I recently joined the forum to help me with a project 1998 A4 2.8 engine. After a month of finishing up other projects the A4 is in the garage. The first code it pulled was the ignition cam sensor. I replaced it yesterday, charged the battery and cranked it over today. I got a couple of "pops" back thru the intake and that was all. The timing belt was replaced about 12K miles ago. Pulled the plugs and number 5 is mashed to he--. There is no compression on the left bank of cylinders (drivers side). I have access to a 96 A4 2.8 automatic that runs well for an engine swap (mine is a stick). My engine code is AHA, don't know about the other car, yet. I am thinking about swapping engine and auto trans from the 96 model into the 98 model. Or, do I just scrap the 98 out. I have done engine swaps before, fords into jeeps, chevy' into pontiacs, Bmw into Bmw. Would you pull the head off and see what is left. Advice would be appreciated. Jetsam

 

The '96 motor is a 12v so it won't be a direct swap, but if you have a parts car you can definitely make it happen. If it's only on one side though it might be best to just swap in a used head, simpler than swapping a motor and you won't be stuck with a weak 12v.

 

Thanks for the reply. Guess I'll pull the head and see whats there. Jetsam

 

If the automatic transmission is working, and you don't want it, sell it... you might be able to get a couple hundred if not a thousand bucks for it. You can put that money towards the swap.