335i update

[e30Alex]

Hey everyone, thought id keep you posted! With the nice weather today, I put the engine in!Finally progress is being made!Alex

[Toby_Unna]

cool

[C8SDD]

cool

I wanna do that.
Trouble is my E30 has met my grinder .... and the only engines i have
are m20's.

Question ... does the gearbox align the same with an m30 engine
or do you have to mess with its rear mounting and the propshaft
length??

[johnl320]

loving the angle of that lump

[e30Alex]

yeh i like the angle of it too!cudnt be bothered taking the box of, im lazy!

the box on the m10 series of engines fits the m30, no others do, as far as im aware, however ive kept with the box of the m30 engine, kind of figured its designed for the power etc.

[DRIFTBOY]

That's a great engine going in photo!

335is are popping up everywhere at the moment! Also !


The bolts (with square heads) that hold the gearbox cross member up on E30s are in long slots on the floor so they simply slide along to the position you need the cross member at. No modification needed.

I don't know about the M10 gearbox but I bolted the M30 gearbox up using an M20 cross member. It fits just right! I also used the M20 gear linkages that clip onto the M30 gearbox. That side of it couldn't be easier really!

Martin.

[e30Alex]

with regards to fitting the box crossmember, ive got an m10 one and the e34 one, there pretty simular, im trying the m10 one tomorrow. if not time to buy m20 crossmember and gear linkages! Cheers Alex

[DRIFTBOY]

I've read on here that M10 gearboxes fit but never tried it myself. Just a thought... - I'm not sure if the propshaft flanges are different between M10 and M30, so might be worth checking first too depending on which prop you intend to use. As I say, that's not through personal experience, but it's worth checking out and planning everything first. ?

Martin.

[e30Alex]

Yeh, im using the m30 box (as in the photo), custom prop. Major issues so far is the fueling and engine mounts - im determined to do it cheaper than the 150 pound of e30de!BTW the prop flanges on the m10 are smaller than the m30.cheers Alex

[Speedtouch]

What propshaft do you need to use, if fitting the M30 and M30-type gearbox - an M3 one?

[DRIFTBOY]

You can use an E30 M3 one (preferable) or a hybrid of M30 front part mated to M20 (and possibly other models if they are the same length and thickness) rear part.

Martin.

[e30Alex]

as far as im aware only a custom one will fit. Ive heard the e30 m3 one fits, but have you seen the price of them! Custom one - basicly a missmatch of m10/m30 props - shouldnt cost more than about 50pounds ish.i hope.Alex

[Speedtouch]

I'm terribly tempted to hoik the M30 out of my E34 535i and stuff it in my 320i after seeing this...

[e30Alex]

yeh m8, the thing that i buzz off is the way it looks factory fit, and you know it will be reliable. Its a very cheap and cool transplant. First one ive done, still a way to go, but the satisfaction of seeing the engine in the bay is worth it!Alex

[DRIFTBOY]

The way it pulls an E30 along makes it worth it even more!

[Speedtouch]

I'll bet. 211bhp and all that torque in a little E30 should be stonking Was it fairly easy to get the engine & box in and mounted up?

[e30Alex]

I'll bet. 211bhp and all that torque in a little E30 should be stonking Was it fairly easy to get the engine & box in and mounted up?

Getting the engine and box in was easy enough, but it isnt actually mounted yet, its kinda resting on the crossmember and sum wood at the moment, Im trying to sort some cheaper engine mounts than the usual e30de ones.Alex

[Speedtouch]

Yeah, it doesn't look like you get much for your dollar with those .de mounts! Surely it can't be that hard to fabricate your own, or get some made up fairly cheaply; perhaps you could try your local Technical College workshop?

[e30Alex]

yeh i might ask my local collage for some help!Cheers for the advice!by the way how do you get an image in the box with your name in it on the left of your message? i cant work it out. Cheers Alex

[Speedtouch]

That's OK mate. Just go into 'Profile' on the home page and scroll down to upload a new image (or select one from the library avatars).

[Speedtouch]

Sorry not the Home page, just go to the top of the normal thread page!!

[e30Alex]

sorted, got the little green dude!Couldnt load a photo tho, like driftboys. Im rubbish with computers!

[Speedtouch]

Cool. Hardest part of getting a photo avatar is sizing it properly. AFAIK, you host it on imageshack or similar, and link to it in your profile.

[e30Alex]

laffin!Im just working out sum blueprints for my engine mounts.The inlet side looks very simular to the original m10 ones, just need an alloy plate welding to the original mount. But the exhaust side.oh dear there so different.Keep you posted Alex

[Speedtouch]

Doesn't anyone have any templates for these?

[e30Alex]

dont think so, ive asked a million times. Right im off to scavange some 5mm thick steel!Ill keep you posted!Alex

[kabeer]

check out mine ! both made on a 8mm single sheet, bend on hydrolic presser without any welding !
at top is exhoust side- bottom one is inlet side. need some powder coating badly . . .

[e30Alex]

Very nice!Cant quite work out the inletside one, but im sure it fits!Impressed!Alex

[bigdek]

i would reckon they are going to need gussets as they look a bit lacking in strength

[johnl320]

Heres my over engineered ones



Bit OTT I know. the Inlet side is easy, exhaust side was a real pain

john

[e30Alex]

they are very sweet!very good quality welding, I hope mine end up somthing like that!Alex

[johnl320]

Cheers mate ,to be honest its the best bit on the Turd

[SPADGE]

check out mine ! both made on a 8mm single sheet, bend on hydrolic presser without any welding !
at top is exhoust side- bottom one is inlet side. need some powder coating badly . . .

Imo they will flex and bend if left like that!

[DRIFTBOY]

I reckon so too.
The M30 is a heavy lump, I would gusset those up the sides. It's not a lot of extra work to do and could save a horrible job in the future!
8mm is thick though!

But I do like the simplicity of those.

I like johnl320's ones too. Some tidy welding there!

Martin.

[e30Alex]

right, update time people!
Just managed to get hold of a large piece of steel - 8mm thick 200cm by 60cm.plenty and only cost a tenner! Anyway been trying to line up the engine and box on blocks of wood, so its ready for me to make the mounts, however im really strugling (sp?) to make it line up correctly. Im sure ill get there in the end, but if anyone has any tips PLEASE let me know. Cheers Alex