This is Becky the Scirocco... She's got alot of work to do on her, but not too much. A damn good car...the best I've ever owned in fact! She's a stocker right now, but a couple of grand including paint, and she'd be something else to look at!
I bought her off of a friend of Cara's. When the deal was finalized, he handed over a stack ot old service bills... That has come in handy over the last couple of years. It sure helps to know what was done in the past...
I've done quite a bit of work to her. Most of it regular maintenance related, but I try to upgrade instead of simply replace parts, when financially possible. Over Christmas she broke 300K!
The first time I had a Scirocco experience was with my cousin Noah. He had a 1984 (I think) Wolfsburg Edition Scirocco, with many mods, including a new motor, with porche parts.. Like any older car it needed some work, but it ran like a dream, even in the dead of winter. After moving to Vancouver, one Christmas, Jason, Cara, and I borrowed Noah's 84 rocco, to head down to Carlysle. I was very impressed at the available power it had for such a small car, and the handling was, well... German engineered! Anyone who's driven a relatively modern, properly maintained, german engineered vehicle will attest to the fact that the German engineers have mastered the art of matching engine & suspension components to a level of perfection and performance rarely acheived elsewhere. Unfortunately in 2002 or 2003, Noah's 84 rocco met either it's demise or a new owner in the Regina police impound lot.. ;-)
November 18 / 2004 -- well, Becky's having some issues with the cold weather. I bought a whack of regular maintenance parts for her, including the new VW only 3 prong plugs. But she was still running like crap, with a rough idle when cold. I also bought a block heater, and was unable to get the frost plug out from the back of the motor... After I gave up, Becky didn't want to idle any higher than 400rpm, warm or cold... This was VERY strange seeing as I have never fucked with the fuel/air/idle/throttlebody settings at all, ever, EVER! yet after banging on the block for 2 days, I apparenly knocked something loose... So dad and I adjusted the throttlebody butterfly valve screw, to open it a little bit, and it now idles much better, but at 1100rpm when warm, instead of 800-1000... So I have some more adjustments to make, but it's better than before..
I STILL cannot fit the other side of the fresh brake pads I bought 20,000kms ago! It goes to show you I bought really good quality pads, as they haven't worn down AT ALL since installing them... but this means I've only have 2 of the total 4 new front pads installed... which makes for uneven braking and wear on the front rotors... When I can afford it, I'm going to install new front rotors, and have the other side of the new pads shaven down a 1/8th of an inch or so, to get them to fit...
Another worry is getting my car saftied here in Alberta. Until last year, it would have been a breeze, but as of this year, they are cracking down on out of province vehicles... There isn't much wrong with Becky. she's got a bit of an oil leak from the oil pan, and I need a new coolant overflow bottle, and she needs a steering alignment and brakes... but the out of province inspenction is pretty ugly, and depending on who I get, will determine how badly this is going to go for me .. at any rate, I need her on the road, so whatever it takes, I'll get done...
Jan 02 / 2005 -- well, I had to jump start Becky yesterday over at dad's place. the thermometer read -21 celcius, and in the wind, (which is where Becky was) it should have read around -30 or worse... So I don't blame her. I haven't installed a bloody block heater, because I can't get leverage enough to get the frost plugs out. I'll have to take it to a shop, and watch how they get the damned thing out .. Anyway, my plates are up at the end of Jan, and I plan to get Becky saftied for Feb. She's gonna get new front rotors, and those pads installed finally. A 4 wheel alignment (if need be), new fuel injectors, new O2 sensor, and possibly some other things ... I'm working now, so I can afford to spend some cash on her...
Feb 07 / 2005 -- She's legal in Alberta now. I don't have much time to elaborate, but it's $1100/year here, and $1300 in BC. If I wanted glass coverage, it'd cost more... Not to mention how this privatization system bleeds you fucking dry. Fees to the left of me, fees to the right... Fuck sakes. All I want to do is drive my fucking car, not give a left nut!
April 9 / 2005 -- well, Becky had a bit of a tantrum nothing major
December 14 / 2005 -- what can I say? Becky is a trooper. She doesn't like the cold, having to be parked outside, instead of underground. But she's doing really well. Still getting great gas mileage, and she still corners like a banshee. I haven't done much to her lately. Regular maintenance stuff. No upgrades at all. Once I get the vette on the road, I plan to take care of her rust spots, and also fix a few other things. Mainly finding out why the passenger window won't power down. Most likely it's the switch(s). I can see voltage drain when the buttons are pushed but nothing happens as far as the motor moving or the window rolling down. I have to test voltage at the motor, to see what's happening there. The other big thing I have to do is get replacement alarm key parts. My lcd display is broken, but still works, and my backup alarm key doesn't work at all... I have no idea why that isn't working properly, but it's worrysome.
December 17 / 2005 -- I just wanted to make sure y'all knew where to see some very recent pics of Becky the Scirocco. She is no longer for sale, but I did have her up for it, out of desperation, a little while ago. Anyway, the link to the post with the pics is here.
Mods/Replacements since 2001:
KYB rear shocks & KYB front struts all on stock springs (she's got a saggy bottom!)
Front wheel bearings (rears already done with brakes in 2002)
Tires (5 CDN Tire all seasons, rotated every 6 months)
90amp Alternator swap from stock 65amp
Battery (CDN Tire special)
Rad, hoses, resovoir tank, low temp thermostat, low temp sensor
2way pager alarm with shock & interior bubble radar sensors & power door locks
Alpine stereo system, complete with 12" sub (sounds great, and doesn't rattle bolts loose either!)
Direct wiring switch for front washer pump (all chassis grounds rewired/replaced in engine compartment)
Ignition switch, fuel pump (factory bosch!) and fuel pump relay, Bosch platinum plugs
K&N air filter
Clutch & cable
Brake job in 2002 (including master cylinder, rear drums)
Red LED dashlights 'ghetto' fix (lights up the instrument panel, and ashtray nicely, but in retrospect I should have done it differently..)
Door handles & locks & anti-theft plates
trunk lid 'license plate' bulbs
Exhaust from catalytic converter back replaced in 2002 (hasn't even come close to failing AirCare since it was bought!)
Redline MT-90 (GL-4) tranny fluid replacement
Shifter linkage bushing replacement weighted shifter install done by www.hotwaterperformance.com
Bent passenger side CV axle replaced @ hotwaterperformance
Tranny clutch inspection cap and Sunvisor clip replacements found where Uncle Donald works, in Weyburn, SK.
Shift Cable rubber grommet replacement
Reverse light switch replaced
New front brake rotors, and pads, custom ground to fucking fit!
3M stick on oil boiler/block heater and battery blanket
NOTE: unless the work required major shop tools, I did all the above work, myself!
Future Mods/Upgrades:
Driver's side complete CV axle & seal replacement
Some decent quality seatcovers that don't rip on installation!!! (Or replace front seats with leather)
Mars Red rePaint (bodywork & prep I'll do myself)
in future I'd like to get coilovers, and lower Becky at least 1 inch overall)
AutoMeter oil pressure gauge installation (with T fitting to keep stock idiot light function)
Front & Rear VW or Scirocco mudflaps (also want to replace rear wheel well liners)
Repaint E-brake handle, put new handle grip on, add leather boot to cover mechanism
Inline fuel pressure gauge inside engine compartment
Some sort of headlight conversion (keeping the square headlight look) to allow new type purple/blue halogen bulbs (I don't really want Euro lights...I want something a little different, and definitely modern to allow the use of new bulbs)
Euro bumpers (or the Euro ghetto bumper mod)
Bodykit of some kind - but subltle. like what's seen on this rocco here
Front & Back shock tower sway bars (along with bushing replacements for the stock lower sway bars)
Windshield replacement (FUCK ICBC, profit margin, rate increasing pricks!)
Repaint Valve cover
Replace intake/exhaust gaskets, adjust valves, polish intake
get a set of A3 rims that will fit my A2 Scirocco...
undercoating of some kind before winter in Calgary!!!
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©Dec 6 /2005 Deft Ltd.