Rescued a wounded Bird
07-18-2010, 10:07 AM
#1
Rescued a wounded Bird Picked this up last week- 129k 94 A4 Formula. Gave the guy $600.00 and hauled it away on a flatbed. Gave him $200.00 more this week. I have to drag this car into the garage with a 9:1 haul system with a climbing rope so I can start taking it apart. LR tire is flat. Wasn't room to drop it in the garage because of the fenceline next to it. I'd rather rebuild a trans than an engine at this point. Engine is bone stock- not even a TB bypass.
The story (maybe):
Guy thinks it's locked up. "Just went 'clunk' and quit running." He thinks the oil pump went bad and the engine locked. Not so fast... he installed a Monster transmission in it less than 2k mi. before something bad happened. No cover on the torque converter- I didn't know the 4L60E (having only owned 2 MN6 cars) had a removable cover like the TH350s and 400s.
I'm hoping to find a flex plate bolt backed out and wedged or something like that. It still shifts into neutral and the back half of the trans does what it's supposed to do with the drive shaft. As it is, the crank won't turn. You A4 experts- can one of these lock in the front and keep the crank from turning?
The story (maybe):
Guy thinks it's locked up. "Just went 'clunk' and quit running." He thinks the oil pump went bad and the engine locked. Not so fast... he installed a Monster transmission in it less than 2k mi. before something bad happened. No cover on the torque converter- I didn't know the 4L60E (having only owned 2 MN6 cars) had a removable cover like the TH350s and 400s.
I'm hoping to find a flex plate bolt backed out and wedged or something like that. It still shifts into neutral and the back half of the trans does what it's supposed to do with the drive shaft. As it is, the crank won't turn. You A4 experts- can one of these lock in the front and keep the crank from turning?
Last edited by Gojira94; 01-08-2011 at 10:02 PM.
07-18-2010, 11:14 AM
#6
Engine bay: Why try to replace the Opti if you think it's locked up? Car included new Opti in the box with shipping label dated April 28th. I put my prototype cap/rotor/isolator on it. 
Worst case- rebuild shortblock with 355 pistons, wait to do heads & cam later, have Performabuilt do up the trans.
Worst case- rebuild shortblock with 355 pistons, wait to do heads & cam later, have Performabuilt do up the trans.
07-19-2010, 09:56 PM
#15
So I spent a few hours today prepping the workspace. My buddy has a 3 car outbuilding where I've done some work to the green car. Instead of the usual narrow side spot he offered to let me take the center spot if I'd organize his garage. He and his wife moved in there in March and it's gotten out of hand since then. I didn't mind a bit- been kinda wanting to do it for him. Chalk it up to my OCD.
Here's pics of the exterior. RR quarter, LF fender are losing (lost) clearcoat, both mirrors too. No big deal. I can do the paint work and it'll look really good. Tires are shot, so looking to replace the wheels at the same time rather than refinish the swirlies...
Here's pics of the exterior. RR quarter, LF fender are losing (lost) clearcoat, both mirrors too. No big deal. I can do the paint work and it'll look really good. Tires are shot, so looking to replace the wheels at the same time rather than refinish the swirlies...
07-19-2010, 10:08 PM
#16
lol... if only... I have yet to pull a few plugs and see if it'll turn, myself. Down to the nitty gritty and finding the problem. Probably have a definitive answer Wednesday when I get back over there. I'm hoping the input shaft is locked inside the trans. I want to rebuild the engine, but would like to have a chance to plan the build, save for it and do it right. But not yet. I want to DD it a little before that as it is (if possible with a trans fix). If it's motor, plan B...
07-20-2010, 09:41 PM
#19
Going back in the morning to see if I can coax it into turning before I drop the trans.
Anybody foresee a problem dropping it while leaving the torque converter attached to the flexplate? I think I should be able to get enough angle to move the bellhousing further back than you'd normally have to but I'd love to hear if someone had done it successfully before the cursing and sweating starts.
Anybody foresee a problem dropping it while leaving the torque converter attached to the flexplate? I think I should be able to get enough angle to move the bellhousing further back than you'd normally have to but I'd love to hear if someone had done it successfully before the cursing and sweating starts.
