The new(to me) '88 and what I've been up to..

[johncworden at verizon.net (John C. Worden)]

This is sort of like Cathy's weekend report.
Well, about 3 weeks ago a buddy of mine and I headed down to CT to look 
at(ok, I was pretty
damned sure i would buy it) an '88, 16V, black, A/C, moonroof, 105K with 
some minor issues.
It wouldn't start(starter), driver's outer CV had recently started 
clicking, electrical drain(wouldn't
start after sitting 2 to 3 days and needed a moonroof seal.  Nothing 
terribly unusual about the trip
either way, well once we readjusted the car on the trailer- too much tongue 
weight and fairly
worn front tires and much rain made it interesting for a bit.

I got it home, replaced the starter and she started right up and that's 
when I saw the alt. belt flapping
away.  I shut it down and grabbed onto the alt. pulley and it moved quite a 
bit. So I swap that out too,
and I have had no problems with this "electrical drain."  Seems when the po 
was driving it, the alt would
put some juice back into the battery, but not enough I guess, because while 
having a procedure done
for a kidney stone the car did sit for 3 days and it started right up after 
that.
The car was running very hot, 3/4 up the coolant guage, and 120 degrees 
C(why don't keyboards have a
degree symbol?). So I ordered a lower temp fan switch, new thermostat, 
water wetter, and some other
stuff.  I drained the coolant, ran some cooling system flush through it, 
flush again with water and filled
up with 50/50 and the water wetter.  Now the guage stays in the middle and 
the oil temp stays just under
100 degrees.  Also put in a new rear mount at this time and the movement of 
the motor stopped and 1st
gear became more accessible again(but not quite perfect yet).  Also put in 
another driver's side axle assembly.

The moonroof needs some attention, as it has now decided it won't go down 
the last 3/4", so I will have to tear
into it.  There is some moisture getting into the trunk, but I need to 
snake out the rear drain tubes before I go
any further diagnosing this one.  It has three keys, so I am going to have 
to do some re-keying on the doors
and trunk.  It has a bit of hesitation on acceleration, below 3k, which is 
my next thing to work on.

All in all it's a very nice car, with Euro lights and turns, fairly new 
Bilstein HD/Neuspeed Sofsport combo, newer
exhaust, new front brakes and a great set of seats-as in no damaged 
driver's side bolster.  Hell, all of the things/mods
done to it in the last 2 year are worth far more than I paid for the 
car.  It also had a Momo wheel which I removed due
to sun damage and I couldn't read the miles on the speedo because of it's 
small diameter.  As for the body, it is i great
shape.  The only rust is on a dime sized ding on the hood, which I need to 
fix.  There are about 3 small door dings on
passenger side, but no damage to the paint.  Tires are in great shape, so 
it looks like I will have to wait a little longer to
put on the set of TSWs I picked up from Daun a few years back.  It has an 
Alpine CD player and either cheap speakers
or the original ones.  I've blown one already and the other rear is 
starting to go.  So it looks like some audio work will
be in the works too(I don't care for the Alpine).  I also got some parts 
with the car, all new, dist. cap and rotor, plug wire
set, and plugs.  Free parts are always cool.

Well, that seems to be about it.  And any of you up this way, Owl's Head 
Transportation Museum is having their
foreign car festival this weekend.  http://www.ohtm.org/*foreign.html


John C. Worden
Bucksport, Maine

''98 Dakota 4x4-
'88 Scirocco 16V-
'86 Scirocco 8V-Now a 16V!
'78 Scirocco Brazil Brown Metallic, 4 speed.- In the Rotisserie and under 
restoration
'89 Polaris Indy Deluxe



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