Hello all, just to preface, im new to the forum, audi's, and TDi's, and am not a current owner. But i am a mechanic, experienced in electrical and mechanical systems. and a huge fan of diesels and went to school for several years in Vermont. I have, over the course of the past few months been thinking about what i feel the ultimate daily driving car would be, and long story short, ive arrived at an Audi A4 manual trans quattro with a high performance turbo diesel.

imagine my dissapointment to suddenly remember i live in the good ol US of A, and we have few to no diesel powered cars, and few to no AWD midsize or small sedans, and forget about a combination of the two.

I am looking at the 1998-2003 model years of A4 5 speed for a TDi conversion. And have a few questions that i hope someone here can answer.

First, i have found a company that will import the european spec conversion package, i dont know what all is in it (waiting on an email reply from the company), but i would imagine its the engine and wiring harness. Along those lines i was wondering if the engine wiring harness is all that needs to be replaced? Im not sure how interconnected the chassis and drivetrain computers and wiring is (the quattro traction control for instance) to the engine harness. And if the drivetrain/chassis harness would flip out if the engine harness and PCM were changed.

Second, Would there be any interiror components, namely the instrument cluster, that would need to be changed, or are they universal.

Third, from what i understand, and i am looking to be corrected if i am wrong, the audi and VW 1.9L TDi for those years are the same engine, So if i found a scrap VW 1.9L TDi engine here in the states, all i would need are the wiring harnesses, PCM, and other odds and ends needed for the conversion in the audi.

Third (part two), because the audi and VW engines are the same, VW performance parts, IE, pistons, injectors, fuel pumps, programmers, etc. etc. would work with the audi 1.9L TDi just as well as the VW 1.9L TDi.

Im also aware ill have to check on emissions regulations here in the states, As i recall in Va, you have to match the emissions for whichever is newer, the engine or the chassis, so technically if they were both 1999 model year, i could pick one. Ill have to double check on that. Anyone who has had to deal with this problem please share your experience with me.

Im also looking to do some pretty heavy modifications to the TDi, and as a result will probly need to address the weak points in the drivetrain. Namely the clutch, CV joints, and maybe the differentials if they share that in common with the VW cousins.

To that end i am open to suggestions for aftermarket performance parts companies, ill be looking at pistons, connecting rods, maybe ported heads, larger turbos, larger pumps, larger injectors, and laptop compatable computer tuning software. I havent checked but i would imagine ARP sells a stud kit for the head and main caps.

um....... i think thats all off the top of my head. I apologize for this being so long and kinda "shotgunned" out here, but do really appriciate any feedback anyone has to offer.

and just as a reminder, the actually wrench spinning is not a problem, im quite experienced, have a cherry picker, engine stand, jack stands, and a pretty extensive tool collection. Im just doing homework so that i dont have a car torn apart in my garage and start asking questions after the fact. never works out quite that well.

Thanks again.

 

Sounds like a brilliant effing idea, and I honestly hope it works out for you! I would love to have an A4TDI.

That said, a few bits of info for you:

1.) There is no traction control software for quattro - apart from the electronic locking rear diff (unlocks above 15mph), it is a purely mechanical permanent AWD system.

2.) While perhaps the VW and Audi TDI engines may be very similar, I think the VW TDI was in the Jetta, which is transverse mount, whereas the A4 is longitudinal mount. Parts may be interchangeable, but the engines as a whole are likely not.

3.) I would assume you would need a different flywheel, if not an entirely different transmission to fit the TDI engine (perhaps a transmission from a Euro-spec A4 TDI?).

4.) I would also assume that the company you're contacting about a conversion kit SHOULD include an ECU for the TDI. This will probably interface with your existing instrument cluster.

6.) Not sure why you specify the model year range 1998-2003; the first generation A4 (known as B5) was 1996-2001, second generation (B6) was 2002-2005. Obviously, this will be important when matching conversion parts to your donor/chassis vehicle.

Anyway, I'm no mechanic, and I'm certainly no technician; so I may be wrong on some of those but I'm sure someone around here can correct me if I am.

Best of luck to you! And welcome to AudiForums!

 

Thanks so much for the reply, as i said, while im an experienced wrench spinner, im a total noob at audi's, so i welcome all input from those who know more than me..... which is pretty much everyone.

I didnt even factor in the longitudinal vs transverse mounting, thats an awesome point, thanks for bringing that to my front burner. as for the different tranny, im hoping the company will hit me back with a list of parts included in the swap, and including the tranny may well account for the price. I thought 6-7k for just an engine and tranny was a bit steep.

as for the model range, those were the years that the A4 (engine generation, not the audi model) TDi engine was used. From my research that style engine is the most friendly to performance mods, in a VW jetta, that engine made 318hp and 493lb-ft of torque. Im not lookin to go that crazy, but it shows the potential.

If anyone is curious id be happy to outline the idea's for mods, although i have no idea what kind of power would result. i might even get a few of my ideas straitened out

 

Hey it sounds like a great idea. I wish I knew more so that I could help you out in your conversion. Good luck and keep us posted I'm interested in how this will turn out for you!

 

Oh dont get me wrong, its not like ive got 15k in the bank burning a hole in my pocket and im goin out to do this next week. quite the contrary, i have a diesel blazer that i am driving and repairing, and a camaro i am restoring and building a custom engine to put in... all while going to college and not earning a big income.

I just research the hell out of anything before i do it, and this is definatly going to be an in depth project so im basically researching it years before im going to be in a position to do it.

 

sounds like importing a eurospec a4 tdi and then modding it might make more sense on your bank account... sounds kind of cool but is it really worth it? it will cost alot of cash just to have a marginally fast and short geared car... you can do way better with a BT setup on the 1.8t gas motor.

 

I certainly wouldnt be against the idea of importing a eurospec, depending on the cost. i would imagine the TDi cars are in high demand over there, and command a higher premium than they do here. add to that the shipping, conversion rate from euro's to dollar's, taxes and freight for the whole process, and im sure its a pretty penny. I can probly find a decent starting point with an A4 1.8L, for less than 10k, figure 6k for the kit, do the work myself, and ill have the car i want, for less than 16k. Then again, its probly less than 6k for the importing process, but they probly command more than 10k over in europe.

As for the concept being worth it, i do certainly appriciate the suggestion regarding the 1.8L Turbo, however my views really do steer me towards the diesel. Ill probly only keep my camaro for sentimental reasons, and even then it is going to be built to run on E85. I have a diesel truck, and really do see them as the future of automotive progress. I also plan on building a biodiesel production vessel and making my own fuel, to run both the truck, and my next car. Which is why im after the TDi.

My truck weighs 5200lbs, and only has around 140hp, and a three speed tranny, and its fast enough to get around in traffic. So im pretty sure the TDi A4, with some performance mods, and a 5 speed, will be plenty quick. remember, im not planning on racing the A4, its gonna be the commuter, to drive from NOVA to vermont and back down to Norfolk, so im looking primarily for highway fuel economy, and some performance as a secondary goal. Ive got the camaro for speed, with a deep rear axle gear, race prepped auto tranny, and soon to have a 8000 rpm redline 5.0L 500hp small block up front. ill have speed covered. but it will probly only get around 20mpg.

If i can get this A4 built (or imported), with mods to put out 200hp and 350lb-ft of torque (enough to be fun to drive), and still nock down 40-50mpg cruising on the highway, and looking good while doing it and being comforateable, I will have totally acheived my goals.

 

by the by, ive been searching online for a company that imports european spec cars, and havent had any luck. any suggestions on people to contact about possible prices?

also, youll have to forgive me, but im not sure about european driving, are there left hand drive european cars?

 

I would be into a TDI Avant...

You might want to check out the AW TDI forum

Some Euro dude talking about his A4 TDI 2.5

 

AACKKKK!!! importing the entire car is looking more attractive all of a sudden, I was kinda hoping all i would need to change would be the engine and wiring harness.... maybe a few other odds and ends.... i was wrong. This is the email that the company sent me listing the stuff in their conversion package.....

"You will need the following:[/align] [/align] Fuel tank[/align] Fuel lines and all other lines front to rear.[/align] Rear diff[/align] transmission[/align] Inst cluster[/align] Key with immobilizer chip and chip reader on lock cylinder[/align] Wiring Harness to fuel pump Or complete main harness[/align] ECM[/align] Transmission[/align] Clutch assembly[/align] Engine with ancillaries[/align] CV shafts[/align] Intake plumbing[/align] Engine harness[/align] Exhaust[/align] Fuel filter and engine fuel lines[/align] [/align] This stuff is nice to have, but is the same as the 1.8t[/align] [/align] Intercooler[/align] Radiator condensor etc.[/align] [/align] Scott DeWitt
[/align]Advanced Automotion
www.advancedautomotion.com
817-939-6761"

doing the work dosnt bother me, but it would be nice to avoid basically doing a body swap from one complete drivetrain to another. and then have an entire drivetrain just laying around. Looks like i need to try to find a company that imports eurospec vehicles. I dont suppose canada has the TDi A4's??????