Has anyone got pictures of an early or late 325 engine?

[Adammcf]

I need to know whats in my car before I get a replacement engine.
If anyone has any pictures of their engines up close and personal or even better stripped apart it would be great!
My car appears to be a combo of early and late engine parts!

[Jimbob]

Do you mean the block, internals and head stuff? It's just the location of stuff around the engine like the expansion tank that's visibly different.

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/Jim/piston.jpg

That's an early piston for ya!

[dazleeds]

gimme 2mins

[Turbo-Brown]

Off topic, but does anyone else think it's a good idea to remove the sharp edges from early pistons?

[dazleeds]

here ya go mate
pics of f reg facelift 325ise engine hth








there ya go

[Adammcf]

Cheers lads. Daz my engine looks identical to that one so it appears I have a late block after all.
I cant tell from those pics though how much difference there is between the early and late pistons.
Maybe mine are the late ones and they just look like the early ones in the pic. Is there a code number stamped on to the pistons?



The mystery deepens.

[Adammcf]

Come on peeps, keep those pics coming in!

[jonb]

adam

they are early domed pistons. the late pistons are totally different. they have raised parts in the middle of the crown.

you can fit an early or late engine into your car. it doesnt matter.

if your getting hold of an early engine, you will need to change the waterpump, front pulley, front timing cover, injector loom, and thats about it. all these will be taken off your existing engine, as these have been fitted to make your early engine compatable with your late motronic.

[Adammcf]

Havent found any engines yet but I just wanted to make sure I dont end up with something that wont be compatible with the car.
Keep the info coming folks, its all greatly appreciated.

[jonb]

adam

if you purchase a 2.5 engine it will be compatable with your car, no matter what age. so uve no need to worry.

[Adammcf]

I take it the same applies if I just get a replacement bottom end? Just change over the pulleys, covers and pump etc?

Dont suppose you have any yet? lol

[jonb]

adam

i dont im afraid. but yes, thats all you will have to do.

[Turbo-Brown]

adam

they are early domed pistons. the late pistons are totally different. they have raised parts in the middle of the crown.

you can fit an early or late engine into your car. it doesnt matter.

if your getting hold of an early engine, you will need to change the waterpump, front pulley, front timing cover, injector loom, and thats about it. all these will be taken off your existing engine, as these have been fitted to make your early engine compatable with your late motronic.

I smell something I've missed here

Why do you need to change the waterpump and timing cover?

I've just fitted the later toothed front pulley and sensor bracket to mine.

[Templ8e30]

The water pumps are different for motronic/l-jetronic engines.9

The late type has 1 exit tube whereas the late typ has a second exit tube cast at 90 degrees to the first.

The later cars had a slightly different cooling system you see

Cheers,

Iain T

[Turbo-Brown]

Oh, that's not so bad then. Think I'll survive with the old system

[jonb]

temple8 is right

but the early crome bumper turds had the expansion tank on the offside. so they had an extra outlet on the pump which went to the tank. where as later plastic cars had it on the nearside. you can just blank the tube off if you like, but this is a bit of a bodge.

the later timming covers has a provision for the timing sensor wire to hold onto. which stops it fowling against the water pump pulley, and burning through the insualtion.

[Adammcf]

Cool, as long as everything can be bolted off one and onto the other I'll be happy.