Would you convert a rare CGT (an 87.5) to 10VT?

[Patrick Martin]

A couple of years ago a freind and I crunched what we would have to charge
to do a conversion.  If you do it properly it is no less than 60 hours.
This time would include engine work and replacing things in the engine
compartment/suspension that really should be replaced while in there.
60x$60 per hour (low rate IMO) =$3600.  Then you have parts.

Used 5kt motor/harness/various ancillery parts           ~$900
Rebuild parts for said motor,Poor mans rebuild         ~$400+
The rest of the stuff like suspension bushing                ~$200
Machine shop work                                                    ~$500
Custom Fabrication work.                                          ~$200
Clutch parts
~$300
Hoses
~$200+
Shop supplies
~$200
Various parts such as vaccuum resivoirs,guages,ect.     ~$300
Rough total
$3100
Labor
$3600
Total
$6700

This is barring unforseen problems and with a VERY low profit margin to
cover warranty stuff and problems.  I have seen conversions "done" in 40
hours.  In my experience they really were not done.  Just driving.  You can
get the motor in the car fairly quickly.  The trick is doing it so that it
is reliable and does not have to be done again anytime soon. AC adds alot of
extra time and money to the equation.  And it also makes thing EXTREMELY
tight.

This is a very rough draft of a cost sheet.  There is alot not included in
this.  A business requires big balls to butcher a car like this.  Hats off
to those that even try to make money at this.

Go here to see my write up from 98 when I did mine. Alot has changed since
then http://www.audi-quattro.org/tech/4ktq_pat_martin.html  but prices are
still pretty relevant.

Pat Martin
86 4kcsq turbo, 2 1/2 cat back, H&R-Bilstein, MC and loving it.  Drilled and
stopping it. Koenig Cobra 16x7 with AVS Intermediates turning it,  K&N and
uh....
98 A6q Avant
95 S6 Avant, Bye Bye beater
87 5kt stick, improved beater

----- Original Message -----
From: <JShadzi at aol.com>
To: "Mihnea Cotet" <mik at info.fundp.ac.be>; <duandcc_forums at cox.net>;
<ScottyCBoy at aol.com>; <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 1:49 PM
Subject: Re: Re: Would you convert a rare CGT (an 87.5) to 10VT?


Mihnea, while I agree that its not the toughest thing to do (I've done many,
and can complete one in pretty good time if needed), but the thought of
doing one for a paying customer who expects to have a perfectly running car
with AC is another story, the 2bennett cars are done properly, while I agree
that they charge a lot to do it, the fact that no one else really does them
for any price reflects the complexity and expense with these kind of swaps.
While you're fine with living with all the quirks and oddities of your own
car, a paying customer won't accept anything less than a factory
installation, BTDT.

When you open up a shop and have customers lining up to have you do turbo
swaps for 2000Euro, let me know, but realistically its not possible, its
just not enough to compensate for the effort required to do it right.

But like I said, I don't know the guy, the shop, or anything, so maybe its
the deal of the century just waiting to happen  ;)

Javad

>Javad,
>
>
>While I agree with you a turbo engine swap isn't the easiest mod on our
>cars, I'd gladly do it for 2000 Euro (labor), provided the guy has a proper
>working place, as I lack any... and sometimes I even think 2000 is too
>much... Really, once you did it once, doing it again is a lot easier and I
>don't see why 2bennett ask over $ 12k for doing this when it can be
>properly done for far less... and doing it yourself is even cheaper, free
>labor :-) When you have both cars wiring diagrams, there's no big fuss to
>make about the wiring and such, at least I find it very easy to do, and the
>MC engine has an easier wiring harness than 20vt's...
>
>The price is really what would make me cautious...
>
>Just a thought,
>
>Mihnea