Engine Conversion advice needed pls!!!!

[royce259]

Hi

I have a 2004 1.6 A3, and starting to get bored of the small engine lol. i realise trying to remap it etc will make little difference.

I am interested in swapping the existing engine for a A3 2.0TFSI engine, and just wondered what i would need if i was to do it myself (upgrade brakes,clutch,exhaust system) my dad is a top mechanic with over 30 years experience and will help.

OR is best to take it to a specialist, and if so what kinda prices would i be looking at if the engine is only gonna be 1500GBP off ebay

Please advise

Thanks in advance

 

[paddy]

Just thinking about the wiring loom/turbo/plumbing/bigger rad/exhaust etc and i have to ask..............why ??? when you could just buy a bigger car and probably save some money !

 

[royce259]

Reason being to be honest my car is not valued for much now with the mileage and to buy a bigger engine a3 is serious expensive for a good one
I don't think I could buy a new car and make is a project car,that's why I' rather stick with what I've got

the engine come with the looms air induction turbo just need an exaust I think

 

[Khufu]

does the engine also come with ecu, clocks & keys? You will need these too. Its a huge job but not impossible. If you do choose to go down that route I'd invest in a copy of ElsaWin to help with wiring differences etc.

 

[royce259]

this is the link

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2008-AUDI-A3-...CarParts_SM?hash=item1e5967c9f1#ht_657wt_1167

if i took it to a garage what sort prices would i be looking at?

 

[Broken Byzan]

I wouldn't bother. You will need the upgraded suspension and brakes also, the tank may be different, the clocks and ecu, exhaust,cat, intake and insurance will cripple you.

Aks me how i know? I have been there and done it and at the tender age of 39 was still paying £600 insurance with full NCB. I have now replaced the car with one thats supposed to have a turbo engine it in and it's £200 to insure.

Also if you are not doing the work yourself, at garage prices i recon you could kiss goodbye to at least 3k. I did all my own work and collected parts for years before doing mine, and it probably still cost me over a grand in bits alone

Either keep yours until you have enough NCB just to buy/insure the car you want, or sell yours while it's worth something and add to it for the bigger engined car.

 

[Khufu]

I'd agree with Mr Mod, Its only a project you would do yourself as is would end up silly money even if everything went to plan if you got a garage to do it.

I think engine transplants are best kept for combinations that dont exist for example put it onto a mk1,mk2 Golf etc.

 

[royce259]

ok so maybe the engine conversion is a bad idea, what could i do to get some more power out of what i have already???

 

[Khufu]

NOS? LOL

 

[The Cardinal]

I've been surfing car forums for nearly ten years and I can safely say that the "I've got a basic engine and want to convert the car to a better one" threads commonly get the sort of responses we see here.

There are, occasionally, some "common" engine conversions like red-top Vauxhall into Nova / Corsa, some Fords, 1.8T VWs and F7P/R Renault Clios. But, on the whole, they're usually the wrong option for someone who has modest cash and wants a relatively hassle-free option. For the rest, there is the DIY path and that's very complicated; see the "Projects" section on this forum.

You'll know already if you're a dedicated spanner-head, with a good mechanical knowledge and a vision for your project. Otherwise, sell-up and pursue the simple (but no-less-noble) option of buying a more powerful car.