Re: 4000 Quattro Turbo

[ti@bazooka.amb.org (Ti Kan)]

"Karl Nordstrom" <KXN2@PSUVM.PSU.EDU> says:
> [... about 4000 quattro conversion to turbo ...]
>That is what I would like to determine; how much is this going to cost?
>To answer that question I need to know what exactly I have to do to build a
>4000 Turbo Quattro.  I've never seen the inside of an Quattro Turbo Coupe
>or a 5000 Turbo Quattro engine bay.  I don't even have a parts manual for
>these cars.

The cost will be the sum of all the parts plus professional labor.
You have sort of answered your own questions above.  If you are going to
convert your car "the factory way", using all Audi components, then you're
going to have to research very thoroughly the similarities and differences
between the 4000 quattro, the 5000 turbo, and the turbo quattro Coupe.

You should at least get a hold of the Bentley shop manuals for these cars
(not cheap, about $200 for the two books), and you should find an
opportunity to really study the underhood layout and measurements of
each car.  You can probably find a used 5000 turbo engine easily, not
so easy for the quattro Coupe.  So you will probably need to order some
factory quattro Coupe parts to make the 5000 turbo engine fit in the
4000 quattro body (manifolds, plumbing and ducting, bracketry, mounts,
wiring harnesses, other stuff...).  You should also carefully research the
differences between the cars in terms of fuel injection and ignition
parts and specs.  The turbo uses a digital engine management system that
controls spark advance and turbo boost electronically.  Due to positive
manifold pressure, your vacuum-driven power brake servo will need to be
swapped for the hydraulic system found in the 5000 series and the quattro
Coupe.  Since this system runs the power steering as well, then you'll
need the steering rack from the quattro Coupe.  Once you understand
all the details about what parts you need and what you need to fabricate,
then you can figure out the costs involved.  Remember, the little details
are going to give you the biggest hassles, and these little details
often add up to big $$.

>>The guy that I know who converted a 4000 quattro into a "4-door quattro
>>turbo coupe" spent well over $50,000 (yes, that's fifty grand) when
>>it's all said and done.  The car would surely not even approach that
>>in resale value.
>
>$50,000!  Just what did he do to his 4000 Quattro?  Could you put me in touch
>with this guy?  Perhaps he could give me some pointers or talk me out ot this.

Let me refer you to the February 1988 issue of _VW & Porsche_ magazine,
in the article entitled "California Quattro".  This guy (his name is
Ron Love, proprietor of Ronel Systems, an auto alarm company) basically
took a wrecked European-spec turbo quattro Coupe and transferred the
engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, wiring, ancillaries, everything
from the quattro Coupe into the 4000 quattro.  He even grafted the
bulged fenders and front/rear valences from the Coupe onto the 4000
quattro body.  The interior also received many custom touches...
The engine also received some performance tweaking and Ron claims that
it was making some 230hp.

This car was a stunning conversion.  "Was", because the car was destroyed
in a terrible accident.  Ron survived it, but a few bits of that car is
now in my 4000 (seats, instrument cluster)...

As _VW & Porsche_ said, this was "the car Audi should have made".  I agree
100%!

Good luck on your quest.  If you really do it, I'd like to see the results!

-Ti
--
    ///  Ti Kan                vorsprung durch technik
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