M52B28 Auto-to-Manual

[E30_Crazy]

Would the M52 out of an E36 328 sport (Auto) be compatible with a manual gearbox/clutch/flywheel during swap into an E30? Would there need to be changes to the engine side of anything, or would they bolt on?

[maf260]

Should be fine. You'll need to remove the torque convertor from the engine and replace it with a flywheel - if you're going to do this I suggest you find a M20 flywheel and get it lightened, then use it with a M20 clutch and starter motor.

[E30_Crazy]

yeah, planned on using the already-lightened fly from my tech1. At least, that is what I read somewhere; that there isn't that much to be taken off a fly from a Tech1 (maybe tech2's also?)

I've done a good amount of reading into the swap, just don't think I ever saw this covered. Wish I could find someone to do all the work, lol. Not enough time around work and being out of country. I've got one year left to get it up and running again...

[Duke137]

Try "DanThe" he offers the service and is an expert on E30's and 24V conversions

(shameless plug again )

[e30-EVN]

Not a lot of point lightening an m20 flywheel tbh, the weight saved by using 1 compared to the dual mass is enough imo. Unless its a track car!

[Jhonno]

Not a lot of point lightening an m20 flywheel tbh, the weight saved by using 1 compared to the dual mass is enough imo. Unless its a track car!

Imo, whilst it's out put it on a diet

[shedrool83]

Lightened flywheel ftw.

[maf260]

You need to skim some of the material off the M20 flywheel to fit it to the M52 anyway, otherwise it will foul on the sump. There are some who recommend taking a grinder to the sump, but that is lunacy to me! For £20 I had a local engineering shop take the required amount off the flywheel and also skim the face the clutch centre plate engages with to give a nice fresh surface. A very cheap and worthwhile mod IMO.

[e30-EVN]

Its not lunicy at all, I am not a qualified mechanic nor am I an engineer but I have completed an m50 conversion on my own car and in 1 day I ripped that out and put my m52 in.
In both cases I didn't lighten the flywheel, as I don't see the point in taking 2kgs max of the already lighter flywheel.... I used my grinder to shave the sump slightly, and whatever way you look at it I did this for free and that is cheaper than even £20.
Taking 2kgs off will not make your car any faster than mine at all

[Jhonno]

Taking 2kgs off will not make your car any faster than mine at all

Technically it will.. Otherwise there would be no point lightening it at all.

For £20 for a fresh clutch face and a lighter flywheel, it makes no sense not to do it.

[nickso]

Taking 2kgs off will not make your car any faster than mine at all

Technically it will.. Otherwise there would be no point lightening it at all.

For £20 for a fresh clutch face and a lighter flywheel, it makes no sense not to do it.

indeed.

not only that but not everyone gets away with shaving the sump. the amount needing taking off mine would have left it in very poor shape.

[E30BeemerLad]

I've got a stock M20 flywheel on mine and shaved the end of the sump and have not had any dramas at all

[e30-EVN]

Guess I was lucky then as my sump is still good after taking off the necessary

2kgs less weight would equate to a very small difference to be honest, even if that difference could be noticed.

[DanThe]

The difference between a standard M20 flywheel/clutch and a standard dual mass flywheel/clutch is only about 3kg, but it makes a lot of difference to how the engine behaves

[Jhonno]

People shave 2kgs off M20 flywheels all the time and do notice the difference..

[nickso]

well my standard m20 FW was certainly not going on with a quick shave of the sump, don't know why some get away with it and others don't....

can't comment on the FW weight difference as i only drove the engine in the e36 with the dual mass jobby and in the e30 as a lightened m20, no fair comparison to be made there but 2kg's is a fair bit of weight to whirl around so i'll stick with the common belief that it does help.

[E30_Crazy]

So by measurement, how much did you guys have to take off the sump and/or FW?

[e30-EVN]

+1 ^
I did exactly the same. You will see how much needs taking away when you offer the flywheel up

[gudgeon]

I modded my sump because it was easier and because the flywheel is already a lot lighter than the dual mass. I don't know at what point a flywheel becomes too light, but they are there for a reason and mine isn't a track car.

BUT

One thing to consider is that the bellhousing on my M42 gearbox has holes to allow removal of the sump without taking off the gearbox. Now that I have possible oilpump problems I'm seeing the advantage of removing this part of the flywheel so that removal of the sump doesn't require gearbox, clutch, flywheel removal as well. Worth considering although I've not looked at this in detail yet so it may be possible but fiddly to get the sump off.

[bimanut]

You wont get enough clearance to get at the oil pump with the engine sitting on its mounts.

[gudgeon]

Yes the engine will have to come out. But now I also need to remove gearbox, clutch, flywheel as well.

[Green]

To confirm, the only thing that needs to be changed from an auto to manual is the flywheel? (ofcourse starter motor, gearbox etc)

[e30-EVN]

Auto loom needs to be chopped out, danthe makes plug and play looms

[Duke137]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=199238

Read here, mine was M50b25 Auto and have pruned the gearbox ECU out as instructed. Easy but time consuming

[bimanut]

You will also need to fit a spigot bearing for the gearbox as i did.
Just measure the thickness of the input shaft on the gearbox.

Most E30 box`s seem to be 12mm but mine for some reason was a 15mm.

Didnt take a pic of the flywheel before i had it shaved but it will give you some idea.
After looking at some very nice alloy billet fw you may be able to remove more than i have but i wasnt sure, i just wanted it to clear the sump.