232 conversion Help!

[leightaylor]

Hello, im looking to buy an e30 316 with a 2.3 letre engine in, the bad bit is the head gasket has gone! its not too bad as me and my mechanic friend will be able to do the job ourselves.

The only problem is that the bloke doesnt have much knowlege on the engine conversion and doesnt know what one it is, he has said that it is from a 323 in the discription on the net but when i rang him he said it was from a 523 of a similar age (1989) apparently the only 323 was a E36 which was just a badged up 325 with a restricted ecu, which also apparently dosent fit in e30's or are very hard (correct me if im wrong here).


The person has just sent me the engine code i think i will post it up. i really need come clearing of the head, please. any help much apriciated

Pic he sent me below:

[leeparkes]

That engine code is for a 2.3,
personally id go for a 2.5 as they are a better engine all round

[leightaylor]

Is that an e30 engine code?

Yeah so would i personally but the conversion has already been done, does any one know of some good places for part qoutes?

Cheers

[DanThe]

Is this the black one that was on eBay, from Stoke?

[leightaylor]

yeah thats probs the one, you got the link?

[Andy325i]

Hello, im looking to buy an e30 316 with a 2.3 letre engine in, the bad bit is the head gasket has gone! its not too bad as me and my mechanic friend will be able to do the job ourselves.

Easier to drop a B25 in there

The only problem is that the bloke doesnt have much knowlege on the engine conversion and doesnt know what one it is, he has said that it is from a 323 in the discription on the net but when i rang him he said it was from a 523 of a similar age (1989) apparently the only 323 was a E36 which was just a badged up 325 with a restricted ecu, which also apparently dosent fit in e30's or are very hard (correct me if im wrong here).

E36 cars didn't come out until 1991, E34's were never made in 523's afaik. Early E30's were availible in 323's up until facelift (about 1988?)

What does it look like?

This is an E30 323 engine


and this is an M52 (from an E36 or E39 5 series):



Hth

Andy

[DanThe]

Its defo an M20 Andy, headgasket gone was in the description, also needed other work, paintwork not much good, I was looking at it for a cheap track car but the seller turned down my offer, it made less at the end of the auction!

You should check out the wiring before committing to it, could be a few surprises in store!

[leightaylor]

The ebay listing ended then dan? yeah i have spoken to the bloke about the problems, i have seen some close up of the paintwork and it doesnt look that bad to be honist so all in all it could be a half decent car if fixed

[DanThe]

This was over a month ago, where did you see it advertised?

[leightaylor]

oh right haha! its on pistonheads.

[DanThe]

Cant find the ad...

[leightaylor]

sorry here it is

http://pistonheads.com/sales/956104.htm

[DanThe]

Yep thats the one, same picture

Its just the same as any other E30 with a f*cked engine but the wiring is possibly abused also, new fusebox?
No point considering repairing the engine, you could buy a better one cheaper than the repair would cost

[leeparkes]

No point considering repairing the engine, you could buy a better one cheaper than the repair would cost

+1

[leightaylor]

Ok thanks people for the help, i will consider another E30 locally, i will be back!