My M30 conversion so far: SHE's ALIVE!

[Rav335uk]

Hi guys, I know I've been on at this for ages, but heres some pics now.

Engine all powdercoated and ready to go in tomorrow


Powerflex for all boshes, both roll bars, dif, rear subframe and front








Diff bought from Bavarian Beauties 3.46


M30 gearbox with M20 mounting and 325i linkage with Z3 shortshift






Will get more pics up tomorrow when i've got the engine in.
And of my new E21 project hopefully.

[leeparkes]

nice one,bet you cant wait till its done

[Rav335uk]

No way, been tooo long waiting for the thing to be done, but took this week off work to get things going down there.But hopefully should be done finally

[whipsey]

did you powder coat the whole engine?

[Rav335uk]

No way! That would take tooooo long and involve striping it all down, only the rocker cover, the inlet manifold and the mounts.Throttle body was going to be done, but i had that water blasted and come out like brand new, so left it at that.Might coat the engine in black heatproof paint though seeing as you've asked the question

[whipsey]

can you powdercoat then?

[Rav335uk]

No not me, my mates workplace use this guy alot, so gets a realyy good price, both items cost me £30.00.
He did my wheels at £25.00 each for the Alpinas, anti roll bars at £30.00

[DRIFTBOY]

Looking good dude!

Sorry to go slightly off topic but have you got any pics of the bonnet vent, and where / how did you get it done? Thanks!

[Rav335uk]

They were done about 6 yrs ago from a company in or about Bournmouth.Was the only e30 he'd done and cost me £160.00.
It was done on a large press where had to take off the bonet.
Company name was COOL LOUVRES.

Best pic I found so far

[DRIFTBOY]

Aaah, I know of Cool Louvres, thanks mate!

[Rav335uk]

No probs kiddo

[charlE30]

Rav your car looks amazing mate, I love absolutely everything about it especially that two tone interior

How long do you reckon until your on the road??

[Rav335uk]

Rav your car looks amazing mate, I love absolutely everything about it especially that two tone interior

How long do you reckon until your on the road??

Cheers

Off now to the garage after I drop the kids of to school, to days plan is to get the engine and box in and bolted up.
Then read up on the elecy side of things tonight and get back on it tomorrow.
Where abouts in Warwick are you based?

[winx]

Good work! That'll be seriously depressing if you start after me and finish before! well done and keep us updated
!

[zaust]

I am so pleased you put the pic up with the 25 linkage and z3 shift on. At least I know mine will go on now.

[Rav335uk]

Quick question regards to the blkhaed if anybody knows, How much did you have to alter the firewall to get the gearbox in , as the guy reckons we have to take the engine out again but i think it will clear.?

[DRIFTBOY]

I did try and bash the bulkhead in at the 'mouth' of the transmission tunnel, but it's very strong there and it barely moved.

I ended up chopping off the top bellhousing bolt lug from the top of the gearbox, it gives it a bit of room and in position 3 you'll struggle to get that bolt out big time!

I also removed all the soundproofing from the bulkhead and tunnel, but kept the heat shields.

[Rav335uk]

Looks like what i'll be doing then tomorrow, out with the angle grinder and "OFF WITH ITS HEAD"
Also what flywheel did you use, i've used the 525m30 single and starter motor with new clutch.
My origional was Dual "heavytweight" mass, and its heavy

[DRIFTBOY]

I used E28 M535i single mass, somewhere near 5kg lighter than the E34 dual mass one.

[Rav335uk]

I couldn't find one so opted for what was around at the time, looked ok.
Did you have your g/box attached to the engine when you put it in?

[DRIFTBOY]

I find it easiest to take engine out after the gearbox is removed but put it in with gearbox attached.

[Rav335uk]

How did you go about doin that as we found it difficult enough with out the g/box on to get pos 3.

[DRIFTBOY]

Did you have the rubber engine mounts loose where the nut is on the cross-member from underneath?

And having a mate there with a big stick to lever the engine around as you get the stud of the engine mount through the bracket helps a lot too.

[Rav335uk]

No the mounts were bolted in before, should they have been loose???
And how the feck did you get it in with the g/box attached, as you missed that from earlier

[DRIFTBOY]

Loosen the mounts from underneath and it makes it sooo much easier to get the brackets over the studs, once there on the hardest bit is over!
Keep fingers out of the way though as the engine can suddenly drop down onto the mounts!
You can push the mount around with a screwdriver or similar tool.

I used a normal hydraulic engine hoist, tied the rope just around the engine about in the middle so it goes in at an alarming angle! With the front of the car nice and high up on stands.

A trolley jack under the back of the gearbox can help line things up as the whole lump goes down, back and level in gradual steps.

[Rav335uk]

OK will try that in the morning.Later dude, off now

[charlE30]

I managed to get mine in all in one go on my own, I did have the use of a load leveler (attached to an engine hoist) though which makes it a lot easier. I also found it helped to have the back of the car jacked up so the engine doesn't have to go in at such an angle.

I did the same as driftboy, trolley jack under the back of the gearbox, bit fiddly but well worth it

Load leveler:



Back end jacked up, engine in and trolley jack handle (gearbox) just visible. I couldn't find any showing the angle it went in at.

[Rav335uk]

Got mine in today at last, with the gearbox attached with a load leveller too.Bit of a bitch to get in but in and staying in.Will be doing the m30 loom tomorrow and propsahft.Hopefully on friday get on with the exhaust and start it up.

[charlE30]

Got mine in today at last, with the gearbox attached with a load leveller too.Bit of a bitch to get in but in and staying in.Will be doing the m30 loom tomorrow and propsahft.Hopefully on friday get on with the exhaust and start it up.

nice one mate, not long to go now What exhaust are you using? I'm still on a 325 system which really needs replacing for something a little larger.

[Rav335uk]

I was lucky to have a ramp with the car on it, so we had the car up with a jack underneath the g/box.
Once that was in we bolted the g/box mounts on the sliders underneath and then pushed the engine back and onto to pos 3 mounting points.
My stainless 320 exhaust, should be ok as the diameter is 2.5" so should link up no probs.

[whipsey]

i need a self leveller

[Rav335uk]

Believe me you do need it as its a god send.

[whipsey]

i did order one from the facom dealer but they were out of stock might have a search on ebay for one

[Ziggy]

Nah, you just need to get a crane that goes nice and high! Easy enough!

[whipsey]

i've got one of them already so ay just struggle on