The Project Pad

I like! A B6 I actually like!

loxxrider wrote:Nice! This thread is once again relevant to my interests... a lime green Holslut... awesome.

Happy to oblige. It's nice to be on the big-boy version but being a grown up is definitely laggier.

dana wrote:lets do some tuning saturday! I am indeed free.

Cannot wait!

PRY4SNO wrote:Don't swap it to a B5, for the love of all that's holy! I love the B6 chassis, can't wait to do an avant build myself. You know, a responsible family wagon. haha

Great work so far, looking forward to updates!

I like the Avants better, but I think I'll like it a lot better once I paint the lower moldings. I'm glad someone else has a love for these! Thanks and me either, dyno can't come soon enough (except I still have so much to do... )

deaner wrote:I like! A B6 I actually like!

Ha that's kind of how I feel. At least when I'm driving it I can just enjoy the minty interior and almost forget I'm driving a B6 haha

A couple more pics for fun, because that is the best part of any build thread.

Here she is in the garage I built almost everything in. It stops where the second crack is. I had about 5ft of usable space in front of the car TOPS which made everything an unimaginable pain. I work outside when possible.


Bringing the 1.8T home:


Another of the Southbend Clutch Kit. I can't say enough about this setup, it's almost stock drivability ways and rated to well over what I'm shooting for. No chatter from the flywheel and easy to modulate!


Gromit with the HX35 for scale haha


Me trying to be a little artsy:


Hope everyone enjoys the pics, thanks for following along!

How does gromit like the B6? I just keep picturing the back of the Subaru...

Nice work Shawn, looks great. That's a pretty clean and thorough build you've got there.

I was pretty intent on buying a B6 before I decided on the allroad. If I didn't have 3 kids it woulda been a b6, but it is a bit small for 3 car seats. I still don't really trust the 2.7t and would have loved a little 4 banger though.

DE08q wrote:How does gromit like the B6? I just keep picturing the back of the Subaru...

Gromit is not a B6 fan. We had some issues when it first got on the road and a few days of commuting with a downpipe only and the occasional gunshot backfire got him spooked. He's learning to like it now though.

chaloux wrote:Nice work Shawn, looks great. That's a pretty clean and thorough build you've got there.
I was pretty intent on buying a B6 before I decided on the allroad. If I didn't have 3 kids it woulda been a b6, but it is a bit small for 3 car seats. I still don't really trust the 2.7t and would have loved a little 4 banger though.

Thanks! The goal was to try and build something really well rounded and durable for relatively little money. I've probably got $3k into this including the car so I'm pretty happy with the result. Will be more happy with more boost

You are a better man than me for working on a 2.7, I've never really worked on a V configuration Audi before these and just pulling the motors I was like "and add two turbos? no thanks."

Minor update for you guys, it's been making 15psi since the weekend when I can keep the boost pipes on... I have one I need to extend and adjust just a bit. It holds but after enough pulls it starts coming loose.

Also I did a compression test for the first time today, results were 180psi 175psi 175psi 185psi warm and I am SO EXCITED about that. Garage built FTW

yes! Love the AAN wastegate!

will it now be able to outrun my TDI now that the boost is up?

seriously, car is running well. Can wait to feel it with the boost up in the range that holsets like.

dana wrote:will it now be able to outrun my TDI now that the boost is up?

seriously, car is running well. Can wait to feel it with the boost up in the range that holsets like.

Sure, you had me from a 2k roll, I seem to remember the rest of the pulls going a bit differently

Turbo rebuild kit will be here Saturday, replaced the outer tie rod todaday (pinch bolt got stuck...you weren't kidding) and then she should be pretty much ready to rock at 20psi down to H20.

More pictures:

Hanging out with the cool kids:





Some pics taken around the corner from my house:










I have access to a real camera now- I can't help myself

Thanks for following along!

lookin good! whats that ratty looking b3 in the background?

I'll add some pictures later but I have been dailying this thing since my last post and it's been dead nuts reliable. I did shear some manifold-turbo bolts, but I've got that issue sorted now (double gaskets, downpipe hanger and extra exhaust hangers).

I made it down to H2O and around and back. 1600+ miles in 5 days, lots of cruising the strip in OC, many, many boosted pulls. The car made 20psi for most of the trip and I beat it hard and had no issues. At the end of the trip the catch can (oil quart container with top cut off) had less than a finger in it and based off how watery it was and how much rain I drove through/in I think half of that was just water.

So yeah, 5k+ miles on the engine and it seems we have success! I still have a few loose ends (it is a project after all...) but I have dyno time scheduled with Mr. Swanson the 6th or 7th of November. I have quite a bit of work to do- it is ready for tuning but I want to finish up as many other odds and ends beforehand so that after tuning I can just drive it for a while and not mess with it. It is a daily afterall

This thread needs moar vids!

PRY4SNO wrote:This thread needs moar vids!

Fine here's a quickie coming into boost in 3rd in the Baltimore tunnel: https://instagram.com/p/8dQE6eoVP8/

I'll try to get more soon!

Nice work Shawn. I too bought a B6, for DD service. I got a 1.8t ultrasport with 6spd manual and actually love the car. I would have started a thread on it, but I told myself I wouldnt start that till my B4 sold. I want to build a motor for it to play with, but I got too many irons in the fire atm so it's on the backburner for now. Here is a teaser at least.... I really like the ultrasport bumpers way better than any others.

Nice! I've been thinking of importing a 1.9tdi quattro a4 since they're at the 15 year mark

scubadave wrote:Nice work Shawn. I too bought a B6, for DD service. I got a 1.8t ultrasport with 6spd manual and actually love the car. I would have started a thread on it, but I told myself I wouldnt start that till my B4 sold. I want to build a motor for it to play with, but I got too many irons in the fire atm so it's on the backburner for now. Here is a teaser at least.... I really like the ultrasport bumpers way better than any others.

2015-10-17 14.27.35.jpg

Thank you!! That is a good looking B6 you have there! I like the Ultrasport bumpers a lot, and man does the body matched lowers make it entirely better! I think those look How do you like the ratios on your 6 speed? I'm not sure how I feel about the ratios in my 01E yet...

I was originally going to body match all the lowers on mine, but honestly it is SO low key with the black lowers, I might just keep them. I'm starting to get into the sleeper thing a bit haha If I ever go crazy with the body I think it'd be S4 bumpers and a Nogaro respray

GUYS- I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep tonight... because I'm too excited to hit the dyno with Marc tomorrow!! This is better than Christmas!! The best part is I'm so happy with where the car is at that there is very little anxiety surrounding this event

So, pre dyno status is that the car is making ~22psi and 3rd is a LOT of fun My horribly calibrated butt dyno says baseline will be in the area of 300awhp. Goal is to break 400whp which should be pretty possible, after that I'll leave it up to Marc in terms of what he's comfortable with.

I leave Burlington at 5am tomorrow and hit the dyno at 9AM. I'm leaving myself an extra hour in case of issues, so I can check plugs, oil, bolts etc. when I get there and in hopes of squeezing in a nap in Marc's driveway. Yesterday I did an oil change to Rotella T6 and mann filter, threw in some NGK 4554 (heat range 8) plugs gapped to .020, put in a brand new O2 sensor, and installed my turbo brace I built Wednesday in anticipation of tomorrow.

Really this post is because I've never dyno'd a car before and I'm crazy excited and I know you guys can appreciate my current mood

w00t!

It's so exciting to get a car tuned and or on the dyno. Totally understand your excitement! Good luck.

I'm excited! I wish I could drive up to watch, best of luck and take a video!

Needs to beat 425 whp or forever be branded as making less hp than a I0v!!!!

Good luck Shawn! Looking forward to seeing what it does! Maybe someday I'll finaly get mine up to Mark to tune.

Lol... Taco so relentless.

Having the car well sorted out is the best way to ensure success on the dyno

The less bs you have to deal with the better. Looking forward to some graphs!