My name is Marco I just purchased an 83 quattro.
The fellow I purchased it from said it started to make a bad knocking sound when idling in his driveway. He took it to a shop the guy there started it for 2 seconds and said a rod let loose.
I need to get the oilpan off so I can see what is up. I drained the oil last night no shavings at all,and looked into the head thru the valvecover there was not a spot of oil in there. The car had only been sitting for 2mo. I have a feeling the oil pump went south and am hoping that is what made the rods rattle and that it is not too bad maybe I can get away with putting a new oilpump in and some rod bearings. Any advice would be greatly appriciated.

If so, I'd replace the motor mounts now. To do that you'll have to jack up the engine some to get the new one in. Now that it is jacked up and not sitting on the subframe, you could probably wrestle it out. Mine knocks, too. The PO said it was a rod perhaps. My dad thinks its a valve. I think it could also be a cracked exhaust manifold (which is what the new motor mount will keep from happening.) Let us know what you find out.

Thank you for your reply. The engine is untouched and in the vehicle I have been told that I will have to drop the subframe to get the pan off. The way it looks the engine mounts are seperate of the subframe is that correct? are they supported by the body of the car?. Is there enough room to get to the oil pan bolts by jacking up the motor?
Do I jack up the motor on the trans or somewhere else. Thanks again Marco

The mounts are attached to the body.

Dropping the subframe will of course give you the best access, but I don't think I'd try that first. Although sometimes, it's easiest in the long run to take more loose than you think you need to. (i.e.: taking the control arms out when changing struts. This saves a lot of needless wrestling.)

I haven't removed the oil pan before, but I would think jacking up the motor from any point really (I did it from the front, but put jackstands in front and under the tranny.) will help. It won't give a great deal more clearance, but it may give you enough to slide out the oil pan. Dunno. The problem with taking out the subframe, which I haven't done either, is the bolts that hold it to the frame. Hopefully, they will come out without breaking the nut that's welded to the body. You'll also have to remove the control arms, too.