TheSamba.com :: View topic - Audi AAN 5-cyl Conversion ??

Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:49 am

Camera, great suggestion, I always forget to take pictures and then wonder how to put things back together. EVAP and Charcoal I will also put on my list as I'll need it for emissions. This is a 94 s4, I don't think they had key immobilizers, but I'll double check.

thank you

Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:19 am

Has anyone gone ahead with their AAN conversion yet?

I 'may' be getting a new project to fit my AAN into but I'll be running a Porsche 996 gearbox rather than the stock unit.

If it happens, I'll put up a post.

MG

Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:58 pm

this is the conversion i want. ive heard though thats its not possible without raisng the lid. something about the manifold clearance. the 5 cylinder diesel has a lower manifold?

Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:48 am

MCSyncro has done this install with a 3B (using a modified 7A manifold)

Here's the AAN engine with it's stock inlet manifold. It sits at about the same height as the top of the cam cover so fairly low.

The 3B's inlet manifold (and ADU as fitted to the Audi RS2) do sit higher and I can see a problem with this setup if you're trying to get it under the stock engine lid.

MG

Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:37 am

I'm still on the fence as I slowly collect the parts. Two audi/vw techs advised against it because of the heat these engines put out, and the turbo being so close to the syncro gas tank. I would think the 5cyl tdi would put out more heat, the turbo is in a similar location and no one has brought up issue about their tdi. My biggest issue still is BAR ref and the exhaust layout. I was hoping to use a a single 3" downpipe to a single Cat, but from the ref's I talked to I need to use the original 2.5 dual dp and the 2 smaller cats even though the 3" version would have passing numbers.

Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:51 pm

Hey Skyboy:

Good to see the hamster is still spinning the wheel!

I don't think the heat would be a problem since the turbo (esp turbine section) is located mid-way on the AAN engine as measured front to back. You would definitely have to heat shield the waste gate to keep from melting the engine lid. I thought if I did this swap, I would cut out all but the edges of the engine lid and replace with sheet metal for heat reasons and to allow one to bump up the lid, say 1/2" or 3/4" which would not necessite a raised bed in the Westy.

The factory downpipe is actually quite a nice piece of kit - - shaped just right with generous radii and even has decent heat shielding (which should, in any event, be added to). The factory cats are robust and if you need to use them, they will not disappoint. The factory exhaust will easily support a "Stage 1" chip (boost and fueling only at about 290 bhp) although the torque after a Stage 1 really is too much for the syncro trans in my humble opinion.

I have looked under the hood of my S4 many, many times thinking about this swap and I think that if you leave off the plastic cover on the fuel injector rail, cut down the oil filler cap, shorten (or move) the dipstick, and tweak the approach of the throttle cable, you would likely have no clearance issues.

Fri Feb 11, 2011 6:15 pm

if you are that close.. just bring it up a 'notch' :wink:

here's how close we brought up the engine to lid clearance in a 2.5l Eurovan engine install into a 86 automatic westy.

actually we'd dropped the front AT trans mount downward by about 1.5"

we'' cap it with a thin SS plate sealed and across the top level of the ribs.
this config has a few thousand miles on it, no movement or contact issues.

Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:06 am

A few more photos of 20V engines in T3s...

This one isn't the neatest but it was a daily driver. Not sure where it is now.

I have some photos of another install somewhere... struggling to find them atm.

MG

Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:16 am

Found it :)

It is possible to get it under the lid. Most of the turbo'd 20V engine installs I have seen are only about 1inch away from being under the lid so just dropping the engine that much would do it.

MG

Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:02 pm

The height clearance never bothered me much. Its the cutting into the firewall, as seen in the last picture, that keeps me on the fence. Thank you for posting all the pictures. I've been looking for reference, but haven't had much luck finding any.

Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:09 am

I like the last green one it has nice louvers for cooling between the tail lights. Can't see here,but I've seen it.

Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:43 am

I've just found a recently uploaded video of a Syncro with what looks like a 3B engine from Poland on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQIMRoYmqls&feature=player_profilepage

There are some more on there from someone else with the syncro doing some light offroading.

http://youtu.be/uA-04gA19mI

I haven't seen any more detail on the van but will continue to look on the net. From the first video, it's very close with the engine lid and doesn't look like it'll fit underneath but as stated above, the 3B runs a higher profile than the AAN.

MG

Sat Aug 06, 2011 9:44 am

Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:46 am

NIIIIIICE 8)

Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:53 pm

some of those decklid hacks are pretty good, ive been pretty down on those but some of those samples have me thinking twice....the hitop project hasn't a power plant picked out yet.

Tue Aug 16, 2011 12:11 am

Zeitgeist 13 wrote:

LOVE THIS !!!!!! Nice engine choice :!: :!: :!: :!:

I have that same engine still in it's original body. '88 / 5000 CS Quattro 10 Valve. Front and Rear locking diff. Complete car FS very :!: cheap.... Runs good. My "other" car is a Quattro 200 20V '91. Also fun ride. These old 5 cyl's are great engines.

Nice restore job. Enjoyed watching it. :D

Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:42 pm

Does anyone know where to get an adapter or bellhousing and engine support bar for AAN engine? Overland and Kennedy don't list anything of that sort on their websites.
I have an entire URS4 parts car sitting in my driveway ready to donate its powerplant to my van.

Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:23 am

If it's for a T3 Syncro, you need a South African bell housing.

You can buy them new from Winkler in Germany for around €500.

They also have engine mounting bars etc.

If it's for a T3 2WD, I would seriously consider a Porsche 996 gearbox.

Check out my Bluestar and Limey threads for fitting details.

MG

Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:43 am

vanonimous wrote: Does anyone know where to get an adapter or bellhousing and engine support bar for AAN engine? Overland and Kennedy don't list anything of that sort on their websites.
I have an entire URS4 parts car sitting in my driveway ready to donate its powerplant to my van.

There's a bell housing in the classifieds right now.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1479331

Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:51 pm

Thanks guys. Will check out the cool builds. SA bellhousing fits syncro 5 as well as 4 speed 2WD manual transmission?