V8Q timing belt?

[Mike Arman]

Spoke to the previous owner of my V8Q, he said he had done the timing belt
"a little over a year ago" and I should call the dealer who did it for details.

After six phone calls, I finally got to someone who knew what I was asking
for, and (rather reluctantly) looked up the service history. No timing belt
- "a strut, a battery, oil change". So I need to call the previous owner
back and get him to clarify things a little . . . I guess the dealer
figured they weren't going to make any money from me, so they didn't want
to be bothered. With an attitude like that, they are DEFINITELY not going
to make any money from me (but what else is new with Audi dealers?)

Anyway, at this point, the timing belt status is "uncertain", and I'd
rather change it and make sure it is OK than drive blissfully onward toward
an expensive disaster.

Belt: about $55
Two rollers: About $60 each
Water pump (Graf), about $70, get a gasket, too
Thermostat, $20, plus O ring
Rental of tools: $100

What else do I need to do this? Aren't there some guides and a hydraulic
tensioner that should also be replaced? And I think I recall Dave Head
mentioning the distributor seals should be changed too, because the
distributors come off to lock the cams.


Once that is done and I know the engine is OK, I was "just curious" (yeah,
right) if there are any performance mods available for the PT 3.6 liter
engine. The car is NOT SLOW, but horsepower is addictive. Anybody
*reputable* making performance mods for the V8Q?


Best Regards,

Mike Arman