I'm thinking about adding one more project to the list. It's a beat up Mk2 Scirocco with a bad engine, but comes with a "good engine" "ready to install" (my last couple purchases have been from sellers who had lies within lies, so I'm not feeling very trusting right now). I don't know much about the 16 valve engines, but have wanted one to play with. Is a PL code 16 valve 'desirable'? If I start working on it is it likely to turn into a rabbit hole with no escape? Should I just be happy with the Mk4 1.8T engines and not lust for a 16 valve?
The seller's pictures make me think I should pass at any price, but....
PL is the US 16v. Same as the one that came in my '87 GTI 16v.
Back when I owned the car in the mid 90's it was the one to have vs the 8v. You can add a euro intake and cams for some more power.
The biggest issue IIRC is that the Mk2 Scirocco is not an A2 chassis, it's an A1, so the intake and exhaust manifolds are different because of the different engine bay. Left side vs. right side throttle placement.
I wanted a Scirocco 16v engine for my Rabbit GTI, but car-part interchanges them with the Golf 16v, which won't work without some unicorn parts that were half the reason I wanted to buy an entire junkyard engine anyway.
I got a good PL engine sitting in storage I have no use for. Rebuilt for SCCA IT road racing.
At this point, none are really desireable. Just old engines that are a decent upgrade for an even worse one. KR/PL/9A are all physically interchangeable but have some small differences, the big one being the 9A is a 2L. Any drop into a Scirocco as long as the bad engine still has all the fuel injection parts, manifolds, etc.
Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to pass on this one and focus on moving some current projects along.
jimbbski said:
I got a good PL engine sitting in storage I have no use for. Rebuilt for SCCA IT road racing.
I have a rabbit that would love to devour that.
