Project: B7 A4 Avant

[.RJ]

Shouldn't be a problem, how soon?

I would say between christmas and new years at the earliest... but Jan/Feb is probably more likely.

Translation: June

Chris is right... I still havent bought this :lol:

I've only put 7k miles on it, but I've been happy with it. It drives nice, have had no problems other than replacing a brake light bulb - seriously - no CEL's or exploding balljoints or anything. There's a few things I should address, it needs brake rotors and the brake pads are a bit shit, probably need to replace the shocks and if I'm in there anything else in the suspension thats worn out, will need tires before winter and I'd like a little more power. Other than that it does everything I ask of it.

My other half is buying a new car, a 2012 Jetta TDI Sportwagen, so I'm at a bit of a crossroads with the car since I dont think we need 2 wagons in the house. That car could easily do trip/dog/mulch hauling and I could buy something else and I have a huge boner for a B8 S4 with an APR pulley & tune. I have been putting money into the house trying to act like an adult, so I'm not sure that I want to take on a car payment. I'm leaning towards keeping another year, replacing the brakes/shocks/downpipe and hoping the clutch or something expensive doenst explode. So, DJ you got that M3 off the lift yet?

[D_Eclipse9916]

So, DJ you got that M3 off the lift yet?

Off and back F***ING on. Itll be off next weekend as I have a weekend between the wedding and honeymoon. But between those two events, I wont be back in town to do shit till September 21st. Get your parts together, we can do it after work that week or the following week. (Day of October 3rd or weekend of Oct. 17/18th I am available as well).

[Apoc]

You can never have too many wagons. It's been scientifically proven.

[.RJ]

I hope two VW's in the house isnt crossing the streams.

Oct 17/18 would be a good weekend to knock this out if I dont get motivated beforehand.

[Mike]

i've never fully understood "don't cross the streams" because in order to kill the fucking boss they make a point of crossing the streams. fuck.

[.RJ]

To the surprise of no one, I have dragged ass at ordering parts, but in that time the UCA bushings have started to tear and cause vibrations under braking. DJ has offered use of the lift, so I'll replace the UCA's along the front brakes, shocks (Koni FSD), and swapping out the cat for a high flow unit.

I hope thats it for a while, but I'm also reading about issues with carbon build up in the intake mainfold, valves and ports. Its a DI motor so no surprise there. I dont seem to have any issues, but I'm wondering if I should pull off the manifold and take a look. BG has this intake cleaning service that needs to be done by a shop, it looks more or less like an industrial strength seafoam - anyone have any experience with it? If I pull the manifold there's some "while you're in there" things i'd probably tackle - I think there's a weeping coolant fitting that's mounted above the transmission, pull the fuel pump and have a look at or just replace the cam follower.

[ScottyB]

cam follower.

first thing i thought of if you're in there anyway

[.RJ]

cam follower.

first thing i thought of if you're in there anyway

[ScottyB]

you should go down there, i hear they have turbos and candy and good wifi

[.RJ]

all of my favorite things...

[Apoc]

Bacon candy?

[.RJ]

So, with DJ's lift use I got about half of my work done... d'oh. All aboard the failboat.

Front brakes done (pads, rotors, fluid), no problem other than being way different than a honda. On to the suspension, and the first bolt that has to come out is seized - the one partially out in the middle of this photo.



I had it moving, then it just stopped and started to bind up and seized. There isnt anything about how the parts fit together should cause this but apparently its notorious for seizing.

GOD DAMMIT GERMANY THIS IS WHY YOU LOST THE WAR.

I was worried this might happen but I was hopeful as the car isnt rusty and nothing had put up a fight up to this point in owning it. I put it back together and punted and took it to a shop for the rest. They gave me a call and said its taking a bunch of heat & air hammering to move it, but my control arms and shocks will be installed tomorrow.

I spent the evening looking at youtube videos of guys resorting to all sorts of midieval methods to remove these stupid things

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[V1GiLaNtE]

Oh how I don't miss EVER working on VW's. Replacing the control arms on my Passat was the biggest pain in the dick and I was using a 4 post lift and air tools.

Goodspeed sir.

[Beej]

Holy hell that video is awful, I've never seen anything like that. It's a regular-ass straight bolt through a straight hole? Even if it's a pinch thing, yeesh.

[.RJ]

It's a regular-ass straight bolt through a straight hole?

Yes. Everything has come apart easily on this thing so :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

If this was a 2nd car and I didnt need it this weekend to go away for a week and had my own garage to leave it parked while I handle it and have air tools... FML



I will fix this by moving to a house with a garage and buying a 911 turbo

[.RJ]

Wow, Koni FSD's are really nice for a street car. I wish I'd done this sooner. With new tires, shocks, control arms and brakes it drives really, really well. A+ car.

Next up, gotta make some time to pull the intake manifold, do some cleaning, replace the t-stat and install this high flow cat I bought.

I LOVE GERMAN CARS.

[Apoc]

Relevant: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cyruseslami.kinja.com/potential-comeback-of-the-996-porsche-911-1740463387">http://cyruseslami.kinja.com/potential- ... 1740463387</a><!-- m -->

[.RJ]

Relevant: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cyruseslami.kinja.com/potential-comeback-of-the-996-porsche-911-1740463387">http://cyruseslami.kinja.com/potential- ... 1740463387</a><!-- m -->

SOON.

[*insertusernamehere*]

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[.RJ]

Not much to report here.... since last post I've replaced radiator hoses & t-stat, motor mounts, ignition coils and plugs (2nd set in 20k miles... this car eats plugs), something I'm probably forgetting, and the latest, the coolant flange o-ring on the back (firewall side) of the motor was leaking. The internet had reports of "knocked it out in 90 minutes not problems!" to "this is the worst job ever it took 4 days!". This took me 4 hours, even with no surprises, all the right tools for the job. Sometimes shit just takes forever.



Up on deck... probably fuel pump & APR software upgrade, and I'd like to swap in S4 brakes and larger intercoolers soon.... altho new car incoming.... MOAR TURBOS, AH-HA-HA...