Nationsx

I have a 97 1.8T A4 FWD (I know I don't like the FWD either but I got a really good price on the car for reasons I didn't know about when I first bought it).

Anyways my engine is pretty toast, I'm not 100% sure whats wrong with it... it won't stay on, it won't hold compression, theres water in the oil. My guess is I blew a head gasket and probably a couple piston rings, if not more.

The person who owned it before me was an idiot and used pure water for coolent, needless to say my whole coolent system is rusty which could've done the engine in too.

So, as far as I know my transmission is good, my turbo system is probably toast because of the rusty water and I'm not sure if the oil was making it to the turbo when it was running (the turbo was over heating... glowing red which is like 1200 degrees and threw both turbines, so I replaced it with a K04-Sport and it still got pretty warm).

I have no problem doing an engine swap myself, I just don't know where I'd find an engine thats been mantained with all the parts such as turbo, whole cooling system, stuff like that.

I owe $3200.00 on this car still, I haven't had it for that long but I've been trying to sell it broken for $3200.00 and I haven't been able to. this whole thing has been the biggest bad decision I've made ever. (I bought it for 5000.00 before taxes, under the thought that it needed just a new turbo).

I'd love to swap out an engine and actually drive the car instead of selling it, but I don't have 3k extra or else I'd just pay it off and start slowly piecing it together.

I live in Redmond Wa if that makes any difference on where you guys might suggest.

Thanks for reading my long post, and I really appreciate any input you might give me.

Hillbilly

but if you win before I do, I get half :-P

WJM

the other option is a teardown and rebuild, but that is still going to cost you a lot.

AudiMick

I believe your car is yellow also.

I would try to sell it on craiglist for parts I doubt you will get very much maybe $1000-1500.

Nationsx

It is yellow. I owe the bank 3.2k and I don't have the spare money to take a loss on it.

$4k+ even if I don't mind an engine with 80k miles on it?

AudiMick

I would think you could pickup a used 1.8T for $1-2K someone here should have a K03 for sale.(or even e-Bay)

if you did the work yourself maybe 2K.

Nationsx

How much would a front clip cost?

Would I be saving money over all?

The only thing about buying it from a place like Campbell Nelson is I don't have any history on the engine / car. Places like here, most people know what they're talking about and do take good care of their car, but have no use for it after it gets tboned or whatever.

WJM

add other parts (lines, flushing, fluids, turbo, etc)

Nationsx

"add other parts (lines, flushing, fluids, turbo, etc)"

I'm still gunna need new lines and stuff.

The sad thing is I just bought all the new valves in the cooling / turbo system, along with the lines. But then I was dumb and didn't flush out the rusty water before starting the car so I probably have to get new ones of all of those again. (the first ones were filled with orange gunk, it was the most disgusting thing I have ever smelt)

calbear92

plus, turbo, cooling system, hoses, etc. so i'd agree ~$4000+ for all said and done.

you'd still have a car that is 10 yrs old so think carefully.