The ABA is 16mm taller, substantial by engine dimension standards.  The rods
are also 15mm longer.

The VW I4 continued to use the same head bolt and exhaust manifold pattern
until it was replaced in 2010, they also dropped back down to the original
deck height after the ABA in 1999.  But those motors are considered
different because they went to coil pack distributor-less ignition and chain
drive oil pump(no intermediate shaft).

  _____

From: Don Hanson [mailto:dhanson928@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2015 9:34 AM
To: PSD
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: inline hybrid motor?

B Heck, I forgot about the extra few milometers of block height they added
to take the displacement up to 2 liters.....but the engine block castings,
the head bolt pattern, the exhaust manifold bolt holes, etc....those were
essentially interchangeable from the first generation of inline four VWs
till they changed around 95-97....Many of the early parts areB
interchangeable without issues, some require slight modifications.B B The
taller ABA block was not a problem to fit into my engine compartment but the
clearance is tighter.

On Sat, Mar 28, 2015 at 9:40 PM, PSD <psdooley@verizon.net> wrote:

No, in fact the ABA was the first major change in the I4's.B it is known as
a tall block because the block is notably taller than previous designs.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Don Hanson
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2015 10:53 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: inline hybrid motor?

B As far as I know, the VW inline blocks, including the diesel, remained
the same casting until the Gen IV Jetta, around '95(?)....I am no Inline VW
expert...I read up and learned all I needed to know to do my own
motor...only...