TDI_Nate_
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2018
- Location
- Central PA
- TDI
- 2012 Jetta Sportwagen TDI Black Uni, Non-sunroof, 6-speed
So this is my first time posting so I apologize now for anything I may have mixed up or otherwise wrong.
I've been looking and trying to research as much as possible for the past couple weeks into whats involved in putting a VE TDI into a b5 Audi a4. I know in Europe they got a VE TDI in the a4(AFN, AHH, AVG) as far as I can tell they are most similar to our AHU, just with different power outputs. I have also seen through a number of threads here that the BHW TDI fits fairly nicely but I want to stick with VE for it's ease of maintenance and overall mechanics if it isn't miles more difficult. So I have many questions,
1.)What is the best engine to use to swap a b5 a4? AHU? ALH? BHW?
2.)I've gathered that getting a late model 00-01 b5 with dbw, 1.8t and manual is the easiest chassis to start with, is that a correct assumption?
3.)My plan(at least in my head) is to get a European b5 ecu, cluster, and engine wiring harness and replace it with the one in the swap car, would this be the easiest way to do the wiring or am I way off here? Is there things that are still going to need pin swapped or otherwise wired? I know the b5 is non-can-bus hence why I figure I can use another cluster and ecu but keep the original key. Again correct me if i'm wrong.
4.)Engine mounts? what is best to use that's OE? BHW mounts? 1.8t? or others? Snub Mount? I'm hoping I won't have to custom make them but what is best?
5.)Is it correct that even though it's not perfect gearing, the v6 b5 trans is best and the v6 rear diff for a TDI swap until the money for a euro TDI trans came up? And the 4 cylinder TDI will bolt up to said v6 trans?
6.)If i use an ALH or AHU(I want to use this one hopefully), being originally transverse, what accessory bracket should or could I use to fit in the a4? BHW? 1.8t?
7.)What exhaust manifold should I use? BHW? Euro one? Don't really want to go custom. Also what turbo?
8.)How do you do the downpipe? Custom I am assuming. The rest of the exhaust I just plan to straight pipe.
9.)I believe I had read that you can use the gas tank on the a4 and just add or make a return line, take the fuel pump out and add either a lift pump or sending unit, and take all the evap stuff off of it. How should I go about the fuel tank situation?
10.)If I use an ALH will it be an extra level of pain to make the vnt vacuum stuff work?(I know there are at least 3 ALH engines local to me I could get for a good price, hence the question)
11.)If I do it price wise the best I can does it seem feasible to have this swap completed for $4,000? Minus the TDI trans I'll figure that part out later.
I am decently mechanically inclined, and am in no rush to complete said swap so I should be fine not rushing myself. If I don't know how to do something or get hung up my brother and father are professional mechanics so it should work out alright(have access to Mitchell on demand and other software). My only downfalls are electrical I'm a bit slow at, although as long as I can find wiring diagrams I can probably figure it out, I do not have vag-com and it is not necessarily easy for me to get a hold of around me, and I do not have great welding skills or a TIG welder(although there are shops around me that could). I really want to do this, I think it will be an extremely worthwhile swap to have a TDI, manual, Quattro (and hopefully wagon) car. It's everything I want in a car actually, and it doesn't seem to terribly hard, but I have never done a swap so I have really no idea. So if there are other good threads, notes, or any other personal experiences you all have had please share with me. I want to know as best I can what I'm getting myself into before I go and start acquiring parts. Sorry for being wordy, I try to be thorough and fully understand stuff, and if you have questions for me, feel free.
I've been looking and trying to research as much as possible for the past couple weeks into whats involved in putting a VE TDI into a b5 Audi a4. I know in Europe they got a VE TDI in the a4(AFN, AHH, AVG) as far as I can tell they are most similar to our AHU, just with different power outputs. I have also seen through a number of threads here that the BHW TDI fits fairly nicely but I want to stick with VE for it's ease of maintenance and overall mechanics if it isn't miles more difficult. So I have many questions,
1.)What is the best engine to use to swap a b5 a4? AHU? ALH? BHW?
2.)I've gathered that getting a late model 00-01 b5 with dbw, 1.8t and manual is the easiest chassis to start with, is that a correct assumption?
3.)My plan(at least in my head) is to get a European b5 ecu, cluster, and engine wiring harness and replace it with the one in the swap car, would this be the easiest way to do the wiring or am I way off here? Is there things that are still going to need pin swapped or otherwise wired? I know the b5 is non-can-bus hence why I figure I can use another cluster and ecu but keep the original key. Again correct me if i'm wrong.
4.)Engine mounts? what is best to use that's OE? BHW mounts? 1.8t? or others? Snub Mount? I'm hoping I won't have to custom make them but what is best?
5.)Is it correct that even though it's not perfect gearing, the v6 b5 trans is best and the v6 rear diff for a TDI swap until the money for a euro TDI trans came up? And the 4 cylinder TDI will bolt up to said v6 trans?
6.)If i use an ALH or AHU(I want to use this one hopefully), being originally transverse, what accessory bracket should or could I use to fit in the a4? BHW? 1.8t?
7.)What exhaust manifold should I use? BHW? Euro one? Don't really want to go custom. Also what turbo?
8.)How do you do the downpipe? Custom I am assuming. The rest of the exhaust I just plan to straight pipe.
9.)I believe I had read that you can use the gas tank on the a4 and just add or make a return line, take the fuel pump out and add either a lift pump or sending unit, and take all the evap stuff off of it. How should I go about the fuel tank situation?
10.)If I use an ALH will it be an extra level of pain to make the vnt vacuum stuff work?(I know there are at least 3 ALH engines local to me I could get for a good price, hence the question)
11.)If I do it price wise the best I can does it seem feasible to have this swap completed for $4,000? Minus the TDI trans I'll figure that part out later.
I am decently mechanically inclined, and am in no rush to complete said swap so I should be fine not rushing myself. If I don't know how to do something or get hung up my brother and father are professional mechanics so it should work out alright(have access to Mitchell on demand and other software). My only downfalls are electrical I'm a bit slow at, although as long as I can find wiring diagrams I can probably figure it out, I do not have vag-com and it is not necessarily easy for me to get a hold of around me, and I do not have great welding skills or a TIG welder(although there are shops around me that could). I really want to do this, I think it will be an extremely worthwhile swap to have a TDI, manual, Quattro (and hopefully wagon) car. It's everything I want in a car actually, and it doesn't seem to terribly hard, but I have never done a swap so I have really no idea. So if there are other good threads, notes, or any other personal experiences you all have had please share with me. I want to know as best I can what I'm getting myself into before I go and start acquiring parts. Sorry for being wordy, I try to be thorough and fully understand stuff, and if you have questions for me, feel free.