Hey everyone,

New on the forums here and I am not as familiar with the options available for the B5 A4 as I'd like to be. I've spent most of my time in the past couple of years on my '02 WRX. We have a '98 Audi A4 1.8t quattro also and we've been looking recently at starting to do some work to it. Unfortunately, the timing belt snapped and I know that at least some if not most or all of the valves are busted.

Quotes from shops around are obviously very high and I'd rather get in there myself to fix it if possible. Given that we'll have the front end off and the head open, I figured now was as good a time as any to get to work on some upgrades.

Firstly, I've been looking at some Supertech Intake and Exhaust valves. I haven't opened it up yet so I don't know how much damage was done to the valves or piston heads. There are some other options I've seen, but general consensus I've seen is that these are a good choice. I've done a couple of cam swaps, but I've never done a complete valve swap before. I have a friend who will be helping me that has done a few valve jobs before but I'd like to be a little more up to speed on what the whole job will entail once we have the head off.

We also have the option of just replacing the head. Is there a good head swap that is recommended or is the stock head pretty much the best option?

The Timing Belt obviously also needs to be replaced. I've seen a few timing belt replacement kits around and was wondering if anyone had some recommendations on which are the best quality for the $$. I've also seen the ECS belt and lightweight crank pulley kit, but was worried about some reviews of the lightweight pulley throwing off the engine balance, doing a lot more harm than it helps. Has anyone else experienced this or know if this is a good or bad idea?

Are there any other minor performance upgrades you would recommend starting with after the necessary replacements to get her running again?

Thanks for everyone's help! Hope to be spending some more time on here once we get our A4 project off the ground.

 

Your 98 has the AEB head which is the large port, 2000+ A4's got the small port head. So you have the right head.

 

I seemed to think the blauparts full kit gave you the best bang for your buck when I was researching timing belt kits. Free shipping when I ordered too, and it wasnt that long ago so they might still be doing that too.

 

Timing belt kits aren't all that big, they will actually fit into a USPS flat rate box. Going USPS it can be anywhere in the 48 states in 2-3 days for a very small cost and could be better then sitting around waiting for normal free ground shipping that might take a week.

 

Good to know that the head we have is the best one. So a rebuild of the valvetrain it is. Right now the car has some time to sit, we have other transportation and the time to do this right. Has anyone else used the Supertech valves or any others for that matter and care to share a positive or negative opinion? Did you do the valve replacement yourself?

I'm trying to figure out what I'll be looking at doing before I get started here. I know we pull the head off and I know that there are large valve clamps needed to disassemble the valvetrain, but what kind of tolerances and clearances am I going to be looking to ensure when I put it back together? What else will need to be replaced, if anything, besides just the valves themselves?

I appreciate the responses on the belt and will look into some of the other kits. Any experience with a lightweight pulley?

Thanks for the responses everyone. Would a photo walkthrough of my work by appreciated once I get this project started?

 

I run Supertech valves/springs in my car and have sold them to other people. I run my car to 8500 rpms and make 800hp.

Just make sure to get inconel exhaust valves.


Nothing to be gained by going light weight pulley.