performance upgrade recommendations (for tow vehicles)

[mk1mark at gmail.com (Mark F.)]

On 9/6/05, Foxx (in a box) <foxxinabox@wideopenwest.com> wrote:
>    so, this is a little different than upgrades for your standard
> scirocco. i'm using my '85 as a tow beast for a couple of trailers. no
> problems braking or clutch wise...yet. i'm going to replace the 9a with
> a 4k for the low end availability and will replace the clutch at the
> same time. the sachs sports clutch i had worked great, but should i look
> for a stronger pressure plate, etc? i've also been thinking about
> upgrading the brakes (even though the one trailer already has them). are
> the 16v brakes larger? should i opt for the 2.0l 16v brakes? mind you,
> if i stop better than the trailer and it comes loose, i'll be sitting in
> the trailer. =:o
>    any thoughts on the matter will be entertained.


I used a 16v pressure plate w/ stock OEM Sachs 8v clutch on my tow
setup (2.0 ABA/ported JH combo).  It worked fine.  I babied it most of
the time when I took off in first gear (well, except for the
occasional smokey burnout.  :D), and it held up fine.  The clutch
looks great - no visible wear after over 10,000 towing miles...  The
16v pressure plate is a good idea if you're going to tow - the extra
clamping force can only be a good thing...

As for the 16v brakes - yup, the fronts are larger (10.1" vs. 9.4"),
and the rears are discs...

My advice to anyone contemplating towing with your Scirocco - make
sure you have trailer brakes.  I towed a u-haul dolly w/ a 75 Scirocco
on it, and it was a very scary trip.  It's (sorta) fine around town,
but if I had to haul it down at highway speeds in a hurry, it would
have been a mess...  After that experience I designed and built my
collapsible electric braked dolly - magnitudes safer than the u-haul
dolly...

Later,

Mark.
75
80 S
86
90 Audi Coupe Quattro - 10vt