The front bumper and loch carrier on a 3.0 has to be pulled out. There is not enough room to do the timing belt with it in place. However it is designed to come out so it only takes 10 minutes if you've done it before. That's the easy part. The head is to advanced for a beginner, Just getting the exhaust off would be discouraging. Let alone trying to get the valves out when you have no idea what a keeper is.
Besides running to stores all day long looking for tools- completely uneconomical.

It is a nice job for a real mechanic (not an parts replacer). You should find a good mechanic and rent a car for a week or two while they get the parts in and repair it. Otherwise buy another car and sell this one. Somebody will buy it.

OR maybe call www.shokan.com and see how much they will give you for it they buy blown Audi's and part them out. Maybe they want it.

 

Local stores don't have many of the special Audi tools, so just google "Audi tools". Some of these special tools may take two months to backorder or may no longer be available.
Try www.samstagsales.com, for example for a list of Audi tools.
Bentley lists the Audi tool numbers which are required.
Sometimes a cheaper generic tool may be substituted. Some tools may be rented.

 

A boneyard engine, for sure. Just replace the belts and water pump before install.

 

found this link from a local dealer when searching for a cam chain tensioner tool:
www.equipmentsolutions.com and click the about us, oem programs link. Number for VW/Audi is 800-892-9650. The price for the cam tool was half of other online tool places.
Gary

 

Thanks for all the input guys!

I think I have decided to just buy two rebuilt heads for $1800, an "Ultimate Timing Belt Kit" from ECS Tuning for $500, and pay the labor on 19 hours to get the job done. That seems to be the best price for all, about $4580 plus tax.

I do have one question about the water pump brand, seeing as the failure of the previously installed one is how I got here to begin with, what manufacture did Audi use in this car? Is there a more reliable manufacturer out there? The Timing Belt Kit I am looking at uses Saleri and I have seen both Graf and Geba listed as OEM.

To be clear, it was not the original pump that failed, but the one I had installed when I had the Timing Belt done 40,000 miles ago.

 

Wow that's stinks.

Here's a link to the OEM for $207.

http://www.primepartssuperstore.com/...layCatalogid=0

Here's a link to a GRAF for $70.

http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/200...ater_pump.html

This is the kit I used.

http://www.blauparts.com/proddetail....od=GH21119%2DB

It came with a Meyle water pump, but it's to soon to tell. Wish I could tell you which one is best. 40K is way to soon for it to fail.

 

Graf or Saleri, probably in this day and age are both manufactured under strict ISO standards. Both are Italian, one under German licensing (if I'm not wrong). I would buy any of them.
So pretty much you decided to get back to square 1, exactly to when you did the $ 350 diagnostic with your mechanic (he said between $ 4000 and $ 7000 will cost you).

$ 4500 is a big chunk of change ...
When you say "rebuilt" heads, do they already come with new valves mounted and ready to be dropped in the car?
Probably you can have yours cleaned and resurfaced for under $ 500 at a local machine shop (of course, if the cylinders don't have big marrs on them).
But heck, if you have the money go for the easy route and buy the rebuilt ones and have someone else do the work for you.

 

I had one for a Plymouth done local here w/ chemical clean and surface milled for $38. Done in less than 2 hours.

 

I was thinking at what that local guy quoted me when I showed him the head. If I remember he said $ 90 for cleaning both. So I was leaving some good leverage for surfacing.
$ 4500.....damn!, again.

 

Wow, your guy's high. I had Ford 390 heads (two) cleaned, surface milled (clean-up), hardened valve seats installed and assembled (valves, seals, springs) for $125! Pays to shop around