Engine swap - 225 from TT Quattro

[dj_hektik]

Engine swap - 225 from TT Quattro

How hard is it - I have an opportunity to buy a complete low mileage 2003 Audi TT Quattro from the breakers - front end damage and rollover - engine otherwise OK.

Warranty is offered on engine. Will it bolt right in or is it more complex than that?

I assume I will also need the ECU from the TT? also I would need the key programmed, right? Or can I just use the TT ignition and key?

Intercooler - I would need to buy an FMIC designed for the LCR?

Fuel? would I need anything not available in the TT? fuel pump etc.? CAI would be the same I assume?

All in all it seems to me to be a better option for tuning as the internals are different? im not too concerened about the turbo as I would change it later anyway.

A thought that just crossed my mind though - how hard would it be to take the Quattro system - is the rear suspension dramatically different? It won't be a bolt on affair i'm sure, but just how hard would it be?

 

[m0rk]

be very careful with a rolled engine - you don't know what damage is done.

with the right bits it will swap relatively easily - take everything under the bonnet (all wiring etc)

forget the 4WD idea, you will need to heavily modify your floorpan

 

[Reg]

Anything is possible, and as far as swaps go this would be a pretty easy one in mechanical terms - the engine would drop straight in. Electronics may give you a headache. Defo need ECU, key, ignition barrel, and some cars need the dash board too (i.e. the electronics, not the whole dash of course). Again, nothings impossible to overcome.

I don't know about the 4 wheel drive system, but again I can't see it being massively difficult. There is a 4 wheel drive European variant of the Leon, the Audi S3 uses the 4WD drivetrain and shares the same platform, although I'm not sure about different/generic floorpans and stuff to accept a driveshaft and rear diff.

Quite what you hope to achieve from it through I'm not sure. Particularly when the engine came factory 'swapped' in the form of the LCR. Whatever it would cost to change cars and buy an LCR to start with, its almost certainly going to be a lot cheaper than swapping motors and all the associated bits, and money saved can go towards bigger turbo etc, on an LCR if thats what you want.

Also, insuring a car with an engine swap is a great deal more expensive than a more powerful standard car that has the original engine modded. Just something to investigate before you get too far into it! Trust me, I found out the hard way.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do though.

 

[Ant FR]

I just wonder why yopu would do this to a 2006 FR.

You would be better off selling the FR and then buying a phase one Leon cupra for 5k and doing the swap that way. But end of the day all you end up with an LCR engine so just sell the FR and buy an LCR, it would be cheaper in the long run.

Sorry since i bought the Tdi i have become all sensible, although sticking the T dash in the Leon would be a cool idea, should fit too being the same chassis

 

[paul26982]

love the t dash, would like seen it done

 

[dj_hektik]

Anything is possible, and as far as swaps go this would be a pretty easy one in mechanical terms - the engine would drop straight in. Electronics may give you a headache. Defo need ECU, key, ignition barrel, and some cars need the dash board too (i.e. the electronics, not the whole dash of course). Again, nothings impossible to overcome.

I don't know about the 4 wheel drive system, but again I can't see it being massively difficult. There is a 4 wheel drive European variant of the Leon, the Audi S3 uses the 4WD drivetrain and shares the same platform, although I'm not sure about different/generic floorpans and stuff to accept a driveshaft and rear diff.

Quite what you hope to achieve from it through I'm not sure. Particularly when the engine came factory 'swapped' in the form of the LCR. Whatever it would cost to change cars and buy an LCR to start with, its almost certainly going to be a lot cheaper than swapping motors and all the associated bits, and money saved can go towards bigger turbo etc, on an LCR if thats what you want.

Also, insuring a car with an engine swap is a great deal more expensive than a more powerful standard car that has the original engine modded. Just something to investigate before you get too far into it! Trust me, I found out the hard way.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do though.

LCR is not available here or anywhere in the middle east, so importing is my only option - if I want to import I would import a Skyline GTR, not an LCR, but the import process here is a big hassle, so I have to make do with what's already available here.

I can get the TT for 9,000 Riyals, or 1250 pounds. The engine has a two month warranty so would be long enough to show any problems.

I calculated the parts needed to "convert" my engine into an LCR spec it's more than the cost of the TT - new Turbo, IC's and piping, internal upgrades, TIP, remap, etc. and I really don't want to open an almost new engine

The other option I have is Turbonetics T3T4 upgrade - should give 300 or so whp depending on boost levels, but I don't know if a remap will stretch that far - maybe at those levels a standalone engine management would be better, but that would push to 5000 pounds easily.

I already regret buying my car 'cause of the front-drive, and I bought it new so im not selling it - i would lose half it's value here, so I want to make the most of what I have.

*edit: maybe "regret" is a strong word. sometimes I wish i'd bought something like a used Mk4. Supra TT as insurance and petrol here is nothing significant. anyway...*

In the end I would much rather have a "OEM" 250 hp car, rather than a pick'n'mix car that gives 300 hp. the LCR with proper intercooling, remap, CO2 cooling, exhause, intake would be more reliable (i expect) than heavily modding my car.

 

[Ant FR]

oh that explains it, but i would use your engine, and swap the 225 bits on to it.

 

[Tallpaul]

ROFL, you don't want to 'open up your new engine' but you're are prepared to gamble on an accident damaged engine conversion?

 

[Ruddmeister]

In the end I would much rather have a "OEM" 250 hp car, rather than a pick'n'mix car that gives 300 hp. the LCR with proper intercooling, remap, CO2 cooling, exhause, intake would be more reliable (i expect) than heavily modding my car.

To my mind I don;t think it matters how you get the power BUT I think given the climate as much cooling as possible would be very wise, I'd junk the two side mounted intercoolers from the TT for over large one and CO2 or NOS Halo ring sounds good.

 

[dj_hektik]

ROFL, you don't want to 'open up your new engine' but you're are prepared to gamble on an accident damaged engine conversion?

yeah, if it doesn't turn out well I still have a perfect 180 1.8T to put back in

To my mind I don;t think it matters how you get the power BUT I think given the climate as much cooling as possible would be very wise, I'd junk the two side mounted intercoolers from the TT for over large one and CO2 or NOS Halo ring sounds good.

thing is, here there are NO performance shops. Everything I have on my car was either shipped in from the US by UPS or from the dealer (fabia wiper, bonnet seat etc.)

I just get paranoid sometimes that if I order a turbo upgrade from the UK or US and it doesn't work well, what do I do? it would probably cost nearly as much as the turbo to have it shipped back ... I want power but i dont want to do it the wrong way.

 

[paul26982]

i say go for it if its what you want, people can say what they want but its not just you whats doing somthing that every1 would do, each to there own

 

[mmfb]

Sounds like a potentail nightmare to me. I know its all VAG, but what gaurantees that the plugs will be the same in to the dash, sensors etc. What chance of there being too many plugs/not enough plugs. Also its a 4xx4 on the TT, so presumably the gear box will come from the Leon to change this. Man, I wouldnt want to try this.
I remember freinds with MK2 golfs and the 1.8 20vt engine in there. I think for one friend thier car spent more time on a trailer back and forth to Jabbasport.

It could be a C.O.W - Can of worms.

 

[dj_hektik]

Sounds like a potentail nightmare to me. I know its all VAG, but what gaurantees that the plugs will be the same in to the dash, sensors etc. What chance of there being too many plugs/not enough plugs. Also its a 4xx4 on the TT, so presumably the gear box will come from the Leon to change this. Man, I wouldnt want to try this.
I remember freinds with MK2 golfs and the 1.8 20vt engine in there. I think for one friend thier car spent more time on a trailer back and forth to Jabbasport.

It could be a C.O.W - Can of worms.

you could be right, but its not a completely different engine, they're both 1.8T's.

I don't know anymore. I was put off by that particular TT as I noticed severe damage to the downpipe - the bellows and pipe looked "crushed" like something hit it hard and fast. there was no damage to any of the body around it so i walked away from that one. I'm looking for an S3 now as I could use more of the car than just the engine (seats, dash parts etc..)

I'm not in a hurry for anything, it was just an idea. anyways i'm looking for S3 seats in any case ...

 

[mmfb]

MM...its a shame to back down, but to me the aim is always to make it better than it was. I wouldnt want to try this as i think the risk of making it "not quite as good" is too great.
Id be gutted to even have one warning light stuck on, or have something that was no longer useable.
As for that particular engine. "Step Back from the Engine Mr Hektic, walk away!".

 

[tacroy]

I have tried this conversion in an Audi tt.
Everything is different. You will need every single wire from the car. The Audi ecu and the leon instruments will not be compatable. Everything is different.
Wait and buy from a LCR. It would be so much easier.
If you wanted 4 wheel drive, its mostly mechanical. I think 2 can data bus wires and changing the instrument coding will see that working.