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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15332
Location: Syracuse, NY
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 Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: Inline-4 conversion: What VW engine? |
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While I can certainly agree that a OBD-I forged bottom end would be best.
I wouldn't shy away from this stellar deal on a brandy new ABA shortblock.
if I only had one 8v I4 needing vehicle I'd be all over this deal.
but instead I have a barn full of VW stray cats and used ABA take outs..
ohhh to rethink some of my earlier choices.
edit: i see they're the ones with the 3A block too.
as mentioned the biggest benefit of a 3A block is to fit w/o mods into a MK-1 engined car.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293759623356
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5219
Location: denver
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Inline-4 conversion: What VW engine? |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
While I can certainly agree that a OBD-I forged bottom end would be best.
I wouldn't shy away from this stellar deal on a brandy new ABA shortblock.
if I only had one 8v I4 needing vehicle I'd be all over this deal.
but instead I have a barn full of VW stray cats and used ABA take outs..
ohhh to rethink some of my earlier choices.
edit: i see they're the ones with the 3A block too.
as mentioned the biggest benefit of a 3A block is to fit w/o mods into a MK-1 engined car.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293759623356 |
Yep, that's who I've been working with. Incredibly nice and accommodating people all around.
He's reviewing the blocks he has. The real Audi 3A's with forged internals were allegedly all manufactured in Europe, and what I was going to buy was Brazilian. There are a few additional small differences, for example:
Fits any 1.8 mechanical.
It will work for hydraulic lifters too but it doesn’t have the one way valve so when the car sits, the lifters will be noisy for a bit when you start it.
There are a lot of little things that need to be addressed that would turn this into a longer-term project.
It looks fun and interesting, but now that I'm getting a garage again, I suddenly have projects lined up on the '02 Golf, '04 GTI, '04 R32, and my van. 
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Check out my book: Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com
www.pigpensyncro.com |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10491
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Inline-4 conversion: What VW engine? |
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| joetiger wrote: |
He's reviewing the blocks he has. The real Audi 3A's with forged internals were allegedly all manufactured in Europe, and what I was going to buy was Brazilian. There are a few additional small differences, for example:
Fits any 1.8 mechanical.
It will work for hydraulic lifters too but it doesn’t have the one way valve so when the car sits, the lifters will be noisy for a bit when you start it. |
I'm curious of this one way valve. Is the vendor referring to a 'non return valve' as per type used on some 16v heads? (Part 4 in linked page). I can't see that part on the 3A "bubble block" head.
"4-cylinder+
petrol eng.+
CCZC,CPSA"
https://webautocats.com/en-us/etka/audi/aq3/728u/103300/
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"VW gas I4 Conversions" Google Group is being shut down.
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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connorsvw2
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2008
Posts: 357
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Inline-4 conversion: What VW engine? |
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I always assumed the 3A was the same bottom end as the 9A 2L 16v, but with different pistons for the 8v head. I had pondered dropping that into my 85 GTI with some custom forged pistons.
_________________
'85 Westy Wolfsburg camper/2002 2.5 Subaru since 2003.
'85 GTI 1.8L 1-owner 8v-gave up on 9A 2.0L 16v transplant. Keeping her stock!
'99 Passat 1.8T Variant-AKA "The Money Pit". Still limping along...
'09 Subaru Outback XT 5-speed, 245 hp rocket (wife's car) |
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jgrosjean
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2017
Posts: 2
Location: HANCOCK, NH
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2025 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Inline-4 conversion: What VW engine? |
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When I got my Vanagon, the original engine was gone. The owner also had a diesel which I took with it and used the mounting hardware for the 2.0 ABA engine. It has been super reliable and very good performance since the Vanagon weighs about the same as a later Jetta with the same engine.
The main problems are having to make a custom exhaust and the vibration of the in-line 4 which is much worse than the original boxer engine. I used the Diesel engine mounts, but if I had to do it again, I would use the car mounts with the better internal damping. I had to use 2 flexible exhaust couplings to prevent failure of the exhaust due to the engine vibration. I used the engine pan, oil pump adapter, flywheel, clutch, transmission adapter and transmission input shaft from the Diesel engine. |
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