Project 4.2 A4 has officially begun.

**tinytim** · 06-25-2013 01:50 PM

**POST #51 STARTS ACTUAL WORK**

Today is the day that starts it all. Just picked up a pretty clean 5 speed manual A4. Got it for $1000, still drives but the 2.8 in it definitely has a dead cylinder.

Ordered a 2001 4.2 from an A6, she arrives next Tuesday. Got a 2.8 30v flywheel also. This will allow the engine to bolt right to the trans without a spacer, giving me an extra 11mm in front of the engine (thanks for the tip Nollywood). Paid $1585 for engine, harness, and flywheel... delivered, with no sales tax! Did not come with the stock ECU but that's not too big of a deal.

Still need to pick up DBW conversion stuff like pedal and harness. I will continue posting updates as I make progress.

Any tips are greatly appreciated

. This is a 2.8 12 valve engine chassis so the wiring will be a little intense, but I'm not scared... only a little.

**NeedingAnAudi** · 06-25-2013 02:05 PM

I hope you didn't tow that a4 like that.

**tinytim** · 06-25-2013 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by NeedingAnAudi

I hope you didn't tow that a4 like that.

Sure did. Once the drive shaft is removed you can tow it that way with no issues! This ain't my first rodeo.

**LINDW4LL** · 06-25-2013 02:10 PM

Looking forward to seeing this build.

And Audi says you can tow it like that for 50 miles, and I'm sure that's being conservative.

**tinytim** · 06-25-2013 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by LINDW4LL

Looking forward to seeing this build.

And Audi says you can tow it like that for 50 miles, and I'm sure that's being conservative.

Thanks dude! I cant wait to see that V8 show up at the shop!

I read that too but I wasn't taking any chances... disconnecting the drive shaft only takes a few minutes... well worth the effort in my opinion.

**NeedingAnAudi** · 06-25-2013 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by tinytim

Sure did. Once the drive shaft is removed you can tow it that way with no issues! This ain't my first rodeo.

nvm your fine. Carry on with another v8 swap.

**walky_talky20** · 06-25-2013 03:04 PM

This is awesome. I *so* want to start a thread like this someday, except somehow replacing that $1500 figure with like 400 bucks, lol.

**Nollywood** · 06-25-2013 03:46 PM

Good to see another V8 swap springing up.

**bryans12v** · 06-25-2013 03:52 PM

When you pull that engine you can sell me the exhaust manifolds. That'll offset some of the cost. Maybe $50 of it? Lol but seriously.

This is awesome. The 4.2 is a beast. My brother had an 04 S4 and i loved driving it. Ill be following this build closely.

**melomandn** · 06-25-2013 04:50 PM

I'm loving all these 4.2 swaps

**tinytim** · 06-25-2013 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by bryans12v

When you pull that engine you can sell me the exhaust manifolds.

They are yours! I need as much cost offset as I can get, nothing like living above your means, the American dream!!!

**Cgoon009** · 06-25-2013 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by melomandn

I'm loving all these 4.2 swaps

Yes, agreed. I can't wait to start mine.

**coolgraymemo** · 06-25-2013 07:46 PM

I drove a (bone stock) C5 A6 4.2 with 6-speed and remained unimpressed. Hopefully it works better with the B5.

**LINDW4LL** · 06-25-2013 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by coolgraymemo

I drove a (bone stock) C5 A6 4.2 with 6-speed and remained unimpressed. Hopefully it works better with the B5.

Hey 300hp (340 with a tune) is better than the 190 that the 2.8 puts out... I still prefer the 2.7 but a V8 in a B5 is cool.,.

**coolgraymemo** · 06-25-2013 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by LINDW4LL

Hey 300hp (340 with a tune) is better than the 190 that the 2.8 puts out... I still prefer the 2.7 but a V8 in a B5 is cool.,.

No doubt.

I was expecting more. The car was bone stock though (stock exhaust, etc.). On the highway, it hauled. On the street, I didn't feel the umph.

**Saskwatch** · 06-25-2013 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by walky_talky20

This is awesome. I *so* want to start a thread like this someday, except somehow replacing that $1500 figure with like 400 bucks, lol.

http://denver.craigslist.org/pts/3889520545.html

ask and you shall receive... doing my best to not go pick this up....lol

**nynoah** · 06-26-2013 01:22 AM

Get the engine.... get the engine. Put it in something crazy.... like a 1990 coupe

**Cgoon009** · 06-26-2013 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by coolgraymemo

No doubt.

I was expecting more. The car was bone stock though (stock exhaust, etc.). On the highway, it hauled. On the street, I didn't feel the umph.

I know what you mean, had a 4.2 tip a6. 310 hp, but moved like a truck on the street. I would have to keep the revs high to really feel it. I guess its just heavy.

**revolution337** · 06-26-2013 07:18 AM

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee V8 swap!

**tinytim** · 06-26-2013 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Cgoon009

I know what you mean, had a 4.2 tip a6. 310 hp, but moved like a truck on the street. I would have to keep the revs high to really feel it. I guess its just heavy.

A6 with a 4.2 TIP has a curb weight of 4024 lbs
A4 has a curb weight of 3228 lbs

(quoting both weights from Audi, don't yell at me if they are wrong!)

800 pounds less will make quite the difference. I will also be removing most of the interior, not sure how much the will amount to. I not 100% sure on the weight difference from the 12 valve 2.8 vs the all aluminum 4.2. I cant image that it would be much more.

**revolution337** · 06-26-2013 07:36 AM

Have you looking into the wiring diagrams for both chassis' yet? From the looks of it, integrating the factory engine harness into the B5s body harness will be the "hardest" part of your swap. If you have some basic knowledge of wiring schematics and circuitry, it won't be too bad

**Cgoon009** · 06-26-2013 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by tinytim

A6 with a 4.2 TIP has a curb weight of 4024 lbs
A4 has a curb weight of 3228 lbs

(quoting both weights from Audi, don't yell at me if they are wrong!)

800 pounds less will make quite the difference. I will also be removing most of the interior, not sure how much the will amount to. I not 100% sure on the weight difference from the 12 valve 2.8 vs the all aluminum 4.2. I cant image that it would be much more.

I knew the A6 weighed more, didn't know just how much more. Thats alot! As for your car, you should feel it more, because of the loss of weight. Also iirc, the 4.2 block is a few pounds lighter then the 2.8. So you come out on top!

**AudiA4_20T** · 06-26-2013 08:16 AM

is anyone going to take their car to the 1/4 mile? Curious how it would do

**tinytim** · 06-26-2013 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by revolution337

Have you looking into the wiring diagrams for both chassis' yet? From the looks of it, integrating the factory engine harness into the B5s body harness will be the "hardest" part of your swap. If you have some basic knowledge of wiring schematics and circuitry, it won't be too bad

Yeah I have to rewire from the cluster to the 4.2, run a new circuit for the DBW set up, and swap in a new crack position senor on the trans. My plans are to use the old plug from the 2.8 engine/chassis connector and splice the 4.2 into it. As far as the pedal goes, that will need to be a brand new circuit. I am looking at getting an APR ecu for IMMO defeat, no emission, fault eraser, etc.

**Mad Cow** · 06-26-2013 08:23 AM

Still going with the '96 I see, have you figured out the differences between the Hitachi and Bosch body plug setup?

Screw APR, there are dozens of private tuners that will do a better job for a fraction of the price. PM k0mpresd as a start, he can probably do all that.

**bhunt17** · 06-26-2013 08:36 AM

Subscribed! I to have a '96 so I'm looking forward to seeing your process. I to want to do one of these 4.2 swaps.

**revolution337** · 06-26-2013 08:36 AM

Also JHM has a number of different tunes available for this swap now. Plus super customer service

**tinytim** · 06-26-2013 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

Still going with the '96 I see, have you figured out the differences between the Hitachi and Bosch body plug setup?

Screw APR, there are dozens of private tuners that will do a better job for a fraction of the price. PM k0mpresd as a start, he can probably do all that.

Not yet. I am thinking I might just pick up a main body harness from a DBW A4, they are only $150ish and would be good to have just in case. That would also get me the pedal harness I need.

I am searching for ECUs right now. Is there any one that would be better then the other? I have found a lot of them for 2001-2002 AWN 4.2, but if there is something that would work better from say a 4.2 s4 or something like that...

**Mad Cow** · 06-26-2013 09:06 AM

You'll have a hell of a time integrating a DBW dash harness, at best you'll be able to hack it up to use the connectors, but it's a bit of a waste paying $150 for something you'll hack into a million pieces. There's a couple of threads on the ECU subject over at nefmoto, some very good information there.

**tinytim** · 06-26-2013 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

You'll have a hell of a time integrating a DBW dash harness, at best you'll be able to hack it up to use the connectors, but it's a bit of a waste paying $150 for something you'll hack into a million pieces. There's a couple of threads on the ECU subject over at nefmoto, some very good information there.

I wasn't planing to swap it all in. I just want the pedal harness and some of the connectors from it. The easiest way to make sure I get all the connectors I may need is to buy a complete harness.

I will check out that site!

**Nollywood** · 06-26-2013 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by tinytim

Yeah I have to rewire from the cluster to the 4.2, run a new circuit for the DBW set up, and swap in a new crack position senor on the trans. My plans are to use the old plug from the 2.8 engine/chassis connector and splice the 4.2 into it. As far as the pedal goes, that will need to be a brand new circuit. I am looking at getting an APR ecu for IMMO defeat, no emission, fault eraser, etc.

If you're going for an IMM defeat, there's no need to rewire from the cluster to the C5 motor (I'm assuming you're referring to a C5 4.2 cluster). You'd only really need the 4.2 cluster if you're retaining IMMO, as it's built into the combi-processor.

Your 12V Hitachi harness will have the line to your OBD connector, which you'll need to splice into the V8 Motronic harness. The color is green with a black trace, and it's quite thin.

Definitely, a DBW car would have been a better starting point, but you've bought your 12V, so that's a moot point. More work, but not impossible. My only 40V swap was done in an '86 Audi 90 Quattro, and that's about as unrelated as you could ever get. All my other swaps have been 32V S8 engines, my latest swap is a 40V from a 2002 S6, going into a '96 Audi Cabriolet. Again, an unrelated chassis, but not too nasty as long as you can read a schematic.

**Nollywood** · 06-26-2013 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by tinytim

I wasn't planing to swap it all in. I just want the pedal harness and some of the connectors from it. The easiest way to make sure I get all the connectors I may need is to buy a complete harness.

I will check out that site!

Actually, it's a hell of a lot neater to run the DBW main harness in your Hitachi-based car. Of course it'll mean a facelift centre console, and a facelift B5 cluster. The cluster is a good idea at any rate, as you can easily code the tacho to 8 cylinder ignition pulses.

**Nollywood** · 06-26-2013 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by tinytim

I am searching for ECUs right now. Is there any one that would be better then the other? I have found a lot of them for 2001-2002 AWN 4.2, but if there is something that would work better from say a 4.2 s4 or something like that...

The B6/7 S4 ECU won't be any good with your motor configuration. You may well get it running, but it'll never be right. Too many differences, more than you could write out to make it 100% compatible.

**tinytim** · 06-26-2013 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Nollywood

The B6/7 S4 ECU won't be any good with your motor configuration. You may well get it running, but it'll never be right. Too many differences, more than you could write out to make it 100% compatible.

I think I will just stick with an ECU from a 2001-2002 A6 4.2. If the using immobilizer defeat means I dont need to swap clusters then I will most likely just build a cluster using autometer gauges or something to the effect.

**redline380** · 06-26-2013 12:45 PM

how come i haven't seen any v8 swaps running standalone? simply because of the added cost? I personally would think standalone would be the way to go, especially if it were to be a non-dd car.

**revolution337** · 06-26-2013 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by redline380

how come i haven't seen any v8 swaps running standalone? simply because of the added cost? I personally would think standalone would be the way to go, especially if it were to be a non-dd car.

Because its not really necessary, unless you plan on boosting the motor. Its just an added cost that you don't really need. OEM harness and ECU will work just fine.

**Nollywood** · 06-26-2013 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by redline380

how come i haven't seen any v8 swaps running standalone? simply because of the added cost? I personally would think standalone would be the way to go, especially if it were to be a non-dd car.

My first B5 S8 swap was running VEMS, as I didn't get the key and IMMO interface when I bought the motor. And I couldn't find anyone to disable the IMMO at the time.

**onemoremile** · 06-26-2013 05:41 PM

FYI, you can get a 32v 4.2 for $385 and make more power than the 40v 4.2 for a hell of a lot less money. Engine with ecu and 034's cnc machined flywheel is under a grand and it all works easier than the 40v. More valves are not better.