Both, I'm a recent grad on the job hunt.

This wasn't a terribly expensive or time consuming mod. About $15 in hardware and 2 hours (including two trips to the store and back.)

 

Looks like those coil packs (and ICM, though not visible) are dying to be replaced by something more modern

If you were closer I'd be thrilled to help you with an ICM delete (on the cheap).

 

I agree. I'd love to do an ICM delete and switch to the newer (FSI?) coils to run a larger gap.

In due time...I ordered a new 034 silicone breather kit tonight. $174 after taxes and shipping. I live 35 miles from them, but its cheaper to have it shipped than drive down to pick it up.

That means I need to finish my polished intake manifold...time to get busy.

 

I ordered the 034 breather hose kit a few days ago and it should show up tomorrow. Accessing the breather is a lot easier with the intake manifold removed. I've been planning to swap on my new manifold whenever I got the breather hose, so the time has come.

I've been working my butt off to finish it, my fingers really do not like me right now. I'm still debating with myself about how polished to take it, I'm not going for a mirror finish. Something satin-y..





I took a break from polishing to port match the throttle body to the manifold. I removed about a millimeter from the manifold to line things up. I apologize for the crappy pictures.

You can see the lip here.





After filing and sanding.



All smooth.

 

This 034 breather really is a quality piece. Can't wait to put it on.

 

Nice! I ran their block breather adapter going to a custom PCV setup, that piece worked well. But their billet PCV valve... caused some not-so-fun idle issues. I spent a couple hundred $$$ replacing parts trying to fix that issue, when it was the billet PCV valve all along. Just something to be weary of (yours may not have that issue).

 

Thanks for the heads up.

The joys of the 97 AEB continue to crop up. Despite being an AEB, there are differences in the vacuum systems between early and late AEBs and it seems this kit was designed for later AEB motors.

The large main pipe should work fine, all the bends are in the right spots. The problem is with the "L" hose that is supposed to go to the intake manifold. The hose supplied with the kit is too large to fit any of the ports on the manifold, my car does not have a "3 way valve." From the check valve, there is one hose that goes directly to the intake manifold port next to the IAT sensor.



I don't see any way that L hose is supposed to work in this case. I've contact 034 but have not heard back yet, we'll see what they say.

If it comes down to it, I could keep that OEM hose and just install the main hose and check valve. I thought I was ordering a complete kit though, which is why I'm a little perturbed.

 

Wow lots of love put into this one. looks great.

 

Thanks a lot, glad to share the adventure.

 

Despite the 98 degree weather at the junkyard, I scored.

Snagged the upper strut bar and brackets from an 01 A6, got a 1.8T ECU plug, OBDII connector, throttle cable bracket for my new intake manifold, a nifty inline fuse, some more spare fuses, fender liner screws, ECU box screws, a relay, some more wire, a fuel hose clip, and some dash cover clips.