A couple of hours later:
My M52 conversion - ALMOST FINISHED NOW
Moderator: martauto
Thats Turks old one isnt it that was written off?
Donor was I think one of Turk's old cars, but since sold by him. I got lucky finding a full M52 conversion for sale. I don't have either the patience or know-how to collect the right parts etc. The shell was rotten in all the usual places, so the owner stripped it bare apart from the running gear. Believe it or not it was running just before the first pic was taken, really sweet engine.
It was really easy to drop from underneath, fancied doing it this way as I'd never done it before and like a bit of a challenge. Will most likely put it in from the top as I don't want to take the recipient to pieces in the same way. All done in a couple of hours and even managed to find a gypo to take the shell away this afternoon!
Brake servo is already off (see 2nd pic) - it's from a Clio.
Next job is to take the knackered M20B25 out of the cab, strip the nice morsels off and get them sold. Then I will clean up & paint the engine bay before a bit of head scratching to get this transplanted. More pics as I go. Not enough time to complete this weekend unfortunately.
It was really easy to drop from underneath, fancied doing it this way as I'd never done it before and like a bit of a challenge. Will most likely put it in from the top as I don't want to take the recipient to pieces in the same way. All done in a couple of hours and even managed to find a gypo to take the shell away this afternoon!
Brake servo is already off (see 2nd pic) - it's from a Clio.
Next job is to take the knackered M20B25 out of the cab, strip the nice morsels off and get them sold. Then I will clean up & paint the engine bay before a bit of head scratching to get this transplanted. More pics as I go. Not enough time to complete this weekend unfortunately.
Sorry, my bad! Didn't notice it sat on the right hand side lol.....
Prob best to drop it in from the top tbh, I dropped my m50 in from top complete with gearbox and inlet manifold! Only thing I needed to do was slip the aux belt off and take the pulley off the power steering pump to give me a valuble half inch clearance... When I put my m52 in shortly I'm going to try dropping it in without the inlet manifold and see if I don't have to take off the pulley.
Prob best to drop it in from the top tbh, I dropped my m50 in from top complete with gearbox and inlet manifold! Only thing I needed to do was slip the aux belt off and take the pulley off the power steering pump to give me a valuble half inch clearance... When I put my m52 in shortly I'm going to try dropping it in without the inlet manifold and see if I don't have to take off the pulley.
A 2 door e30 with 8 cylinders, what could be better 
I've just fitted the same engine to mine but I fitted it from underneath, don't know why people are so wary of doing it that way, you've even got all the wishbones etc attached to the subframe. Four bolts on the subframe two on the gearbox and it's in, no messing about lining it up on mounts etc... unless I was lucky in my swap??
I would also welcome any pointers of things I should do before fitting this engine into my cab. Water pump looks like it's plastic (black & shiny?) so I guess that should be changed along with the thermostat. I should probably take the gearbox off and check the clutch as I don't fancy doing that in future - anything else to stop some potential heartache further along the road?
You wanna do the water pump for definate mate! Metal impellar..... And yes new thermo
If I were you also I would put a brand new clutch kit in it aswel, technicaly speaking you want to do the clutch before you stick it in as everything is so tight its very hard to change clutch a few weeks down the line with the engine in situe!
If I were you also I would put a brand new clutch kit in it aswel, technicaly speaking you want to do the clutch before you stick it in as everything is so tight its very hard to change clutch a few weeks down the line with the engine in situe!
A 2 door e30 with 8 cylinders, what could be better
OK, will start looking for parts.
Another question - there will be loads, I'm sure - I've read that the M20 flywheel can be fitted. As I have one of these on the M20 being removed should I just bolt it up? Which clutch should I then use?
Another question - there will be loads, I'm sure - I've read that the M20 flywheel can be fitted. As I have one of these on the M20 being removed should I just bolt it up? Which clutch should I then use?
You want to speak to meatballs82 on here mate, the KWP was about £30 plus vat, a very good price tbhmaf260 wrote:That seems to make sense, thanks.
Water pump from main stealer or GSF/ECP?
How do you pronounce 'either'? I say 'either', but some say 'either'. Either is correct.
As above but without doubt put a brand new clutch kit in! Don't reuse a clutch from your m20 regardless of its condition!
You can get the m20 fly lightened but tbh even an unlightened m20 flywheel on an m50 or 52 engine livens things up quite nicely.... If you choose to use a stock m20 flywheel you will have to grind part of the sump away as the fly will foul parts of it! I have documented this with pics in my m50 progress thread I will find it and bump it to page 1 for you to have a gander.
You can get the m20 fly lightened but tbh even an unlightened m20 flywheel on an m50 or 52 engine livens things up quite nicely.... If you choose to use a stock m20 flywheel you will have to grind part of the sump away as the fly will foul parts of it! I have documented this with pics in my m50 progress thread I will find it and bump it to page 1 for you to have a gander.
A 2 door e30 with 8 cylinders, what could be better
Yes, would put in a new clutch anyway if it was for M20. The release bearing on my car was always noisy and annoying! I could get a local engineer to lighten the flywheel for me, doubt it would cost much. Looks like material needs to be taken from the engine-facing side. I also need to work out which gearbox I have. Will take a decent pic and post it on here for identification.
Managed to get a little time on the recipient today. Undid pretty much all connections, pipes, wires etc. Just the oil cooler pipes and exhaust (manifold is unbolted) to remove now:
Nasty mayo in the water pipe - head gasket failure that gave me the incentive to do this conversion:
Now for a little more help please - can anyone tell me what gearbox this is?
If it's obvious can you also tell me whether this will fit straight back on with a M20 flywheel, clutch & starter motor.
Thanks for all help and advice so far. I'll be asking more questions as I go. I'm no pro mechanic and don't want to mess things up!
Nasty mayo in the water pipe - head gasket failure that gave me the incentive to do this conversion:
Now for a little more help please - can anyone tell me what gearbox this is?
If it's obvious can you also tell me whether this will fit straight back on with a M20 flywheel, clutch & starter motor.
Thanks for all help and advice so far. I'll be asking more questions as I go. I'm no pro mechanic and don't want to mess things up!
The m20 flywheel, clutch and starter will fit with any box! But the box you use determines the spigot bearing and dif you have to use....
For example- m40 or m42 box = m20 spigot bearing (12mm hole)
M50 box = m50 spigot bearing (15mm hole)
For example- m40 or m42 box = m20 spigot bearing (12mm hole)
M50 box = m50 spigot bearing (15mm hole)
A 2 door e30 with 8 cylinders, what could be better
OK thanks. I think I'll stick with the box that came with the conversion as it means I won't have to worry about the spigot bearing. All I will need to do is buy a new clutch kit and get the flywheel lightened (assuming it hasn't already been done - will split the engine & box before going shopping!) I also then know that the prop I have will fit. The idea of the ready-made conversion was to do and spend as little extra as possible, but to ensure the sensible and essential jobs are carried out before dropping it in.
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E30Mark
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 8107
- Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Wimborne, Dorset
Not quite! the spigot bearings changed in the m42 etc in sept '90, can't remember the sizes at the mo, but I remember when i changed the engine in my 318iS I had to change the spigot bearing because I was using a slightly different year engine.e30-dk wrote:For example- m40 or m42 box = m20 spigot bearing (12mm hole)
1 & 2 bed flats in Bournemouth areas, with parking
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Hmmm would have to be a late thing then boys cos my m42 box is definatly a 12mm shaft or else it would not have got on the engine lol, advised by dan to get m20 spigot and all fine here
A 2 door e30 with 8 cylinders, what could be better
328 prop-shaft should be a straight fit depending on what gearbox is being used.
If its an M20 flywheel thats inside it at the moment, it more than likely has been lightened already unless somebody was being tight and just got an angle grinder to the back of the engine.
If its an M20 flywheel thats inside it at the moment, it more than likely has been lightened already unless somebody was being tight and just got an angle grinder to the back of the engine.
M42 rightness above 6500rpm, nobody can hear you scream
Got a bit more done today, that's 2 donks out now.
Just need to pick up a few bits to refresh the M52, clean up the engine bay and I'll be ready to fit the new engine.
Had a load of trouble trying to undo the prop at the diff end - nuts wouldn't shift. I ended up splitting the prop at the middle joint to get it all out. Rear part is still bolted up solidly - any ideas? Don't want to use heat as it's too close to the petrol tank for my liking!
Just need to pick up a few bits to refresh the M52, clean up the engine bay and I'll be ready to fit the new engine.
Had a load of trouble trying to undo the prop at the diff end - nuts wouldn't shift. I ended up splitting the prop at the middle joint to get it all out. Rear part is still bolted up solidly - any ideas? Don't want to use heat as it's too close to the petrol tank for my liking!