1985 323i sport + 1994 540i touring combo hybrid pacage?

Post Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:22 pm

hi everyone i'm new to the forum and have a question or two...

you've probably heard it all before but here goes....

i have a 1985 323i just sitting in the garden, i re built the engine but got bored before she made it back to the road. i played with a 540i touring for a while and now wondering if i can put the m60 v8 into the old e30.
i see serveral other people have done this but i'm after a list of things i need to do for the conversion. also i have tons of time and experience but no money at all!!

any idea?
many thanks in advance
dave

Post Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:33 am

First of all, read through the other projects and www.e30.de / 340i ( V8 ). Use babelfish / google translator for translating. Also e30.de 340i forums are full on info (you said you've time) ;)

Basically all you need to know is handled in e30.de and these forums so just keep digging..

And just for inspiration: one video and a picture.

Post Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:25 am

very much appreciated, i have looked at what you've done with great envy - dont think i'll finish to your standards! question for you, why didnt you use the standard manifolds? did they interfere? also was the servo a big job to move or could it have stayed where it was??

many thanks - your picture is now my computers desktop!
dave

Post Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:49 pm

guinnessmaster wrote:very much appreciated, i have looked at what you've done with great envy - dont think i'll finish to your standards! question for you, why didnt you use the standard manifolds? did they interfere? also was the servo a big job to move or could it have stayed where it was??

many thanks - your picture is now my computers desktop!
dave

Heh, thanks

Standard manifolds don't fit, main problem is the steering shaft (e30 has "direct shaft" whereas E32-E34-E38 have "scallop" / "shell" steering).

Germanese have rewelded the original manifolds, but that'll always be a bit messy and i liked the challenge to fabricate my own manifolds.

Moving the servo itself isn't big issue (i use E34 V8 servo & MC), but fabbing the linkage for it takes some time..

Post Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:41 am

fantastic!
its a shame we're not closer, would to have seen you car up close.

did the original prop-shaft fit from the e30 or was it custom made?
i was also wondering if the 323i would have been fitted with an lsd? probably not

i will take lots of pictures as i attempt this project and will post them on here if i can.
i've only just joined the forum and still a bit new to things.

many thanks for all your help
dave

Post Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:04 pm

You need to combine V8 and e30 shafts, otherwise it won't last for long..

Post Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:37 pm

Hello

I found somewhere you can use the front part of the e36 328 propshaft that mates directly to an e30 rear half and the manual V8 box. Managed to get one for £35 so that saves a lot of hassle!

As for drive shafts and diff's I havent really looked into it yet, im planning on using the standard diff but welded (please dont shout at me! lol) however I have no idea how well this and the shafts will hold up...

As for the brake servo, well my e34 V8 had a completely different set-up to the ones you will see all over the internet, I think its because its right hand drive. But I plan on doing something similar to what Will has done as I'm moving the battery to the rear.

Post Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:10 am

You can bolt 328 / m3 / td(s) propshaft to 5-speed gearbox only, but the 6-speed has even bigger flange.. Length is also too long when using 6-speed, but suitable to be used with 5-speed 'box.

Standard diff and driveshafts will be fine, it's not so much power / torque anyways.. LSD is a must, otherwise it'll just spin one tyre all the time.

Post Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:08 am

Dave,

As the owner of an E30 335i and an E32 740i, I strongly believe you need to do this conversion. Whilst the 335 has some nice torque, the M60 just makes it sound so old and agricultural.

I am not raping my E32 as it is a minter, and I searched high and low for it, but I have to say I am now very seriously considering ripping the M30 out and finding another M60 to go in.

Martin.