Engine swap thermostat housing problem

zoomdiesel

Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2018
Location
Philadelphia
TDI
2009 Jetta, 2012 Wagon
Swapping the motor on a 2011 a3 tdi cbea. Got a donor cbea from an 09 Jetta. My old motor has this thermostat housing https://www.idparts.com/tdi-thermost...87-p-7471.html and the coolant pipe meets the curved elbow on the housing

The replacement motor has this thermostat housing https://www.idparts.com/thermostat-h...ea-p-2321.html and the coolant pipe enters a hole in the block at the housing

I cant use the original housing and coolant pipe because the hole in the block would be exposed. This means I'm missing the top elbow connection which needs to go to the hose that goes to the driver side of the head.

Any easy way to deal with this?
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
You want a CJAA engine from a 2010-14 G/J/B ideally. If you are using a CBEA engine from a 2009, you'll need to essentially strip the engine down to the long block and put all your 2011 bits on it. Lots of stuff is different on the 2009s.

Seeing how you already have the 2009 engine, you should know that the CBEA has problematic balance shafts in the bottom end, the CJAA does not. For reasons unknown to the rest of us, Audi continued to use the CBEA in the A3 through 2014, but used all the newer bits from the CJAA engine (pressure sensors, thermostat housing, etc.) as well as a few Audi-only bits (fuel filter).

It is also technically not "legal" to install an engine from an OLDER vehicle into a newer car, although nobody will ever in a million years know you did this, and there is technically no difference so long as you install all the 2011 stuff on the 2009 long block anyway.

But seriously, you'd be better off finding a CJAA engine. Which should be MUCH easier, since there were LOTS more of those sold than the CBEA.
 

zoomdiesel

Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2018
Location
Philadelphia
TDI
2009 Jetta, 2012 Wagon
You want a CJAA engine from a 2010-14 G/J/B ideally. If you are using a CBEA engine from a 2009, you'll need to essentially strip the engine down to the long block and put all your 2011 bits on it. Lots of stuff is different on the 2009s.

Seeing how you already have the 2009 engine, you should know that the CBEA has problematic balance shafts in the bottom end, the CJAA does not. For reasons unknown to the rest of us, Audi continued to use the CBEA in the A3 through 2014, but used all the newer bits from the CJAA engine (pressure sensors, thermostat housing, etc.) as well as a few Audi-only bits (fuel filter).

It is also technically not "legal" to install an engine from an OLDER vehicle into a newer car, although nobody will ever in a million years know you did this, and there is technically no difference so long as you install all the 2011 stuff on the 2009 long block anyway.

But seriously, you'd be better off finding a CJAA engine. Which should be MUCH easier, since there were LOTS more of those sold than the CBEA.
I hear you. But, I do already have this cbea engine. What I don't understand is why two engines that are cbea have a different casting...

If I do use this engine is there any solution that is cleaner than adding a tee to an adjacent coolant hose?

Do they make a block off plug for the hole in the block so I can use the cjaa style housing? Is there an easy way to do that otherwise?
 
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oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Can you get a picture of this extra hole in the block you are talking about? Is it at 90 degrees from the thermostat?

Looking more and more like you should just find a CJAA engine (or, if you prefer, a CBEA from an A3).
 
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zoomdiesel

Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2018
Location
Philadelphia
TDI
2009 Jetta, 2012 Wagon
Can you get a picture of this extra hole in the block you are talking about? Is it at 90 degrees from the thermostat?
Looking more and more like you should just find a CJAA engine (or, if you prefer, a CBEA from an A3).
Just found that the turbo is blown too. Since my donor is a long block I'll get a cjaa with a good turbo on it instead.
Blown turbo porn: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oWjGcNGdWGxKjvb3A

FYI these are pics of the differences in the two cbea blocks: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GtiGPD99V2Tet6mY8
 
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Terry270

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2014
Location
BG, KY
TDI
03 golf, 10 A3
I I know a guy who makes billet custom thermostat housings for the cjaa that may be able to help you and it is a nice upgrade as well.

Also buying a wrecked car with 80k on it here soon and won't need the turbo if you're interested
 
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