[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Replacement crossmember (long post)
Another option might be to cut out a piece from a rear-ended Scirocco
from a wrecker and weld it in your car...
Mark.
75
80 S
81 S 2.0 ABA/JH/4K
> -----Original Message-----
> From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org [mailto:scirocco-l-
> bounces@scirocco.org] On Behalf Of Camron D. Crouse
> Sent: March 10, 2004 7:32 PM
> To: Scirocco List
> Subject: Replacement crossmember (long post)
>
> So a few weeks ago I finally get around to checking my front
crossmember
> for cracks.... ho boy its *bad* - the tissue around the motor mount
> socket is nearly cracked all around, a mangled punch-through, with
some
> additional cracks father away as well. The mount itself, is toast, as
> well. So I immediately place an order for an A1 crossmember brace,
from
> Eric S Scirocco81... okay, three weeks to delivery, so I start
thinking
> about my options, and order some other tune-up items while I'm
waiting.
> Well my brace is nearly here, so yesterday I went around to a couple
> alignment/underbody and frame shops in town for some repair estimates.
> Had a hard time getting actual $ quotes, so am also taking into
account
> shops' hourly rate $. (was showing photos from Eric's references
> instead of my actual car)
>
> One full-service frame shop I visited said that welding the
crossmember
> back together wasn't really the best option, and that I should
> A) have the section replaced with a custom made crossmember, or
> B) order a "new" factory crossmember from VW and have it installed.
> (presumably with the crossmember installed afterwards)
>
> WTF?? Order a new crossmember from VW? Isn't that whole section of
the
> car like one welded-together piece? Well, sort of, the tech said, but
> that that they have done something similar with various cars (they are
a
> frame shop, after all). The tech told me to come back later in the
day
> to talk to the owner, who was away from the shop for a couple hours,
and
> that he would have a better idea of how to proceed, and what it might
> cost.
>
> I was unable to come back later, but out of curiosity I did stop by
the
> VW dealership parts shop to find out about this crossmember
replacement
> hoo-haw. Well, lo and behold, the crossmember component IS a part
> offered by VW, which surprised me, as well as the parts guys looking
it
> up. (I showed them a picture of the custom brace, and they were
> impressed, and thought it was a great idea... actually it got positive
> comments from the repair shops I visited as well.)
> "$734.51," he says. Holy smoke, I knew this crossmember would not be
> cheap if indeed available, but that is just completely out of my
> budget. "Okay, let me see here, " the guy on the computer says, and
> after a moment fiddling with some items onscreen, "how about $586.61?
> It'll take about 14 days , Our warehouse doesn't have any in stock"
> What's this, I can negotiate my price on VW dealership parts???
That's
> a first for me.
>
> Pondering the surprising fact that it is a replaceable part, but still
> reeling from the price, I told the guys I'd have to pass, at least for
> now. One of them said "Although your welds will end up stronger than
> the surrounding metal if you repair what you have, I'd go with a new
> piece if it were my car." Although friendly and otherwise
knowledgeable,
> they didn't really seem to know much about this being a common problem
> with our Sciroccos. I never got the impression they were just trying
to
> get my money, I merely think they were trying to offer good advice...
>
> So after some thought I'm still leaning towards my first plan: welding
> up the existing crossmember, having the crossmember brace installed,
and
> new motor mount put into place. Welds are strong, right ? ;)
>
> Replacing with a stock crossmember, aside from the expense of the new
> piece itself, presents the additional problem and expense of ( I
would
> presume) engine removal and replacement for a complex and lengthy
stock
> crossmember installation, (no doubt the factory new crossmember will
be
> just as brittle and susceptible to cracking as the the one in my car
> now - why spend ~$500 on another piece of junk?)
>
> A custom made crossmember would be pretty cool, but again, likely out
> of my price range. (Seems I read in the Archives someone had this
done
> and was pretty happy with the result.) Besides, it would render the
> $129 I spent on the custom brace somewhat moot, eh?
>
> Another thing - this Scirocco has been wrecked, and though I've spent
> quite a bit of money and energy on repairing the car back to its
former
> glory, I have a have a hard time justifying spending more than I have
> to on a car whose frame was at one time compromised. I have been
known
> to replace worn-out stock items with aftermarket upgrades, but
hesitate
> to upgrade just for the sake of it for this reason.
>
> If you've made it this far, hey thanks, I appreciate any input or
opinions!
>
> - Camron from Vancouver, WA USA
> '86.5 Black 16V 2.0L
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Scirocco-l mailing list
> Scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> http://neubayern.net/mailman/listinfo/scirocco-l
>
> ---
> Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004
>
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004