83 roc

[rocstar]

just picked up an 83 rocco, have had many dubs and kgs....been a while. not sure even what i have. the car has been sitting a long time. will not stay running when cold, runs great once it warms up. how do i know which motor it has? 1.7 or 1.8 8 or 16

[stevethefolkie]

16 V is easy - pop the hood - it'll have a wide cam cover (to accomodate the two cams - one for the 8 intake valves, one for the 8 exhaust valves - hence the 16V designation) - if you've got a 16V Scirocco you've got a gem - a Scirocco GTi -

If it's an 8V find the engine number (on the block casting) - you should be able to determine displacement from that.

[Handeye]

I don't think there were any 16v "Mk1" Sciroccos sold in the US. It could be swapped in though.

[stevethefolkie]

There were some scirocco 16V GTI models in the states - I know 'cause I owned a silver one - I don't know if they were officially imported - I got mine off of a transplanted German some years ago - and mine was "grey market" - still had the metric speedometer - sold it maybe 10 years ago and lost track of it after that. Last I saw of it was in Baltimore County MD (the guy I sold it to). Funny - one inspection mechanic told me "well, I'm gonna pass it, but you should get the speedometer checked - it really reads high!" - I got a real kick outta that.
I also owned an 8V scirocco (1st gen blood red - the 16V was 2nd gen - there were two body styles but all Scirocco's were based on the MK1 chassis) and the 16V engine really suited the rest of the car better than the 8V did - but the 8V had better torque down low. I liked the 1st gen body style better than the more rounded 2nd gen - but at this point I wouldn't kick either of 'em out of my driveway -

[Handeye]

Originally Posted by stevethefolkie

There were some scirocco 16V GTI models in the states - I know 'cause I owned a silver one - I don't know if they were officially imported - I got mine off of a transplanted German some years ago - and mine was "grey market" - still had the metric speedometer - sold it maybe 10 years ago and lost track of it after that.

You messed up on that one.

[stevethefolkie]

Originally Posted by Handeye

You messed up on that one.

Ha .. cars that have slipped through my hands over the years (disadvantage of advanced age - you suffer more "gump" moments) ...

Porsche 356B Cab.
1963 Impala SS 409 dual quad four speed
1964 Triumph Herald (horrible car, really, but a real girl magnet when the top was down)
Oval window bug w/ 2180 on a '68 pan
1964 Giha convert (rolled it and walked away)
1969 Boss 302 Mustang (sold after marriage)
1986 Jetta GLI (given to son, wadded by same, he walked away)
and the Scirocco .....

Somedays you're the statue, some the pigeon -

[Handeye]

Originally Posted by stevethefolkie

Somedays you're the statue, some the pigeon -

So you were the pigeon when you owned those cars and the statue now....

[stevethefolkie]

Originally Posted by Handeye

So you were the pigeon when you owned those cars and the statue now....

that would be a fair way to put it -