B4 Avant - 2.0E to 2.2T

[NiTeC]

rather slow weekend...not much to do at this point while I wait for the shop to finish the engine...

test fitted the R32 bumper...it will need a little more work but I think it looks acceptable...


also the belts came in so the interior is pretty much finished...


Talked 'brakes' with a Targa veteran and he basically said I don't need to worry about them...there's only 1 stage with significant breaking and its at the end of the day so even if I toast the rotors it won't be an issue...I'm still going to try and get ahold of a hydraulic hand brake, a proportioning valve and get rid of the ABS

How about suspension? It looks like Bilstein has a nice set of front/rear shocks..what about springs? I don't care for lowering the vehicle as I need travel but it would be good to have a stiffer spring...can't find anything from H&R...keep in mind it's a FWD...

also - this was submitted to the design competition...meeting with the wrap shop mid week to try and get it done

[madpugger]

The B3 quattros had a switch on the dash to turn off the ABS. If you don't want to remove all the stuff for it and just want it off then a quick search on the forum will give you a guide on how to retro fit the button. Alternatively, just pull the relay

Nice to see it all coming along!

[NiTeC]

its more of a 'clean up and simplify the system' as opposed to just turn ABS off....I`m still trying to figure out a situation when I'd need the ABS in the race car...

[prj]

Race tuned ABS is better than the driver.
Of course, the factory system is very far from "race tuned".

[NiTeC]

picked the head up from the shop...not exactly sure what to do with it...here's a more detailed look...







let's see...only cyl 3 has a serious issue...what type of failure can this result in? lost compression on 3rd cyl? has anybody actually seen a failed head? can this be fixed and how - welding?

I`m leaning towards finishing the rebuild and using the head until it fails and in the mean time source another one...thoughts?

[caterpillar]

this head are shot: by a new one..second hand , less problem, less work you may use any 20v head..

[prj]

Most heads have small hairline cracks there, but yours is beyond that...

[NiTeC]

yeah that's the general consensus....on the lookout for a new one...

[NiTeC]

while dealing with the head issues I decided to tackle the understeering issue...

before:


now what can I possibly use that won't cost me money and will help move the weight in a corner...I know...a MK4 rear sway bar...


How convenient is it that the 2001 VW Jetta rear subframe is identical to the 1993 Audi 80 subframe?



the brackets fit like a glove...I still need to figure out the shock attachment points though...there's a little issue with those...here you can see the MK4 bolt (small) and 80 bolt (large)


the way larger 80 bolt means I can't use the current rod end bearings so I have to figure out a little fix...the problem is the sway bar end is a rather small diameter compared to the shock bolt end...here you can see the rear (small) vs. front (large) rod end bearings for the Neuspeed sway bars...I have an insert that allows me to use a smaller bolt with the front rod end but the 80 bolt is still too big...gotta visit the local bolt shop...


and here's the fit with and without a shock...



and started cleaning my speedlines...

here's the before:



the after will come tomorrow...

[NiTeC]

haven't updated in a while...

Got a few things cleaned up...

Before:



After:



have to figure out what to do with these pieces....powder coat? wrinkle finish?

Engine's back home...



Refinished my wheels (the sand blaster guy said he couldn't clean them off so I had to do it by hand - different guy next time that's for sure...)



and mounted the bumper a little more securely...the side profile is a little off...



but the front makes it all better


First track event next week and the car is getting dropped off for the wrap right after...can't wait to slap my 034 decals on courtesy of Sam...

put together a little solution to the sway bar problem - ordered a few things at a local machine shop - we`ll see how they turn out...

[NiTeC]

all right...figured out the sway bar - the solution is in 'testing' mode so unless it fails it's awesome

replaced the big 5/8" bolt with a 5/8"->3/8" sleeve and a 3/8" bolt...the bolt is now 7" long to give space for the spherical bearing...technically it should have been 6.5" but the store was short (haha get it - short) on 6.5" bolts...I used a nylon lock nut to secure it in place...the sleeve fits perfectly inside the assembly and everything was nice and tight...





as soon as I put everything back together I remembered the sway bar was actually wider than it should have been...I was pressed for time as I had to be at the track in 2 hours so I just fabbed up a quick spacer and used a 3/8" bolt on the bottom as well...this can likely be done a little better but it works for now...




took the car to the track....holy tail happy batman people were worried about understeering I am worried about oversteering the car felt great on the track - very predictable and controllable....the back is very light and was constantly in a hurry to go first...some throttle play and everything was in check....the gearing is extremely poor for any type of racing - 2nd gear is way too high and 3rd gear is way too low...basically I needed something right between 2nd and 3rd the whole time....not much fun in the straights either but I'm hoping the new engine will change all that

oh and of course - got a box in the mail...Thanks Sam!

[NiTeC]

ahh...yes....the white wheels are nice

[NiTeC]

got some spare parts today





it's a twin engine

business in the front:


party in the back:


interior's not too shabby...


and what's a good parts deal if it doesn't come with a 7A head and 7A cams of course...


now I just gotta find a shop to do the machining...don't feel like shipping it off across the continent to 034...

let's see if somebody can answer this skill testing question:

Audi 80 FWD 2.0 + Audi 90 quattro V6 + audi B5 quattro 1.8T + Audi UrS4 =?

my head is flooding with 'swap the quattro' thoughts of sin...

[Kiku]

let's see if somebody can answer this skill testing question:

Audi 80 FWD 2.0 + Audi 90 quattro V6 + audi B5 quattro 1.8T + Audi UrS4 =?

Diarrhea!

[NiTeC]

did some investigative work in the quattro swap direction...

1. the shocks mounting is identical between the FWD and quattro chassis
2. looks like the shocks themselves are identical as well - the quattro version has them slightly twisted but the setup looks the same - this makes things very easy because it looks like when it comes to shocks and springs a FWD and quattro cars have identical setups...this also means I can now use springs off a quattro car...the "FWD" version is not available in NA
3. there are 4 attachment points to the 'quattro' part of the equation - you all knew that already...the question was whether everything quattro will swap directly over...after a good hour of staring at the four bolts it looks to me that 2/4 bolts match...the back two holes need to be drilled/tapped into the frame...everything else looks identical
4. can't see much with the fuel tank in but looking from the top the floor plans look the same so i`ll assume attaching the back end of the quattro should be rather trivial

here are some pictures (it was very tight under there...i`ll def undo both back ends and at least mock up a swap...

FWD - passenger side - looking from the back towards the front - this is where the back quattro bolt should be..I was hoping the bolt holding the exhaust hanger will match up but no dice...the diff mount sits forwards of this bolt...


couple of shots of the front subframe mount on the FWD...there are 3 bolts holding it to the chassis...the bolt on the left matches the front diff mount bolt...looks like this one will be plug and pay...



the quattro front bolt:


same bracket on the passenger side:


and the quattro version:


the quattro setup is very 'busy' making it hard to take good shots and measurements...it will be easier to just drop everything down and mount it up on the FWD to see how things look...I am guessing that will be done next week at some point...

meanwhile got some shocks installed while I was under there...everything off:


the back installed:


the front will need a few parts - most bolts were seized and I had to cut a few things off...I`ll be needing new sway bar links and I figured I`ll change the tie rods while I`m in there...it also looks like the shock bearings up top are in need of refreshment...

overall - good work today