Introducing Project B6 420-TS Avant.

[Nollywood]

Some comparison shots - starting with the rubbish an eBay seller sent me. Worse, this is a business seller! [evilmad]





Comparison between the rubbish cluster, and a spare regular B6 cluster:





B6 S4 Convertible cluster:





B6 S4 Convertible cluster with the cowling / frame, vs B6 A4 Avant cluster:

[Nollywood]

I've been searching for a decent car upholsterer, to trim my B7 Seat Exeo dash, B7 Convertible centre console, and the lower dash, including the glove compartment lid.


The majority are only okay to do custom leather on seats and door cards, not too keen on much else. I've finally found a show that will upholster just about anything in leather, with customisable stitching too. I'm going to visit the shop owner in person tomorrow, to have a more in depth discussion, though from our telephone conversation, he sounds pretty enthusiastic.


I am also looking at getting all my beltline trim done in carbon fibre, but a bit different from the normal black / grey.


I'm looking at this:

[Nollywood]

As for headlamps...


I was considering OEM B6 S4 HID units. But after looking around, I see LED units as the way forward. There are several LED bulbs with heat sinks out there, but so far, none have cut the grade, as far as I'm concerned.


Last night, my solution came from an unexpected source, from driving an unexpected vehicle...


...and I ended up with dedicated LED headlamps, with external ballasts. Available in different configuration and sizes, and with dedicated dipped and main units, I can see nothing better, that will better these. The beam travels much further than I expected LED's to do, further than my 2005 D3 A8 4.2 Quattro, which had BiXenons! Very crisp cut-off, too.


These will be mounted within genuine B6 S4 housings.

















These are not LED's simply thrown together to create a useable headlamp, they are dedicated, purpose-made items. Each unit features 2 LED's and the same number of projectors. Ballasts are a mere 22 watts each, though they also come in 35 and 55 watts.


Lumen output is 4300, 4700, 5000 or 5200 Kelvins.

[Nollywood]

I may have secured a workshop, in which to carry out the first stage in creating B6 420-TS, the first step being going OEM B7 Widebody.


I'm just waiting to hear from the realtor, if our terms are mutually acceptable. I will also be purchasing the paint - basecoat, pearl, lacquer, primer, thinners and hardener etc in the upcoming week.

[Nollywood]

So, I've gotten hold of a pair of genuine B6 S4 Xenon headlamps, with the trademark grey innards. Really pleased with them. I'll see what I want to do with the main beams once they arrive.

[Nollywood]

Updated list - April 21st, 2017:


B6 S4 front spindles.
B6 S4 front lower arms.
B6 S4 front upper arms.
B6 A4 / S4 front sway bar C-links.
B7 RS4 Wheels - 9.0" x 19" ET 29.
Built B6 3.0 / C5 2.5 V6 TDI 01E 6-speed gearbox.
B6 A4 3.0 Quattro (pre-2002) 4.11:1 rear differential.
B6 A4 3.0 Quattro (pre-2002) 01E shifter.
Brembo 6-piston front calipers, rotors TBC.
Brembo rear calipers, and Brembo parking brake calipers, rotors TBC.
B6 S4 KW V3 or Eibach Pro-Street adjustable coilovers.
B6 A4 2.5 V6 TDI Quattro front axles and 01E gearbox output flanges (130mm).
Vibratechnics aluminium Motorsport engine mounts (will work for my 3.0 V6, and the D3 4.2 V8 40V).
Custom V8 40V solid billet steel flywheel.
B5 A4 Quattro front subframe.
B6 custom solid rear differential mounts.
B7 RS4 OEM complete exhaust (cat-back) with active rear mufflers.
B7 RS4 Avant rear bumper.
B6 RS4-style hood grille.
B7 RS4 Side Skirts.
B7 RS4 rear door, right-hand side.
B7 RS4 rear door, left-hand side.
B7 RS4 fender, right-hand side.
B7 RS4 fender, left-hand side.
B7 RS4 Avant rear quarter, right-hand side.
B7 RS4 Avant rear quarter, left-hand side.
B7 RS4 front bumper (as donor for the corners).
B6 S4 Xenon headlamps.
B7 RS4 front wheel arch liners.
B7 RS4 rear wheel arch liners.
B7 RS4 gas tank flap.
B7 RS4 Avant black headlining with all matching trims and sun visors.
B7 Seat Exeo dashboard.
B6 S4 Convertible instrument cluster.
B7 Seat Exeo glovebox.
B8 S4 aluminium mirrors, with integral LED side repeaters.

[Nollywood]

It's typical to have a goal in mind, in terms of a powerplant in a project car. We know what we want, yet we end up with more than we originally planned. When is a project ever really completed?


It's no different with me, and today, I've ended up with a second C5 RS6 short engine. So, block, oil pan, crank, rods and pistons. These should be with me sometime in the coming week. I'm super excited about the new route I'm planning on taking.


I won't be using the crank though, a regular D3 40V crank will replace the C5 RS6 item.

[Nollywood]

As usual, a slight deviation in plans.


The seller of the C5 RS6 short engine kind of delayed things. I kind of feel I've been given the run around. When you almost have to beg an individual to send you his Paypal address, so you can pay, that becomes a royal pain in the ****. He would also read messages, and not bother responding. Bizarre!


I ended up purchasing a complete C5 RS6 motor, and I mean, complete. It has a knock under load from cylinder #2 , which isn't really a concern, as I'm using a D3 4.2 V8 crank, and rebuilding the engine with new bearings. It's complete with manifolds and turbos, and the intake.


It's paid for, I just need to either organise collection, or delivery.

[Nollywood]

Updated list - April 24th, 2017:


B6 S4 front spindles.
B6 S4 front lower arms.
B6 S4 front upper arms.
B6 A4 / S4 front sway bar C-links.
B7 RS4 Wheels - 9.0" x 19" ET 29.
Built B6 3.0 / C5 2.5 V6 TDI 01E 6-speed gearbox.
B6 A4 3.0 Quattro (pre-2002) 4.11:1 rear differential.
B6 A4 3.0 Quattro (pre-2002) 01E shifter.
Brembo 6-piston front calipers, rotors TBC.
Brembo rear calipers, and Brembo parking brake calipers, rotors TBC.
B6 S4 KW V3 or Eibach Pro-Street adjustable coilovers.
B6 A4 2.5 V6 TDI Quattro front axles and 01E gearbox output flanges (130mm).
Vibratechnics aluminium Motorsport engine mounts (will work for my 3.0 V6, and the D3 4.2 V8 40V).
Custom V8 40V solid billet steel flywheel.
C5 RS6 BCY engine, complete.
B5 A4 Quattro front subframe.
B6 custom solid rear differential mounts.
B7 RS4 OEM complete exhaust (cat-back) with active rear mufflers.
B7 RS4 Avant rear bumper.
B6 RS4-style hood grille.
B7 RS4 Side Skirts.
B7 RS4 rear door, right-hand side.
B7 RS4 rear door, left-hand side.
B7 RS4 fender, right-hand side.
B7 RS4 fender, left-hand side.
B7 RS4 Avant rear quarter, right-hand side.
B7 RS4 Avant rear quarter, left-hand side.
B7 RS4 front bumper (as donor for the corners).
B6 S4 Xenon headlamps.
B7 RS4 front wheel arch liners.
B7 RS4 rear wheel arch liners.
B7 RS4 gas tank flap.
B7 RS4 Avant black headlining with all matching trims and sun visors.
B7 Seat Exeo dashboard.
B6 S4 Convertible instrument cluster.
B7 Seat Exeo glovebox.
B8 S4 aluminium mirrors, with integral LED side repeaters.

[Nollywood]

Arrangement may be altered once it goes into my B6. How much by, time will tell.