Breaking Wind

Who is Joe? What makes him such a Scirocco expert? Why a Scirocco Web Page? Well, I am a mid thirties Scirocco enthusiast. I have owned Sciroccos since 1983. Since then, I have attended well over 100 VW shows, entered close to sixty, won Best of Show, Best Engine, Interior, Display, won nearly 100 trophies showing Arctic Wind. I have had the honour of four feature magazine articles describing my efforts. I have done virtually everything to a Scirocco, and will continue to do so for many years to come.

The Scirocco internet page resulted from the fact that there was no specific site solely dedicated to my favourite car. Sure many people have Scirocco information on their sites, but I believe that I am the only person who has directed all their energies to provide a site specifically to this great and unforgettable car.

The first car in which I learned to properly drive a standard shift was a '79 Euro-spec (heron head, etc.) Mk I. The car was fast and responsive and my friend taught me well. This caused a love for Sciroccos (and VWs in general).

When it was time to finally buy a new car in late '83, the only choice was a Scirocco. It was confirmed when a Renault Fuego (remember those cars?), a Ford Mustang and many others were tested. Nothing else compared. Some Rabbit GTi purists may cringe, but the Rabbit was not considered, mostly because it was built in the USA and the overall build quality was not the same as a true German built car. That Scirocco, purchased in December 1983 became Arctic Wind. It was not Arctic Wind immediately, but it did evolve into one of the most famous Sciroccos on the East Coast of North America (while that may sound like boasting, it is a fact that I am very proud of).

Well what's going on these days? My energies are directed into my beater (daily driver) car, called Second Wind (actually my 4th Scirocco, pictures to come soon) It continues to run well. It is also an '84 bought from the original owner who purchased it in Germany. As an aside, I prefer pre '85 cars primarily because of the full size spare. Sure, you have a smaller fuel tank, but, try being in the boonies on a holiday, cut a tire and try driving 300 miles home on a mini spare! Second Wind has over 340,000 kilometres on the odometer and still pulls strong. I have done a fair bit of work on it and it has become a fun, reliable form of transportation.

The following two paragraphs have been added to explain Second Wind a bit better (it is copied from an e-mail I sent in response to a question).

• In mid to late '84, VW introduced some signifigant modifications to the current Scirocco II. Unlike North American companies VW will introduce changes in mid year to components and drive train. This has proven very difficult for the amateur mechanic, like me and especially the professionals. Anyway, in mid to late '84, VW converted the underside to house a mini spare, allowing for a larger fuel tank (plastic). This fuel system differed in that there was now a primary pump inside the tank (accessible from the top), and a normal pump assembly outside the tank. I assume this two step system would alleviate fuel cutoff at high speed turns with low fuel levels. Personally, I rarely go with less than 1/2 level in my fuel tank, so cutoff has never occurred to me. I prefer the full size spare. According to VW and all spring manufacturers, the part number for rear springs is the same for all 8V 533 Sciroccos, regardless of year. This to me is strange if you add the weight of 15 extra litres of fuel, and the weight of the larger rear spoiler. The weight difference of a full vs. a mini spare is not even close. Therefore the springs should be stronger. Oh well ,what do I know?
  
  
• The taillamps and turn signals are tinted black. I went to a local hot rod shop where they sold me a can of spray tint for tail lamps. It works well, if not too well. It goes on thin, looks like you need another coat, but it dries darker. The taillamps were done on the car, the front turn signals were removed and tinted.

What have I done to Second Wind? Well, let's see.

• 16V body kit (bought at a wrecking yard for $30.00! That's right, thirty bucks.)
• Golf II lower chin spoiler (Don't laugh. It has kept the front end down at speed)
• 16V Sway bars (same car)
• Autotech lower stress bar. (I can't say enough about putting one of these on you car. It tightens up the chassis considerably, and has saved me frame damage when I was forced off the road into a curb. Bent the A-arm back two inches, and no frame damage. Arctic Wind has the whole Autotech lower sub-frame.)
• Power windows (off my parts car)
• Multi function display.
• Replaced the ashtray with three VDO Night Design Gauges. (Oil press, temp and voltmeter)
• Heated seats (Inflatable thigh and lumbar supports, found at a wrecking yard off an '83 Dodge Daytona)
• MOMO Monte Carlo Steering Wheel
• Carpeted dash cover
• Rear view mirror with integratred map lights (from a wrecked Chev Beretta)
• Larger throttle body (ported intake)
• K&N Air filter
• Bosch Platinum Spark Plugs (if you have not tried them, do so soon)
• 90 Amp alternator
• Extra ground wires from the altermnator to the block and from the block to the battery & frame. Makes a BIG difference.)
• Late model hatch and spoiler (Tinted the windows myself)
• Home made short shift kit
• 14" Speedline rims (if you know the Town and Country Golf, you know the rims), Continental Tires.
• Blaupunkt Tuscon radio w/cd changer, and all the speakers to go with it.
• Bosch power antenna (bought at a yard sale for $1.00)
• Hella Euro headlamps (relay driven 80/100 watt bulbs) , tinted rear lamps and turn signals (for all you North Americain Scirocco owners, look at you rear lamps. See the plugged hole, just drill it out, put in the same bulb as you stop lamp).
• Bosch fog lamps

Working on Sciroccos can be fun, frustrating, but ultimately rewarding. I just put two front bearings in myself, many of you may say that it is too complicated , but buy the Bentley manual, get jack stands, Craftsman or Snap On tools, and even you can do it. The bare minimum you will need is a 10, 13, 15, 17, 19 mm sockets, 4, 6, 7, 8mm allen keys and a #2 Phillips screwdriver. For some work you will need multiples of the above, But these are more for demanding jobs.

For you Canadians, Petro Canada now sells a 0W30 motor oil. I think it is a good idea. Personally, I use 5W30 in Second Wind and 5W50 full synthetic Pennziol in Arctic WInd. In each case, especially the beater, I have had no problems starting in minus 40 degree mornings. Shifting sure is stiff, even using 75W90 semi-synthetic Pennziol gear lube. (OK, I like Pennzoil.) There were a lot of other folks who have problems cranking at minus 20, mostly in Japenise and North American cars. Just goes to show that a Scirocco will never let you down.

As time goes on, check back to this page. I will start detailing basic procedures that you can do for your Scirocco.

I have been considering selling Arctic Wind. I figure somewhere around $10,000 would be a fair price what do you think?

Hope you like this page. The Scirocco Webmeister, Joe