RE: 4K turbo conversion

["PAT MARTIN" <MARDKINS@classic.msn.com>]

Since I have worked on both I will tell you what I like and don't like about 
the front end by the Bennetts.  Currently we are putting a new transmission 
and some other things in Petes 4kqt that was featured in EC a few months back. 
 He has the aluminum core support that 2 Bennett did when they did the 
conversion.  In mine since I did not use the 5kt intercooler and scrapped the 
ac it has the standard 4kq configuration.  They also converted a different 
friend of mine's 4kq a couple of months ago.  Also it may not be necessary to 
do any of this to tilt the radiator.  The brackets are available to do it they 
just cost big bucks.  The aluminum piece that The Bennetts make does not 
actually tilt the radiator it is brackets.  All the aluminum does is allow for 
easy access to the front end and use of the stock intercooler.

1st you need to understand what they do.  They take out the whole front end of 
the car.  Then they replace it with a large I beam across the lower front just 
behind the bumper.  This is attached to the top via welds (not my choice).  
The top is fairly lightweight aluminum that offers no structure other to house 
the headlights, grill, and  provide a token shroud.  The shroud is removable.  
The I beam is the main structure and is very stout. 

Petes:  Advantages:  1:Easy to remove except for wiring they tied into it.  
2:Very large cool factor, 3:weight, 4:structure from the I beam across the 
front.5: allows the radiator to be pushed back for the ac to fit.  Turning the 
radiator is only for AC purposes nothing else.  The oil pan can be "made" to 
fit. 6: It gives you lots of space for an intercooler and oil cooler.
Disadvantages: 1:Price.  We were quoted $800 for that alone.  2:Grill is 
pushed out to accommodate the stock intercooler.  This looks funny in the 
center of the grill.  For those contemplating this conversion, FORGET THE 
STOCK INTERCOOLER.  You will save a lot of headaches for a poor design.    3: 
Aluminum looks like sh%^ when dirty.  4: No safety catch.  This is fixable 
though.  5: What do you do about shrouding around the radiator?  6:Poor fit 
around radiator.  It cannot touch the radiator so the shroud effect of the top 
is lost because of the loose fit.  7: Mucho cutting to get it in there.  Very 
scary cutting.  Like imagine telling someone you are cutting the front end of 
your car off just because.  8: Very little lower grill support.

Mine: Advantages:  1: No cutting of the front core.  2: get to use the 
standard safety latch.  3: Structure remains stock.  We only notched out the 
left lower air dam metal to allow for oil cooler placement.  4: Still allows 
the use of an intercooler it just has to be non Audi.  5: can use stock 
shrouding. 5: Allows the wiring to be kept stock in the front end.

Disadvantages:  1: custom intercooler only.  2:low cool factor  3: Not 
removable 

Sean's:  His was done without the upper part cut out and the lower part was 
replaced with the I beam.  This gives a larger opening behind the grill to fit 
as large of intercooler as possible.  
Advantages:  1: Looks just like stock. 2: Can fit a large intercooler.  3:uses 
the stock safety latch.  4: Upper structure is fairly stout.  5: Grill is in 
stock location.  6: Lots of room for oil cooler.  

Disadvantages: 1: wiring is non stock.  2:Low cool factor,  3: very little 
lower grill support.
4: Cu$tom intercooler(can be advantage also)/


Pat Martin
864000csq turbo, 2 1/2 cat back, H&R-Boge, MC and loving it.  Drilled and 
stopping it. Koenig Cobra 16x7 with Yokohama A520's turning it,  K&N and uh... 

84 4000sq  AKA: The beater. Very hot with a window that will not roll down.
95 subaru legacy 
Bothell, Wa


Not giving away any secrets I hope, but 2Bennett Audimotive builds a custom 
aluminum front end to mount the radiator at a deeper angle, like the Sport 
Quattro.
>
>2 - you need the bent right tie-rod arm - the UrQ arm will not fit, as the