3B conrod bearing update?

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Hi there folks,

Seeing as Kitty has some g/box probs, now seems a good time to ask about internal bits on the 3B. The one that seems most important is the bearing uprate that Mihnea recommends (along with metal gasket) for the higher boost pressures that may be in the pipeline.

Can anyone tell me what's needed, who to get them from, who to get them installed by, and most importantly, how much?!!

Look forward to hearing some useful replies!

__MDC__

[Audi Parts Guru]

The one that seems most important is the bearing uprate that Mihnea recommends __MDC__

Which one is this then

[newsh]

RS2 Big end shells. Vag Parts can supply them.

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Cheers John!

More info needed! I know a few engine builders who worked at the racing factory and one is now self employed just up the road from me, but I'm open to suggestion as a non-engine building guy (hey, I used to design chassis bits and fuel / cooling systems, that sort of stuff, not engine internals!)

__MDC__

[Doug_RS2]

The big end bearing top half shell is not hardened on the 3B. You need to change these for the the RS2 items or change to a different set completely.

I just changed an RR to standard lower and RS2 upper big end bearings.
I also did the same to mine.

You have to remove the sump to get access to do this.

Get the parts from vagparts, find a friendly mechanic who know what he is doing to do the work - there is a lot of work in getting the head and sump off so if you are paying a premium hourly rate it will add upto a lot.

The head needs to be a very smooth skim becasue it is a metal headgasket. There are a lot of other gaskets that should be replaced and of course while everything is in bits it is a good time to do the cam belt, cam chain, water pump etc, etc, etc.

[Beetie]

If your just doing the big end bearings, you dont have to take the head off though, just dont push the rod up too much

[Audi Parts Guru]

Gents,

3B/RR/ABY/ADU engines ALL have the same big end/little end/and main bearings. There are NO uprated versions available from Audi

[audiman]

RS2 Big end shells are about 50 quid from VAGparts. The headgasket is also important, this WILL break over 300bhp. BTDT. Make sure to order new sump gaskets too. A tenner each

[Keeper of The Kitten]

So, APG, correct me if I'm wrong, but you're saying the option is RS2 bearings (as John said) or no change at all? RS2 from VAG parts sounds good to me. Enlighten me folks!

__MDC__

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Cheers Tom!

__MDC__

[audiman]

Yes other companies do bearings, Glycol rings a bell. RS2 has a harder finish

[Doug_RS2]

Paul - they might not be different now - but if you take them out the top big end shell of an RR or 3B they are not hardened. They were hardened for the RS2 and all of them are hardened now.

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Thanks Doug!

Are the little ends adequate or is there a recommended upgrade for them too?

RS2 big ends sound cheap enough to me, I spend more than £50 a week on fuel. Actually, probably less at the mo' - the lack of third gear makes you drive in a more economical fashion...

__MDC__

[audiman]

Little ends are fine for BIG power even. Dont worry about them. Conrods will bend before the little ends get damaged. My car has 156k on the clock and there is no conceivable wear on them

[RSCoupe]

Paul - they might not be different now - but if you take them out the top big end shell of an RR or 3B they are not hardened. They were hardened for the RS2 and all of them are hardened now.

Some of the big HP guys here in the states are using the hardened upper bearings (034 105 701 40Z) for both upper and lower.