My M30 conversion

[Bristol_Jer]

Still making steady progress, collecting parts and getting everything ready. Need to get hold of the bellhousing bolts, probably just get them from BMW as I don't think they will be easy to get 2nd hand. Looked on realoem and they appear to be still available.

Forgot to get an e36 lower steering column u/j when I was at the scrappers so the steering rack fitment has ground to a halt

The brake pipes are crusty in places so am in the process of changing them all, along with fitting Goodridge hoses. The rear beam is nearly off the car to fit new bushes and disc trailing arms.

No pics for now, will take plenty on the weekend when it is daylight

[Bristol_Jer]

A few photos and quick update:

Rear beam ready to come off:



Cutting down the aircon pulley:



Which then breaks apart like this:



Have bought new rear beam bushes, diff mount and trailing arm bushes ready to fit. The beam is stuck solid on one side to the body, have managed to free one side by breaking something inside the bush. Have to keep trying on the other side.

Need to get hold of an e36 lower steering column u/j then I can trial fit the engine to see what need modifying to give clearance on the e36 rack

[Bristol_Jer]

Got the beam off, new brake pipes being made, and new bushes being fitted now.

Some of my order from Cotswold (inc my bellhousing bolts) aren't in stock so need to wait a week or so until I can bolt my gearbox on and trial fit unfortunately.

I have got an M535 single mass flywheel and clutch, and a 328 prop now so nearly collected everything I need

I also bought an e46 rack too to try out! Can't help but spend money on the car, but it will be worth it when it's done I'm sure

[leeparkes]

Good progress, ive got an e36 linkage somewhere i could of sent it down to you with the chip

Ive just finished my linkage, its an E30 linkage with the donut removed and a 20mm solid spacer between the two peices, its not finished yet but ill get a pic for you.
Ive got the rack mounted in the front holes with the 14mm spacer above the rack. If you go for the rear holes iirc you just bolt the E30 linkages together.

Like so...

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 99&start=0

If you use the lower half of an E36 linkage you will have more problems with it hitting the manifold.

[johnl320]

Got the beam off, new brake pipes being made, and new bushes being fitted now.

Some of my order from Cotswold (inc my bellhousing bolts) aren't in stock so need to wait a week or so until I can bolt my gearbox on and trial fit unfortunately.

I have got an M535 single mass flywheel and clutch, and a 328 prop now so nearly collected everything I need

I also bought an e46 rack too to try out! Can't help but spend money on the car, but it will be worth it when it's done I'm sure

Make sure all of the old beam bush is out of the chassis if the old bush has a rough end on the aluminium insert then there is some left inside that needs to come out or the new bush won't seat properly, just thought I'd mention it

john

[leeparkes]

+1 John.


Here's a pic of the linkage im making up, with an M30 you need the lower UJ as low as possible as this is whats closest to the manifold, hence making a 20mm spacer.

I want to rework the idea as this is just a mock up, ie i want to make the spacer round and have the two joints at 90 degrees like the oem donut.
Ive got a feeling with this i wont have to bodge the manifold as much.

[Bristol_Jer]

Thanks for the pics Lee, the should definitely help Have you though of using one of Danthe's splined links? Would have though this would have given the most clearance?

John, cheers for the advice about the beam bushes, one side has come out ok but the other side has a part left stuck on the car. Is it best just to try and hit it out from inside the car?

[leeparkes]

Dans linkages are good for M50/2 swaps because you lose the guibo which hits the rear manifold

There's pics of Theo's M30 with an E36 rack in this thread to give you an idea where clearance is needed.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... sc&start=0

[suckmyrockets]

Good luck with this. We're still in the middle of our conversion.

Used a 318iS as a base car for the project.

Already fitted E46 steering rack & chopped prop, but have the engine set in position 2 as we didn't want to get too artistic with the bulkhead and brake servo.

Leaves a small problem with locating a rad but engine & box are in, fires up and runs & drives. Currently trying to get the Fritz Bitz SS headers to clear the steering joint. Then need to get an exhaust made up.

Happy to compare notes

[johnl320]

Thanks for the pics Lee, the should definitely help Have you though of using one of Danthe's splined links? Would have though this would have given the most clearance?

John, cheers for the advice about the beam bushes, one side has come out ok but the other side has a part left stuck on the car. Is it best just to try and hit it out from inside the car?

I used a dremel just to cut away at it until it fell out, its Ali so quite soft

[Bristol_Jer]

I'll give that a go, hopefully won't be too hard to do. The rest of my bushes turned up yesterday so I'm going to have a fun morning with the blow torch burning out the old bushes

Hoping my Cotswold order will be in start of the week then I can get the engine and box bolted together ready to put in next weekend, I can't wait!

[Bristol_Jer]

Powerflex bushes fitted

[leeparkes]

Have you got any pics of that fly & clutch you had off Andy?

[Bristol_Jer]

I can take some for you tomorrow mate, did you need close-up's of anything in particular?

[charlE30]

For fitting the E46 rack remove the rubber guilbo completly and fit a solid bush (much like lee's impressive looking bit of kit) this gives a bit more room due to the heat shield around the rubber bit being removed. I still then fitted it in the forward holes with spacers on top. I chopped and rewelded my downpipe/manifold from cyl 1-3 to give a bit more clearance around the steering linkage, my front mani is now one piece to my centre box so I could get rid of the bulky flanges on the downpipe.

Really pleased to see another 335i being built

[leeparkes]

I can take some for you tomorrow mate, did you need close-up's of anything in particular?

Just a basic pic of the pressure plate and both sides of the friction plate Thanks!

[Bristol_Jer]

Thank you for the info Charlie

Am enjoying doing my M30 build, with a few weekends of nice weather now I should be able to make some good progress

[Bristol_Jer]

Heres the M535i clutch pics Lee:







And for reference, a couple of the standard dual-mass clutch/fly:

[leeparkes]

Thanks buddy

[Bristol_Jer]

Got my bellhousing bolts at last

Flywheel is being refaced Saturday morning, then I can get the engine and box bolted together.

My braided brake hoses came today, and I have nearly finished making up all the new brake pipes. Need to pick up my new handbrake cables on Saturday and the back brakes and suspension are finished

New wheel bearings and Superflex trailing arm bushes:



Ready to go back on the car with Powerflex beam mounts:



The e46 rack is in place, just need to get a spacer for the steering column and modify the hoses.

Quick question, are the standard e30 clutch master and slave cylinders ok for the m30 conversion? Will pick up a new pair in the week if they are.

Getting there now, can't wait til it's done!

[tomson]

Deffo need an M30 slave Jer, get all that fitted and see how u like the clutch

[Bristol_Jer]

Ok nice one, cheers Tom

[Bristol_Jer]

Just had a quick look at bmwfans to get the part number for the slave cylinder ( http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/21521158677/ ), it seems an e30 318is and 324d one will fit too. I'll ask for an M30 one at the motor factors anyway to make sure it's right

[Bristol_Jer]

Bit more progress today, got the diff bolted up, fitted new handbrake cables and rear brake pipes/hoses. Got stuck on trying to fit my driveshafts though ( http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=190718 ) so couldn't get the back end completely finished.

My flywheel is still at the transmission place, as it was quite badly worn and they couldn't get all the grooves out on Saturday. Going to pick it up tomorrow night then I can get the engine and box bolted together at last

[ImysE30]

Good work, coming along nicely

Got any pic's of the brake lines?

[tomson]

You will need to give the driveshafts some persuasion Jer
You can use the nut to pull them home the last bit but you will struggle to hold the shaft as they are such a tight fit. If you have them in far enough to be able to fit the diff and put the car back on its wheels the weight of the car and the handbrake will hold them for you, if not, its hammer time

[leeparkes]

Could you use the weight of the car to push them home, ie jack the car up and use blocks of wood between the driveshaft and the diff out put flange then lower the car. might be easier on axle stands with a trolley jack under the trailing arm.

Just a thought

[Bristol_Jer]

Imy- Thanks mate What would you like a photo of, the hoses or the pipes I made up? Or both? I can take a few tomorrow when I get home from work

Tom- Where is it best to apply the hammer? I was a bit worried I'd wreck the wheel bearings if I started hammering the shafts in

[Bristol_Jer]

Could you use the weight of the car to push them home, ie jack the car up and use blocks of wood between the driveshaft and the diff out put flange then lower the car. might be easier on axle stands with a trolley jack under the trailing arm.

Just a thought

Sounds like a good idea Lee, I'll give it a try tomorrow evening

[ImysE30]

Just a pic of the pipes please

[Bristol_Jer]

Ok no worries

[bridgemond]

Good work man. Keep it up

[tomson]

Tom- Where is it best to apply the hammer? I was a bit worried I'd wreck the wheel bearings if I started hammering the shafts in

On the diff flange end. Put some weight on the shaft to compress both UJ's first, then give it a slap I have a heavy rubber mallet I use on jobs like these...

[Bristol_Jer]

Thanks Tom, I'll give it a try

Couple more pics:

Refaced flywheel bolted up



And inlet manifold support mounting hole extended for the custom mounts to fit:

[Bristol_Jer]

Just a pic of the pipes please

Sorry, I'd forgotten all about this, I'll take some pics when I get home tomorrow evening