Potential new engine for Scirocco

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I have always planned to put a modern Turbo 1.8/2.0 in my 81 Scirocco. But I just found this 16V 1.8 that is more plug and play.

16V with dual weber carbs, ARP head studs, new timing belt, new seals , new head gasket. Currently has a mk1 engine mount, TT stainless headers, 4-1, 1 3/4"

Any thoughts on a motor like this? Questions I should ask about it?

[wilnj]

What engine is in the car now? How much work would the swap be?

[speeder]

I would want to hear it run or ideally be able to drive it in the donor car but I can see that it's on a pallet in the second photo. I have no idea how that engine would run in its present state, it's a ways from stock.

[pwd72s]

Looks good to me...but I prefer naturally aspirated to boosted.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by wilnj

What engine is in the car now? How much work would the swap be?

The original CIS 1.8. It would be very easy to drop this in.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by speeder

I would want to hear it run or ideally be able to drive it in the donor car but I can see that it's on a pallet in the second photo. I have no idea how that engine would run in its present state, it's a ways from stock.

I would too but as you note, it's on a palette. It could be blown, it could be a time bomb not rebuilt correctly, it could be a good little engine. Total crap shoot.

I've only told the guy I'm interested in it and then posted here.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I would too but as you note, it's on a palette. It could be blown, it could be a time bomb not rebuilt correctly, it could be a good little engine. Total crap shoot. ......

You can do a leakdown & probably compression test before purchase to bwetter your odds. Hell, back in the '80's a junkyard connected a battery and gas line to an old chevy v8 and ran it in before I bought it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by dad911

You can do a leakdown & probably compression test before purchase to bwetter your odds. Hell, back in the '80's a junkyard connected a battery and gas line to an old chevy v8 and ran it in before I bought it.

Good idea, I've got the kits, I'll ask the seller if those are doable. Compression is done hot IIRC though I think leakdown isn't so temp dependent. Clearly if he says no it's a run forest run deal.

[speeder]

Compression test does not have to be done warm, you will just get different values. The important thing would be that it’s in the ballpark and even across all cylinders.

For leak down test of course, it can be done without running engine so that would be a lot easier to do removed.

[Zeke]

The tests are one thing but pointing out that it could be built poorly won't show up. I think lots of documentation or walk.

Sounds crazy but I have seen more than one engine started and run sitting on the ground, strapped to a pallet or on an engine stand. Of the 3, I wonder about an engine stand unless it is a very good one. Shouldn't need any coolant for one minute and no load. YMMV

Wait, I don't see a flywheel. No go. And that's part of the balance. Double no go. And how would one turn that over to achieve compression? I think you're stuck with leak down only.

You seem to have some info on the build indicating ARP head studs.

[speeder]

Personally, I'd stick with the semi-modern VW turbo option and grab one from a crashed car that can still be started and ran. Ideally, you want the entire crashed donor car for the electronics/harnesses and anything else that might come up in the swap. You would have an engine that has perfect street manners, is fast AF and is extremely tunable with OTC parts. Just my opinion...I have no idea how that engine pictured would run.

[Scott Douglas]

Conservative ol' me would rather mess with those Webers any day of the week over a turbo'd electronic injection whatever engine.
Is the seller the actual builder or did he get it off some guy?
A leak down is going to tell you more than a compression test if it isn't runnable, IMO.

[ryans65]

I'd definitely at least drop the pan and remove the valve cover and have a look around.

As far as the flywheel is concerned these engines had the pressure plate bolted to the crank and the flywheel bolted to the pressure plate so its not uncommon to see these old 16v and 8v sitting around anything on the crank. I believe these were internally balanced as well. Old VW strangeness.

These old watercooled VW engines were pretty much bulletproof also, if the price is right I'd roll the dice and buy it.

Originally Posted by Zeke

The tests are one thing but pointing out that it could be built poorly won't show up. I think lots of documentation or walk.

Sounds crazy but I have seen more than one engine started and run sitting on the ground, strapped to a pallet or on an engine stand. Of the 3, I wonder about an engine stand unless it is a very good one. Shouldn't need any coolant for one minute and no load. YMMV

Wait, I don't see a flywheel. No go. And that's part of the balance. Double no go. And how would one turn that over to achieve compression? I think you're stuck with leak down only.

You seem to have some info on the build indicating ARP head studs.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Conservative ol' me would rather mess with those Webers any day of the week over a turbo'd electronic injection whatever engine.
Is the seller the actual builder or did he get it off some guy?

I love a good set of Webers but we have no idea what recipe the chef used to cook up this concoction...you can have a bunch of good ingredients and make a dog's breakfast.

[Scott Douglas]

I know more about changing jets than changing the tuning on an EFI unit, Denis.
Figuring out the cam etc would part of the fun of this engine, that plus getting it to run correctly.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Some notes, he got it for a project, had it running for hours, decided he wanted a different engine, 1.9Mtdi, bought it and is now selling this. He is a VW nerd by his FB profile so that's good.

He's not thrilled with over 1 hour for compression and leakdown.

Stock, original motor puts out up to 139 hp. No idea on cam but with webers and headers, might get up to 150. Yes? No?

A Turbo 1.8/2.0 would be sweet but it's a major project. This is a weekend with a little luck and not going too crazy cerakoting everything from the radiator back and then I might do a cadmium run. So 2 weekends for all new under the hood.

Good advice on valve cover and pan removal.

This weekend seeing it and him may mark the go/no go.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

The pan and valve cover put him over the edge so I won't be seeing it.

[TimT]

How much is it? They are really simple engines.. you could tear it fown and rebuild in a few hours...

Its got Webers $$

ARP fasteners $$

Maybe a Schrick cam $$

Headers $$

Or even one of those secret M1 cams :P

Or it could be totally stock with Webers and headers bolted up..

I

[herr_oberst]

That's too bad he won't let you take the covers off so you can just see how clean the valve gear is, and maybe just rattle the rods on the crank with your fingers. It's not like you asked him if you could take a few bearing caps off...

Maybe it'll still be around in a month and he'll decide that you taking a few minutes for a limited internal inspection might net him a few handy dollars.

[herr_oberst]

One other thing; Jay Leno often jokes about "the air must be cleaner where you are to run those screens".

Who knows how much rubbish this car has ingested. ARP studs don't keep dust from scoring camshafts and lifters.