B5 S4 swapped into B5 A4

[audisteez]

I have been searching for about an hr between here and vortex for some build threads of a B5 S4 v6 2.7 biturbo into a B5 A4 1.8tq. If anyone can point me into the right directions of some knowledgeable threads, that'd be awesome. I hope to get my project underway soon.

[blmlozz]

you're better off talking to guruman or someone that's acutaly done it vs finding a thread, since most dont undertake this task, and it's not easy by anymeans. It's better to just save up for a real S4.

[audisteez]

it wouldn't be as cool ;)

[AudiRacerS4]

its not that bad of a swap...my friend did it in his driveway, search for username CKYmike

[audisteez]

thanks for your help man!

Keep the info coming

[big_greasy_taco]

So you have an S4 and want to convert it to an a4? Am i understanding this right?

[t1demont1]

nope he wants to put a s4 motor into the a4. Are you DBC or DBW

[audisteez]

neither I have nothing yet. I'm gonna be picking up a 01 1.8tq with a bad motor very shortly, then I am going to look for the s4 engine. I'm just trying to get an idea of how easy it is, or problems I may run into

[t1demont1]

Okay, 01 is the way to go if you wanna do this becasue its already DBW like the s4 motor. Dont quote me on this, but I think all you need is ECU, Engine wiring harness, and motor. I would try to pick up a set of k04s for the s4. And of course you need downpipes, i think most are running stock downpipes with cats deleted (piggie pipes). Youll want to do the clutch/flywheel while its all apart too. The a4 tranny will bolt up to the s4 motor.

[black99.5a4]

i've heard the front cross members (i call it the front subframes) are completely different from the 1.8 to the 2.8/2.7 cars. which is why starting with a 2.8 car is easier for the swap, but I am not 100% sure.

[audisteez]

Okay, 01 is the way to go if you wanna do this becasue its already DBW like the s4 motor. Dont quote me on this, but I think all you need is ECU, Engine wiring harness, and motor. I would try to pick up a set of k04s for the s4. And of course you need downpipes, i think most are running stock downpipes with cats deleted (piggie pipes). Youll want to do the clutch/flywheel while its all apart too. The a4 tranny will bolt up to the s4 motor.

I am probably going to use an s4 tranny. How much difference does it make?? Also can I just bolt on some k04's without doing a whole expensive "turbo kit" (sorry some noob sounding questions I am still learning lol)

i've heard the front cross members (i call it the front subframes) are completely different from the 1.8 to the 2.8/2.7 cars. which is why starting with a 2.8 car is easier for the swap, but I am not 100% sure.

Can anyone else quote him on this?? Would I have to change the "front subframes"??

[tbone5446]

waste of time and money to do it.

There is a b5s4 on craigslist in San Diego for 4000 and another one for 5100.
You would spend close to that just picking up a decent 2.7.

There is also a stage 3 b5s4 for 12,500 for sale.

thats where you should spend your money, IMO.

But if you are hellbent on building your a4, I say you just build the 1.8 as I see it as a great motor in itself.

[audisteez]

waste of time and money to do it.

There is a b5s4 on craigslist in San Diego for 4000 and another one for 5100.
You would spend close to that just picking up a decent 2.7.

There is also a stage 3 b5s4 for 12,500 for sale.

thats where you should spend your money, IMO.

But if you are hellbent on building your a4, I say you just build the 1.8 as I see it as a great motor in itself.

I live in NY soooo. Also how many miles are on these cars, probably over 100k!

Thanks for everyones help so far.

[le91688]

sorry but i wouldn't even bother with a 4000$ s4...

thats all you broski

[tbone5446]

I realize you are in NY, I was just stating what the price is coming down to.

I would imagine you could get a nice b5s4 on the east coast since the majority of them seem to be in New Jersey/ New York area.

Anyways, its your call and your money.

[le91688]

Not to mention craiglist is full of scams/pranks.

[audisteez]

well to be honest its coming down to financing a b5s4 or building one. We shall see what happens lol

[tbone5446]

I was just stating that these cars are coming down in price.
you don't have to be so cynical

[black99.5a4]

where on the east coast are you finding them cheap? i'm curious cause I cant find a stock one that was taken care of for less then 15-18k

[Sigma 3]

you will need the guage cluster. pm ckymike he has done this swap and even had a thread so search for threads by him.

[lawnferie]

here's the link for GURUMAN's
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239013

[TMorris]

here's the link for GURUMAN's
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239013

Guruman didnt do the swap, he just upgraded it.

I bought the car swapped, but I started all over by forging everything

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showpo...1&postcount=13

[audisteez]

yea i looked at ckymike's thread. Is there anyone else on the forum that have done one? Speak up if you have!!

[djwimbo]

Yes, the V6 subframes are different than the 4cyl subframes on the B5's. You can make a custom mount for the trans, or you can swap subframes.

I know you probably don't care at this point, but it's a waste. S4's a great cars to drive, a lot of fun and you get some respect from everyone, Honda to Corvette owners.
When it comes down to it though, they're a bitch to work on, they're over complicated, maintenance sucks and they aren't worth jack anymore.

I see clean facelift A4's selling for more than S4's. As far as mileage goes, I drove an S4 the other day with K04's on it and >200K miles on it. It pulled nicely. Those engines will go for a LONG time if taken care of.

I wouldn't waste my time, effort or the hair you'll pull out when something goes wrong.

[willowtreexx]

waste of time and money to do it.

There is a b5s4 on craigslist in San Diego for 4000 and another one for 5100.
You would spend close to that just picking up a decent 2.7.

There is also a stage 3 b5s4 for 12,500 for sale.

thats where you should spend your money, IMO.

But if you are hellbent on building your a4, I say you just build the 1.8 as I see it as a great motor in itself.

+1

[GURUMAN]

Dont do it, unless yo got the engine on the side ...

The price of original S4's are now down and more afordable.

My was done when I bough it. Lets just say I had a swapped A4 stage 4 for under 20 g's 2 years ago...

S4 in Montreal were about 40% more expensive than in the US. Was great back then but the swaps are more and more rare now...

I would get an S4 or build the 1.8T.

Remember that the S4 is more expensive to fix when is breaks.

4 x o2 sensors
2 x EGT's
2 x diverters

Almost always times 2 for everything...

[audisteez]

you guys are now leaning me into just getting this 01 1.8tq and dropping a working 1.8t engine in it lol. im so confused now

[djwimbo]

you guys are now leaning me into just getting this 01 1.8tq and dropping a working 1.8t engine in it lol. im so confused now

engine swaps are cool, don't get me wrong. BUT there's a world of a difference between swapping a 350 into a 305 car and swapping a 2.7T into a 1.8T car.
If it was cheap and easy we all would have done it by now.

extra weight, extra displacement, two of "everything" and overcomplicated. These have benefits and pitfalls. I personally don't think it's worth it.

$10-12K into a built 1.8T with coilovers and decent brakes is better than an S4 in my book.

[Stampy]

Build the 1.8t. Nowadays you have many options and even the most expensive ones aren't that bad. Best rule of thumb for buying a B5S4...Be prepared to spend what you bought the car for again. The maintenance/upgrades/etc, get very expensive quick. That being said, I couldn't imagine how much more fun it would be on one that was pieced together.