US Scirocco 16v....now RIP

[mr.brown]

Sooooooo......after a long break from Sciroccos and a brief dalliance with both ends of the American muscle car spectrum, I is mostly back. I picked this up last weekend from the VW Vortex classifieds -

1987 Scirocco 16v - fully loaded - a/c, pas. c/l, e/w, e/m, sunroof - I'm not sure there was much else available at the time that could have been squeezed in. Pretty good nick overall for a 24 year old car -



It came to me with a major cold start problem - only way to start it apparently is a shot of EZ start down the tubes. As I'm still messing with the Mustang I don't really have to time to diagnose at the moment so I've kept myself busy with removing some of the accumulated crap from within the car -



In the pile above we have an amp, 6x9s (oh how I hate thee), Pioneer CD, Viper alarm and other miscellaneous wiring.

More stuff out today, this time from within the engine bay -



Aircon pipes, condenser, vacuum reservoir, air intake.

All in all about 25lbs of crap taken out - and I've not even got round to the gubbins in each wheel arch - or the compressor - or the ginormous heater box. Did you know that the flaps are vacuum controlled (well, not anymore) - no cables in sight?

Some of the stuff over here is ridiculously expensive - $600 for "Euro bumpers". Looks like I'll be looking for a donor car when I get back ;)

[Roxylife]

I want a fully loaded 16v with a/c

[GTXTRA]

lower, lighter and 'cleaner' - the proven Brown approach bodes well, good to see.

[eefy]

Love the fact that only in the USA you find out why the engine bay is so big, to fit all the stuff you dont need lol must admit though a/c would be nice on occasion

[The Autoad]

To all the newbies: check this thread to see how the magician does it.

[Cpt Custom]

To all the newbies: check this thread to see how the magician does it.

[mr.brown]

OK, so here's the engine bay as it looks now. A/c compressor is out and so is the alternator - I have to cut down the mounting bracket to reposition the alternator a bit lower.



I also took the battery out (in order to remove the alarm). This doesn't look too healthy -



This the passenger side wing - these hoses go to/from an expansion tank which is connected to the fuel gravity valve (to catch fuel vapour)



One hose goes across the front panel of the car into the other wing where lies a charcoal canister



This is the top of HVAC box - which also need to be chucked at some point though probably wait til I'm in the UK



ECU and "Knock Box" - this is CIS-E so a tad more complicated than the UK mk2 Golf



Where the passenger shelf would be is where the a/c pipes came in - you can see the vacuum pipes that control the flaps



Some more differences - OXS light is when the O2 sensor should be replaced - every 30k miles



HVAC control (note 4 speed fan) and Oil Temp gauge



Americans need to be told everything



Parked on slope with no handbrake

[The Autoad]

Fascinating, they really did get complicated when shipped out to the States. And a bit Heath Robinson!

So the fuel vapour catch thingy in the front wing- does that run all the way to the gravity valve in the rear arch of the same side of the car? Under the car or through the cabin? Or is there some other fuel valve in the engine bay that it runs to? Jeez, even a question gets complicated!

[mr.brown]

So the fuel vapour catch thingy in the front wing- does that run all the way to the gravity valve in the rear arch of the same side of the car? Under the car or through the cabin? Or is there some other fuel valve in the engine bay that it runs to? !

If you look in the picture you can see a hose going towards the back of the car - this runs down past the steering rack and disappears under the car. I haven't had the car up on stands yet but have to assume that it runs under the body all the way to the gravity valve.

Jeez, even a question gets complicated!

Don;t even ask about the speedo cable (two piece with a box in the middle for the OXS system) or the OXS indicator system in general or the upshift light. Suffice to say my nightime reading for the foreseeable future is by Messrs Bentley..

[Nate]

Americans need to be told everything

often wondered what the other light was for

[mr.brown]

Minor update. Got rid of some more junk



Clockwise from top: Badly painted red grille, expansion tank for gas fumes, 2 piece speedo cable, charcoal canister and rear wiper.

The 2 piece speedo counter has a mileage counter in the box - when it reaches 30k a light comes on telling you to replace the O2 sensor. Genius.



A bit of actual real work got done too! New rear calipers and (not pictured) handbrake cables -



Currently waiting for new handbrake lever as the old one had been bodged.

Finally got some grommets to blank the a/c holes



Removing the compressor causes it's own issues - namely relocating the alternator. Angle grinder is a handy thing

[GTXTRA]

So.....how does mrs b feel about the sight of a rocco on her driveway again?

And taking up container space on eventual return!?!

Great stuff Sean

[mr.brown]

So.....how does mrs b feel about the sight of a rocco on her driveway again?

She's happy = because she thinks it cost half what it actually did

Also, it now lives in the garage - the Mustang has been relegated to the drive.

[mr.brown]

Minor "yay" today - the car is now road legal - passed the inspection this morning! To quote the Greek/Mexican/Iranian chap at the garage "It is not good car...but I pass it".

[mr.brown]

..specifically that concerning the female gallus gallus domesticus

Watch this space.....