Ok...story...short version...

Buy 1989 GTU (yup...it's a GTU, mark...was really hoping for those vented rears and dual caliper fronts...). Car has a cracked block. Speant almost 2 years not being able to afford a rebuidt engine. I can afford it now but I'm wanting to spend my money on something very very fast. I have two complete 1986/7 base models. Too many of my S5 components have been either broken or lost over the last year so I'm stuck with finding a complete S5 longblock for less than $1k, or swapping in one of my complete S4 setups for free. I've chosen the latter.

If I swap the ECU, dash harness, and the underhood components (under the hood is covered) would the S4 setup work fine in the car?

 

and sorry for the newbish question if it sounds like that...I am searching for my answers as well...

 

http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/series4swap.html

And I forgive you for the newbish question. I know you spend the majority of your time whoring in the lounge...

There is a FAQ at the top of the page. Its got most of these questions already answered.

 

wow...I didn't know that write-up existed...thanks j-rat!

 

Dont thank me, thank the loveable and cuddly Kevin Landers for taking the time to enrichen all of our lives.

Jarrett

 

no wait...that's not what I need. That link, plus what's at the top of the page, goes into how to swap just the block. I don't want a car to think's an S5 when it's got an S4 block...I want the car to know it's an S4 with an S4 block.

 

Why in gods green earth would you want to do that?

 

I have everything for an S4...I have only half what I need for an S5...pretty self explanatory...

 

WEll, I didnt pick up if your long block accessories all work...

With my car (89 GTU) It has ALL S5 stuff, EXCEPT, the LIM (everything else in the intake is S5, for the additional 10+ HP) and the actual 88 block and rotors. I'm not quite sure about the OMP, but I guess it'd be safe to say its S4... which if it is, IM glad, as the S5 electrical OMPs are teh **** so I hear....

 

oops, now I see it....

nm then.

 

^yeah...if I had everything I needed for the S5 except the block there wouldn't be a problem...I don't even have all the propper injectors and such...

 

screw it...I'll just gut the car and swap everything...problem solved...

 

Reason I asked is, once you start swapping ECUs, etc.. Your going to have to swap harnesses, dash, etc, too.

Its a bitch to make an S5 car a TRUE s4 car

 

I know...which is why I wanted to know what all needed swapping and what would interchange...and what all can be worked around.

 

Like I said...I'll just start tearing her down. Completely strip her interior...and go from there. Completely swap everything.

 

Seems like a lot of work to take a 15hp loss, swap to an inferior efi system, and lower the resale value of the car by 50% or so. But hey, it;s your car.

IF you decide to go the s5 route, I can help..shortblock or longblock, I can rebuild one for you to spec...plug and play.

 

that would be helpful if I had the parts to rebuild it. It was very cracked and extreemy thrashed.

 

plus I just want a decent autoX car...why spend the $2000 for an engine the way I want it, or reliable used one for $1000 when I can do this for free and spend the $1000 on an exhaust, intake, S-AFC, and a 60-1 clip for my 7m-GTE?

 

Because used motors usually don't last long, and conversions don't always run like the stock one did.

However, it is obvious you have made up your mind already. Let us know (i a few weeks) how it turns out, and if you still think it was worthwhile *after* having to go through all that work.

 

Why not part out the S5 and do the right thing: build an S4. If your S5 has a complete interior then you can swap it over, along with the tail lights, wheels, etc.

 

I would part out the S5...was one of my original intentions. But my S4 has a crap body. The quarters are fubarbed, that's the big thing, bet then there's quite a bit of other crap wrong with it (suspension and rear electrical).

And, RR, I know that used engines don't last long and conversions aren't quite the same. Trust me, though, with the exhaust work, intake work, plus the VDI (if I can find all the parts) the 15hp loss will be more than compensated for. This car isn't the primary project.