I have been planning this project for some time and I have finally got to a point where I have enough parts to actually think it might happen. I'm under no illusion that this is going to be a very long term project, finding the parts is actually harder than affording them! I really don't want to break an RS2 to achieve this, it would be an easier and cheaper option but they are a rare car and I wouldn't feel right doing it.
I have decided to split the project into 4 main parts so that I can do the work a bit at a time. The following is the order I hope to achieve them in.
1. Running gear
2. Body
3. Engine
4. Interior
My plans for each are as follows;
Running gear - I currently have the gearbox, diff, prop, driveshafts and all the linkages and mountings. I also have a full set of RS2 hubs and should have the rear carriers soon. I have RS2 rear calipers but I don't have any of the handbrake mechanism yet. I have Porsche 996 Turbo front calipers so I will need to get the correct brackets for those. I still need discs and, of course, wheels, I'm yet to decide on those. There are numerous small bits I need to make it all fit together, I expect I will buy those new. I think I will lower it a bit, but I am concerned that the ground clearance is already poor with the factory sports suspension.
Body - I currently only have the side skirts but hopefully a rear bumper soon. I expect I will buy a Reiger front bumper as I haven't even seen a front bumper for sale recently and the last one I saw was advertised for twice as much as I paid for my car! Unfortunately my car is a MY92 which means It doesn't have the lower door trims, the significance of this is that I will have to change all 4 doors. I'm currently trying to find some in the correct colour so I don't have to spray them. I'm hopeful on the group buy for the lower door trims. I don't know if a lifetime is long enough to find a complete front grille with clips, perhaps someone will remaunfacture the bits that are now NLA, that would be nice. I know the mirrors are available new so that is probably my best option as RHD ones are so rare and I do want to be able to see what's behind me.
Engine - I'm concerned this will disappoint a lot of people but I don't plan to use an ADU engine, or even a 5 pot for that matter. There are a few reasons behind this, the engine mounts on my car are in the wrong place, the cost of getting everything required would be ridiculous and my car will never be an RS2 so why bother pretending, I'm just going to do what I want. That said, I want the performance to match the looks so at present the plan is to use a B5 RS4 engine, it's a very similar block to my current 2.8 which will help, I am aware that fitting the manifolds and turbos in is very difficult so I don't expect it to be easy. The other option is the 4.2 V8, I will have to do some more research but I'd rather have something with a turbo.
Update 12/2016, this will be built with a 20VT based on an ABY block, the build will be fully detailed in this thread. I've left the original text as it's now integral to this tread, but to avoid any further disappointment to anyone reading this now, I thought I'd add an update
Interior - By far the least of my priorities at the moment, the thing I want the most is a rear leather seat to match the rest of my interior, the gauges and Recaros can wait. The main change will be a climate control retrofit, I don't currently have aircon which is going to make that quite involved.
This is the car as it stands, nothing at all RS2 about it yet but it is not worth starting until I can do it properly. It is probably fair to say it is an abandoned attempt to build an S2 saloon. I can't wait to get rid of those wheels.
DSC_0455 by Matt4475, on Flickr
IMG_0547 by Matt4475, on Flickr
Any comments or advice welcome, I hope to be able to update this with some real progress before too long.
I have decided to split the project into 4 main parts so that I can do the work a bit at a time. The following is the order I hope to achieve them in.
1. Running gear
2. Body
3. Engine
4. Interior
My plans for each are as follows;
Running gear - I currently have the gearbox, diff, prop, driveshafts and all the linkages and mountings. I also have a full set of RS2 hubs and should have the rear carriers soon. I have RS2 rear calipers but I don't have any of the handbrake mechanism yet. I have Porsche 996 Turbo front calipers so I will need to get the correct brackets for those. I still need discs and, of course, wheels, I'm yet to decide on those. There are numerous small bits I need to make it all fit together, I expect I will buy those new. I think I will lower it a bit, but I am concerned that the ground clearance is already poor with the factory sports suspension.
Body - I currently only have the side skirts but hopefully a rear bumper soon. I expect I will buy a Reiger front bumper as I haven't even seen a front bumper for sale recently and the last one I saw was advertised for twice as much as I paid for my car! Unfortunately my car is a MY92 which means It doesn't have the lower door trims, the significance of this is that I will have to change all 4 doors. I'm currently trying to find some in the correct colour so I don't have to spray them. I'm hopeful on the group buy for the lower door trims. I don't know if a lifetime is long enough to find a complete front grille with clips, perhaps someone will remaunfacture the bits that are now NLA, that would be nice. I know the mirrors are available new so that is probably my best option as RHD ones are so rare and I do want to be able to see what's behind me.
Engine - I'm concerned this will disappoint a lot of people but I don't plan to use an ADU engine, or even a 5 pot for that matter. There are a few reasons behind this, the engine mounts on my car are in the wrong place, the cost of getting everything required would be ridiculous and my car will never be an RS2 so why bother pretending, I'm just going to do what I want. That said, I want the performance to match the looks so at present the plan is to use a B5 RS4 engine, it's a very similar block to my current 2.8 which will help, I am aware that fitting the manifolds and turbos in is very difficult so I don't expect it to be easy. The other option is the 4.2 V8, I will have to do some more research but I'd rather have something with a turbo.
Update 12/2016, this will be built with a 20VT based on an ABY block, the build will be fully detailed in this thread. I've left the original text as it's now integral to this tread, but to avoid any further disappointment to anyone reading this now, I thought I'd add an update
Interior - By far the least of my priorities at the moment, the thing I want the most is a rear leather seat to match the rest of my interior, the gauges and Recaros can wait. The main change will be a climate control retrofit, I don't currently have aircon which is going to make that quite involved.
This is the car as it stands, nothing at all RS2 about it yet but it is not worth starting until I can do it properly. It is probably fair to say it is an abandoned attempt to build an S2 saloon. I can't wait to get rid of those wheels.
DSC_0455 by Matt4475, on Flickr
IMG_0547 by Matt4475, on Flickr
Any comments or advice welcome, I hope to be able to update this with some real progress before too long.
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