M60, how difficult???

Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:26 pm

Considering doing an M60 swap and would like to know what makes this conversion difficult apart from having to relocate the brake servo?

Parts I would use:
3.0 M60 5 speed manual gearbox
X5 exhaust manifolds
Engine mounts from 300mm.de
E36 328i, E30 M3, 325e or custom prop
E28 535 radiator
As low diff as I can find, 2.93 or something

Also what differences installation wise would an M62 bring?

Thanks

Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:32 pm

Ask Willnz he is doing one at the moment... Looks hard if you ask me

Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:47 pm

I would like to know what bit is hard. I understand that the brake are abit of a pain to do but the rest doesn't seem too difficult?

Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:59 am

Hmh, after all it's not so hard. You just need to redo everything in the engine bay & driveline. If you have the time, money and skills - go for it.

M62 is a bit problematic with the wiring as it has EWS 2 so you need the ring, chip and EWS box from the same car the engine came out from, or to get them all coded together. So it's doable also, though not so easy if using engine from auto-car as it has all kind of CAN-shit.
What i'm trying to say, is that if you want to go for M62 - buy E39 540 manual and take all the parts from it.

willnz wrote:Getting the motor/gearbox in and out is a mission! The motor is wider than the chassis legs so the only way in is through the top. You will see what i mean when you try!

Yea well, it's doable

Sat Aug 21, 2010 5:32 pm

Problems:
1) Engine needs to go through top as it won't fit through the bottom.
2) Brake servo needs to be relocated.
3) Small hands required to get in to tight spaces.
Please add to the list

When the 5 speed box is used, what gear linkage/shifter parts are used? are they standard, custom or taken from another model?

I've read all the threads on this swap and I really feel like I'm missing something because this doesn't seem like the hardest thing in the world to do. Just seems like once you get the engine and gearbox into place, you just need to relocated the brake servo, custom fit the exhaust and add a correctly sized prop and diff. Anything else bolts on. Please correct me if I'm wrong as I don't want to start this and no be able to finish it.

Can you guys tell me about any unwriten problems that you've had please.

Sat Aug 21, 2010 9:05 pm

With regards to getting the engine in and out I found cutting the front panel off the car gives you so much more space to get the engine in and out, but that said mine is a track car and I don't mind it being put back together with an un-factory look/finish just as long as it is strong.

Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:10 am

Im going to be undertaking this conversion soon aswell, competition/race car too...

chu346 if your ever near the southampton area your more then welcome to come have a look at what were doing

Im putting the M60 4.0 in with the 5 speed box, app so the E36 328 prop fits, not sure but iv got plenty of props lying about that we can size up.

Manifold wise iv been told/seen that M5/X5 4.4 manifolds are the way to go, the 4 - 1 collectors instead of 2 x 2 -1 collectors, so space wise I can see how they clear easier, however finding them/price maybe another matter, I managed to scrounge some M5 manifolds for £150,

Diff wise, im more for acceleration, in my M50 conversion i ran a 4.1 and it was immense, so i think im going to build a high 3.?? diff, but we shall see how long it lasts!

The car is full road registried too!

But at the moment im just trying to think up another solution to the brakes, i dont fancy going servoless, in track is fine but on road

- there is a full wiring diagram/chart for the electrics which is nice and easy, ill post it up on here...

Mon Aug 23, 2010 1:40 pm

Why does everyone try to install the engine with the trans attached. I found that dropping the engine in and then attaching the trans from under the car was relatively easy.

Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:47 pm

_JohnnyD_ wrote:Why does everyone try to install the engine with the trans attached. I found that dropping the engine in and then attaching the trans from under the car was relatively easy.

Yap, but when you don't have proper car and gearbox lift, the 6-speed box tends to get a bit heavy when trying to get it in place while under the car ;)

Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:33 pm

Jonsku wrote:
_JohnnyD_ wrote:Why does everyone try to install the engine with the trans attached. I found that dropping the engine in and then attaching the trans from under the car was relatively easy.
Yap, but when you don't have proper car and gearbox lift, the 6-speed box tends to get a bit heavy when trying to get it in place while under the car ;)

i've tried several times to get the v8 in with the gearbox attatched, but i cant seem to get it in without the risk of damaging something.
i've tried with the s62 and 6 speed box, and i've just installed a m60 with a 5 speed into someones e30, but i couldn't get that in either. both had to have the engine in first and then the gearbox attatched afterwards.

Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:16 am

I did it all in a 2 car garage with the car up on jack stands. I kept the motor tilted up in the engine bay and slowly jacked the trans up on a regular floor jack. Obviously some trans bench pressing and creative use of wood blocks was required but it took about 1 hour to get at least 6 bolts tight and the trans secure enough to move the whole combo into the right position. The magic was to secure the remaining bolts at the top of the bell housing.

Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:55 am

Yep, but it's 5mins when you bolt it on the floor and another 15mins to put the whole package in. No big deal, you just need more than 2 hands

Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:51 am

It's a fun job, but I don't think I'd do it again in a hurry. We did it 3 times and managed to do it with a minimal of damage. Just take care with it.

If you want a brake booster, I'd go with a remote setup instead of the pushrod setup on the slam panel. I used a bias box and twin master cylinders on a modified cross rod from the drivers pedal box. WHEN I do it again 9if I can find the parts in Oz) I'd run a twin MC setup on a pedal box through the firewall and no servo assist.

Exhaust- Think spaghetti and then think Crap! Not easy and not fun. Kos had a system made up with 2.25" stainless and this was the result:

I'd definately upgrade the brakes, I was running E30 M3 running gear so already had the larger brakes. But 4 pots would have been nice!

I miss my 340! Should have had a mag do an article before I left! Crap crap crap!!!

Sat Sep 25, 2010 9:55 pm

im also in the process of putting the s60 5 speed into my 325i e30
iv read up as much as possible so i have a general idea of what to do

what issues are there when it comes to the steering rack ?
and whats the best way around them ?

Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:51 am

daniboi328 wrote:im also in the process of putting the s60 5 speed into my 325i e30
iv read up as much as possible so i have a general idea of what to do

what issues are there when it comes to the steering rack ?
and whats the best way around them ?

Ummm.. you mean M60?

Steering rack attaching point has to be modified on the left hand side in order to get the engine as low and far back as possible. Not a big deal. The "steering shaft rubber connector" has also to be swapped to aluminium piece, otherwise the heat from exhaust manifold will kill it and result in unsteerable car..

Sat Oct 02, 2010 3:13 pm

Glad i came across this thread givin me loads of info for my conversion.. but before i start, how much welding is involved? I have never welded so would that cause me many problems?

Mon Oct 04, 2010 6:58 am

crazyirish wrote:Glad i came across this thread givin me loads of info for my conversion.. but before i start, how much welding is involved? I have never welded so would that cause me many problems?

You need to weld a lot of things, so if you haven't done it before i strongly recommend that someone who knows how to weld does all that stuff for you.

It's certainly not a job for beginners..

Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:58 am

Jonsku wrote:
crazyirish wrote:Glad i came across this thread givin me loads of info for my conversion.. but before i start, how much welding is involved? I have never welded so would that cause me many problems?
You need to weld a lot of things, so if you haven't done it before i strongly recommend that someone who knows how to weld does all that stuff for you.

It's certainly not a job for beginners..

Yea the more i read peoples threads i see there is alot off welding, i do have someone local who can do if for me tho, as for the rest doesnt seem that difficult, but alot of time.