Project Happy Daze

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:32 pm

As some of you will know, after 2 years in the wilderness I will very shortly (like tomorrow) be returning to that wonderful world that is quattro.

Thanks to fellow Audifan and AOC member Alan, I'm going to be the proud owner of an 80 quattro Avant, specifically, this one:-

Now I did ask a few folk for names for this project and it was Hibby who came up with this one. I have plans for this car and if it all comes together, it won't be the fastest, quickest etc, but it will be a good all round car that has respectable performance, reasonable economy, good practicality, good safety and stability and certainly will sound nice so ultimately will be a most enjoyable car to drive. Hence I intend to have many happy days in this particular Audi.

I think Hibby also said it will be a cool as the Fonz Laughing

As mentioned, I collect the car tomorrow and drive it up to Nogin who will perform the first change to the car. This is the removal of the V6 and the installation of this:-

a 5 pot 20v (7A) engine. Very Happy

(I think the flag in the background says it all)

This will be slightly more powerful than the current 2.6 V6 (but not by much) and probably slightly more economical as well (I used to get 35 out of my CQ20V on a run) but the 7A soundtrack is something I have missed since parting with my CQ20V in 2003.

Insurance has been sorted following a recommendation of another audifan and AOC member (Hibby - thanks mate) with a couple of very keen and helpful guys (Ollie and Luke) at Sky Insurance. £270 fully comp (protected) for the year with the modified engine for both myself and the wife as named drivers I thought was pretty good. Service so far has been excellent too! Very Happy

Having not laid eyes on the car (I trust Alan 100% so felt I didn't need to) I'm not 100% sure what jobs / bits I will need but no doubt progress and questions will all be logged here.

Am I excited by this? You bet I am Very Happy

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:11 pm

Nice one Owen! Very Happy

Back in the quattro fold again, even better with the 7A soundtrack to make your ears bleed

Audi Nut Joined: Nov 23, 2009 Posts: 95

Avant looks like a good'un for sure! Looking forward to seeing progress!

Joe

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:48 pm

Looking forward to seeing this one Owen, although i thought that lump was the one out of Erics 80? Confused

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:32 pm

Excellent

I'll be following this one as closely as Titan Wink

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:56 pm

Really pleased for you Owen, I'll try to get to Erics for a look see once it's there. Will follow with interest. Any more thoughts on the fate of 'Titan' yet?
Si.

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:21 pm

Not really Si No. Sad

I want the bumpers, alloys and steering wheel for the Avant. I'll probably put the avant ones on Titan so that it at least retains the fogs. I'll probably put the 10 spokes off the avant on Titan too but then basically it's a 1.6 80 that uses a litre of oil every 800 - 1000 miles! Currently tax'd till August and MOT'd till end Feb. Had a new windscreen today coz old one got clobbered by a chunk of the M90 that had broken up last Saturday

I'd really like to see it go to someone who could use it as it's been 100% reliable and never seen me stuck, even in this awful winter we've had. Realistally though, who would want it ?

A couple of folk have said it would be worth £200 - 300...is that realistic?

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:22 pm

Owen, the Avant of Sir Cudlipp is a 'proper car'. Nearly bought it myself prior to buying my blue V6.

Great news re the transplant and if it turns out as good as Titan did then you will have feck all to worry about.

Hats orf to you squire.

Cheers

Si. Wink

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:12 pm

Cheers Si

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:21 am

Good stuff Owen ....nice transplant Cool

...cant beat a slipper wagon Very Happy

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:51 am

thats the best 20v 5 pot they ever made lol

it will look the dogs danglies with the alloys and bumpers.... Cool

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:12 am

Well, I'm at that age you know Laughing

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:13 am

Certainly is Dyl - The Glens will ring with the sound of the 5 Pot just as the valleys did once Wink

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:27 pm

"I love it when a plan comes together" Very Happy

As a type this, Owen is heading northwards to Erics in his new 80 quattro avant.
After his flight to Bristol this morning, the Green Machine was on hand to taxi him back to deepest Wiltshire. Chat/tea/bacon sarnie and then out to the car to scrape the frost off the windows Shock

and an inspection of what's what. Hopefully it's all as Owen expected...? Confused

Here's a pic of Miss Dazey (you like the new spelling?!) with his new toy:

and ready for the off:

I hope the journey to Erics goes OK and I look forward to reading progress reports as this project evolves.

Happy Daze Laughing

Alan

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

congrats owen, can't wait to follow this Very Happy

Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:35 am

Hi Guys,

Just arrived back home after a long but extremely fruitful day.

Easy-Jet flight was spot on time as was the arrival of the Green Machine. Huge thanks to Alan for this and also to his good lady for the wonderful bacon sarnie (toasted - hmmm love that) and tea.

Left Chez V6 and headed North and this was the first time I've ever driven a V6 80. I have to say I was VERY impressed. The engine is so quiet that you just cannot hear it at motorway speeds. It was so good being back in a car with quattro drive and decent power. It just ate the miles to arrive at Eric's just under three hours later (inc Pee stop).

It is certainly all and more than I expected Alan, thank you.

On arrival at Warrington, I had the full welcoming committee of Nog, Megsy and Bez. Sue soon had the brews on the go and I'm still gobsmacked that you spotted the 80 is the same colour as my old S2 - nice one Sue! Very Happy

A few hours of Eric and Sue's hospitality after the arrival of my good wife (inc kiddies and dog) to collect me and we set off home. I have to say the Skoda is a good car but the 80 was much more enjoyable to drive Very Happy

Thanks all and I'm off for a much needed kip!

Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:00 am

WoooHooo.

I can think of worse daze out....

I'll get me coat. Embarassed

Good work all round.

Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:40 pm

only the best projects start off with a major roadtrip! thumbleft

be good to see this when all is done be a nice looking and even better sounding car Very Happy

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:18 pm

Happy Daze indeed....Sarnie from "Big Al's Diner" too.... Laughing

..Really looking forward to seeing the transformations mate...Tidy looking Avant.Great colour too.. Wink

.

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:32 am

Two weeks on - "is it finished yet?" Question

Any news or updates Owen? Have you formulated a list of things to do / bits to get?

Looking forward to details of progress from behind the doors of the Nogsport Workshop.... Wink

Alan

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:47 am

yeh how are things progressing?

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 12:09 pm

I've been very good and despite biting my fingernails off I've left Nog in peace and not phoned him every 25 seconds.

Job list if along the lines of:-

Engine change
MOT
Change alloys over to competion 16" ones.
Re-paint and fit V6/S2 bumpers
Swap over the clear indicators
Repaint and fit the anti-blind spot mirrors off Titan
Then it will be some serious buffing and maybe even look for a replacement bonnet (noticed one or two very minor dents so they may push out)

After that it will be get to know my new steed and have some real driving pleasure.

After that, I want to find some projector headlamps and then fit HID kit (still miss those from the S2 days)

Would like to find some good brakes (e.g. Porsche - really liked the feel of them on the S2) but can't find suitable discs unless I go the 5 stud route which I don't want to do.

If I could do all that I really wound have a car I could totally enjoy. Very Happy

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 12:10 pm

Oh, one other thing I have to say is my contact so far with Sky Insurance has been an absolute joy! So friendly and so so helpful - Hibby, I owe you a beer for that recommendation! Very Happy

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:38 pm

How did i miss this thread... been itching to know what your plans are.
Sounds fantastic,m the insurance looks wonderful too, do you manage a club tie up Owen?

Does Nogin ever do simple jobs?!

Better still really good to see you properly enthused once again, depsite your jammy win yesterday. Watching this with great intrigue!!!

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:25 pm

Yes mate, there is a club tie up - Andy is sorting out the final details Wink

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:16 pm

I was exactly the same when he had my coupe mate!!

Have you had any feedback from Eric about this yet or is it still on his long list of things to do? Wink

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:30 pm

He had the 80 TDi to sort first before setting a hand on mine.

UltraUser Joined: Jan 30, 2003 Posts: 1743

You can use focus rs discs with the porker calipers owen, they're 4x108 and the right thickness. Brilliant project own, great to see you back in a quattro

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:52 pm

is that a straight swap do you know gav? I have heard this a few times but not heard from anyone who has actually done it!

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:58 pm

is that a straight swap do you know gav? I have heard this a few times but not heard from anyone who has actually done it!