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smitty.stratton

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So I'm new here, little backround
Started loving these cars when I started dating my fiance a few years back.
03 Jetta with the 2.slow Shitomatic.
That skipped timing, then it was onto a VERY neglected 99 Passat 1.8t 5 speed I put over 2k into.
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And then I sold my Passat for my new baby.

A 1996 Audi a4 2.8qm
All weather package, sports package.
Came with a rotted subframe and terrible headlight wiring. She sat for over a year as well
I'm wondering if you guys would be welcome to a new build thread?
I am always looking for pointers and opinions and I love feedback.
Here's a few pics;)
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All feedback welcomed, and if interested will give the full story on what I've done to her so far. Lots of pics!
 
⚠ long post.
So I had my Passat but I wanted something new, something awd.
I was prepping to go three hours away when I found out about this gem in my town!

She's a 96 Audi A4 2.8qm
All weather package
Sports package
138k miles

She sat for over a year because they couldn't find a subframe. Took me two months of searching before I even bought the car, was going to have to go through stealer at 600 for a new one from Germany, but I snagged one off eBay for 130 shipped!
Now before I bought the car, I had never seen it run or anything, didn't know anything about it or anything. And wasn't expecting a key either.
Lucky for me the tow driver had the key, and I was beyond happy!
Got her home and she started up after some fighting, once the fluids cycled she quilted down and ran amazing.
I knew she needed the subframe but I was prepared for that, but once I got her home, I found her flaws.
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So the issues that started sticking out were as follows.
Sunroof worked when wanted, front dome lights weren't being activated, hood latch rusted solid, pass headlight had nothing drivers low beam and halo worked, no blinkers at all, they wouldn't activate, cpl wasn't working right, Cv axle on drivers side wasn't working, and some lower control arms.
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As you can see in the pic above they had it conned, they wired single filiment bulbs up front. Idiots.
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Here's finished prospect with 35w 8k hids in high beam
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I feed the sunroof and dome lights as well,
 
The subframe swap was a bit of a pain, as I was working in snow with a junk Jack but I got it done!
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And here she is as she sits
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She needs tires so I'm picking these up for 300 next Friday
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As of right now she's sitting in my driveway, waiting for the rest of the parts to come in.
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Trunk lock fixed cpl!
Now I'm just waiting on my new hardware, and my subframe bracket to come in and she's all done.

Sunday baas the first time driving her and it felt so good.
The best part is the clutch is virtually new, lefts out just as you move your foot and grabs very quick, complete opposite of my Passat that was at the top.

Side project: wife's cabrio, heater core blend door
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Here's two videos, and I plan to wire my halos so they power on with the key like BMW's! =)

96 a4 2.8qm:
Update:
Don't worry I switched the bulbs on the pass tail light lol.

Also she's got a clean carfax up to 128k with midas maintaining it.
I'm beyond happy with her, and I can't wait to actually drive her!
 
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My plans are to go threw the whole car like I did my old passat(put 2k into a new turbo brakes all around timing kit 18 inch lowpros control arm kit and more.. Sadly sold it for only 880=( )

I plan to keep this car around for a long time, I will have it completely sound once she's done.
I'll be trying to touch the door up,
I have to replace the whole audio system, as the rear speakers I believe are cut, and the fronts are the only ones that work.
This car is a really good car, just needs a little tlc

I am also working on making the wife's 95 cabrio sound as well. Hers needs more work then mine but is the one getting us around right now lol.
She runs rich has to be wormed up before driven or will cut out, misfires till wormed up, and am waiting on a coolant flange in the mail as long as a tranny flush kit for her.
She needs a tune up bad.
 
audi upgrades
its pretty common for the rear speakers not to work once an aftermarket headunit is fitted. if you do a search on here youll find the answers.
you need an adapter but it depends on what stereo was in your car from factory.
 
@smitty.stratton Welcome to audi-sport.net. New build threads always welcome on here. Enjoy the forum. You will find the guys very friendly and helpful. :) x
 
As for the speakers I believe delta.. But I'm going to be upgrading all speakers and head unit, if it throws a fit I'll run my own wire to the new speakers from the new head.
As for the pics, I'm sorry lol, it's a 5mp cheap phone. Love the phone for the 40 I paid just a shirt camera. I think it's also because I used tapatalk instead of using photo bucket.

But what are your guys thoughts so far and what do you have for punters or anything?!
I love input, the more I get the better, doesn't matter if you bash or just wanna give pointers, I'll take it all lol.

She has a slight leak at the pass flex spot under the passenger side but not bad at all.
And for some reason the last two days she hasn't wanted to crank at first. The 03 Jetta did the same thing.

Anyways let's hear some input guys!
 
im needing to change my subframe as well ( no where near as bad as yours thankfully) mines has a wee hole next to the gearbox mount
it got through this years test but the tester did say it needs done. ive got a replacement to be fitted.
how long did it take you out of interest?
 
Cactus green!
I'll swap engines lol.
I this car is my dream car without the tdi.
Not a bad looking car for what I can see. And ill get some better pics up for you guys

Edit
As for the subframe. If there similar, here's a step by step.
I did mine in a foot of snow with a Jack and two Jack stands, very doable.

First thing Jack her up and get her on the stands, then your gonna wanna put the

You wanna tackle your lower control arms first, get all your lowers unbolted from the subframe. You also have to unbolt shock mounts to have clearance

Jack under your engine/tranny so they don't drop
There's 2 big subframe bolts up front at each corner, then two at the rear brackets but unbolt the brackets first(2 small bolts per bracket) then the sub bolts.
By this time it should be wiggleable
Now you have to almost completely unbolt your engine mounts to get enough room to clear the tranny and get the subframe bushings out.

The biggest pita is the lower control arm bolts, soak them with pb blaster a few days before hand and they will come off like butter.
Install is reverse, but once you get the front of the subframe bolted, you'll need to Jack the rear up so you can bolt the rest up.
If you want I can take some pictures and show you what I mean, as I'll be replacing all my lower control arms as soon as the hardware comes in
 
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yea the lower arms can be a pain but just wait to you have the pleasure of doing the top arms....
Ive done a few sets of arms on the b5 platforms. I have had a stream of b5 passats but always wanted an A4 avant quattro with the 1.9tdi.
I bought a 2wd 110tdi which served me well for 8 month but then the quattro came up localish for a steal of a price so I went for it.
and the bonus is it was the 110tdi.
I ended out breaking the 2wd so swapped a lot of bits over.
1/2 leather, remapped ecu and numerous other bits..

and yip cactus.. I must admit I love the colour.. my old passat 110 sport was the first vag I had in it and I still regret selling it.
Ive sourced a couple of wings and rear doors recently in the right colour. so far ive changed the drivers wing before its mot.
plan is once it dries up a bit ill get the passengers side done. and then get the rear doors done.
 
jbh said:
yea the lower arms can be a pain but just wait to you have the pleasure of doing the top arms....
Ive done a few sets of arms on the b5 platforms. I have had a stream of b5 passats but always wanted an A4 avant quattro with the 1.9tdi.
I bought a 2wd 110tdi which served me well for 8 month but then the quattro came up localish for a steal of a price so I went for it.
and the bonus is it was the 110tdi.
I ended out breaking the 2wd so swapped a lot of bits over.
1/2 leather, remapped ecu and numerous other bits..

and yip cactus.. I must admit I love the colour.. my old passat 110 sport was the first vag I had in it and I still regret selling it.
Ive sourced a couple of wings and rear doors recently in the right colour. so far ive changed the drivers wing before its mot.
plan is once it dries up a bit ill get the passengers side done. and then get the rear doors done.
Click to expand...

I personally would rather do the uppers, I drop the whole shock housing, I've only done one upper set and now two lowers. I say uppers are easier.

I would kill to find a tdi but there very hard to find around here..
Only car lots have them, and we'll, I don't do car lots lol.
Mine needs some touching up at drivers door and fender like you saw and a Lil under the drivers fender, the rocker in front needs a Lil por15 and a coat.
Not rusted through just has some rust I want to stop asap!
I fell in love with my Passat and put way to much into it then sold OT for dirt cheap. I sold if for just enough to buy my baby and a new subframe. That's all I cared about, I wish I took my tires off though.

And a mini update....
Just checked... The... Timing belt.......
 
Bennington vt
I've seen 3 tops on the r road
But there's one used car place with a few vw tdis
I'd love a tdi in the worst way
 
My federal is on its way hopefully it hits tomorrow, but as soon as it does I'm registering her and buying these for her!
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So right now it's just a waiting game =(
 
Whats a federal?

What are the wheels? are they 16"? Reminds me of a set of 15's i had on my nova about 10 years ago! Tyres dont look that great if you've bought them just for the tyres?
 
aragorn said:
Whats a federal?

What are the wheels? are they 16"? Reminds me of a set of 15's i had on my nova about 10 years ago! Tyres dont look that great if you've bought them just for the tyres?
Click to expand...
There 17 or 18
And the tires are pretty much brand new.
and my taxes
 
Yeah £300 sounds expensive for those wheels. Look like BK or TSW ones from the 90s.

Unless parts are more expensive where you are based?
 
There motegi rims 17 or 18
Main reason I'm buying them is I have three flat tires. How do you guys think 300 is expensive? Three for those rims and tires to me is a great deal. And Bennington vt
I'll be picking them up after work
 
if they are 17's then i dont think they have the right size tyres on them for a B5.

The tyres look to have quite chunky sidewalls.

B5 should be on 225/45R17 or 225/40R18. Those look like 50 or 55 profile sidewalls?

Most people on this forum are from the UK, so prices and things will tend to vary quite a bit. If i were paying the equivalent of 300 dollars (about £200) for some wheels, i'd be expecting genuine Audi ones for that sort of money.
 
aragorn said:
if they are 17's then i dont think they have the right size tyres on them for a B5.

The tyres look to have quite chunky sidewalls.

B5 should be on 225/45R17 or 225/40R18. Those look like 50 or 55 profile sidewalls?

Most people on this forum are from the UK, so prices and things will tend to vary quite a bit. If i were paying the equivalent of 300 dollars (about £200) for some wheels, i'd be expecting genuine Audi ones for that sort of money.
Click to expand...
I have my stick 16 inch rims. But new tires In my town run from 5-800 dollars and a cheap knock off brand of 4 off eBay is 250-300. A used with 80-90% tread left name brand set of 4 off eBay is around 200.
If I go eBay I'll have to pay to have the tires swapped on and balanced which is more money, it's cheaper for me to buy the tires for 300 And I'm getting a second set of decent rims along with the tires.
And my old b5 Passat had wider tires then these.
 
yeh it makes sense, so long as the tyres are correct and decent brand.

They just dont look right to me from the pic youve posted. You'd really have to check the size on the sidewall to make sure they are suitable.
 
aragorn said:
yeh it makes sense, so long as the tyres are correct and decent brand.

They just dont look right to me from the pic youve posted. You'd really have to check the size on the sidewall to make sure they are suitable.
Click to expand...
I will have to check but I believe they once were on a Jetta. You think the sidewall is too tall?
 
I'll have to look.
Also I have a new issue. When it's cold in the mornings 5 right now
She won't crank. The starter just clicks, then it will eventually start whenever it feels.
Starts no problem after that. Any ideas?
 
i guess you could try a booster pack to rule out the battery (or jump it from other car)

Probably a bad starter solenoid though?
 
It clicks when turning over, and that's when being jumped, the battery's junk
 
A single click like a dead battery. But once it works there's no click and she turns over and starts right up
After it works it has no issues until it's sat
I think it might be the cold, but it could be due to the dead battery and a junk alternate in the cabrio that likes to squeele.
It's don't it the last two days. Never did this before I moved it
 
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