys until after the new year.

Thanks for looking

Bootiful!