'88 16v, damaged, for sale

[peter at thescirocco.com (Peter)]

Unfortunately, Rich is very familiar with the cracking cross-member
syndrome.
I don't think it's a Mk.2 thing...
The Scirocco(2) 16V has a larger intake hole in the radiator support and
that's where the usually crack.

Another reason for the 16V's cracking is that they came with 123hp and STOCK
mounts. 

Then the stock mounts go bad, and are usually not replaced until the
downpipe breaks... Sometimes this is made worse by adding a urethane front
mount, and leaving the rest of the mounts alone. This causes even more
stress on the cross-member, and has given the front urethane mount a bad
name.

I believe it's this constant tugging at the chassis, that eventually finds
the weak spot in the front cross-member.

Here's my suggestion:

Buy my roller as a shell for $200, weld a plate over the air-intake hole on
the cross-member to make sure it stays crack-free, get the Salty Weasel
cross-member support, and use the stiffest mounts you can find.

Wasn't Rich's Scirocco originally red, Mars maybe...

Peter
http://thescirocco.com
Feel free to call me between 11AM and 11PM - 302.832.8989.



-----Original Message-----
From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org
[mailto:scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org] On Behalf Of Dave Ewing
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 5:29 AM
To: Scirocco-L@Scirocco.Org
Subject: RE: '88 16v, damaged, for sale

And you want to do this with an MK2?  Aren't you asking for trouble?  I have
always been afraid of doing anything major to an MK2 due to the frontend
cracking and all.  I've always liked the Mk1s for serious hp and torque but
even they have their limits.  No offense, I realize where I am, but it seems
that the Rabbit seems to take more frame tweaking hp than most all VWs
unless you do some serious tubing or bracing.  I'm just curious as I always
seem to run accross free Mk2s.

Dave