intermediate shaft swapping on 3a (audi 80 2.0l) possibility so original dist can be used?

[bpederndern]

trying to make a decision based on my limited bdget.

have a 2.0l 16v block that i may be able to convert to an 8v with a piston swap.

can i swap in the intermediate shaft from a 1.8 8v motor into the 16v block so i can run the original distributor? or am i stuck having to source an audi 80 distributor to make this work?

[fwdvw]

can i swap in the intermediate shaft from a 1.8 8v motor into the 16v block so i can run the original distributor? or am i stuck having to source an audi 80 distributor to make this work?

You can swap the intermediate shaft to use the smaller Disti' gear but the disti' base is larger too. Best to source the Audi 80 Disti'. This is true for the 3A block. There is an adaptor ring you can use on the disti' base to fill the larger hole.

I can't verify this but i have heard rumors that this ring does not allow the disti' bushing to get oil since it blocks the oil source.

[Glegor]

1.8 shafts DO NOT WORK in a 2 litre bottom end..

the crank throw is enough bigger, that the crank hits the gear on the end of the shaft..

1.8 and 2.0 IM shafts (complete assembly) are DIFFERENT.

the 2.0 uses a MUCH thinner gear on the end, so the crank wont hit..

[WaterWheels]

An Audi 3A is not a 16v engine but an 8v engine, no? So if you only have the short block and it has 16v pistons in it, it was converted to a 16v some where along it's life or you are using a wrong engine code. This could make a difference in your problem/project depending on exactly what engine it really is.

[bpederndern]

the block i have is a 9a (currently has 16v pistons in it) but i want to convert it to an 8v (3a specs) by swapping in a set of 3a pistons.

was just curious because i had a perfectly good 1.8l intermediate shaft....and the zero mile rebuilt block just sitting in my room

i am trying to find the least expensive/cost effective......and quickest way to get an engine back in my 88 golf

[Glegor]

the block i have is a 9a (currently has 16v pistons in it) but i want to convert it to an 8v (3a specs) by swapping in a set of 3a pistons.

was just curious because i had a perfectly good 1.8l intermediate shaft....and the zero mile rebuilt block just sitting in my room

i am trying to find the least expensive/cost effective......and quickest way to get an engine back in my 88 golf

Find an ABA bottom end, bolt your counterflow 8v head onto it, and drop that in there..

ABAs are cheap.. last one i got, was 75 bucks, and came with a transmission as well..

or you could try and mess around building an 8v out of a 16v..

but without a 2L intermediate shaft, nothing will ever work..

1.8 IM shafts have too wide of a gear to work in a 2.0 block, for the reasons i pointed out above..

the tall block 2.0 is a better engine than the 3A anyways, and a hell of alot cheaper, and easier to find.

do you have the 9A im shaft? do you have the 3a oil pump and distributor?

the 9A shaft, 3A oil pump, and 3A dizzy should make it so you can run a block dizzy again..

you may be able to use a regular old 8v oil pump, and get the dizzy adapter ring, and use a 1.8 dizzy in it as well..

[WaterWheels]

the block i have is a 9a (currently has 16v pistons in it) but i want to convert it to an 8v (3a specs) by swapping in a set of 3a pistons.

Got it. Just didn't understand it that way up front.

was just curious because i had a perfectly good 1.8l intermediate shaft....

Is there something wrong or some other reason you don't just use the 9A shaft? The pistons should be easy to find used on Ebay or removed from a block at a junk yard. I now it cost a little, but you can just purchase the kit for installing a 1.8L ignition distributor in a 2.0L block. Comes with the reduction ring and new distributor gear to mate with the thinner shaft gear.