m50 auto/manual

[bimanut]

does anyone know if a m50 engine on a auto ok for doing an e30 conversion with a manual box?

[daimlerman]

Yes,it will be fine.You will need a flywheel and spigot bearing,of course!

[bimanut]

thanks mate, i know i need a m20 flywheel and lots of other bits but didnt know about spigot bearing. i`ve read most of the info on this site about m50 conversion but hadnt seen anythin about an auto.
Wanted to know if the rad is of any use for swap cuz its got what looks like an intercooler for the gearbox on it

[BigBavarian]

Mines a 525 auto engine just nee to match the spigot ring to the gearbox you use and clutch to flywheel. I used a 318is box with a m20 flywheel so i got a 318is spigot ring and 325 clutch and you'll need to match starter motor to flywheel aswell

[bimanut]

Thanks for that im glad you told me cuz i went to BM yesterday to price a spigot up for the m50 not for the box i need to swap.
Was well suprised when he told me how much it was, a tenner plus vat!
expected more than that
Can i ask why a 318is box and not a normal 318 box ?

[daimlerman]

I think that all M40/M42 'boxes are the same ratios,I am using an M40 'box with no issues.I have M20 fly with M20 starter.Do re-build the gear shift linkage,you will need a 320 gearlever support bracket and matching selector rod.A Z3 1.9 lever will 'shorten' the shift as well
Do not know if your auto radiator will fit,rob the radiator lower mounts from the E34 just in case! I used the manual car's radiator from my donor E34,it's wider and just a touch higher. Wider meant that I needed two 'short' lower mounts,one came with the shell,other as above.. higher meant I needed to weld two small 'ears' to the top of the slam panel so that I could extend the upper mounting holes upwards.This enabled me to use a standard top radiator bracket.Of course,a stock E30/M40 radiator will do the job fine and just drops in....

[bimanut]

I had thought of using the M40 rad that`s already in but was a bit unsure as to wether it would be big enough considering the size of the M50 one.(could be an expensive mistake)
I`ve got two M40 box`s so if i blow one up it wont be too bad

[daimlerman]

I came across a spare M40 type rad it would have saved me making a top hose fitting for my electric fan switch...it was fitted with a mounting boss on the side!Capacity wise the M40 rad is fine,afterall,all it does is cool part of the total capacity at a time,cirulation is far more important.BTW,have you checked your M50 waterpump/thermostat housing/thermostat?
I did not,the donor ran fine,the wife used it for work for a month without breaking anything... three months later the 'stat was gummed up open and the water pump fell apart...the total cost of new bits from Cotswold/GSF was only about £100,worth thinking about.Much easier to do with the engine on the garage floor,as well!

[bimanut]

I`ve got to check the thermostat,i know the water pump is ok cuz i own the donor.Blew the gearbox up and then it sat in my garage for 5 years! in the process of stripping it. my mate talked me into selling him my M-tech kit so i thought i may as well go ahead with my conversion dreams

[Alpina99]

Are the cams the same in a manual as an auto ??
If so it broadens my target field but hacks me off becasue I turned down an M50 because it was auto,

[Brianmoooore]

,i know the water pump is ok cuz i own the donor.

Unless you know for sure that it's not a plastic impeller type, check it out, and replace it if it is.
The plastic rotor type is absolutely fine, right up to the point that it breaks up!