can someone put me right and check my knowledge plz

[deanocool]

right guys, if you could help, im purchasing an e36 auto engine for a conversion on my off road track e30 and im a bit muddled on the gearbox scenario. can you please clear up these points for me incase im arse about face. i have searched btw but just to check as everyone has a diff opinion or facts. right.....

i have 2 m20 boxes and they will fit but sit 10 deg out clock face view and bending of gearlever etc is needed. to sit right i need an m40 or m42 box and when fitted with the m20 single mass fly, clutch and starter it all goes in ok?

the m42 box is fitted to a 318i or 318is?

the fact that these engines are available in either an e30 or an e36 doesnt matter?

does the rod that connects to the box sit central in the aperture with the standard 318i lever or is a different one needed? (longer?)

edit - added - also a few members on here have said the brake servo needs to come from a plastic winged clio. that would inclde a mk1, 2 and facelft 2...can anyone narrow it down or are they really all the same?

sorry about the million questions but im doing this conversion from zone knowledge and obviously a mechanic mate who knows what hes doing but not what i need. just dont want to buy the wrong stuff. thanks in advance for the help guys

[e30-EVN]

If you use an m20 box you are correct in thinking it will sit about 10 degrees out, you can bend the 320 linkage yoke by heating it up as they are cast ally but also a gearbox brace has to be modified to suit the new position of the box! Pesonaly I think its easier to just find an m42 box mate, this makes your dif choice much easier as with the m20 box you will need a lower ratio!!

You want an e30 m42 box as these have an overdrive 5th so a dif ratio anywhere from 3.91- 3.46 can be used, easier to source 1!
If you use an e36 m42 box you will need a much lower dif ratio as they have a 1-1 5th gear! Lower ratios are more expensive

M20 single mas will go in but you need to either shave a bit off the flywheel or the sump, shaving the sump is not only easy but free with a grinder. I did this and my engine responds nicely to it regardless of what people say!!

You need a 320 gear linkage yoke and I found it sits slightly forward in the hole in the tunnel, I overcome this by rotating my z3 shifter 180 degrees and I can find all gears with no problems


Any plastic winged clio servo will be fine from a car around a v (2000) reg....

[deanocool]

cheers dk!