M50 steering

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 4:18 am

I have spoken to a fellow today who says he did an M50 swap and didn't have to faf around with manifolds as he used a ford KA steering joint which is a direct fit and a straight bar with no bellow or joint.
Has anyone done this or is it new? It may be in the M50 sticky but im not reading through 36pages to find it.

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:19 am

This guy done it!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=25

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:33 am

I doubt that would work with an E36 rack

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:01 am

DanThe wrote:I doubt that would work with an E36 rack

yep I will go and try find one today

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:22 am

leeparkes wrote:This guy done it!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=25

I think that guy welded his own up. (balls. of. steel.)

I remember seeing a pic of the ford ka piece on here once but I'm buggered if I can find it again! Would be a lot easier than buggering about with the zaust.

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:26 am

blue30 wrote:
leeparkes wrote:This guy done it!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=25
I think that guy welded his own up. (balls. of. steel.)

I remember seeing a pic of the ford ka piece on here once but I'm buggered if I can find it again! Would be a lot easier than buggering about with the zaust.

I remember seeing it too E34uj and ka uj

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 3:12 pm

blue30 wrote:
leeparkes wrote:This guy done it!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=25
I think that guy welded his own up. (balls. of. steel.)

I remember seeing a pic of the ford ka piece on here once but I'm buggered if I can find it again! Would be a lot easier than buggering about with the zaust.

I dunno why you say balls of steel, the force going through it is minimal and i would do it to mine.... Err if i didnt do the weld that is

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 3:14 pm

You only use the ka uj if you are using a man rack.
If using a power rack 2 e34 uj's

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 4:00 pm

ed325i wrote:You only use the ka uj if you are using a man rack.
If using a power rack 2 e34 uj's

^Thats the pic i was thinking of!

did the manifold need modding at all?

Post Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:20 pm

No the manifold didnt need modding.

Post Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:28 am

Why cant it be used with cast manifolds and a power rack?

Post Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:53 am

Errrr,this does not overcome the manifold issue,M50 family of engines sit at a different angle to M20,in addition the M50 cylinder head is wider than M20.So whichever steering shaft/coupling/rack is used,you STILL require a modded manifold of some description. Those gifted/skilled with a MiG can modify M52 manifolds using a 325 front pipe,others such as myself,can spend their pocket money with Fritz....

Post Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:55 am

SUMPCRACKER wrote:Why cant it be used with cast manifolds and a power rack?

its easier to cut and shut a tubular manifold than a cast one. looks better too imo!

Post Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:11 am

Errrr,this does not overcome the manifold issue,M50 family of engines sit at a different angle to M20,in addition the M50 cylinder head is wider than M20.

By modding the steering shaft you dont have to cut the rear manifold to bring it closer to the engine like has be done here.

Post Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:11 pm

ed325i wrote:
Errrr,this does not overcome the manifold issue,M50 family of engines sit at a different angle to M20,in addition the M50 cylinder head is wider than M20.
By modding the steering shaft you dont have to cut the rear manifold to bring it closer to the engine like has be done here.

Furry muff,but you STILL have to fabricate a manifold/downpipe arrangement as well,to get round the wider head and different engine angle.M50 swap is not a 'nut and bolt' conversion in the same way as,for example, a 2.7/8 conversion is.

Post Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:36 pm

I used e34 down pipes modded to fit.

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:33 pm

The splines on the E34 UJ do not match up with the spines on the steering colum. I went to the effort of obtaining a pair of E34 UJs only to find that they don't fit properly. People who have done this just hammer the UJ's on

not for me!

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:40 pm

Does Bob_S know about this mod?

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:42 pm

Dunno but I might try selling him a pair of UJ's and shafts

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:43 pm

Daf318is wrote:Dunno but I might try selling him a pair of UJ's and shafts

How much?

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:46 pm

DanThe wrote:Does Bob_S know about this mod?

He's looking into it, as I have a nice guiboless steering column UJ I'm looking at the possibility of getting away with unmolested M52 manis and bolting up E36 or E34 front pipes.

If so, then I'll move the S50 affair on

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:47 pm

If you're serious I'll have to check I still have them! But I wouldn't risk it myself

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:49 pm

Daf318is wrote:If you're serious I'll have to check I still have them! But I wouldn't risk it myself

Im an engineer with a big hammer...

they are definately e34 ones right?

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:50 pm

E30BeemerLad wrote:
DanThe wrote:Does Bob_S know about this mod?
He's looking into it, as I have a nice guiboless steering column UJ I'm looking at the possibility of getting away with unmolested M52 manis and bolting up E36 or E34 front pipes.

If so, then I'll move the S50 affair on

That coupling you have is a really nicely made piece of kit. It's in a different league to bashing some splines on and overtightening the pinch bolt!

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:51 pm

Daf318is wrote:If you're serious I'll have to check I still have them! But I wouldn't risk it myself

Why?Once they are on and bolted with the pinch bolt they cant go/move anywhere?

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:51 pm

It's about the only well engineered thing on the car

Post Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:56 pm

Cook318IS wrote:
Daf318is wrote:If you're serious I'll have to check I still have them! But I wouldn't risk it myself
Im an engineer with a big hammer... they are definately e34 ones right?

Still got them - just been and dug them out. Some pictures:

E30 corse splines on the left and E34 fine splines on the right

I looked in to splitting the two UJs and reassembling with half E30 and half E34. I didn't get anywhere though!

Post Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:03 am

Dafs you never said you had these bits of scrap I will have them off you too.. You have seen my skillz!

Post Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:33 pm

Bob_S wrote:You have seen my skillz!

Aaaah.. The mark of a true engineer.. Not scared of using an 'engineers spanner' lol

Jai

Post Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:27 am

In Bobs case I think it's more of an "engineers hammer"

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:11 am

It's not a major feat of engineering to move the bottom of the steering column at the bulkhead closer to the outside of the car.

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:23 am

Brianmoooore wrote:It's not a major feat of engineering to move the bottom of the steering column at the bulkhead closer to the outside of the car.

Have you ever done this? Are there some photographs of the work having been done anywhere?

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:37 pm

Yes, I've done this - at the same time as I moved the servo outwards on the other side.
IIRC, the clutch cylinder push rod ended up bolted to the other side of the pedal from which it normally is, and a bit of cutting and spacing of the pedal pivot was required.
Actually moving the column across just involved welding a larger plate onto the clamp at the bottom of the column and enlarging the hole in the bulkhead.

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:45 pm

Was there enough extra length in the standard linkage or did you have to make up a longer one?

I might have to look in to this next time my engine is out

Post Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:07 pm

Daf318is wrote:Was there enough extra length in the standard linkage or did you have to make up a longer one?

I might have to look in to this next time my engine is out

The one I've done still has the standard E30 rack, and the linkage is unmodified.
If I fitted an E36 rack, I expect it would need the spacer as per usual.