My V8 into an A4 like everyone else is now doing...build thread

[Poopie]

so what do you do with caliper position?

[A4V8swap]

so what do you do with caliper position?

What do you mean?

[Poopie]

It looks like the hub sizes are pushing the rotor away from the upright. But the brakes are mounted to the upright.

[Mad Cow]

It looks like the hub sizes are pushing the rotor away from the upright. But the brakes are mounted to the upright.

The different rotor offset would take care of that. The caliper would be still in the same position in relation to the upright but different in relation to the rotor, if that makes sense.

[Poopie]

Gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up

[ddillenger]

so what do you do with caliper position?

I have 2 flat washers between my upright and caliper. Allows me to use the narrowbody offset BBK with the 4.2 hubs.

[spinnin_four]

so, the V8 brakes will be a direct bolt up correct? i plan to swap the whole subframe and uprights into the a4, but i am also curious about trans mount..what brackets will i need to go from my 01A to the A6 subframe?

[bhusted]

You won't be able to use the A6 subframe because it is not drilled for the narrower mounting points for the control arms. If you look at your A4 subframe, you'll see that there are two sets of holes for the control arms, whereas the A6 only has the outer holes. You'll need a V6 A4 subframe.

[A4V8swap]

so, the V8 brakes will be a direct bolt up correct? i plan to swap the whole subframe and uprights into the a4, but i am also curious about trans mount..what brackets will i need to go from my 01A to the A6 subframe?

Yes V8 brakes will bolt up. Subframe will not bolt up, uprights will. Trans mount use your factory 01a transmission mounts with your a4 subframe. if your car was a 1.8 youll need A4 2.8 mount arms and subframe.

[spinnin_four]

cool, thanks for the explanation guys, i guess the search is on for v6 subframe and v6 01a trans mounts

[bhusted]

cool, thanks for the explanation guys, i guess the search is on for v6 subframe and v6 01a trans mounts

If you're sticking with the 01A, I would just look for a V6 01A trans. The ratios are different from the 1.8 and will be more appropriate for the V8.

[walky_talky20]

Doesn't have to be a V6 subframe. Just has to be *anything* other than a 1.8T 5-speed subframe. That's the only one with the funky mount deal. Any other B5 A4/S4 subframe will work, even FWD.

[spinnin_four]

Doesn't have to be a V6 subframe. Just has to be *anything* other than a 1.8T 5-speed subframe. That's the only one with the funky mount deal. Any other B5 A4/S4 subframe will work, even FWD.

Cool, thanks for that, ive considered the drivetrain stabilizer but with as low as i am, i dont think it will work well..

also, anyone have upclose pics of how people made the front motor mount?

[ddillenger]

Cool, thanks for that, ive considered the drivetrain stabilizer but with as low as i am, i dont think it will work well..

also, anyone have upclose pics of how people made the front motor mount?

I wouldn't consider a DTS as a replacement, They're not substantial enough for extended use like that.

[wolfe2118]

Cool, thanks for that, ive considered the drivetrain stabilizer but with as low as i am, i dont think it will work well..

also, anyone have upclose pics of how people made the front motor mount?

This is my passenger side mount. At this point, it was just proof of concept so I wasn't too worried about it being pretty. I have templates made to build nicer ones at a later time but getting it on the road before it snows is more important than looks at this moment. It uses the stock 1.8 chassis mounts and the original 1.8 engine mount.

[revolution337]

I've been running a DTS bar as my sole transmission mount for over a year now with no issues. It's beefy and secures the trans in place just fine, I see no issues going this route.

[spinnin_four]

This is my passenger side mount. At this point, it was just proof of concept so I wasn't too worried about it being pretty. I have templates made to build nicer ones at a later time but getting it on the road before it snows is more important than looks at this moment. It uses the stock 1.8 chassis mounts and the original 1.8 engine mount.

Thanks for the pics, since i have a whole parts car, i will swap the whole mount plate and mounts from the A6, i am more interested in the front mount that needs to be made

[wolfe2118]

Check out these pictures, it's not mine but it will give you a good idea which direction to go in. Also I can supply you with a nice ABZ to B5 wiring diagram if you need it.

http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p...%20Conversion/

Here is another ABZ/B5 with lots of good info as well.
http://scaudi.com/sc/index.php?showtopic=5121&st=0

[spinnin_four]

Check out these pictures, it's not mine but it will give you a good idea which direction to go in. Also I can supply you with a nice ABZ to B5 wiring diagram if you need it.

http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p...%20Conversion/

Here is another ABZ/B5 with lots of good info as well.
http://scaudi.com/sc/index.php?showtopic=5121&st=0

Cool, thanks, the wiring diagram sounds nice, i am swapping a ART (2000) into my B5 (AWM), but a basis would be nice!!

[ddillenger]

I've been running a DTS bar as my sole transmission mount for over a year now with no issues. It's beefy and secures the trans in place just fine, I see no issues going this route.

Then you drive like a girl

[wolfe2118]

Sorry, I got your build mixed up with another one I had open. Forget everything I said as you don't need to build mounts at all.

[tinytim]

Working with FTG/XS-Power right now on some long tube headers for the 4.2 swap in the B5... check my sig. Best part is they are fairly priced!

They are like these:

[demonmk2]

I thought the wiring was a pain with the 1.8t harness mateing
To the 4.2 harness..
Good luck on you swap and hope you are happy
With the outcome.

[revolution337]

Then you drive like a girl

Zing!

[walky_talky20]

Those headers look delicious.


NOM

[A4V8swap]

I've been running a DTS bar as my sole transmission mount for over a year now with no issues. It's beefy and secures the trans in place just fine, I see no issues going this route.

Same

[A4V8swap]

Working with FTG/XS-Power right now on some long tube headers for the 4.2 swap in the B5... check my sig. Best part is they are fairly priced!

They are like these:

Oh wow would def. be interested in those :)

[spinnin_four]

little update, I removed the motor and trans from the A6, took about 3 hours, which i didnt think was to bad for my first time. Also that motor and auto trans combo is crazy long. haha i sepaerated the motor/trans, and got the motor on a engine stand, cleaned it up and started disassembly.

removed harness and coolant hoses, intake manifold, and of course both flaps are stuck, i did a leak down test and only got 1% leakage so i am super happy with the motors health. unfortunately both cam chain tensioners are shot, so gonna have to drop money in new ones... i pulled the pan, nice and clean, other than chunks of plastic for tensioner pads that made it to the bottom. i then removed the heads so i can port them and replace valve guides and nice fresh valve job.

and some pics:

[walky_talky20]

Wow, that drivetrain is huge.

How much do the tensioners cost? Can you just replace the guides instead?

[spinnin_four]

Wow, that drivetrain is huge.

How much do the tensioners cost? Can you just replace the guides instead?

from what im finding, for OEM - not from the dealer is about $1250 for both, ebay knock offs are $350, i cant do just pads, because its worn past the pad into the metal on one, and i dont want one new and one old... so the search is on for a better price....

[ddillenger]

from what im finding, for OEM - not from the dealer is about $1250 for both, ebay knock offs are $350, i cant do just pads, because its worn past the pad into the metal on one, and i dont want one new and one old... so the search is on for a better price....

I have a set out of a 2.7t (yes, they are interchangable) if you need them. 112k miles, good pads. They came out of a running motor, I logged VVT and verified they are both good.

[revolution337]

Or pick up a set of used 4.2 ones. I would run a decent set of used OEM tensioners over brand new aftermarket ones any day.

[spinnin_four]

yea, i will be avoiding the ebay ones, thanks for the offer ddillenger, but i am going to seek out new ones, i want many miles of trouble free driving haha.. good to know that 2.7 are the same, are 1.8, 2.8 or 3.0 also the same by chance?

[spinnin_four]

on ECS they have 2.7 chain tensioners for only $264

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B5_S4-...oner/ES518105/

while they list the V8 for $615

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-C5_A6-...ead/ES2663041/

[spinnin_four]

well, i did some digging and i found this:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ers-be-Swapped

apparently 1.8t (AWM) and 2.7tt share the same tensioner (side to side is specific i found), according to this thread, so as long as 2.7 is the same as 4.2 then ive found a great solution..i sure hope so!!

[A4V8swap]

Just wanted to clarify something on the previous page that I thought I was right about. I said I needed to run an axle spacer on my driver side to run 4.2 uprights, which I did. This is because the metal sleeves that slide into the upright for the lower control arms to pass through were missing. So this made the upright space itself out a bit since it was not bolted properly. My passenger side still had the metal sleeves so no spacer was needed. I sourced another set of 4.2 uprights with the metal sleeves for the lower control arms and the axle spacer did not work and had to be removed since it was sitting properly now. I didn't notice until I fixed it because at the time the car was not operational due to me still fabbing the radiator and support, I would not drive it with control arms loose.

[spinnin_four]

awesome, thanks for the info a4v8swap, do you happen to have a photo of the said metal sleeve? i pulled the uprights off the donor car, and dont remember seeing anything like this.

[Mad Cow]

awesome, thanks for the info a4v8swap, do you happen to have a photo of the said metal sleeve? i pulled the uprights off the donor car, and dont remember seeing anything like this.

It's a sort of conical hollow sleeve with a lip on the wider side that presses into the hole where the lower control arms go. Since the upright's aluminum it needs a steel sleeve to prevent the steel ball joint from wearing away the hole.

[spinnin_four]

does it noramlly stay on the upright? my uprights are currently buried in about 2-3 feet of snow so i cant see them. haha

[I-Reef]

Would I be crazy if I said I wanted to do a build like the biturbo V8 Rs4 someone posted on here in an a4? Is it even possible?