mk e wrote:
TheDarkSideOfWill wrote:
I've done a powertrain-out torque converter replacement on my Ex's 2002 C5 A6. I had to think really hard about whether the 3.0 V6 would go back in or if I'd go find a W12.
DO they make hp? I keep thinking about doing a project with one but haven't dug around enough to know what I'd be in for to get decent hp out of it......and I'd prefer not to lean the hard way like I did on this project

The wet sump VW version in the Phaeton is 400 HP, the dry sump version in the Audi A8 is 450 HP. *YOU* would probably have to fab in intake manifold and headers from scratch. From the pics I've seen, it's like a VR6 in that it has short and long ports on both sides of the head... to get equal length runners, the difference in port length has to be compensated in the intake tract or header primaries. VW/Audi does not, to my knowledge, do that.
I have no idea how well the heads flow or what (if any) cams are available.
All of the "VR" style engines (VR6, W8, W12, W16) have the bores intersecting the deck surface at an angle. This leads to angled piston crowns and very wide top ring lands... *NOT* great for a well-tuned engine. I'm amazed they can pass emissions regulations with those mutants.
Here's a reasonably good shot of what I'm talking about:

The Bentley versions are twin turbo and 550-650+ HP.