M30 Turbo conversion

[staley_turbo]

Hi, new to the forums here. Im matt.

Thought id share my conversion progress with you all.

As above im in the progress of fitting an m30 turbo lump to my e30. Ive done a 3.5 before but not turbo. Theres a few things im doing differently this time, things ive learnt lol.

Ive been planning since before xmas and things are starting to take shape now.
The engine is stripped down, all inspected and ready for rebuild. I have bought an e30, its being deliverd tuesday.

Ill get some pics up soon, engine and car.

Quick question,,, what oil cooler fits the m30?, i did know but its a while since i did my last conversion. thanks

[Gunni]

I´ve never run an oil cooler on the M30, they didn´t even in the 735i´s.
apart from the B34.

You might want to look into getting a universal one and some hoses .

what turbo are you going to run and specs on the setup?

[leeparkes]

Watching with interest

iirc some E28's used an oil cooler

Oh and welcome btw

[staley_turbo]

I was just thinking of helping cooling. Im sure it was the e30m3 oil filter houseing or the s50? that fitted on.
I have a t3/4 super T70 turbo, omex management is on the way, early days yet...

[gareth]

E28 535i's and some of the later M30's (E32 or E34) use an oil cooler.

i've got a later filter housing (top mount, the E28 type is bottom mount afaik) and a E30 325i oil cooler. the 325i steel pipes have to be modified to get them to run to the nearside of the car but nothing that an hour or two with a blowlamp and a vice etc won't sort then it's new rubber hoses from there. mine has been fine with oil hose from demon tweeks and jubilee clips. no leaking or popping pipes off so far

oh, try and get the pipes with both the oil cooler and filter housing, it'll make it a lot easier to make them up.

[staley_turbo]

Yes i thought they did, if anyone has one please pm they are a little rare. Other than that make a plate or buy a kit?
Having head skimmed tomorrow, then ill seat the valves and new seals.

Sprayed the rocker cover and machined the top, looks great. Will be doing this to the inlet mani aswell. ill get some pics up soon.
Car arrives tomorrow!

[Speedtouch]

STiBen on here is doing a similar conversion; check out his thread here
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 92&start=0

[staley_turbo]

Just a few pics, i sprayed the rocker cover with wrinkle finish paint, i love the "standerd look"





The block having a good clean up

[gareth]

that looks coooool! i love crinkle paint

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

The radiator on the auto 735i has a built in oil cooler for the box. No idea how big or effective it is, but could be a simpler option for you.

The 735i auto rad fits fine in the e30 btw, I have one in mine.

Martin.

[gareth]

i think it depends on the exact manufacturer of the radiator. my E32 735i auto radiator would not fit. annoyingly it's almost identical to the E28 535i radiator except the E28 end tanks reduce in width to fit between the chassis rails whereas the E32 ones don't

[leeparkes]

i think it depends on the exact manufacturer of the radiator. my E32 735i auto radiator would not fit. annoyingly it's almost identical to the E28 535i radiator except the E28 end tanks reduce in width to fit between the chassis rails whereas the E32 ones don't

I think its if the rad is from an air con car

My 535i donor had air con and the rad wouldnt fit but the fan did

[staley_turbo]

I'm sure ill sort something, only worrying because my last build overheated and died! This one will be fine I'm sure.
Ordered head gasket from dealer today, 0.3mm thicker. And a new dipstick, as someone blocked the hole up with chemical metal.
As this build is on a budget, i wont be doing internals. I know they only run 9-1 CR and my cupra r runs 9.5-1 so should be fine. Has anyone done internals?

[Gunni]

People have done internals, but you´ll not need to until about 550whp/550lbsft torque

[icleanmotors]

im in the middle of a simular build myself do this should be an interesting read...

[staley_turbo]

Car is finally here! Genuine sport, diamond black. Needs some bits and bobs but is strait and smart. just what i wanted. Some of you might of seen it on the bay...

[staley_turbo]

im in the middle of a simular build myself do this should be an interesting read...

How you getting on? i seen you were struggling with injectors???

[zaust]

That sound's like a small turbo for the m30. What pis you planning to run, and what mainifold you going to use ?

[icleanmotors]

yeah getting there now, going with a stock engine just replaced all the gasgets an what not, the .3mm bigger head gasget. managed to get injectors from gunni on here (hes a big help) running a t4 with a massive front mount...

im running megasquirt management with i sorted the other day..

just gotta start putting it all togeather now lol

[staley_turbo]

That sound's like a small turbo for the m30. What pis you planning to run, and what mainifold you going to use ?

Not looking for massive power and dont want to wait till 5k before anything happens, i thought this one was a nice size.

[staley_turbo]

yeah getting there now, going with a stock engine just replaced all the gasgets an what not, the .3mm bigger head gasget. managed to get injectors from gunni on here (hes a big help) running a t4 with a massive front mount...

im running megasquirt management with i sorted the other day..

just gotta start putting it all togeather now lol

Great, yeh i found the .3 head gasket aswell, should be here today. Im leaving it a stock lump aswell to see how it handles it, and will build another if it cant handle it! Im planning to use skyline gtr injectors and omex that i brought today. Manifold will be custom made. Let me know how you get on, ive just got to finish building the head then the engine is done.

[icleanmotors]

do the gtr injectors work??? i was told they didnt... but then ive been told a few thing that aint right

who you goin to make your manifold? have a friend that goin to atempt makin one for me but i dont know just yet...

i would put pics up on here but i just cant get on with it.

[staley_turbo]

Injectors are basically all the same, all made by bosch. So if mapped they will work fine, only using them as they are cheap. Not sure if 440 will be enough but i will find out when mapping.
My mate has recommended a guy at race tech, he has a website with some good work on there. No crap. He has quoted around 500 quid for a custom manifold. Sounded good value to me.

Ive spent 6 hours now building the head! still not done, valves are important to get right and i want them right.

[icleanmotors]

i was told by the guy thats gunna map mine the 440 injectors with the t4 turbo im running should be good for over 450bhp but due to only having standard headbolts im stayin safe

how long are you thinking before its on the road??

would be good to see this in the flesh.

[staley_turbo]

Yes they probably will be, can always take them to there limit and nock it back a little to stay safe. I don't think head bolts will be a problem.

Its starting to take shape pretty fast, id like the engine fitted in a couple of weeks. The manifold will hold me back the longest i think as there not a quick job. Then there is alot of setting up to do and fine tuning ect.... I'm hoping to use fuel in around 3 months time.

[staley_turbo]

Bits of progress.
Engine all together. Ready to drop in, just waiting for engine mounts.
Picked a gearbox up yesterday at a bargian price. Need clutch.

One of the rear mounts on the gearbox has broke, should be getting this fixed.

May have a inlet setup on the way from the M5, watch this space...

[ImysE30]

Nice project, i'm doing the same at the moment although i've bought a plug and play conversion package

Get some pic's up

[staley_turbo]

cool, is that like a millers performance or TDC kit?
I have been looking at them...

[ImysE30]

It's a custom/home made kit, done by a member called Toby on here, he had it fitted in his car and then another zoner had it and now i've got it

[fowler]

good call thought this lump had disappared good conversion defo mad just over 300 bhp last time i saw the dyno sheets

[ImysE30]

good call thought this lump had disappared good conversion defo mad just over 300 bhp last time i saw the dyno sheets

It's still going strong

I'm hoping for a bit more power than 300bhp, 400bhp would be nice

[staley_turbo]

Haha! tobes,,, thats who im getting the m5 inlet from. Even im supprised that kit is still about, it must be 4-5 years since he did it? I heard it was around 400bhp when he had it.

Hes a good lad, trying to talk him into getting another e30 but hes in love with his 36 lol.

[ImysE30]

Cool, i think he's near you IIRC, he's the M30 Turbo master, yeah at least 5 years i think, just goes to show he did a good job

Once you've done yours and he's had a ride, i'm sure he'll come back to E30's

[staley_turbo]

Coming along nicely,
Skyline injectors are in with some small adjustments. New clutch, loads of new parts comeing form bm.
2.5 Engine is out and im cleaning the bay.
I will get some pics up.

[staley_turbo]

Finally some pics!

The skyline injectors fitting snug.



Super T70 turbo and 46mm waste gate


Ford st220 coil pack giving the sparks


Billet dizzy cover.


The rare oil filter with oil cooler line.


Frist mock up of the engine mounts.