Re: Seeking advice.... and lots of it!

["Ken Buck" <phillyscca@enter.net>]

I see you've already piled up a bunchj of responces, but I'm gonna 
give you a piece of my mind anyway.

1.  If you don't have vented front disks, start there.  How safe 
would 1200hp be if you can't stop it?  Anyway, I recommend the vented 
front disks, stainless steel brake lines, and DOT 5 brake fluid.  
This fluid is expence, but worth every penny.  If you have the $$$, 
replace the rear wheel cylinders, front calipers, and masterclinder 
while your at it.  I personally don't feel a rear disk conversion 
gives you any better performance advantage.  I have my rear drums 
adjusted so the rears will lock before the fronts.  I had a problem 
with dot 3 and dot 4 fluids boiling during autocross, the dot 5 has 
been a dream.

2.  Stick with the 8V.  It is cheaper to maintain, easier to upgrade, 
and better low end torque.  The 16V conversion requires totoaly new 
wiring, and is not worth it in my opinion.

3.  The biggest initial hp gain is with the exhaust.  If you can get 
through emmisions testing, use a Try-Y Header and 2" pipe.  I don't 
have a cat, just straight pipe into a DynoMax Turbo Tube ( a cherry 
bomb without the glass packing).  
     The next best hp gain would be a Neuspeed throttle body with a  
port and polished intake manifold.
     If you want to get into boring, blueprinting, and balancing the 
block, go for it.  Expect to pay about $3,000-$4,000 to have someone 
do it, but I can rev over 8,000 rpms and she still pulls hard.

4.  Suspension.  First thing to get are upper and lower front stress 
bars.  These are a MUST if you plan on keeping the body intact.  I 
have Eibach progressive lowering springs.  Since you are driving on 
the street, progressive springs will take the bumps OK, but still 
give you stiffness in the twistys.  I have the Tockiko adjustable 
struts, and I swear by them.  They are worth the money.
     I use a 25mm front and 28mm rear Neuspeed swaybars.  I can 
suggest that these are aTOO BIG for a street Scirocco.  I would say 
to upgrade a 22 front and 25 rear.

5.  Cosmetics.  I, like you, feel cosmetics take a back seat to 
performance.  If you are doing highspeed driving, get a front airdam. 
 Over 100mph, I can feel a difference with the airdam, it stabilizes 
the car.  In autocross, the airdam just becomes a cone catcher, so I 
took it off.

Fellow listers, don't flame me for my opinions.  This is what I've 
done, if you don't like it, come out to a Philly region autox in the spring 
and show my how much faster your Roccos are.   :^)


Ken Buck
Philadelphia Region SCCA Solo II Chairman
DSP 79 VW Scirocco
86 VW Scirocco dirt Thunder Car
phillyscca@enter.net
Safety First, Fun Second, Winning a distant Third
Can't we all just get along in peace and harmony?
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