Kevin's V8 Quattro 5-speed ABZ hybrid

[Aktapod]

Okay, so driving impressions: AMAZING! I know everyone always says a manual V8 is night and day difference, but I almost feel that's underselling it. It's not just rowing the gears; the response is much more direct, fuel economy has improved, and it accelerates significantly faster.

I'm still ironing out some kinks, but I'm very happy with how it turned out. I will take some full throttle acceleration vids soon, and I have some "before" videos to compare with. I'm also interested to see how it runs against the 200, because I think the V8 is actually quicker. Or maybe it's just the instant torque that gives that impression.

[90quattrocoupe]

It is the instant torque. No waiting.

Greg W.

[jcarrick]

What was the verdict with coolant and oil mixing?

[Aktapod]

What was the verdict with coolant and oil mixing?

I can't say for certain. I'm being a little irresponsible and driving it as is for bit. It runs perfectly, and you can't tell just by pulling the dipstick, nor is there any significant coolant loss yet. I have a full top end gasket kit, and I just need to track down some timing tools. I'll probably pull the heads in 2 weeks or so.

[Aktapod]

Registered for Carlisle! With any luck, this tired engine can make the 1000 mile trip despite the head issue.

On that note, anyone have a line on a low-mileage ABH or ABZ? I've finally decided to retire this engine from service. I'd love to do a more exotic swap like an RS6 V8TT or a V10, but it's just not in the budget. For now, I think it just makes more sense economically to find a healthy engine than to try an save this 214k mile oil-burning lump. So I'm officially on the hunt.

In the meantime, though, what better way to treat a dying engine than HARD:


Comparo vid:

[PLANETARY4]

So awesome! Good job! I wish it wasn't so involved to do an 016 swap. I don't have the heart to cut and weld a member of my family

[loxxrider]

Hell yeah, buddy. Great job! Go for an ABZ. That's what you really want! I have one, but it's been sitting outside for far too long. I'd give it to you for free if you could make use of it, but it'd need to be rebuilt and I don't even know if that'd make it right. Could be rusty inside for all I know.

[Aktapod]

So awesome! Good job! I wish it wasn't so involved to do an 016 swap. I don't have the heart to cut and weld a member of my family

You had that ridiculously clean light blue V8 at Carlisle once, right? I can understand that. It's definitely a lot more work than I anticipated, and its one of those "measure 5 times, cut 6" kinda deals. Though, you really can't tell once you're done. All the interior pieces hide that you ever cut it out.

Hell yeah, buddy. Great job! Go for an ABZ. That's what you really want! I have one, but it's been sitting outside for far too long. I'd give it to you for free if you could make use of it, but it'd need to be rebuilt and I don't even know if that'd make it right. Could be rusty inside for all I know.

Thanks man! Very generous offer, though I imagine it'd be difficult to transport anyways. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a running A8 to strip the engine out of and scrap. I think that'll be the best way to ensure it's at least somewhat healthy.

On a different note, the V8 successfully made the Carlisle trip without a hitch! Averaged 23mpg for the trip, which is significantly higher than it made as an auto. It would be nice to have a tall 6th to lower the cruising RPM's a bit, but instant 5th gear passing is fun too. It was great to see a lot of you again!

[Aktapod]

Quick update: This car is getting a reassignment very soon. My cousin is coming over from Germany and will be working in Florida for the next few months. He's taking the V8 as his daily, and, as such, it will be getting a refresher it should have gotten long ago. He's very mechanically inclined, but I wanted to take care off as many known issues as I can beforehand.

Last Saturday, I drove the car into the garage and ripped the heads off. The heads are currently at the shop being resurfaced and cleaned up.




This weekend, I'm hoping to get the engine reassembled, then reseal the rear calipers, and DIY balance the driveshaft. The car will be driven to Florida on Wednesday, so I won't be able to address any other plans I had for it. If there's time, we may reseal the A/C and put in a new accumulator so we can charge it with R-134a. System currently has a slow leak and no charge.

Oh! Almost forgot! I also installed a short shifter of my own design. Current iteration is an ABS printed prototype. I was (and still am) going to produce a more durable cast polyurethane version to replace it, but this abrupt change of plan has complicated matters somewhat. The printed one is good enough for now, though.

[maxnadri]

Really enjoyed watching this thread. I know where a running A8 engine is here in GA but it will not help you there. There is an Audi Yard with an S8 and A8 engines near the South Carolina boarder (last exit in GA). I think you will like the throw with the short shift in it.

[PRY4SNO]

Laundry list of DIY maintenance with a dash of homebrew to boot. Wicked.

[AudiSport4000]

Glad to see an update here. Nice stuff.

[Aktapod]

Thanks guys! Your support was exactly what I needed, cause it's been a very busy weekend trying to stay on schedule.

I was worried the machinist wasn't gonna make the deadline, but I picked the heads up on Friday at 4:45pm (they close at 5)! And he did a great job; I couldn't stop looking at them!



However, a moment of silence for all of my tools that died trying to undo the crank bolt. After several sheared tools, I finally went out and bought a massive breaker bar and a 10 foot cheater bar, which took the full weight of two of us to get moving!

Already behind schedule, it then took forever to reassemble the valvetrain. Luckily, my girlfriend knows a keeper when she sees one, so she helped out here (read: did 29 of 32 valves), which got us back on track. Heads went on Sunday, and we got it all buttoned up!





Today, the last parts came in, but we we gave it a go and got a disheartening no-start due to the crank pin sensor... which hadn't even been touched Turns out the wire had been damaged sometime in the process, probably as the exhaust was installed with the heads. Luckily, I keep a spare in the 200, which we swapped out and she fired right up!

Next came the A/C, which has been at 0psi since we got the car! Popped in some new R-134a seals and an accumulator. Drained the old oil, added 8 oz PAG 46, pulled a vacuum and recharged with 30oz R-134a. The low pressure side looked okay, but even with the A/C on lowest temp, highest fan and defrosting setting, the compressor never came on :/ Guess we've got more than just a charge issue. I don't even know where to start looking, but I guess A/C isn't happening now. Is there any chance it didn't kick on the compressor because the outside air was already below freezing? I was hoping the defroster would force it to use the compressor anyways.

[GTJeff]

Does your car have the old style GM climate control? If so then maybe this will help.

climcon.zip

(3.5 MiB) Downloaded 2163 times

[Grillage]

On the next gen Climate controls they wouldn't kick the compressor on below 41 degrees F.

If you end up needing V8 AC stuff, I still have some from the V8 I scrapped.

[Aktapod]

Perfect! Thank you both for the info. Yeah, this one has the next gen system. That's great to know about the temp cutoff; maybe the A/C will actually work for him. It's out of my hands now, though. My cousin is now driving it to Florida, where it'll be until September.

I did, however, take it for one test drive before I sent him on his way, and I must say, I am surprised to find it runs noticeably better! Much smoother and it felt like it was up 10% on power. It was slightly damp out and I accidentally spun all four just by punching the throttle at a roll.

Temps are also substantially cooler. It would always cruise at 100C+ anytime it was warmed up. Now I could hardly get it past 75C, even when getting on it! It only got up to 100 while sitting at idle after a hard run. I'm hoping the new thermostat and water pump mean the overheating issues are behind us how.

[Grillage]

So you're driving the 200 to Carlisle then?

[Aktapod]

If I can make it, yes! However, there's a good chance I'll be on the wrong side of the country for the EcoCAR3 competition during that time.

I only had my phone on me, but here's some, uh, closed course footage from last night:

[maxnadri]

It is funny to see EcoCAR3 competition and then a video of some closed course footage getting 5 miles per gallon....not that bi polar is funny, well it is to me in this instance!

[Aktapod]

It is funny to see EcoCAR3 competition and then a video of some closed course footage getting 5 miles per gallon....not that bi polar is funny, well it is to me in this instance!

Gotta balance it out somehow, right? Lol

Well, it seems I spoke too soon. The V8 made it to Florida successfully, but I got word today that it stuttered mid-drive and won't even crank anymore. No noises when it happened.

Hard to diagnose from afar, but I'm thinking ignition switch. There's very little else that prevents starting (plus the starter is new) and would kill the car mid-drive. I think the ignition switch killed the fuel pump and now it won't hit the starter either.

[Aktapod]

Crisis averted! I happened to be down in Florida and got it running again.

Really weird diagnosis, though. It ended up being the starter. It stayed engaged with the flywheel, seized up and stalled the engine. Spent a long time looking at electrical stuff before realizing that the starter wasn't clicking because it still hadn't retracted. I suspect this was a symptom of a sticky ignition switch, because it doesn't like to return to the 'running' position.

Put a new starter in and it fired right up!... on 4 cylinders. When it rains, it pours, I guess. One distributor wasn't delivering spark, so we replaced the cap and rotor and got it running right the day before I drove it back to TN. My cousin will now have a much more reliable (and boring) time with the Accord in Florida.

[DE80q]

Does this mean the V8 will be at Carlisle this year?

[Aktapod]

...maybe. Depends whether I can make it or not.

[Aktapod]

Welp something in the ECU gave up and is sending a false cam sensor code.

I've looked for a replacement to no avail, so I'm considering capitalizing on the opportunity to pursue a pipe dream I've had for a while! I really, really want to try and supercharge this thing... on a budget.

Toasted ECU is the perfect excuse I need to order myself a standalone computer, and I'm heavily leaning towards Megasquirt for budgetary reasons (though I know the Audi folks love VEMS). If I can get it running on standalone, I'm absolutely gonna get the ball rolling in slapping a junkyard supercharger on and running till it blows up

[DE80q]

This will get interesting in a hurry. Fair warning on the megasquirt though, it can be just as expensive as VEMS. I could have bought an econo seal unit from Mark by the time my MS3X was complete.