B4 to A3 cabrio quick tdi swap What can i expect?

[BigVWman]

Looking for some info! If anyone has done one similar or has any suggestions. I need to knock it out in a weekend. I have the complete b4 swap including pedal assembly, clutch master hoses etc, wiring, panel,ecu obviously engine and trans, fuel lines, etc. I have read when your doing the opposite swap A3-B4var there are linkages issues and pedal assembly issues, has anyone tackled them with success? I have done a few swaps its just this one i won't have time to source parts once i start. i also managed to sell off the b4 cluster, so was going to try and use a a3td cluster i have gathering dust, any thoughts?

[CRSMP5]

pedals 100% different.. along with the clutch master... brake booster also different in the b4/a3 hook up to pedal..

ask nathan_b if he still has the tdi pedal set up i took down to athens in oct last year.. thats what you want.. but he no have the master.. thats on my toaster..

as for shifter.. should be same.. so cables same..

yep use the mk3 tdi cluster..

IMO a weekend is not enough time.. yea ive done crap like that on short times (b3 passats).. but the mk3 dash BLOWS.. its gotta come out along with the kneebar/structural part to do the pedals.. that alone is a good 5-8hr.. and do the heater core while there... if it was anything but a mk3.. id say weekend is enough time.. just the pedals SUCK...

[BigVWman]

I was hoping you weren't going to say that! I didn't even consider the pedals being different till i started reading the threads. I may be a little light on time in my weekend expectation but the closer the better, i have a boss who wants me in another city asap. Yep i hear ya on heater core, its being ordered in moments! thanks

[the caveman]

It took me 3 days pretty much full time. And it was into a 97 GLX, so i already had the same clutch and transmission. I did some other things at the same time, but still. Maybe if you're younger than me and can still move quickly

[nathan_b]

It took me 3 days pretty much full time. And it was into a 97 GLX, so i already had the same clutch and transmission. I did some other things at the same time, but still. Maybe if you're younger than me and can still move quickly

Yeah, you just get tired, and get on the internet instead. lol

[the caveman]

well what really used to mix up my day is that Star Trek remastered was on at 12, then Mary Tyler Moore at 1. I'm a sucker for good TV , even if i've seen them before

[BigVWman]

Ahh i can dvr those and watch them while i'm waiting for the advil for the sore joints to take effect so i can sleep! I'm not as young as i once was i even had to buy a trans jack and cherry picker, gave up on brute force and the rafter chainfall! We'll see though if i can score the balance of the issue parts quick i'll time it shooting to do it next weekend. Engine out and in is no problem a few hours, its the dash that was mentioned earlier and pedal assembly that will kill me. Even the wiring should go smooth now that i am reasonably familiar with which parts do what and both being ce2. The first one i did took forever but it was an mk1 tdi i wired the hard way!

[BigVWman]

pedals 100% different.. along with the clutch master... brake booster also different in the b4/a3 hook up to pedal..

ask nathan_b if he still has the tdi pedal set up i took down to athens in oct last year.. thats what you want.. but he no have the master.. thats on my toaster..

as for shifter.. should be same.. so cables same..

yep use the mk3 tdi cluster..

IMO a weekend is not enough time.. yea ive done crap like that on short times (b3 passats).. but the mk3 dash BLOWS.. its gotta come out along with the kneebar/structural part to do the pedals.. that alone is a good 5-8hr.. and do the heater core while there... if it was anything but a mk3.. id say weekend is enough time.. just the pedals SUCK...

Would the vr6 pedal assembly from an mk3 work? I have a few of those at the local pick and pull. I just don't know if it has provisions for the potentiometer on it.

[the caveman]

Yes the VR6 pedals have the holes to mount a TDI loud pedal. It'll be way easier to do on a table than on the car.

[CRSMP5]

you will hate self to do it at pick and pull... whole dash... dash support and all have to come out.. not a easy job to get one out...

i do know someone with a vr6 mk3 pedal set up... did not think of that... vr6 project i have in my play area.. stripped a 96 jetta sure he would sell it... car had abs... any differance with that???

next... in theory all you need is clutch pedal.. to swap with the one you have too....

[BigVWman]

Ahh i was outsmarted by the pick and pull anyway, i went yesterday and they had squished all the vr6 mk3's as they had been out awhile. All they had were 2.0's and a b4vr6 but i couldn't see that helping. It was a good experience in that someone had dismantled the dash in one of the 2.0 mk3 so i got to study that a bit to see what to expect. Looks much more complicated than my mk1's! If you run accross anything that will help let me know, i posted up on here in for sale/wanted and tdi club but i don't usually get much response over there.

[nathan_b]

Give me til monday, I don't do anything work related sat-sun if I can. 9a-9p is enough.

[BigVWman]

Give me til monday, I don't do anything work related sat-sun if I can. 9a-9p is enough.

i know your busy esp lately! i completely understand!

[BigVWman]

A new direction on pedals- trying to find locally the vr6 clutch master and bracket- looking at etka maybe it will bolt to my existing mk3 pedal assembly and then looking at using a mk4 go pedal. Since trying to find a complete intact mk3 unit and get it here by Friday is looking like its not happening! Anyone know if there is a  flat spot big enough to mount the mk4 go pedal in place?
For future reference- B4 pedal assembly doesn't fit BECAUSE(nobody else seems to actually say why-just say it won't work) 1st issue is booster is different in how it attaches to the brake pedal, you could solve with a B4 booster, BUT then the firewall profile is way different you could solve by having a large section of the B4 wall cut out to weld in to the mk3 BUT then you would still have an issue with the lower steering column mount with the pedal profile on the B4 i see no way to accommodate a mk3 column, the B4 sticks out much farther where the central rod is that would hold it on a mk3 and making an alternate mount looked nearly impossible with all that is going on there in such a small space-maybe b4 column would have worked i never investigated that far and broke down and ordered a mk3 unit!

10.5 hrs in old engine out, new in and wired up, heater core changed but dash not assembled yet. Pedal issues cuz i'm stubborn project on hold till next weekend!
2 hrs added pedal assembly and brake booster in, tank sending unit wrapped up