gearbox

[noddy]

hello all i,m planin on doin an m50 2.5 swop in my 318 m40 just wandering whats the best gearbox to use so as i don,t have to get a drive shaft welded up, and can be drivin on the motorway returning good mpg thanks

[blue30]

If your existing gearbox is OK you can use that, with a 320i prop and gear linkage.

Your revs will be the same as they are now on the m-way, or you could get a 3.64 diff to drop them a bit since the M50 will pull it that much better.

HTH

[e30-EVN]

agreed with the above but with a small point to add...

if you can get hold of an m42 (318is) box you can use a 325 prop and gear linkage. this box is a stronger unit so this is what i chose

i ran this setup through a 4.10 open dif and although it was bloody epic off the line, she was a screamer on the link rd's or motorway!! mpg's were not good at all but once i fitted a 3.64 lsd this was cured..

m42 box and 4.10 dif = 60mph @ 3000rpm
m42 box and 3.64 dif = 75mph @ 3000rpm

[noddy]

thanks lads