1.8T into early Audi

["George Achorn" <coolidge@tidalwave.net>]

I think it is a great idea. Yes you will lose displacement, yes you will
lose the sound, but you will also lose significant weight which will improve
weight distribution and lowered weight always helps acceleration performance
too. You also have a bountiful factory tuning program on hand. The 1.8T is
currently or soon to be available in 150, 180 and 225hp setups. While those
numbers are not as good as the potential out of a 10V 5cyl turbo, they are
pretty impressive for a 1.8 and they have been tested by the factory for use
over 100K miles. I would even bet that their endurance testing is higher
than it was back when Audi made the 5cyl. Further, those high hp 10Vs lose
some degree of reliability if that is an issue for you.

While at NAIAS (Detroit) we talked to an Audi engineer who said that the
1.8T was not limited to 225hp. "Duh" you say, but I mean stock. Unlike many
of the aftermarket setups, the ones coming from the factory are very heavily
tested for endurance. So to me, the fact that Audi can go higher means that
Audi will go higher. Someday.

There are huge downsides. No one has done the install yet, so you are in the
dark on that one. Wiring will be a nightmare and "legally" you have to go
with the specs of the newest component, so OBD2 and Catalytic converters are
technically needed for a road car.

Still, I find the idea really intriguing. I may have some unexpected income
coming from my work with VW Vortex when we finally make it to print, and
have been seriously considering doing an early Old School '84 4KQ with that
extra income. Depending on what resources present themselves to me (dollar
wise) the thoughts of a newer quattro system (ala euro 20V CQ) and 1.8T
225hp have been my favorite daydream topic, not to mention it would make an
incredible project car for the mag.

Now since wiring would be such a pain, one way that might make it easier and
clearly more bad a$$ would be to go with the TT dashboard.

Right now of course this could be only dreaming, but if the mag takes off
and I can find another silver '84 4KQ like the one that slipped through my
fingers, it will happen. I'll keep you all posted if the plan ever begins
beyond the dreaming stage.

George
VW Vortex
http://www.vwvortex.com