[Shotimes] Looking to rejoin the ranks: Q on first gear power

[Leigh Smith]

I'll ditto what Don said. My 94 gas pedal was twice as stiff as my 89, and I
traced it down to the throttle spring. The spring wire is a thicker
diameter, and it works out to 2.5 times as stiff. Fornuately, the lighter
throttle spring easily backdates. Somewhere around here I've got
measurements. The size of the plastic spool that holds the springs is the
easiest thing to measure and spot the difference. One spool measures 31.5 mm
wide and the heavier one measures 38.5 mm. The spring diameters are 1.3 mm
and 1.8 mm.
..
Another big difference is the flywheel/clutch setup. An 89 with the stock
lighter clutch revs significantly faster than a later model with the heavier
& stronger clutch, but that difference is only noticeable in first gear.
..
Lee

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donald Mallinson" <dmall@mwonline.net>
To: "David Early" <dearly@quallaby.com>
Cc: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Looking to rejoin the ranks: Q on first gear power


> David,
>
> I think you should go for the SHO.   (would anyone expect me to say
> otherwise?).  :)
>
> About how the car "feels" off the line.  I have an '89 SHO and a '91
> SHO.  The two feel totally different in first gear.  The '89 has always
> felt free and easy, and the '91 feels a tiny bit sluggish in comparison,
> but dyno testing proves that the '91 is making all the power it is
> supposed too.
>
> So what gives?  I think it is in the gas pedal "feel".  The '89 has
> always felt free and light, where the '91 feels like it has 3 times the
> spring strength, and it doesn't have a linear movement.  Kind of feels
> bound up for the first third, then gets past a point and the engine
> really picks up.
>
> I have driven a bunch of SHO's and some of them have this heavy feeling
> gas pedal.  Once you floor it and get moving, there is no difference.
>
> I am willing to bet that is what you are feeling in the '92 you are
> looking at.  A new throttle cable might solve the problem, or maybe some
> lube on the throttle body?  It hasn't bothered me enough to make me want
> to change it, I just drive and enjoy both cars, knowing they have some
> differences, but at full throttle, they both feel pretty much the same
> (the '89 has some mods and makes more hp, but they feel like brothers
> rather than cousins!).  :)
>
> The '92 sounds nice, you know you like this type of car, and if the
> price is right, then get back into a SHO.  Yes, things can go wrong, but
> I bet you are already familiar with VW shop rates and parts prices?  You
> take a chance with anything, even a brand new car.  Go for the SHO.
>
> Don Mallinson
>
>
> David Early wrote:
>
> >Well, I admit that I am somewhat downtrodden by the response from
> >everyone...I admit that I hoped you all would talk me into it. <smiles>
> >
> >My biggest problem is I can't have 2 cars...not at a point where I can do
> >that for a variety of reasons...
> >
> >It sounds like most would agree that the '92 SHO, even with 81k on it, is
a
> >much worse bet than the 66k '99 VW.  I mean, I like my car, but the SHO
has
> >a certain appeal as well.  I would NOT consider doing this if the mileage
> >were not this close.
> >
> >I know that I am taking a risk, and that repairs could be nasty, but
> >frankly, they could be nasty on either car...German cars are not cheap to
> >work on either...just a bit more mass produced.  The risk seems to be
around
> >which car is going to have the problems first.
> >
> >Any one else want to weigh in on this one?  Looking for the voice of
> >experience...from all who care to comment.
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >dave
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Ian Fisher [mailto:dataflash@yahoo.com]
> >Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 8:33 AM
> >To: David Early; shotimes@autox.team.net
> >Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Looking to rejoin the ranks: Q on first gear
power
> >
> >As a former ATX owner and a current MTX owner, I have
> >always felt that the 3.2 in the ATX was stronger off
> >the line than the 3.0 in the MTX. (more torque) I
> >don't know for sure what you are feeling with this 92
> >but over email, that would be my guess. Hey, you could
> >always do a 3.2 swap! :)
> >
> >If I had a better more reliable car such as a Passat,
> >I would consider supplementing it with an SHO but I'd
> >never replace a newer, lower mile car with an SHO. You
> >won't come out ahead. :)
> >
> >Ian
> >93 mtx -3.2 any day now!
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