Hi All, hope this is the right place to be posting- I recently bought a T3 (or T25 if you prefer) bus with an ABF engine transplant. Was loving it having come from a T3 with the stock 1.9 waterboxer. Have run into some issues now so need to know the following: What were the ABF variants in the Mk3 and how can they be identified (without having the rest of the car of course!) Where are the best places to go for parts currently? Cheers, James
Dont think there were ABF 'varients' as such - ABF is a specific engine code for the long block 2.0 16V. Parts from places like GSF, and probably VW themselves.
there were some variance over the years, but nothing major. tyhe main one you'll probably come across is rocker cover gasket, early ones have bolts same as the KR, these use the ridged Kr rocker cover gasket. later engines have studs and nuts, these use a flat gasket same as the later 9a. the non-ac alternator belt comes in 2 lengths, the way to tell is check the alternator bracket. if it has the 2 mounting holes for the aircon compressor, you need the longest one 037903137H at 1033mm. if not, the shorter one 037903137G at 976mm. Or you might find it's been converted to early 8v alternator with the big spring under the alternator instead of the tensioner wheel, if so you need the shortest belt 037903137E at 894mm. If its got a V belt then its had a mk2 16v setup or corrado, or maybe it has something custom so keep your wits about you the only other thing I can think of off hand is timing belt tensioner, there are 2 versions for the 16v engines early solid type same as a KR which uses a 15mm nut and late 'auto' tensioning unit which uses a 13mm nut. you can convert either way by changing the stud, nut and washer. there are a few other differences like ecu and inlet, but those wont affect you buying parts
Thanks fellas- I’ll pass this onto the lads who are working on it. :-) any suggestions of people in the Plymouth area who’d be good to go to would be welcome.
