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A3 Motor Swap options

What body lines will an A3 motor and transmission swap into?

I've driven A1 and A2 cars for years, but now I have my first A3 body car that I just crashed and have a strong, healthy motor and transmission with only 75K miles on them. This is a '98 Golf 2.0 5 speed. I know the A4 platform has a more modular set up so that the motors swap pretty easily without a lot of updates to the wiring harness. If I go looking for a body with a spent motor, I want to know what I should be looking for. I'm also wondering what a well maintained motor/transmission is worth. I and the first owner were both attentive to maintenance, so this car runs well.

Can I swap into a similar A3 body? I'd think so, since there appears to be only one non-GTI/non-diesl motor in the entire A3 run... Can I swap into an A4 body car? Does model year come into play after the introduction of the 1.8T? Can I swap into a B series car? I'm less familiar with the generations of the B series car..

Reply to
bruce
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Just some educated guesses....

Actually Canadian models had a 1.8L available too but yes you should be able to swap it into any A3 body. However do note that 1996 model year brought on OBD diagnostics so a '96-up swap should be fine but a pre-96 A3 bodied car might need some wiring changes so swap the ECU and wiring too. Most emissions laws say that if it's a newer engine in an older car, the laws pertaining to the newer engine are what applies at smog test time.

I believe so. The A4 2.0 cars were the same engines as the A3 2.0 cars except for some changes to the intake (I think).

Not sure about that.

The B4 (1995-1997 Passat came with the 2.0L as the standard engine) probably yes. Probably goes for a B3 as well (wasn't the standard engine but the 2.0

16V was standard in B3s but that'd be a downgrade to put it into a B3..

B5 (1998) and up Passats, probably can't swap it in (not that I know of anyway...don't think those ever came with that engine even overseas).

Reply to
Matt B.

I am sure that someone could stick that powertrain into a VWAC Beetle.

Spent engines with good bodies are hard to find. I don't see too many VWs with bad "non-interference" engines. I see quite a few with bad 1.8t or V6 engines though here in Chicago. About

1 per week.

Does this also apply if the 1995 and older vehicles are exempt from emission testing?

ABA in most of the 3rd & earlier 4th generation Golfs, AZG(?) in some later ones with a coilpack, different water pump, accessories, etc. Possibly doable, but why not install back into another similar year Golf/Jetta? You might even be able to install it in a 2nd generation Golf/Jetta too.

Most of the B4s that I have seen have been VR6 equipped. Once in awhile I will see the 2.0l or the diesel engine but that is rare. ;-) So it is easier to install your engine into the 2.0l B4 Passats. But remember that the Passat will weigh quite a bit more than your Golf!

8^)

Those B5s (1998 and up Passats) came with a longitudinal or inline engine and not the transverse engine.

There is someone (In the vicinity of Framingham, MA.) that might be able to use that engine in his Corrado. OR you might want to buy his Corrado to stick that 2.0l engine into it. ;-)

Just a thought!

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

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