S14 dog-leg to an M20 block

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:46 pm

Read somewhere that someone had put an S14 dog-leg box onto an M20 323 block... I think it was an Ebay advert. Can't remember...

Can this be done...?

Has anyone done it?

Giles.

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:50 pm

right, don't know much about this subject (i don't really do m20s or 4 pots!) so get shouting if i'm wrong...

but i saw that ad and assumed it was a mistake. s14's an m10 based block i think. so similar/same as an m30. i think the dogleg box in the m3 is the same one as in my m535i and hence won't go on an m20 bolt pattern

you don't want one Giles they break very easy in my experience (2 and counting)!

however... that box DOES have a removeable bellhousing so could be fitted to an m20 if there was a bellhousing to match.

where from? don't ask me!

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:59 pm

i think this has been done by a racer on the forum or summat.. they found it was quicker with the regular sport box however...

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:59 pm

I've seen something somewhere along these lines. Pretty sure it was an old TBMW about an E30 racer. It wasn't SELOC but can't remember which series it was. A heavily modded 325i was running an M3 dog 'box but i can't remember how it had been made to fit. Don't think it was straight forward excercise.

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:38 pm

yeh i remember the car

surely u can just fit a dogleg from an early 323 e30 (or was it e21??) as im sure some of these came with them!
rare but u can get em im pretty sure and it will bolt on... i think........(probably wrong lol)

Karan

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:03 pm

Yeah, crap ratios though...

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:11 pm

Giles just put a bigger lump in mate! i have lots of things about my car that i sit pondering about, but i certainly don't need shorter gear ratios or a different gearbox

more traction might be nice

on the subject of M30s... i just put the inlet manifold and injectors back on the m535i and went out for a quick blast. that car is soooooo nice, the smoothness and refinement is a world away from an e30! it ain't that quick but the power delivery is so nice and the gearbox ratios are perfect. so i washed it and now i like it even more

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:18 pm

anyway back to the original question...

in the US the e28 528e (m20 block) came from new with an overdrive/non dogleg version of the getrag 265 m3 box, WITH removeable bellhousing.

so that bellhousing will go on an m3 box and the box shoulds then go on a 325i.

IF you can find a bellhousing!

no need to thank me

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:18 pm

i have a gd m8 who works for bmw as a chief technicion he has a e30 track car and the setup is as follows super powerful 190bhp 325i engine runnin perfect with a 323i dogleg box and a m3 3.25 lsd and well i can honestly say i was shocked its a wicked setup and for drifting or trackdays probably one of the best!!

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:19 pm

Thanks Toby...

No replacement for displacement...

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:34 pm

I think a lot of different gerboxes can be fitted to a lot of different engines if you really want to? You would have to make up an adapter plate that bolts to the gearbox bolt pattern and then to the engine bolt patern on the other side. Then you would have to make any adjustments necessary to the gear lever (maybe move it forward or back or make up a new one) and the gearbox mounts. That could be wrong but it is what a mechanic told me when I asked about putting different (non BMW) engines in my 323i.

Aston

Post Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:28 pm

Aston... wasn't it you that's had the M3 box on your 323...?

Post Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:38 pm

Speak with this guy -Mark McLennan His no. is 01306 713232 & the company is MJF Engineering.

karl

Post Sat Mar 19, 2005 6:00 pm

The 265 Getrag 'box was only used in 1982 for the 528e in the USA only. You could buy a new bellhousing from BMW if they still have stock, but after '82 the 528e used the 260 box (325e, 323i, 325i etc).
If you can find a good 265 (M3, 535i E28 etc), you'll pay about Ãƒ”šÃ‚£400+ and they're strong enough for an M20. They're strong enough for almost anything but most are a bit tired now - layshaft bearings are the main weak spot in old age.

The 323i dogleg box wasn't that clever, an old 245 unit that is normally shagged by 100'000 miles.

Post Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:57 pm

Geeman wrote:Aston... wasn't it you that's had the M3 box on your 323...?

No, not me. I wish I did on the race track

, although a 1:1 5th and my 4.1 LSD might not be so comfortable on the motorway/highway/whatever you call it.

I did buy a Getrag dogleg box once but I think it turned out to be different to what I needed (Maybe from the 5 series or something?) and I didn't have enough money or time to make it fit so the guy I bought it from said I could give it back and get a refund.

Aston