Engine conversions

[ShakeyC]

Willing to spend up to £2500 on a sweet conversion, but that would include some uprated suspension and brakes

Not worried about spending the money just dont want things to be over complicated, dont like the idea of lots of fabrication and custom parts becuase its a pain in the arse to put right if it fails.

The way i see it you have an M42 correct? the costs to totally rebuild an M42 and reinstall its pretty much all your budget gone.

For same money you could put a m50/m52 2.5 in with new discs and pads or 2.8 on its own.

Or M30 can be put in but putting old technology some people like some don't. The downsides its less mpg which you will feel especially coming from something that did nearer to 40mpg!

Any worthwhile suspension or brake upgrades is well out of your budget in all cases, best you do is new discs and pads of oe diameter.

All of the above would be with favourable labour costs but i'd keep 1k in the bank as just in case funds too.

[retroboyo]

if you want fuel efficiency you could by a lupo
if you want the best car you have ever driven, do the m30
it may be old technology, but so is the wall of china and thats still the best wall i have ever seen
you cant beat large capacity 2 valves per cylinder for low down grunt, thats the same technology the new corvette used to smash the ring production car record.

[Rav335uk]

Couldn't have put it better

[pac1982]

A few of you seem to have grasped my point but most are still missing it by miles, i dont want performance i just want a good reliable engine that gets me around, i only like E30's because of the way they look if i was after a performance car i would not consider an E30 at all as even a 325 sport or even the M3 is slow in my eyes compaired to other things for the same sort of money.

I want something i can use everyday thats not gonna cost a fortune in fuel so top of the list at the min is either another M42 in good condition or an M44.

I really like the idea of an M52 as the MPG on these is not to bad but no one seems to be able to give the definative list and what parts are needed and what modifications need to be done.

Dont get me wrong i have read used the search and read many thread on this conversion but everyone seems to do it in a different way, i just want a list of parts and modifications so i can do the sums and find out what its gonna cost me.

[leeparkes]

A few of you seem to have grasped my point but most are still missing it by miles, i dont want performance i just want a good reliable engine that gets me around, i only like E30's because of the way they look if i was after a performance car i would not consider an E30 at all as even a 325 sport or even the M3 is slow in my eyes compaired to other things for the same sort of money.

I want something i can use everyday thats not gonna cost a fortune in fuel so top of the list at the min is either another M42 in good condition or an M44.

I really like the idea of an M52 as the MPG on these is not to bad but no one seems to be able to give the definative list and what parts are needed and what modifications need to be done.

Dont get me wrong i have read used the search and read many thread on this conversion but everyone seems to do it in a different way, i just want a list of parts and modifications so i can do the sums and find out what its gonna cost me.

M50 sounds like your cup of tea

List of parts;

Engine out of an E34
Im sure you can use your M42 gearbox
E36 engine arms
Golf or clio brake servo
Electric fan
butchered manifold
Those are the basic items you need

if you do all the work yourself id say you could get it done for under a grand.

P.S. change the water pump

[pac1982]

Cheers for that matey, the manifold is the only bit that concerns me at the moment from what i can gather you have to chop the flange off and take an inch or so off the pipes is that correct?

Also what about engine mounts i've heard of people using E36 engine mounts but this may be somthing i've picked up from some other conversion

[Daf318is]

Cheers for that matey, the manifold is the only bit that concerns me at the moment from what i can gather you have to chop the flange off and take an inch or so off the pipes is that correct?

Also what about engine mounts i've heard of people using E36 engine mounts but this may be somthing i've picked up from some other conversion

Correct, the only "complicated" bit about an M50 conversion is the fabrication of the manifold. I bought a converted wiring loom off DanThe though - but I think I'd have a go at this myself next time

[Bob_S]

the loom isn't difficult and i have posted all the parts I have used in numerous threads