E30 Zone

hi, im converting my 320 engine for a volvo 5 cylinder turbo engine and i need to decide what gearbox to use, i want to use a bmw box but im not sure which box would be best suited to this engine, the car will be running 300bhp max but as you will probly know these engine produce alot of torque. i dont have a massive budget so id like to use a common gearbox i can pick up fairly cheaply.
i have also found a sweedish(?) website which sells adapto plates for the conversion but need some help translateing if there are any sweeds on here who could help me.
this is the sitehttp://shop.klracing.se/cgi-bin/ibutik/ ... &artgrp=30

Thanks in advance Ian.

Use a 960 2.5/3.0 box from a late one.

to be honest id like to use a bmw box so i dont have to modify the prop or gear linkage. thanks anyway

ian--tomlinson wrote:to be honest id like to use a bmw box so i dont have to modify the prop or gear linkage. thanks anyway

I think it's unlikely you'll get it to work with a BMW 'box. Apart from the V engines, they all have the bellhousing made to suit the "tilt" of the engine.
Either going to be the adaptor plate or Volvo 'box, as above.

a custom prop can be knocked up easily for £100. the original hydraulic clutch can be fixed to whatever bellhousing your using. the gear linkage will be part of the gearbox so would it need modifying?

i would love to do this conversion and good luck
i belive this is the one you want

http://209.85.227.132/translate_c?hl=en ... EUKuOKNcCg

i nearly gave up on my m20 turbo coversion to do one of these , be carefull of the latter t5 engine as i have read the engines from the c70 and newer cars are harder to make rwd mounts for . gary

the down side to the volvo 960 box is that it has a fault ,i belive its with fast gear changes crunchin 3rd and wreckin boxes ,theres a simple mod that you can do to fix this , but whats the point when you can use all the remaining bmw drive train ?

i didnt realise custom props were so cheap, maby the volvo box is the way to go then?
fuzzy have you got any more pics\vids of your conversion it looks very impressive, what a sleeper!

theres a couple of pics of mine are in the members e30 section tab,page 4 iirc...the car no longer exists, i broke it up a month or so ago.

as said you need the m90 'box off a 960 turbo. not a particularly easy 'box to find in good condition over here and not a particularly good 'box by many accounts. you could adapt a BMW box on with a bit of messing but it may not be worth the hassle.

this may help, scroll to the bottom and theres a few links about the m90.

http://www.stonis-world.net/links/index.html

i researched this a while back with a view to doing it but gave it a miss when it looked like a ballache and there are so many other good options for e30 transplants.

volvo t5 engine is a great powerplant, if all thats required is an adapter plate to make it fit bmw gearbox then go for it. how much does the adapter plate cost?

baptie0 wrote:volvo t5 engine is a great powerplant, if all thats required is an adapter plate to make it fit bmw gearbox then go for it. how much does the adapter plate cost?

im not sure if its that simple, it would certainly be a custom plate anyway, dunno how much that will cost.

ppc or retro cars had a mk1/2 escort with a t5 in it a few months back. iirc he had used a fordy box but by the looks of the pics he had welded the front of a volvo box to the fordy one.

nickso wrote:

baptie0 wrote:volvo t5 engine is a great powerplant, if all thats required is an adapter plate to make it fit bmw gearbox then go for it. how much does the adapter plate cost?

im not sure if its that simple, it would certainly be a custom plate anyway, dunno how much that will cost.

ppc or retro cars had a mk1/2 escort with a t5 in it a few months back. iirc he had used a fordy box but by the looks of the pics he had welded the front of a volvo box to the fordy one.

its not a custom plate ,i have posted a link to the adaptor plate , and its not all that simple you still need a clutch that has bmw gearbox spline , but volvo t5 diameter.
the turbo is also faceing the wrong way and there a little bit of messin around tobe done there
custom mounts as welll

im sure itll be the same sort of problems that crop up with any different make engine conversion and will be solvable once you put your mind to them.
obviously the easiest way is to choose an engine with its matched box to start with then a custom prop can be made for about £100.

bigbhpwannabe wrote:

nickso wrote:

baptie0 wrote:volvo t5 engine is a great powerplant, if all thats required is an adapter plate to make it fit bmw gearbox then go for it. how much does the adapter plate cost?

im not sure if its that simple, it would certainly be a custom plate anyway, dunno how much that will cost.

ppc or retro cars had a mk1/2 escort with a t5 in it a few months back. iirc he had used a fordy box but by the looks of the pics he had welded the front of a volvo box to the fordy one.

its not a custom plate ,i have posted a link to the adaptor plate , and its not all that simple you still need a clutch that has bmw gearbox spline , but volvo t5 diameter.
the turbo is also faceing the wrong way and there a little bit of messin around tobe done there
custom mounts as welll

t5 plate is 240mm so if there is a bmw clutch plate the same size you could use it with the volvo cover.

does anyone know what 2000 sec is in pound notes?

bigbhpwannabe wrote:

nickso wrote:

baptie0 wrote:volvo t5 engine is a great powerplant, if all thats required is an adapter plate to make it fit bmw gearbox then go for it. how much does the adapter plate cost?

im not sure if its that simple, it would certainly be a custom plate anyway, dunno how much that will cost.

ppc or retro cars had a mk1/2 escort with a t5 in it a few months back. iirc he had used a fordy box but by the looks of the pics he had welded the front of a volvo box to the fordy one.

its not a custom plate ,i have posted a link to the adaptor plate , and its not all that simple you still need a clutch that has bmw gearbox spline , but volvo t5 diameter.
the turbo is also faceing the wrong way and there a little bit of messin around tobe done there
custom mounts as welll

sorry, i missed your link. it was a custom plate until someone made that one

if someone has gone to the trouble of making the plate then you would assume there is a reasonably easy way of getting round clutch issues. turbo position could surely be got round?

baptie0 wrote:does anyone know what 2000 sec is in pound notes?

you can convert it on the site. its 200euros so about £180

theres a clutch on the site that mentions bmw fitment. dunno what use it is.

http://shop.klracing.se/cgi-bin/ibutik/ ... r&Visn=Std

OT but how does a V5 engine work out?
3 On 1 side 2 on the other?

6potpower wrote:OT but how does a V5 engine work out?
3 On 1 side 2 on the other?

It's not a V in the literal sense. The pots are staggered in an in-line block.

StuBeeDoo wrote:

6potpower wrote:OT but how does a V5 engine work out?
3 On 1 side 2 on the other?

It's not a V in the literal sense. The pots are staggered in an in-line block.

its a straight 5 not a v

StuBeeDoo wrote:

6potpower wrote:OT but how does a V5 engine work out?
3 On 1 side 2 on the other?

It's not a V in the literal sense. The pots are staggered in an in-line block.

That would make it a VR engine

thanks for all your advice, but i still dont know which BMW box would be best suited to this engine any ideas guys?

if you use the adaptor in the link then any 320/325 box is suitable. whether it will take the abuse is another matter.