Engine swap on S4. Anything else?

[atmetal]

I have a new 4.2 motor waiting to go into the car with 121k miles. The motor includes a new clutch and flywheel. It's going to get JHM headers. new mounts, supercharger, and some other stuff. I do not plan on taking the gearbox out. Is there anything back there that would be a good idea to replace while I have access? I would like not to have to take the motor out for another 100k miles. There's a few things in the front that I already know have seen better days such as a couple of coolant hoses that are really soft from oil leakage. I have no idea what's behind the engine, therefore, I don't know what to expect in terms of which parts are likely worn past their usefulness. Also, are there any upgrades that would otherwise be impossible to install besides those listed. Thanks

[xhackerekx]

timing this is priority with this engine.

[hkdolphins]

I have a new 4.2 motor waiting to go into the car with 121k miles. The motor includes a new clutch and flywheel. It's going to get JHM headers. new mounts, supercharger, and some other stuff. I do not plan on taking the gearbox out. Is there anything back there that would be a good idea to replace while I have access? I would like not to have to take the motor out for another 100k miles. There's a few things in the front that I already know have seen better days such as a couple of coolant hoses that are really soft from oil leakage. I have no idea what's behind the engine, therefore, I don't know what to expect in terms of which parts are likely worn past their usefulness. Also, are there any upgrades that would otherwise be impossible to install besides those listed. Thanks

new engine - do you mean those ebay new one ask for 10K?

[atmetal]

new engine - do you mean those ebay new one ask for 10K?

Yes. Why do you ask?

[Lucca M]

I have a new 4.2 motor waiting to go into the car with 121k miles. The motor includes a new clutch and flywheel. It's going to get JHM headers. new mounts, supercharger, and some other stuff. I do not plan on taking the gearbox out. Is there anything back there that would be a good idea to replace while I have access? I would like not to have to take the motor out for another 100k miles. There's a few things in the front that I already know have seen better days such as a couple of coolant hoses that are really soft from oil leakage. I have no idea what's behind the engine, therefore, I don't know what to expect in terms of which parts are likely worn past their usefulness. Also, are there any upgrades that would otherwise be impossible to install besides those listed. Thanks

Check steering rack for play and leaks. Power steering hoses too

[hkdolphins]

Yes. Why do you ask?

Im also debating to get one. I feel my engine still strong with ~ 1.25Q oil per 1K miles. it's not my daily drive and i plan to keep it as long as it can.
I think this new engine is a good choice if i want to keep my car running for another 100K miles

[emilio]

if i were going through the trouble of swapping a new engine in with a high budget (>US$20,000), i would budget for:

• refinishing the cylinder bores and new piston rings, if not sleeving, and do it first because it would tell me wether the rest of the engine is worth the time
• at least the timing tensioner components and cam adjusters
• JHM heads
• the upgraded JHM belt tensioner and lightweight pulley (i'm not sure about a LW clutch, the momentum of the heavy one is valuable when shifting)
• 4:1 center diff
• proper oil temperature and pressure sensors, with accompanying displays
• engine mounts
• clean the starter solenoid, or just replace
• water pump
• AC compressor bearing (it will need a new dryer, too, since the system has been opened)
• inspect the power steering pump, or just replace
• oil check valves and valley pan gasket
• all hoses: coolant, hydraulic, vacuum, emissions, crankcase, everything - maybe in fancy schmancy silicone or whatever
• all plastic coolant and vacuum fittings
• most gaskets
• most sensors

then, after all that, would i decide wether to spend the money on a supercharger. i'd hate to spend the money on a big power upgrade and then spend the next two years fixing small components that are annoying to get to.

- emilio

[sandspeed]

What was wrong with the old engine?

[atmetal]

Im also debating to get one. I feel my engine still strong with ~ 1.25Q oil per 1K miles. it's not my daily drive and i plan to keep it as long as it can.
I think this new engine is a good choice if i want to keep my car running for another 100K miles

That was my idea as well. When I got the problem the current engine has, I was pretty certain it was timing related. At 121k miles, I figured the clutch should be done too. The only local shop I would trust to do the job correctly quoted me 8 or 9 thousand. I almost bought a new car. In particular, I wanted a CTS-V. But a friend sent me a link to the ebay engine. I found that if I do the work myself, I can get several jhm upgrades in addition to the new engine for about the budget I had for the CTS-V. I would have had the shop do the timing chain, but for something as easy as a motor swap, I'm willing to save money and do it myself. After it's all done, it should be much faster than a stock CTS-V too.

As for what was wrong with the current motor, I wasn't there for it's failure. I know it had been making a ticking noise for a while, which I guessed to be a timing chain component. I had left the car with a friend who drove it only to experience a sudden failure. I don't remember exactly what he said, but the aftermath was 5 cylinders were misfiring. There was also camshaft sensor codes. I believe the 4.2 is an interference engine, so there's no indication of timing being messed up too badly if at all, but it's definitely related to the timing system.

[Nollywood]

With the amount of work you intend to do, especially the installation of JHM headers, I would strongly recommend pulling the motor and transmission as a single unit, then separate on the bench,

The bell housing bolts aren't easy to get to in the bay, and JHM long headers are easiest to fit and feed into he car with the gearbox attached.

[hkdolphins]

That was my idea as well. When I got the problem the current engine has, I was pretty certain it was timing related. At 121k miles, I figured the clutch should be done too. The only local shop I would trust to do the job correctly quoted me 8 or 9 thousand. I almost bought a new car. In particular, I wanted a CTS-V. But a friend sent me a link to the ebay engine. I found that if I do the work myself, I can get several jhm upgrades in addition to the new engine for about the budget I had for the CTS-V. I would have had the shop do the timing chain, but for something as easy as a motor swap, I'm willing to save money and do it myself. After it's all done, it should be much faster than a stock CTS-V too.

As for what was wrong with the current motor, I wasn't there for it's failure. I know it had been making a ticking noise for a while, which I guessed to be a timing chain component. I had left the car with a friend who drove it only to experience a sudden failure. I don't remember exactly what he said, but the aftermath was 5 cylinders were misfiring. There was also camshaft sensor codes. I believe the 4.2 is an interference engine, so there's no indication of timing being messed up too badly if at all, but it's definitely related to the timing system.

My engine has ticking noise (at bumper side) sometime when cool start(not each time) too, and went away after it. I didnt notice its related to timing, which engine component should related to?

I was also wonder the ebay is a 2008 brand new engine, even it will all manufacturer updated parts, may any component has aging issue even it's brand new?

[sandspeed]

That was my idea as well. When I got the problem the current engine has, I was pretty certain it was timing related. At 121k miles, I figured the clutch should be done too. The only local shop I would trust to do the job correctly quoted me 8 or 9 thousand. I almost bought a new car. In particular, I wanted a CTS-V. But a friend sent me a link to the ebay engine. I found that if I do the work myself, I can get several jhm upgrades in addition to the new engine for about the budget I had for the CTS-V. I would have had the shop do the timing chain, but for something as easy as a motor swap, I'm willing to save money and do it myself. After it's all done, it should be much faster than a stock CTS-V too.

As for what was wrong with the current motor, I wasn't there for it's failure. I know it had been making a ticking noise for a while, which I guessed to be a timing chain component. I had left the car with a friend who drove it only to experience a sudden failure. I don't remember exactly what he said, but the aftermath was 5 cylinders were misfiring. There was also camshaft sensor codes. I believe the 4.2 is an interference engine, so there's no indication of timing being messed up too badly if at all, but it's definitely related to the timing system.

So the cylinder bores haven't been inspected?

[atmetal]

So the cylinder bores haven't been inspected?

Are you referring to the old engine or new engine? The answer is no in both cases. Though if you were asking for the new engine, I would ask why I should have the cylinder bores inspected?

[2004B6S4]

I'm guessing he meant the old one. If it's just the timing that's bad and cylinder bores are still good then 121k miles isn't too bad, if there's no scoring then I'm sure someone will want to take it off your hands and fix it for their own use

[sandspeed]

I'm guessing he meant the old one. If it's just the timing that's bad and cylinder bores are still good then 121k miles isn't too bad, if there's no scoring then I'm sure someone will want to take it off your hands and fix it for their own use

Exactly. Finding a good donor short block for rebuilds is sometimes a challenge.

[badger.]

Are you referring to the old engine or new engine? The answer is no in both cases. Though if you were asking for the new engine, I would ask why I should have the cylinder bores inspected?

Exactly. Finding a good donor short block for rebuilds is sometimes a challenge.

*timidly raises hand*

[GrapeBandit]

10k? wtf

drop your car off at your local audi tuner, have them put, a 2.7 w/stk, will have a way better car than what you have now.
or
build rebuild your engine with new rods, overbore higher compression pistons cams and a tune

[atmetal]

While I appreciate the input from everybody, I was looking more for maintenance suggestions. I wouldn't say preventative maintenance as that implies use of the maintenance schedule, but corrective maintenance would also be inaccurate. Except for the new engine, this car has 121k miles on it. Certainly there are wearable components accessible only when the engine is removed that might be good to replace before the new engine goes in. These might include the slave cylinder or throw out bearing, which I recently figured out myself because everyone here wanted to suggest additional performance stuff. I know a sort of asked for upgrade suggestions, but this was in the context of the accessibility granted by a removed engine. Regarding the component replacement, I don't know how much wear these components receive so I'd like to know what would actually be a good idea and what would be mostly just a waste of money.

[emilio]

i think i gave you plenty of an answer. you should take care of a lot of stuff before even considering spending the money on a supercharger.

drop your car off at your local audi tuner, have them put, a 2.7 w/stk, will have a way better car than what you have now.

worst advice ever - the guy is looking to reduce his long-term maintenance. i'll take the oil consumption over semi-annual head gasket replacements, not to mention the joy of a V8.

- emilio

[dsgray16]

I would upgrade the timing wear parts with JHM upgraded replacements even though it's a new engine..

Also, as others have said, pull the trans with the motor for header instal.

[atmetal]

worst advice ever - the guy is looking to reduce his long-term maintenance. i'll take the oil consumption over semi-annual head gasket replacements, not to mention the joy of a V8.- emilio

Well put. I had a 2.7T in an A6 once. Never again.

I would upgrade the timing wear parts with JHM upgraded replacements even though it's a new engine..

Also, as others have said, pull the trans with the motor for header instal.

I thought about this. JHM doesn't sell the reinforced guides separately but they'd probably be willing if I called and asked. I was dubious on the benefit since they only have one of the guides reinforced and even then, it's still made of some plastic. Ideally, I would get all-metal guides. It would be nice for the timing to be indestructible even over hundreds of thousands of miles. As for the mechanical adjuster, that is already in the works. Are there any other timing upgrades that I'm unaware of?

[BCsniper]

You don't have to get the guide from JHM......they just use the guide from the RS4. You can get it yourself from ECS, GAP, etc.... That's really the only metal guide that fits the S4, the others are slightly different so you will still have to use plastic guides for all but that center one

[xhackerekx]

10k? wtf

drop your car off at your local audi tuner, have them put, a 2.7 w/stk, will have a way better car than what you have now.
or
build rebuild your engine with new rods, overbore higher compression pistons cams and a tune

my previous s4 is b5 maybe faster with stg 3 just only v8 give u sound like Beethoven symphony