Getrag box on a M52, bolts don't line up?

[andyborris]

Got a Getrag 240 from a 320, fitted it to the M52 and the thinner bolts round the bottom half of the box don't line up with the holes in the engine!

Engine is ex-auto box, any advice or just use it with the 3 thinner bolts missing?

Thanks
Andy

[E30BeemerLad]

you sure you have the gearbox at the right angle as the 6 pot M20 gearboxes do sit at a funny angle when mated up to the 24v engines.

[penton08]

I'm sure 3 bolts dont line up!! As Lee says it will also sit at a funny angle and you will need to fabricate a mount and linkage. its much easier to use a m40/2 box or better still the proper 328 one.

[andyborris]

Pretty sure I've got it at the right angle, all the fat bolts fit and the top two fat ones won't line up with any other holes. It's on the bench at moment.

Don't I have to change the diff ratio to use a 328 (ZF?) box and what car is a M40/2 box in? Or is it a 260?

Thanks
Andy

[E30BeemerLad]

The 318i and 318is both use a Getrag 240

I'm using a 240 box on my M52 and I kick it's head in all the time and never had any bother. I use this with the 2.5 M20 flywheel, clutch & starter and again no protests.

If you use the ZF box from the 328i you do need to look at other diffs as the gearing is crazy

[penton08]

Yep, the ZF box would mean you need diff ratio somewhere around a 3.15.1. The m40/2 boxes are found in e30 318's and 318iS's.

[andyborris]

The 318i and 318is both use a Getrag 240

I'm using a 240 box on my M52 and I kick it's head in all the time and never had any bother. I use this with the 2.5 M20 flywheel, clutch & starter and again no protests.

If you use the ZF box from the 328i you do need to look at other diffs as the gearing is crazy

So you just left the 3 thin bolts out? Got M20 flywheel etc. Would like to avoid changing the diff, so will stick with the 240 if I can.

Andy

[E30BeemerLad]

no i never had the issue with the bolts as I used a different gearbox to you.

I used the box from a 318is which is the M42 engine

I'm not sure if the 320 gearbox is a Getrag 240 or 260, either way the casing is different as the 6 pot engines in E30's sit at a different angle to the 4 pot engines. The E30 4 pot engines sit at the same angle as the 24v engines, which is why the 4 pot E30 gearboxes bolt up to the 24v lumps easily and also the gearstick sits at the correct angle.

If you use a gearbox from a 320 or 325 the gearbox and in particular the gear shifter sit on the pish, so you have to bend the mechanism and also you have to fabricate an additional bit of metal into the rear gearbox mount when using a 320 or 325 gearbox.

The 318/318is gearbox, used with the M20 2.5 flywheel, clutch & starter is a bolt up affair (although you will need the correct spigott bearing to fit into the end of the crankshaft when using the 4 pot gearbox) and you will need to machine a bit of metal off the end of the sump so the flywheel doesn't catch on it - unless you get the flywheel lightened.

[andyborris]

Thanks, the mud is getter clearer now!

My box, from a 320, does say 240 on it's side, who'd have thought that there'd be 2 different types of 240!

Andy

[E30BeemerLad]

Yep, every day is a school day

[andyborris]

Yep, every day is a school day

Yeah, just wish school wasn't so expensive

Still got to or you'll crack!

Thanks for your help and I guess I'm on the hunt for a 318 box.