The Project Pad

Zerb wrote:Who said it was my car Aaron ;-]

posted from a computer in my pants

audifreakjim wrote:My buddy has a second to last gen rx7 with an ls swap. It's super clean and easy to do.

alxdgr8 wrote:Lsx is smaller (width wise at least, not sure about length) than an audi v8 so it should be no problem. There was a b5 with a sbc swap a while back.

wulfgang wrote:So I picked up a 2001 V8 from an A8 yesterday (AKB engine code) with 52k miles for $1400. It looks nice and clean and seemed like a good deal. I intend to put it into my Boxster S, which currently has 54k miles. Not knocking the Porsche engine, but the Audi engine has advantages:

1. Sounds much better.
2. Is much cheaper (cheaper parts too).
3. Does not have IMS failure potential.
4. Comes rated for 310 hp (vs 250 hp) from the factory.

I took measurements of this engine since that's the first thing I wanted to know when I got to this forum (thanks to hilly and timmmy for posting dimensions of other variants). Pics of the measurements are below, but here are the dimensions, rounded to the nearest 1/4":

2001 AKB dimensions:
Bottom of sump to top of black plastic valve thing on top of intake manifold: 26"
Bottom of sump to top of intake manifold: 24.5"
Left timing belt cover to right timing belt cover: 30.25"
Front of crank pulley to bell-housing face: 20"
Front of snout on fan pulley to bell-housing face: 21"

A few things to note on the dimensions:

1. I don't know what that black valve is (yet). Taking it off/relocating it would make the overall height 25" because the motor on the DBW throttle body sticks up another 0.5" above the intake manifold. Removing the e-gas and going with a cable throttle could potentially make the overall height just 24.5".

2. I do not intend to use the engine fan because this will go into a mid-engined application. So removing the fan pulley and re-routing the fan belt (possibly with another idler pulley) brings the length down to 20".

3. The exhaust manifolds on this engine do not stick out past the valve covers, which means that the upper timing covers determine the widest part of the engine.

This engine is short enough (20") front-to-back to fit the Boxster engine bay, and it is a full 6" narrower than the Boxster engine. The main challenge will be the height, which will end up at 25" after I move that valve. The bay can only accommodate 24", so something will have to be done about that. Maybe remove the deepest part of the sump and add sump volume in other areas? Dry sump? The other challenge will be mounting the engine, since the Boxster uses a single centered front engine mount and two tranny mounts.

Btw, I think I'll go with a SEMS for this and come up with some hack to mix a PWM idle control signal with a custom servo control for the e-gas throttle. If that doesn't work, I'll just find an IACV somewhere and fab up an adapter plate for a cable throttle (that may also happen if I need that additional 0.5" on the engine height).

Also btw, I am slow. My last swap took ~6 months and was practically a bolt-up affair, so don't expect twice-daily updates :wink:

And the pics:

Engine:


Height measurement:


Width measurement:


Length measurement:


The car:

scubadave wrote:Ha ha ha, Ed, I have that motor in my garage as we speak. I got that puppy from wolfgang a few years back. I would be happy to part with it for way less than I got it for if there is interest.