Prefacelift 316, M30 swap started

[rob0r]

I have a massive soft spot for prefacelift E30s and I couldn't resist buying this back in December, it was a proper bargain . I got a lift from Suffolk to Manchester and drove it 230miles home. The car itself is really good considering it's 25 or so years old and done over 170K miles. The shell is pretty much immaculate and only needs a few dings pulled and out some paint touched up. The interior though... You'll see!

Here it is when I bought in Manchester.




Best seat covers ever???


In its previous life it was a General Lee replica!!


We stopped at the inlaws in Stoke on Trent that night, the next day I used it to tow a trailer tent back to Suffolk


I forgot how cold it was last winter”¦


The only problem I found was that the brakes caused severe vibrations when braking from 60mph, just what you need when pulling a trailer home! A few days later back in the workshop I converted the front brakes to vented discs with new discs and pads. You can see how worn and warped the old disc was


That’s better!


The car then ran out of tax and I left it laying a shed for 4-5 months”¦ until last night!
I’ve recently broken an E34 535i and had the engine laying around, so a plan was formed. Yesterday I ordered a waterpump, sump gasket, thermostat and oil filter. I also ordered some engine mounts off Lee!
Pushed out into the light”¦


”¦and into the workshop of DOOM. Not many cars make it back out in one piece! I must of spent 15mins on my own trying to get the front wheels up that step and into the workshop, since I couldn't get it to start :-X. This is the last picture of how it was...



I absolutely blitzed the car, I managed to get the bonnet off, exhaust off, prop off, everything disconnected and the engine out in 2hrs 30mins. Probably a personal best for me... Mandatory engine removal photos...




I’ll degrease and powerwash the engine bay prior to the M30 fitting


Trusty M10


And it's replacement, the M30 3.5


I'm going to be using the M10 box rather than the M30 box because of the flywheel weight. Look at the size difference!


The aim is to have a nice quick car to have some fun with. In the end it will be coilovered and all the bushes replaced with poly ones.

[Duke137]

Nice to see a prefacelift conversion

[johnl320]

Nice, old skool

[magpie]

if you'd gone 24v you could have been the fourth musketeer


needs some Dixie air horns

[tonybtonyb]

A nice touch

[Rav335uk]

if you'd gone 24v you could have been the fourth musketeer


needs some Dixie air horns

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[tonybtonyb]

if you'd gone 24v you could have been the fourth musketeer


needs some Dixie air horns

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

It looks like he will have to use the ones you've got Lol

[leeparkes]

This is going to be a quick M30'd E30 when its done, low spec chromies only weigh just over a ton


btw, is this you?


[youtube][/youtube]

[rob0r]

Cheers guys!

Most of the bits have turned up now...
Water pump + gasket
Oil filter
Thermostat
Sump gasket (the sump actually leaks already!)
Mounts (Cheers Lee!)

I've stupidly forgot to order my uprated M10 paddle clutch this week or I could of had the engine planted this weekend . Also my coilover conversion kits haven't arrived!

I went drifting at Santa Pod in my 325i touring and managed to smash the diff back plate. The car is nearly out of MOT so it's getting fragged to donate it's rear axle, E36 rack, propshaft, gear linkage etc. Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow

[rob0r]

This is going to be a quick M30'd E30 when its done, low spec chromies only weigh just over a ton


btw, is this you?


[youtube][/youtube]

Maybe the previous owner It's cleaned up well

[RustyRuss]

Brilliant thread, looking forward to the progress. That is a genius clip!!!!

[rob0r]

Not much of an update, the initial momentum has gone due to waiting on parts and life being generally too busy!

As mentioned my 325i touring (actually a 320i 2.5) is near the end of it's MOT and I broke it drifting last week. I got the 316 out and put the touring in for some mild fragging for this project, I'm getting the rear axle, prop, gear linkage, E36 rack etc etc off it


I got my engine mounts from Lee I had some gold paint laying around


And then yesterday my uprated M10 paddle clutch arrived from CG Motorsport, looks good, and again, it's gold . It's rated for 250bhp and should take the torque no problem


I might get some more progress in tomorrow, if I'm not messing with my newly acquired E34 V8 manual...

[yazan]

VERY NIIICE

[Scruffymurphy]

If you don't mind me asking, how much did the clutch set you back. I'm thinking of going the same route with an M30 swap.

[rob0r]

I don't mind, I got mine for £240 delivered from CG Clutches 01132 426359
This clutch is on ebay for £220 though from the same people.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0055153418

As you can see their description is vague, the age range they states takes into account of M40 engined 316i/318i as well. After explaining on the phone for a while I needed it for a 1986 M10 flywheel they said it should be £260 + delivery for that particular clutch, I kicked up a fuss but I wasn't in the mood for arguing so I got it for £240 delivered. If I was you I would buy a clutch off that auction and state you need it for an M10 flywheel and get it for £220.

[rob0r]

A small update, I pulled off the sound deadening in the engine bay and tranmission tunnel and found some nice surprises . So much for thinking it needed no welding!


The fusebox area is particularly bad! This doesn't show the full extent...


I got stuck into the area above the steering column




Done!


I didn't fancy the fusebox area so I've got my mate who's considerably more skilled than me to weld it up!

Other jobs include replacing the sump gasket, removing waterpump/thermostat ready for new items, removing the PAS pump, PAS/Aircon pulley, viscous fan and old engine mounts. I hoping to have the engine in this weekend