Prawn and BigAls A3 Track Car

Just searched my garage and I can't find the clips. This make me think that I didn't get a new pair cos I wouldn't have thrown away the old ones unless broken.

Let me ask Jason if he can find the part number. If not, I know that Scott B5 is heading round 5 different knackers yards on Friday so I can ask him to have a look for you.
 
george_seamons said:
...or be a man and ditch the heating :p
Click to expand...

Waaoooohhhhhhhh there Nelly, who the **** are you?!

:jump:

LOL Westicles, Scott isn't going round the breakers looking for bits. He is getting offers on the A4 he covered in Sikaflex and drove through Comet!
 
On ETKA nothing for the matrix is listed seperately. The pic Westy posted up is correct although it is the same pic for say a 98 plate A3 but on that age there are a few chassis breaks. The later chassis numbers say the quick acting couplers are included but the early numbers have no mention.

On the first pic Westy posted of coolant hoses for the S3 it shows them at a right angle but then funnily enough if you look at the AGU and so on pics it shows them straight but they`re the same part number for both S3 engines and A3 engines. Joys of ETKA`s pictures being f*cking useless! lol.
 
Thanks for looking Jason, I've told the bloke at TPS what I'm after and he said he can sort it! So lets see.

from what I have seen, all ko3 based cars have right angled couplings, and ko4 based cars have straight couplings. I'll see what the TPS man can manage!

Dan- just read your text, I somehow missed it! Will reply now :)
 
VW love their beloved TPS branches so they get away with more. I could order in the couplers and see how they come but i wouldnt be able to send them back if no good. TPS probably get special privaledges so get away with doing stuff we cant. Benders! lol.
 
Didn't Mush have problems here too ??? i seem to remember him using Golf ones ..... or it could have been something totally different,,, i've just woke up lol
 
Right reading the thread he had the straight S3 ones but they got in the way of his HUGE turbo so he found some angled ones... meaning he has some straight ones going spare maybe ??
 
He may well do infact, you are correct!

I'll see what the TPS man comes up with tomorrow, and if there's no joy then I'll drop Nick a PM about his!

Cheers folks.
 
Straight connectors sorted from TPS today, as well as a few diff shims for Jonny to try in the box this weekend.

Sadly no WellyCooler this weekend due to an issue with Toyosports not being able to find my address on the system! I'm absolutely gutted, as this puts me back a whole week in theory! I needed to mount the core this weekend, to be sure of exactly what hoses I needed to pipe it up next weekend and get the car running.

As it stands now, it looks like I won't be able to mount the core until next weekend, when I've also got to fit my gearbox, driveshafts, downpipe, exhaust, and EBC. Yay, not that much then.

Pretty fed up with it now, as I've not got enough stuff to keep my busy this weekend!

ARGH.
 
Well, I managed to ocupy myself yesterday afterall, as it often the case, nothing goes exactly to plan!

it was minus 3.5 when I went outside to work on the car, it didn't look like fun at all!

148ae94b.jpg


And it wasn't! First job was to fit my new metal water pipe.

I offered it in, with plenty of washing up liquid on the rubber O-ring to help it into the block, and it just fell into the hole. O-ring clearly past it. ******. I also noticed that the pipe had been bent when it was removed. again, not cool.

A trip to two motorfactors came up with nothing, so I went to Wickes and bought a pack of assorted O-rings. One was a close match, but it wasn't as tight on the fitting as I'd like, so another trip to Halfords, and Bingo! A perfect fitting O-ring

670f182b.jpg


2 old perished ones on the left, 2 new halfords ones in the middle, fractionally larger Wickes one on the right.

This worked well, I had to lube it up and use a bar to lever the pipe into the hole in the block, so I'm confident it'll seal nicely, unlike before.

I came up trumps with the heater connections at TPS too, so I chucked them on for a quick win :)

44e2c005.jpg


Many years ago, when I paid someone else to fit a turbo for me, a hose above the alternator had split and was leaking, so for the past 3 years it's been bodged with some slightly kinked blue silicon. I've now replaced that with a 90 degree 16mm bend, and it's all a lot more sound now:

f7d29286.jpg


Cooling system sorted. Happy days.

Now for the dodgy bit

I had to replace the gasket and half moon under the cam chain tensioner, for which I bought a hand Sealey tool that Tufty told me about.

I tested this out on my spare head and it worked perfectly, so I moved onto my head to do the same

4aedcb48.jpg


Now the bad news:

55c76f27.jpg


This bit snapped off the tensioner!

230746d9.jpg


ARGH!

I have no idea why this happened, I was VERY careful to make sure the tool went down inside the two tabs, yet half way through tightening the tool up to compress the tensioner, it just fell off!

Is this is serious problem? It doesn't look like the tensioner touches this tab during operation, and I'd think from looking at it that it'll be fine to continue without replacing it.

Anyone got any thoughts on that?

I decided to carry on anyway, on the grounds that it's 2 minutes to whip the rocker cover off if I DO have to do anything about the broken tab, so.....

Cam cover went back on:

31f66570.jpg


Billet adapter went on with some RTV to seal it, and threadlock on the grub screws:

f8bc5feb.jpg


Finished piping up the final bits of the cooling system, all connected and done now:

a4347514.jpg


I had to make up a new plug for my deleted PCV port under the inlet, when I took it all apart I found the cheap hose I'd used before had split, so this time I used some 3 ply silicon, with a fine thread M10 bolt smeared in RTV to seal it.

089805b0.jpg


I went to look for my little 1/4 drive screw driver tool from my socket set, and couldn't find it anywhere. Most annoying because it's perfect for doing up all the jubilees on the inlet. Spent almost an hour searching to no joy.

ARgh.

Bolted the inlet up:

e4748231.jpg


Then found this ****** hiding inside the fan!

3cce5c6f.jpg


Fitted the throttle cable, but it looked properly scabby:

ae6d0d12.jpg


So I decided to wrap the whole outer sheath in heat resistant Loom tape, so it now looks like new. DIdn't get pics at this stage, as it got dark!

More to come later hopefully. If anyone could give me a sensible opinion on that tensioner I'd be very grateful!
 
Westy said:
Do you ever see your girlfriend? I'm just wondering because I love the amount of time you get to spend on your car :)
Click to expand...

Yea man, every evening after work, we went out for Lunch in guildford last Sunday, we went out for a meal again last night, I see her lots. I'm just a VERY busy person. never stop working!
 
Wooooohooooo.

Another **** update for you!

9abd8971.jpg


Turns out the great new box wasn't so great, or so new.

Diagnosis on the old box, 2nd gear missing two teeth:

11185440.jpg

(how does a ko3S manage to do that?)

At least my shiney Quaife diff is OK:

b428373b.jpg


Jonny drilled the rivets out of the old diff/crownwheel ready to bolt up the Quaife:

7f9f94c3.jpg


However, upon inspection, the case hardening on 1st gear on the layshaft of the new box isn't in good shape at all:

0a3fb5e8.jpg


81824dc9.jpg


And the old standard diff which we're bining is in similar condition:

1a5e3955.jpg


****** wonderful. not what I wanted to find at all.

We can't swap the layshafts over either, as ones and ibiza box, and ones a golf box and the ratios are slightly different.

Still, as it was a working box when removed, we're going to go ahead and assemble it for now anyway. it'll work, but I'll have to be very wary of the fact that 1st gear is pretty worn. It might whine a bit too. we'll have to see.

I guess I'll start looking out for ANOTHER gearbox in the mean time
 
not good news,feel for you man.

once its all sorted, ie New box you should be more than happy
 
My gearbox man is Jardos Dad! he works with Mercs and plays with British 60's classics and Bikes. He just happens to have done a load of these in the past so knows a lot about them.

Old box was showing similar signs of wear too, but the 'transmission specialist' didn't care to tell me about it!
 
Prawn said:
My gearbox man is Jardos Dad! he works with Mercs and plays with British 60's classics and Bikes. He just happens to have done a load of these in the past so knows a lot about them.

Old box was showing similar signs of wear too, but the 'transmission specialist' didn't care to tell me about it!
Click to expand...

Wow that's handy then. Gear boxes scare me when they're all in parts like your photos above.

I suppose it's quite difficult to find a mint box nowadays due to the age and miles on them! I'm sure you'll have it sorted in quick time like every other issue you've come across ;)
 
Regarding the chain tensioner, it could be ok, but it MIGHT not be. Just think what if. It's a big thing to go wrong.

Great dedication in minus conditions anyway, glad I'm not the only idiot! :)
 
I would change the cam chain tensioner as them to prongs stop the half moon on the tensioner from spinning

Both of them on mine got broke in transit from bills on my large port head and it was blatantly obvious that yodel had dropped the box as could see that the 2 prongs in question had pierced the box

I have got a spare one from the Aeb head and if its the correct one you can have it for a small fee and postage (mates rates) ;)
 
Cheers Stacey, I've got a spare one on my AEB head here as well! But changing it over it a massive job isn't it? Cambelt off, cams out, the whole works surely?

I knew that it stopped the tensioner face from trying to spin, but there's a fair groove in the tensioner after 210k miles, and the side of the plate showed no signs of having touched the guide pin at all, so I wondered if it'd be OK.....

If not, does anyone know what exactly is involved in changing? am I right in thinking it's basically a full cambelt + cams out and new seals job?
 
I was told just inlet cam had to be taken out but had to take both cams out when I done mine but I didnt know at the time that there was a tool to compress the tensioner so was a pita

Pretty certain that with the tool you only have to take the inlet cam out which means can leave the cambelt on, pretty sure it was bill that told me it was possible to do this way?? :)
 
Yep thats right, inlet cam only so its a piece of p. 5 min job with the rocker off.

Great work Nick keep it up!
 
Westy said:
Wow that's handy then. Gear boxes scare me when they're all in parts like your photos above.
Click to expand...

I know everybody says/thinks their dads are the best, but literally my dad IS the best haha. He can't read, he can't write, he never played any sports and as far as fathers go he wasn't exactly the best. BUT I've never found anything he can't do or doesn't know on anything with an engine!

Just got off the phone to Prawn, I can't wait for this to all be back together!!!! :D
 
StaceyS3 said:
Pretty certain that with the tool you only have to take the inlet cam out which means can leave the cambelt on, pretty sure it was bill that told me it was possible to do this way?? :)
Click to expand...

MUSH said:
Yep thats right, inlet cam only so its a piece of p. 5 min job with the rocker off.
Click to expand...

You boys are awesome :) Thanks lads, I've just been down to the garage and tested out your theory on my AEB head, it's dead easy.

Few tipex marks on the chain and sproket on both cams, and a few extra marks on the lobes and covers to be safe, and it took 5 minutes to whip the cam out and remove the tensioner.

Only thing I'm uncertain of is whether to use this old AEB tensioner, or to get a new one, are they expensive?

The bottom plate of the tensioner just sits fully inside it's bore, and has no 'spring' in it at all. Are these oil pressure fed? or is it just broken?

9aa3c1fd.jpg


254864e3.jpg




16Klappe said:
I've never found anything he can't do or doesn't know on anything with an engine!
Click to expand...

Jonny is pretty cool, thanks to him I now have a built gearbox back with my Quaife diff fitted. 1st gear is showing wear I know, but it's never used in anger in 1st, and you never end up 1st on the track except for the very few ULTRA tight hairpins you sometimes find.

I'll just have to bare it in mind and drive it accordingly, and in the mean time we might start looking for yet ANOTHER box. We'll see.
 
Standard non vvt tensioners are around £170 if i remember correctly.

Id just use your spare if its in good condition ;)
 
. eBay cam chain tensioner pad £15 for 2. Definitely worth changing if you're in any doubt.They're the bit that wears as chain runs over them.
 
hmm. Replacement pads into my AEB tensioner sounds like an idea Dan!

You got a link mate? I had a search but can't find them!

Thanks for the bracket too mate! I picked it up, but had such a manic day I forgot to text you to say thanks!
 
I've got a good condition apy tensioner you can have for £20 prawn. I was keeping it as a spare but don't really need it.
 
Would an APY tensioner fit my agu Ben? Being non VVT I assume it would.....

Where abouts are you dude?
 
Prawn said:
Would an APY tensioner fit my agu Ben? Being non VVT I assume it would.....

Where abouts are you dude?
Click to expand...

It would fit yeah. Same part no iirc. This one does have a spring in it and pads are in good condition. I'll either be at my workshop TN22 or at home BN5. If that's not a million miles away from you.
 
Finally, after a week of waiting, I got some time on the car today!

Had to work this morning, which was highly annoying, but I got home at about 1pm, and Bob came up to give me a hand with getting back on track!

I started the day greeted with this:

c0e96f35.jpg


ANd sadly had to go backwards, to fix the tensioner issue:

9d54ede5.jpg


Rocker cover off, ready to remove the inlet cam to change the chain tensioner.

Meanwhile, Bob was cleaning up the gearbox ready for a coat of paint:

d71448e4.jpg

I wouldn't usually paint a box at all, but sadly, the previous owner had painted it white! It looked terrible, and would look so stupid in my black/orange engine bay, it had to go black as an easy fix.

I pulled out the inlet cam, which allowed my to change the chain tensioner, massive thanks to Ben for sending me the new tensioner!

0416d00c.jpg


Was very careful to remove all the cam caps in the right order, having been warned by tufty that it's possible to damage the bearings if you just unbolt the cam and let it come out off square.

After that, we decided to let the box paint dry (forgot to get a pic), and got on with installing the wellycooler!

Old FMIC before removal:

d9239bf5.jpg


Forgot to take pics during, but we decided to hang the cooler off a section of angle alloy.

We pretty quickly found that when mounting the angle section to the rad surround, it sat too far back, and it also looked hard to get any nuts/bolts in behind the surround to tighten, So I decided to space the angle section out with some 30mm box I had.

We ended up mounting the spacer blocks via the side of the rad surround, and tapped a thread into the box section to bolt it up, we did the same into the front of the box section to mount the alloy across the front, then hung the cooler from that:

233b6c3c.jpg


Happy with how it was sitting, I got out the pipes and offered them up for a test fit. Much to by delight, it all fitted perfectly!

50cbd0d6.jpg


72504164.jpg


077e9e9f.jpg


More to come tomorrow :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
A3/S3 Track car...
Replies
26
Views
8K
Prawn
Prawn
jsmotorsport
audi a3 8L track car
Replies
6
Views
4K
Prawn
Prawn
Marzo_NO
My A3 quattro track car
Replies
10
Views
4K
badger5
badger5
Sootpig
Sootpig's A3 track/drag car
Replies
166
Views
20K
Erikn89nl
Erikn89nl
M
S3 or A3 Track car?
Replies
40
Views
4K
Murf
M
Top
Back