B7 LS Swap: Retaining AWD

[86turbodsl]

Bang up job sir!!! I see the belt wrap is coming back to bite you. Other than that, very very nice job. You are a pioneer!

[TorchR_Z06]

That's awesome man. How does it drive?

[FatMongo]

You Sir are an evil genius.

I cant believe how quickly and neatly you got this done.

The cammed LS sounds incredibly in the little A4. Videos of AWD burnouts please.

[K1196A]

This is awesome! That rumble coming from that car just made me giggle!

[kippdipp4323]

F42CA27E-779D-421A-8E05-DE0BB28BB985.jpeg

Took it for a test drive 1 mile up the road and back and wonderful JEGS remote oil filter line blew off. Hose fitting is hardly barbed so couldn’t take the pressure I guess. Pan was emptied during test drive. Threw some oil it and new filter ran for a little while and drained to find plenty of metallic particles in oil pan.


time to park it in a storage unit until I get house built and actually have a garage to pull engine to rebuild.

[kippdipp4323]

Thanks for kind words guys.

Car drive nicely. Handles like an A4 or maybe better. Too soon to tell. Clutch feels great, suspension rides better than my F30 335i but also doesn’t feel squishy. Some drive like vibration from the solid mounted transmission at 1800 rpm in 5th and 6th gear under load but no odd vibrations other than that (60 mph fastest I went). Shift linkage feels good too. It’s crazy all the custom parts worked together nicely and a stupid ass oil line did me dirty. Stock radiator & fans with BMW water pump keep this thing at 200F steady. I’m sad to have to park this thing but I was going to pull the engine this coming winter to gap the rings and turbo charge it anyway so it is what it is. Check back in a few months.

[TorchR_Z06]

Do you think the metal shavings came from emptying the oil pan, or was it possibly a hurt motor before?

[kippdipp4323]

Do you think the metal shavings came from emptying the oil pan, or was it possibly a hurt motor before?

From emptying oil pan. Probably toasted my bearings. I’ll drop the oil pan and inspect it before I pull the motor for sure. If I’m lucky, I can swap the rod bearings and drive it this summer. Closed on my House finally and have to be out by July 13th or else I’d start doing that today lol. At the end of the day it’s a $600 block with a cam in it. I know the concept works well and hard work is done in comparison to swapping the motor. I’ll just pickup another block if it comes down to it. Just don’t have time, money or a garage at the current moment.

[FatMongo]

Is it knocking?

[TorchR_Z06]

From emptying oil pan. Probably toasted my bearings. I’ll drop the oil pan and inspect it before I pull the motor for sure. If I’m lucky, I can swap the rod bearings and drive it this summer. Closed on my House finally and have to be out by July 13th or else I’d start doing that today lol. At the end of the day it’s a $600 block with a cam in it. I know the concept works well and hard work is done in comparison to swapping the motor. I’ll just pickup another block if it comes down to it. Just don’t have time, money or a garage at the current moment.

I feel you on that. I spun my first rod bearing in my 02 Camaro pretty shortly after I went cam/heads back in 05. LSs have gotten so cheap, it's almost not even worth rebuilding unless you have REALLY high horsepower goals.

[K1196A]

I'm sorry to hear this, but look forward to the rebirth!

Good luck on the new house and move!

[StylinS-line]

Thanks for posting pics !! It is a bad ass concept brought to life …. When are ya gonna sell the kit hahahaha

[Gowking]

When are ya gonna sell the kit hahahaha

This!

[texasboy21]

Wait.. you had this thing fully installed and running for 1 mile?!?!?

Total let down, that has to hurt. What is the log term plan for the ECU and dash gauges?

[86turbodsl]

Super bummer man. I will look forward to your fixes though. I'm super impressed with how far you've come.

[kippdipp4323]

Wait.. you had this thing fully installed and running for 1 mile?!?!?

Total let down, that has to hurt. What is the log term plan for the ECU and dash gauges?

1 mile to and 1 mile back home 😂 Speedo works off abs. Eventually I’ll get the rpm from the Holley ECU and convert the canbus signal with an arduino to the Audi canbus network. I have the canbus IDs for both already. I’ll have it back up and running by fall at latest.

[texasboy21]

1 mile to and 1 mile back home 😂 Speedo works off abs. Eventually I’ll get the rpm from the Holley ECU and convert the canbus signal with an arduino to the Audi canbus network. I have the canbus IDs for both already. I’ll have it back up and running by fall at latest.

That's bananas. You need to solicit yourself as a "The Finisher" and fly around the country finishing up all these builds (mine included) that are dragging on for too long.

[Cyrik]

Super sad the motor is toast, absolutely INSANE you got this thing going in such little time... At least now you know the in's and out's of the setup now, I imagine a block swap wouldn't be too painful.

Can't wait to see what you've got in store next for us. You could make this thing the fastest AND most reliable B7 A4 out there. Looking forward to a Leroy setup in the future with twin turbskis 🤣

[Cyrik]

When are ya gonna sell the kit hahahaha

Also this. Seriously, the amount of $$$ I've dumped into my 4 banger engine just to keep it running I could've probably done an LS with the same cost. Then again fuel is expensive af right now...

[kippdipp4323]

Thanks guys.

If I was going to sell a kit, I think it would be for an entire subframe (since I had to notch OEM) that incorporates motor and transmission mounts. I don’t like my current setup and feel my current setup is a weak link. Kit would also have to have custom shift linkage and brackets for accessories. On top of that of course the bellhousing adapter and a custom ring gear. I designed the my adapter setup around the oem B8 clutch and flywheel however the ring gear would have to be custom. Add custom front axles and driveshaft. Instead of remaking the transmission tunnel I think you could get away with running a cross over pipe between subframe and transmission like the single turbo setups and run the exhaust out the drive side instead of dual, so add custom manifolds. That’s a lot of parts and therefore is going to be expensive... idk if there’s enough of a market. If the OB2 transmission doesn’t hold up, then I will have to swap in an OB4 which means finding a rear diff with the same ratio. B8 S4 and S5s are only ones I can find that have the correct ratio ( I think it’s 3.56?) but the rear diff mount is different, so add a custom rear diff mount to the list of parts. I can easily see a “kit” costing a few thousand at least. My father is a tool and die maker by trade and we could setup welding jigs for this but again, no idea if there’s a market.

[canadianA4B7]

In all honesty if you have all the tools at home just pick up the gasket/rebuild kit from the seller on LS1tech.com. Everything was about $200. Then make sure you improve the oiling drains on pistons since GM neglected to do. With all the technical stuff you’ve thrown at this make the motor worth putting in there and make sure it will last. And with that pick up a set of 4.8 pistons for your 5.3 motor. Turn it into the 5.3 H.O. that your project deserves.

https://youtu.be/3DlfDqX28xc
This will show the oil drains that GM neglected to have made into the pistons.

[JJRUSH]

WHERE CAN I GET THE TRANS ADAPTER FROM AND FLYWHEEL ADAPTER? VERY INTERESTED!

[kippdipp4323]

@JJRUSH I'm working through the bugs with the adapter plate, starter & flywheel. Once that is finalized and proven out on my own car, I will try to get quotes to have everything machined and see if it's worth selling. I have a lot of work left to do however to bring each component up to the level of I am comfortable with--I wouldn't pay for something unless it's bolt on and thoroughly tested. Problem is that this part takes time... and money... I should have some updates coming soon. I usually post videos on YouTube more frequently than anywhere else.

[kippdipp4323]

Sorry I haven't posted here in a while. Been spending the winter ironing out a new design for the flywheel as well as fixing the adapter plate. I found out that the OB2 and OB4/ZF8HP use slightly different dowel locations and have been taking the time to make sure the adapter plate design encompasses all engine / transmission combinations. In addition to that, I've designed a new flywheel module (has ring gear on it--similar to traditional torque converter automatic flexplate) that works in combination with an off the shelf starter.

[kippdipp4323]

Flywheel is done, and many other updates:

[GOODBYNAAIR]

Awesome swap! keep up the great work! In the video on that last page with during the 1st drive did I spot you wearing a Siemens branded polo? Not many people have them, If So I worked for them as well, big engineering /controls / PLCs / VFDs company.

Great work keep it up!

[kippdipp4323]

Nope, but it was my work polo, which is a tier one automotive company. I know a little PLC but not too much. I’m a manufacturing engineer technically but since that video now I’ve switched positions to another department so now I’m mostly programming CNCs which is pretty fun.
Thanks!

[kippdipp4323]

Finally got the starter figured out (it barely fits but clears everything) and started on some new motor mounts!