Engine conversions - Who does em?
 

Good afternoon to you all,

I must be the most indecisive person going! I have that many plans and projects I just don't know what I'm doing, so....

I have a 16v ACE coupe that is my baby, I've always wanted big things for it (its neither a he or she), I go round in circles deciding whether to 20vt it or throttle body it. Seeing as I have a B4 that has a 20vt already in it running aftermarket engine management and that buying ITB's from scratch is absolutely astronomical in price it would be the easiest option to 20vt it. Now because I literally don't have any time and that I know once I start it i'll never finish which is why I was put off the idea in the first place because the 16v ACE doesn't deserve to be treat like that. So does anybody know a decent company/man in a garage that can carry out this conversion? TSR are a no no cos I fell out with them many moons ago, plus they are not the cheapest, I might as well by an S2!

The conversion should be quite straight forward, the 20vt is currently plug and play but it is missing some features like water temp on the dash but I have the parts to resolve this. Basically someone who has the space and resource to carry out the conversion and is confident enough to understand the loom and ancillary connections to keep the dash OEM and every thing functioning. I have everything to do the swap and many spares too. Plus it will remove 2 cars from my house and I can bring more out of storage :)

I'm in the Derbyshire area, so local preferred but an issue if not.

Many thanks

Steve

Tonks4x4 is a member on here (http://www.classic-audi.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=548) and is not far from you, he's well known, well respected and has built quite a few Audis. His website is broken atm, but works from googles cache: http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=uk

Thanks for that mate, I wasn't expecting such a quick response. He specialises in 4x4 land rover etc so will he know VAG well enough? I suppose it's normal practise for him doing bespoke conversions so I'll drop him a message and literally a stone's throw from me. I did try JBS in chesterfield who specialise in 20vt conversions but apparently they are coming out of the game?

Oops just checked his profile... yeah he knows his audi's. Good shout

Thank again

Tonksy has done lots of these.
4x4 Land Rovers are his main business but audi's come a close second. He could probably make a living doing either independently.
He knows his stuff.

Yup just realised that after reading his profile,lol. Dropped him a message on here but not sure if he's very active these days so if no reply by the weekend I'll give him a ring.

If you don't get him on here or the s2forum you'll get him at the shop most days. Ive got his mobile but i think it's on the website anyway. His place is in Huthwaite.
He's done boatloads of 20vt conversions and he really knows what's needed.
Problem is the engines are relatively expensive to start with so it can't be done for peanuts. Still loads of people doing it though so they must think it's worth it.

Sounds good to me and the right person to go to. I've already got all the bits to do the conversion. I have a b4 saloon 20vt 4 pot BAM that is running and driving but want it in my coupe, I just don't have the time and space to do it. There are a few things I want adding like a working temp gauge on the dash which my 20vt doesn't have. The joys if aftermarket engine management! But I have all the sensors and pipework to do it properly which is why I needed someone who knew 20vt conversions into vag cars.

My 16v ACE is plenty quick but I'm not a fan of the ke-motronic. It's getting very old and I just don't trust it. I've been stung hard before on a corrado 16v 9a. I've had the 16v for 5 years with no issues and I love it but it needs bringing into the 21st century where parts are readily available and I don't have to keep buying whole cars for bits

You not tempted to do something different since you’ve already got a 20VT?

:)

I have yeah but I always end back at the 20vt. The issue with these cars is the engine orientation and that not many people try it and parts to do it are hard to find. Vw's are 10 a penny. I really really wanted itb's but it's 2.5k for all the bits, so pound for pound the 20vt is the cheapest and obvious choice. The donor saloon literally has everything so it's plug and play.. problem is it's a fwd basic saloon! It needs to be in my coupe

I used Yamaha throttle bodies on my Zetec Cortina, it was an economical (and fun) way of doing the whole TB thing. Explored that at all?