Author Topic: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.  (Read 4442 times)

March 10, 2011, 05:15:25 pm

Syncroincity

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I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« on: March 10, 2011, 05:15:25 pm »
My new ride. ;D Preliminary photos, it's not in my posession yet.
2004 B5.5 Passat Variant 1.8T 4Motion 5-spd. One of 6 vehicles in Shadow Blue / Black Leather imported that year.
Daily driver for now until the Syncro is back in action... doing homework for future TDI swap. It's essentially a B5 A4/A6 Quattro under the skin. Longitudinal 4-cyl.






JC McCavitt
'86 Syncro GL Camper AAZ
'98 Jetta Wolfie
'04 Passat Variant GLS 4Mo 5MT

Reply #1March 10, 2011, 05:31:07 pm

8v-of-fury

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2011, 05:31:07 pm »
Me thinks a BEW should swap in?? Too many engien codes lol


Reply #2March 11, 2011, 04:54:40 pm

Syncroincity

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2011, 04:54:40 pm »
Me thinks a BEW should swap in?? Too many engien codes lol

Yeah, I'm not even sure what gasser code 1.8T is in this one yet.
 I think it's the Audi version, 5 main bearings vs the transverse VW w/ 4.
I didn't even know these existed in N. America until about 3 weeks ago... I started looking for one, and 4 popped up almost simultaneously, :o I took that as a sign, & I managed to grab this one before it sold.

It'll be a while, but a TDI is definitely in this car's future. :D '04 +... PD150? We'll see what crops up for donors
JC McCavitt
'86 Syncro GL Camper AAZ
'98 Jetta Wolfie
'04 Passat Variant GLS 4Mo 5MT

Reply #3March 14, 2011, 07:10:35 pm

blackdogvan

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2011, 07:10:35 pm »
Nice score!!!! Very nice. Whats the trip computer showing for the average mpg now?
1991 Vanagon 1.9 mTDI

Reply #4March 15, 2011, 06:44:58 am

lord_verminaard

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2011, 06:44:58 am »
Nice ride.  The Passat wagons are really nice cars, especially in 4-motion trim.

BTW the 1.8T's are the same across all vw/audi, engine-code per engine-code that is.  Audi never got a "special" one.

Brendan
81 Scirocco 'S -->Soon to be m-TDI
93 Corrado SLC VR6
'86 Golf N/A Diesel  -->Wife's car
1990 Audi CQ
05 New Beetle PD TDI


"I am a man, I can change... if I have to.... I guess....."

-Red Green

Reply #5March 17, 2011, 05:46:38 pm

Syncroincity

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2011, 05:46:38 pm »
I haven't seen the trip meter yet, the owner claims about 31mpg on the highway. A lot better that my Subaru.

I'm pretty sure this has an AWM in it from my reading. Pretty good motor if it's taken care of. Subject to coked oil particles clogging the oil pump intake screen if non-synthetic oil was used. (Oil "Sludge" VAG is involved in a lawsuit about this currently) Not a huge problem normally, but dropping the oil pan on this car is brutal, you basically have to suspend the motor on a crane and drop the front subframe.

Gearing up for a timing belt job, with H20 pump, tensioners, etc. also maybe cam chain tensioners, I have to see how it sounds/runs.

Suspension is pure Audi A4, multi-link, lots of bushings to go bad... not cheap, but super controlled ride when it's in good shape. Even the AWD is really a Quattro system.
JC McCavitt
'86 Syncro GL Camper AAZ
'98 Jetta Wolfie
'04 Passat Variant GLS 4Mo 5MT

Reply #6March 17, 2011, 07:11:57 pm

Powered by Spearco

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2011, 07:11:57 pm »
Nice find. I've only seen one 1.8t 4motion wagon but it was the auto trans, so yours is special with the 5spd.
The BHW TDI will bolt right in, but being a gasser trans, it might be strechy for gears.

Lowering the subframe is prety easy. Just enough to get the pan out.
Suspension links are prety easy to, just make sure you do all top and bottom.
T-belt is easy too. Timing chain tensioner is a little more in volved. Just pull the intake cam and slide it in.
'87 Syncro Transporter Single Cab "Now TDI"
'78 Rabbit..Gas Weekend Racer
'81 Caddy..Diesel 1.6/1.9 TD hybrid 275HP 349TQ "Retired"
'90 MultiVan, 2.5 Suby Swap, Porsche Brakes
'76 Scirocco TD dragster project
'13 Golf R:. Tuned
'98 Puch G320

Reply #7March 24, 2011, 09:56:48 am

lord_verminaard

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2011, 09:56:48 am »
And you will get familiar with Audi's "service position" for the T-belt.  Basically remove the front half of the car.  ;)

Looks intimidating at first but they actually designed it to be pretty painless.

Brendan
81 Scirocco 'S -->Soon to be m-TDI
93 Corrado SLC VR6
'86 Golf N/A Diesel  -->Wife's car
1990 Audi CQ
05 New Beetle PD TDI


"I am a man, I can change... if I have to.... I guess....."

-Red Green

Reply #8March 27, 2011, 12:28:36 am

nathan_b

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2011, 12:28:36 am »
And you will get familiar with Audi's "service position" for the T-belt.  Basically remove the front half of the car.  ;)

Looks intimidating at first but they actually designed it to be pretty painless.

Brendan

x2, love passats and a4/s4/a6 cars.

Nothing like pulling up a chair to do the timing belt. lol.
81 caddy frankentd 02a, 99.9 tdi jetta, 00 golf

Reply #9April 01, 2011, 09:59:53 pm

Syncroincity

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Re: I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet.
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2011, 09:59:53 pm »
 :D Yeh, seen a few videos on YT about the process.

Now I need to find a tall TDI 5th gear for it.
JC McCavitt
'86 Syncro GL Camper AAZ
'98 Jetta Wolfie
'04 Passat Variant GLS 4Mo 5MT