What are the options? Been offered an R32 2003 3.2

[Rams 0]

Hi all

 

I have a small dilema......

 

A friend of mine is breaking an R32, 2003. The car is at present complete. The engine sucked in water and is hydrolic locked. He thinks it may have bent a con rod or similar damage??? It also has climate control.....

 

I recently purchased all new timing parts for my vr6, they are new is sealed bags from VW.... So worse case I can sell them if I dont keep he vr6 engine?

 

I got carried away with the turbo chat on here and I convinced myself to junck the supercharged option and go turbo. But I would like to achieve around 350 ish bhp with some nice torque and fit an LSD.

 

Do I buy my friends r32 and transplant the engine and loom etc and what am I faced with to achieve 4 Wheel drive or indeed rear wheel drive? Or do I just reinforce my vr6 engine, sp 263 cam, chip / remap and exhaust and filter and supercharge it? Could I comfortably see power gains of 350 bhp?

 

Can I just use the gearbox and drive train from the r32 and use in conjunction with my vr6?

 

I do like the noise the supercharger makes

Easier to install

Like the vr6 sound a lot

Like the turbo sound

Like the r32 sound

 

Or do I buy an Audi TT crash damaged and use the dash, engine and gearbox etc? Can I put the running gear from the TT on the rado?

 

Im confused, any advise appreciated..... What are your thoughts, I know it depends on power wanted, but a general guide broken down with all the options would be excellent and im sure would help others that are confused about what to do with theirs?

You read people loving the turbo, you hear the r32 is also excellent and so on. I can then price the different packages and make my choice. I have read the entire forced induction turbo thread and most of the r32 thread.

 

Once ive decided, I can go about collecting everything, the paint work will be done soon so its my next step and a very important one. Be great to hear opinions..................

[PhatVR6 0]

How much would you want for the r32 shell once you raped it for parts?

[Rams 0]

I have asked him for a price for the bits I need, happy to put you in touch with him if your after the shell. I should hear back from him, the engine is hydrolic locked and need to see if it can be fixed, or if I can just get the crank and other bits and make a strong engine out of my vr and do the shaved pistons etc.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Google "R32 crank into 12V", it's been done a few times now.

 

I reckon it would make an interesting engine. For those who specifically want a 12V engine, it's a good way to get a true 3 litre using reliable VAG parts.

 

How did the engine hyrdolock? Was it supercharged?

[Rams 0]

It sucked in some water aparantly.... Hes an old fiend that I dont see often, but hes an honest guy. He said maybe a bent conrod? but hasnt stripped it down yet. My guy is ready to strip it down depending on the cost. I just like the sound of my vr and would like to hear that along with some extra spice.

[Rams 0]

Ive been offered the engine, wiring, ecu, clocks and gearbox for £800, so if anyone else wants to get any parts, let me know and I will be the non profit making middleman. You can discuss the prices with him directly should you wish, or let me know and can get back to you. I have asked for some pics to be sent, but 800 sounds reasonable.

 

My own mechanic said the chances of a conrod being bent or worse case seniro a scored piston, depends if its been cranked over afterwards?? But he said usually, its just a bent conrod.

 

Ive just bought all the new timing parts for my VR and wonder if TPS will take it back? Its all new, sealed and has the later mk4 upgrades. Unless someone on here wants to buy them and I can pass on the 10% discount I received.

 

i can upgrade the r32 conrods to some forge ones and then get everything ready for the lump to go in. Someone hold my hand on this.... Should I go for it? My vr doesnt miss a beat, could benefit from doing the new chains etc being installed which I can do with photos and then sell my 12 vr6 engine.

 

Going to re read the 24v transplant threads

[fla 9]

WHY did you start this thread :help: :help: :help: . I've just convinced myself that i want to keep my VR block and perhaps turbo it next year, but i've always had this interest in either the 2.8 or 3.2 24v. I thought i'd got over it, but now you've got me thinking again........

Good luck in what you do - i'd be interested in your thoughts and what you finally decide

[8vMatt 1]

Fla- I've been having mad thoughts of 24v forced power in the future. We've got to keep our twins the same! Only yours is air-con and beige interior so obviously better than mine :-( boo hoo!

 

Have got new paint coming so there! Haha!

[fla 9]

Fla- I've been having mad thoughts of 24v forced power in the future. We've got to keep our twins the same! Only yours is air-con and beige interior so obviously better than mine :-( boo hoo!

 

Have got new paint coming so there! Haha!

 

Naaa, yours is miles nicer, mines just its evil twin! Well mine has got two wrongly painted bumpers (no pearl in them :( ) but strangely i'm almost getting used to them now :cuckoo: 24v is tempting isnt it. Might just buy an engine just in case...

[Rams 0]

When I purchased this car, I convinced myself that I wanted all the mod cons with a newer car in a corrado shell. Thats the bit that keeps me coming back to Corrados.

 

I want to be able to lock and unlock the car with the later style key / built in fob which I could do if I take on the r32?

Use features like Auto dimming rear view mirror

Smoother gear shift

240 standard BHP's

 

Off the top of my head, different drive shafts are needed and certian engine mount configurations and so forth.

 

Seeing as the r32 is a 2003, 6 speed manual with climate control, that can all go in, plus the extra benefit of stronger newer componets kind of calculates my theory.

 

The 12V Turbo, would be epic, no doubt, but as it is, before I boot my car, I make sure everything is warm, turn the headunit down and listen and watch gague readings, so with the 12v Turbo, I would be constantly paranoid about it. If I was planning on selling this car sooner or later, the 12v Turbo would probably be what I would choose. Whilst they are a popluar choice due to power and fun, they should demand a premium. The r32 seems more like a buy to let, the investment will be in the length its kept for. Also, the Corrado will keep rising in value, especially when they inherrit the classic status.

 

Its only been offered to me in terms of cost today, the car is local, hes a good pal, my mechanic is happy and all for £800. Also with climate control etc, seems worth it to me. We can then strip the engine and see whats damaged and fix as necessary. Then run it for a while and save up for a supercharger which I think could be sick.

 

If anything major is wrong with the egine, it can always be fixed, time will be on my side as the engine work can be done on the bench whilst im still driving round in my 12v. Then its a good excuse to upgrade the engine further.

 

My previous plan was to make a strong 12 v engine but doing lots of different mods to the engine. I have a nice vr with a polished manifold and it drives so well and looks nice, but to open the bonnet and see the r32 lump would make a bigger sense of achievement or satisfaction.

 

Had the offer not been on the table at good value, my decision would be more difficult and probably a game of what comes along first that is on the list,i.e 2.8 or 3.2.

 

Once I know all of the above is achievable, then im going to snap it up asap and pull out of buying the D90's unless someone else wants them. See pic in my members gallery, more storm maintenance. for the record, they are 8 on the rears and 7 on the fronts, with conti contacts sports with all meaty tread and in immaculate condition. Adaptors required.

 

Heres a pic of the car anyway......

[Craig 0]

I know little about the mechanics but a r32 engine is on my wish list. Then that can be super to turbocharged later for more fun factor. Just out of interest who's your mechanic. I think one of the shells might be going on my VR and can't do it myself, I know John (corozin) mentioned kartechnic in Poole, just thought a few opinions would be good. If it's shagged then I could buy your VR, or solve your problems and you can fit the r32 in mine!!

[Rams 0]

I have a plan..... Let me know what happens with your engine, my mechanic can do the transplant from mine into yours side by side. I dont mind my car being off the road. Its been off the road having all the body work done and taken quite a bit of time, so waiting a bit longer for my R32 lump to be fixed is no drama.

 

My mechanic is primed to get the r32 engine out, im just waiting for a time and date to see the car. Hopefully tomorrow? If you want to pop over and take a drive in my car, just give me a shout.

[joeyboswell 0]

Ive just bought all the new timing parts for my VR and wonder if TPS will take it back? Its all new, sealed and has the later mk4 upgrades. Unless someone on here wants to buy them and I can pass on the 10% discount I received.

 

Give me a shout if you are selling all the timing parts. Would be interested.

[Craig 0]

Hmm always an option. Moneys not good tho at the mo as I'm in-between moving, not sure of the diagnosis on mine, from what I've read on the search sounds like a shell is loose, but what do I know lol, if I take it to a garage and the labour cost is huge as the job isn't small then I could consider a fresher engine and use that as a base. Would all depend on cost tho as at this moment in time I've a lot on and obviously need to keep costs to a minimum? And if I had a another 2.9 then I would prob not ever go r32, not that's likely to happen anytime soon anyway :) I'd be happy with a supercharged VR

 

Just out of interest what the mileage and condition of your engine? Mines still pulling well and sounds lovely still full throttle, had chains and a £1300 head rebuild approx 20k miles ago but engine is now on 147k? And as I Sadi not had a mechanic actually look at it yet so might not be serious, he hopes :)

[Rams 0]

My vr is around 112,000 miles, oil changes at correct intervals, doesnt use oil or water and fires up and idles spot on. There is just the slight tap noise, very slight but thats why I bought the new timing stuff as it sounds like the tensioner pad.

 

My main worry is the time its going to take for me to get the r32 in. If If im buying the engine and loom, I believe I can send it away with the r32 ecu or do you think its best to run a stand alone ecu? I am able to get the clocks and keys and any other bits I need, would that mean I dont need to get the software flashed? Advise would be great......

 

If I run the mocal oil cooler, can the r32 sit on the front oem mount? Some say to cut the rear mount by 15 / 20 mm, is this necessary? Is there not enough room to fit the r32 downpipe and marry with the c exhaust? Is that why people use the dubpower system and similar designs?

 

Can I fit the mk4 r32 dials in the c dash?

Can I use the R32 Acc pedal or does the fuse box foul the pedal arm?

 

Am I opening up a can of worms by having the climate control along with the transplant? My car doesnt have air con now but the r32 being broken has it all. Once I'm confident with these answers, I can proceed and snap it all up.

 

What work can I have done before I need to give the car to the mechanic, the wiring loom made up for the transplant, will he need my vr loom or could I just source another spare vr loom and send that with it?

 

Basically, my mechanic is good at being tidy, very talented but isnt really a vw nutter, he likes his BMW's! I want to have all the fussy stuff done and present him with the r32 engine and help out where possible.

[coullstar 0]

If it were me Id probably buy the whole car and just fettle the engine and plonk it back in the R.

[fla 9]

yours is just the scenario i would envisage for mine - a Corrado bodyshell with an R32 underneath and inside. So whether this means swopping all the r32 bits to the C, or swopping the corrado body onto the R chassis would be the issue for me. The latter is probably not feasible though, although 4wd seems too much effort and i would opt for a 2wd. I'm not really that confident when it comes to cutting chassis parts... In any case, at that price wi would buy it anyway, take your time over a decision. Then if you decided not to proceed, i dont think you'd have much issue in selling it on again.

[Rams 0]

I did think about the entire car but im sure he would want to much money, the engine and loom stuff at 800 seems good, plus it will give me time as I will to fix the engine first, so if the conrod is bent then I can get forge ones and new competition bearings which are not expensive but the conrods will cost a fair bit. Its buying something unknown, but I have used any finance so far for any of the work and quite like working hard and buying bits when funds allow.

 

Ive seen R32 lumps on ebay for 2 grand and dont come with all the bits im getting, even if I replaced the conrod with normal ones, thats only going to be a couple of hundred pounds plus lab.

 

All my body work is being attended to as we speak, in the next couple of weeks, the car will be re sprayed, Ive got interest already on my vr engine and havent advertised yet. Ive been reading for like a week, streaming through pages and pages and for someone like me whos never read a book cover to cover, I happily sit there and take as much of it in a possible.

 

Once some kind people have confirmed some of my questions, then bobs your uncle and you know who fanny is! I will ask the question for the overall cost, but only incase someone on here wants other bits or indeed the car minue and engine and look etc.

 

I have been offered my old G60 back for spares or repairs, its nugget yellow, stage 4 supercharger, extensive head and engine work, Bilstine fully ajustable coilovers, deep dish wheels and gagues etc. Im really just after the suspension but he wants 1200 for the entire car. It needs body work sorting on it, but has a fully audio rockford install. If interested, let me know, again a Bournemouth car, but the coilovers are mine! lol

[quicky1980 0]

R32 engines can be found occasionally for under £1000 with most things still attatched. The costs involved can be when you have wiring looms modified and exhausts manifolds needed for it to fit right.

 

Turbo, AWD 6speed haldex CAN be achieved, but it depends on how much money and time you want to put into it.

 

R32 gearbox will not fit onto the corrado subframe without some mounts being modded. AWD conversion has been done a few time, look it up on here.

 

A r32 swap if you did EVERYTHING yourself could come in at under £1300 but more realisticly it will be between £2-£3k depending on where you get parts and work done. I think Ive heard "specialists" charge well over £4-£5k!!

 

The r32 engine is great, but a well built 12V engine is not far off at being as good.

[Rams 0]

Ok cool, then it means I dont need to buy the gearbox.....

 

AWD isnt calling loudly at the moment, its just a future thought when I learn and progress more into the C.

 

So 12V Gearbox, with the final 3.68 drive and new clutch

r32 Engine

R32 ECU

R32 Loom and keys/clocks

 

Manifold still to get

 

Different radiators? Slim line?

Mocal oil coller or use 12v cooler? If I use the mocal, I dont need to adjust the front engine mount?

 

I want to get everything first so the job can be done. Then its just common sense......... hopefully

[Kevin Bacon 5]

So 12V Gearbox, with the final 3.68 drive and new clutch

r32 Engine

 

That will be seriously rapid!

 

Different radiators? Slim line?

Mocal oil coller or use 12v cooler? If I use the mocal, I dont need to adjust the front engine mount?

 

Yep, slim fans will be needed and the R32 uses a bigger heat exhanger for the oil, which won't fit in the corrado if using the standard front engine mount bracket, so a mocal is probably a good idea.

[fla 9]

The r32 engine is great, but a well built 12V engine is not far off at being as good.

 

Thats interesting to know

[Rams 0]

Is that 1 slim line fan or 2? Id like to keep the engine mount as is, I have a new one ready for that to. 19 row mocal should suffice? Is that with the sandich plate?

Cheers Kev,

[quicky1980 0]

The r32 engine is great, but a well built 12V engine is not far off at being as good.

 

Thats interesting to know

 

I did have a very tired VR6 for my comparison lol

 

Slimline fan(s) are needed as previousely mentioned.

 

I dont understand gear ratios enough to see what your trying to do, but standard 12v gearbox seems OK, wouldnt mind trying a diesel final gear but then again I pref a laid back drive and have power on tap. Maybe you want all out acceleration??

 

Cooler, I wanted to keep the standard r32 cooler. The front mount wasnt hard to modify, did some trial and error welding and finally go the clearance. Am planning to change the starter motor on my car so will take a picture of the bracket at some point to show you whats involved.

 

The other thing for 6 speed r32 box, the driveshafts would have to be re-fabricated to match the different cv joints iirc

 

I started a build guide on the wiki page. its no where close to being finished but may help you figure out the work involved?

 

How much you hoping to do yourself with the mechanicals, electrical and welding?

[quicky1980 0]

One 12" slimline fan seems fine on mine but again I prob don't drive it hard enough?