B5 A4 1.8T Avant Quattro.

[K Simmonds]

Possibly one of the least exciting updates ever, however I'm seriously impressed with the quality of my new wheel bolts, can't go wrong for £20 delivered. I certainly didn't expect them to come in a nice box, though I'm 100% sure they will have been made in China.

And my workshop as it stands, half a day in here and I'll be set up for the engine swap.



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[K Simmonds]

Thanks to Jase yesterday we pulled the original bottom end out and after a bit of a fight got the complete replacement unit in, on it's mounts and bolted to the gearbox so all the heavy work done.

Spent a couple of hours today sorting out hose and wiring routing and I'm not far off being able to start it properly, it flicks over on the starter and fires on starting fluid fine so I know the ignition system works. Need to sort out a fuel pump, I could cobble something together but it's not worth me wasting me my time on, I'd rather fit the new suspension instead.

[K Simmonds]

Just a quick update to say happy new year to everyone and let folk know I'm okay and slowly getting on with life. This past Christmas was hard work and was not in anyway festive.

To cheer myself up a little I treated myself to a genuine Audi blue weave carbon gear leaver surround to complete the seven piece interior set. Got a really tidy crack and scratch free one which are very hard to find for a sane price. It's from a single DIN car but been modified to fit double DIN perfectly. I couldn't justify spending £300+ on a decent double DIN one, the trimmed one I got cost less than halve that.

My old black plastic one has gone weird and sticky feeling, I think the soft touch coating is breaking down so I needed to do something about it. The carbon option was a little extravagant but a Christmas gift to myself.

I'm now looking for a double DIN heater control facia panel for heated seat switches as my S4 seats are heated. I can get a ready made plug and play loom for £100 with OE connections. I have the switches ready but complete double DIN heater control units are very rare and insanely expensive, £200+

I don't really understand why they're so expensive as only the facia is different. I purchased the cheapest single DIN one available on eBay to pinch the switches out of as well as research fitment. I could carefully cut out the holes required in my existing facia panel at a push.

I'm nearly there with the engine, however a box of bits is alluding me, it has to be at mine or the previous owners house. I could complete it by using parts from one of my other 06A engines but then I'll need them in future for my 80Q.

Though I've considered robbing them to get the car done as sods law dictates as soon as I do that the original parts will appear in my kitchen.


Edit, I've just looked at this post on my laptop and the photos were all terrible so I'll try and take some better one's latter today if it thaw's out. My house is currently surrounded by sheet ice from the freezing rain storm we had last night.