M20 Flywheel, 328 Prop

[blue30]

Spent yesterday swapping the M40 box, M50 flywheel and 320i prop to an M20 flywheel, 525 ZF box and 328 flywheel.

First to clear something up, I'd read a few people saying that you didn't need a 323i release bearing with the M20 fly - I can say for certain that with the above combo, you definitely do! The M20 slave cylinder I was using had nowhere close to enough travel to work the clutch. At full extension it was barely touching the fork. I ended up just using a longer rod in the slave cylinder as I didn't fancy taking the box off again at that point. The rod is just a metal rod with rounded ends, it just pulls out, it was really easy to do. Thought I'd mention that as I haven't heard this approach mentioned on here before

Second, a question - the M20 starter is making a not nice screeching/squealing noise for a sec as the engine fires, is that normal with this combo? It's the original starter off my 320i (same as the flywheel)

Cheers
Neil

[maxfield]

Sounds like the starter is sticking on to me.

[town325i]

As for the realese bearing your unlucky as i no a few that use it without any problems

[blue30]

As for the realese bearing your unlucky as i no a few that use it without any problems

Definitely wasn't having it, when I pumped the pedal the slave extended all the way out and pissed fluid into the bellhousing, I'm lucky I didn't loose the rod!! Maybe different gearboxes have the slave mounted different distances back? Or maybe some slaves have longer rods in?

I don't think it's all in the flywheel thinkness cause the M50 clutch cover plate is much thinner than the M20 cover plate so there's not a massive ammount in the whole assembly thinkness wise once the clutch is on. Must be in the box or slave cylinder used I rekon.

[nickso]

i thought this is why you have to weld extra bits onto the fork? thats what i did to combat the possibility of the release bearing being too short.

[E30BeemerLad]

Is your starter motor one of the fat body ones or the longer slim body style?

[blue30]

Is your starter motor one of the fat body ones or the longer slim body style?

There's two styles?? It looked nearly identical to the one that came off the M50... it was from a 1990 320i M20.

[Duke137]

Off topic slightly but what clutch are you using (what car is it from )?

[blue30]

Off topic slightly but what clutch are you using (what car is it from )?

I'm using an E30 325i clutch from ECP. I was a bit pissed off actually, I gave them the part number for the one listed as Sachs on their site but the bloke at the counter handed over an LUK one. He insisted they were listed as Sachs/LUK, I woudn't have a problem with it, warranty, etc etc. It was too late in the day to knock it back sadly but it seems fine anyway. The release bearing was part plastic but otherwise it seemed like good quality and feels fine. The flywheel was off my original 320i engine.

[DanThe]

Starters and flywheels should be kept together, fit an E34/E36 clutch slave cylinder and the clutch will release when you press the pedal, no need for E21 bits

[blue30]

Starters and flywheels should be kept together, fit an E34/E36 clutch slave cylinder and the clutch will release when you press the pedal, no need for E21 bits

Thats cool didn't hear that mentioned before about the slave cylinders. The starters gone quiet now must have just needed a bit of waking up after sitting in my garage for a year!

This was that ZF box that you sold me earlier this year Dan - you're right that box, the M20 fly and the 3.15 slipper is a fantastic combo. Its really transformed the car.

Need to do something with the gearshift - I grabbed the shortest linkage off a breakers shelf and have cut and welded the lower rod to get the stick in the middle of the hole but the throw is still much longer than before. Need some Z3 bits I believe? It never ends does it!!

[DanThe]

Yeah Z3 stick will sort that