V8Q timing belt?

[urq]

... probably get a lot more BTDT on the V8 list ... even from the archives
there ...

Funny, I too found that my new V8 got a new *serpentine* belt when I had
gotten confirmation the TB was relatively new before driving it from CO to
CA ... in a day.

When you do the TB, do not neglect the tensioner ... since it moves the
parts there can wear out.  My second V8 lost a TB at a documented 5K miles
(imagine my surprise!) and I suspect it was due to the tensioning mechanism.
When I did the 120K (i.e. second) TB on #344 I pretty much replaced the
tensioner out of necessity.

As to hop ups ... since it doesn't have a turbo there isn't much there IMO.
You may well find that going over the engine, resolving codes and such will
give you more than you'd get from a chip.  My cars are 5-speeds, and of
course everyone *needs* more power, but I must say that I get plenty of
grins from the stock PT ...

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)
>
> 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
>
>