My M50 conversion

[StefanAnghel]

...well kind of...as I bought it as a "weekend kit" from Alex (MrBenn) and was originally Dezzy's creation...

Spec;
M50 2.5l non vanos engine
Viper chipped ECU
Wiring loom modified by Danthe
M20 lightened flywheel + M20 starter motor
New Sachs clutch
Enlarged Throttle body
E28 M5 engine mounts
M40 gearbox with M20B20 gear selector linkage
320 Prop
Clio servo and spacer
Stainless exhaust and modified headers
M40 radiator with fan mounted on front



I'm very excited to start it but first I will need your help...

Bits that I need:
E34 525 throttle cable
fan loom (already dealed with Dan)
Maybe a bigger radiator and a twin speed fan
an LSD
Loads and loads of information..

In the same time:
I will also change the steering rack with an e36 one (I have all the bits from Dan)
Clean the engine bay

I'm waiting for your inputs and advices!
Thanks

[StefanAnghel]

During transportation

Resting in the garage

Exhaust system...I just need a tailpipe... All ideas are welcomed!

[randomspeedfreak]

i envy how much time and money you have saved yourself doing it this way!

[StefanAnghel]

Dezzy can you tell me if you also changed the thermostat with the water pump? blue and brown sensors?
Thank you

Until I have everything and I'm ready to do the conversion should I put some oil in it and turn it every couple of days?

[StefanAnghel]

Can someone post some pictures with their m50 conversion?!
Also I'd like to ask if the best diff ratio to use for my concersion is 3.64?!
Best for mpg and acceleration...

Thank you!

[E30BeemerLad]

3.64 - best for MPG, 3.91 best for acceleration

What pics do you want of the conversion?

Look up E30-DK's swap thread as Ant put up some useful pics. There will be pics in my thread, but it's over 100 pages now

[e30-EVN]

ive bumped my thread up to the top for you mate

and anyone else who may need the help from pics

[StefanAnghel]

Thank you

My first mission is to clean and paint the engine and maybe the gearbox...
What paint should I use.. Very high temp (up to 600'c) or just high temp (up to 300'c)?

I have some problems with the engine crane also.. Doesn't lift on load but it's fine empty.. I've top it up... And it's the same! Any suggestions!?

[e30-EVN]

i used alpine white 2 from bmw mate,,, it fine

my only beef with that was the price...... £13 for 150m can
a can of coke is bloody 350m lol......

cant offer any advise on the crane sorry, strange apnin that... hope someone else can shed some light

[StefanAnghel]

i used alpine white 2 from bmw mate,,, it fine

my only beef with that was the price...... £13 for 150m can
a can of coke is bloody 350m lol......

cant offer any advise on the crane sorry, strange apnin that... hope someone else can shed some light

For the engine you used alpine white?!
From where did you buy the exhaust copper nuts?
Thanks

[e30-EVN]

Sorry my mistake lmfao, noooo I didn't.

Used it on my engine "bay" lol

Got the manifold nuts and studs from bmw for a few quid

[StefanAnghel]

Right...I've start today with a bit of cleaning


Questions :
what paint should I use? Very heat temp (up to 600) or heat temp paint (150- 300)?
And
my e30 has the fuel filter at the back just outside the fuel tank, is it ok to use that filter and to remove the M50 one next to the starter motor??..as it will be a pain to be changed when the engine is in?
thanks

[StefanAnghel]

More cleaning and prep for painting


and first problem...

[StefanAnghel]

Few questions again...
what is this first sensor (the one in the left as you look at the picture)?
also for what is that plug under the sensors as I've seen on the realoem that is some king of throtle body cooling?


and why so many blocked hoses?

[DanThe]

You took the loom off I take it? The sensors, left to right are Blue sensor for ECU, Brown sensor for gauge (should have been changed for an E30 one) and the one on the right is just there to block the outlet for throttle heater, the hose with a bolt in is the return from the throttle heater. The pipe under the throttle body is the vacuum connection for fuel tank vapour valve which is long gone

[Duke137]

Few questions again...
what is this first sensor (the one in the left as you look at the picture)?
also for what is that plug under the sensors as I've seen on the realoem that is some king of throtle body cooling?

I stuck a sump nut in the right hand one to plug it up, looks loads neater

[StefanAnghel]

Thanks Dan...from left to right as you look to the picture? because I've found the first in the left not connected the middle one connected to the brown connector and the one one int right was with the blue connector?!? pics like i've found them...


What for throtle heater? any good to put it back?

[StefanAnghel]

Can I remove the drive belt and put it back without silly problems and adjustments like on the M40? (where the accesories belt is the cambelt also)

Thanks

[e30-EVN]

i removed mine mate, before i dropped the lump in i changed for a new belt and tensioner pulley....

[StefanAnghel]

mine looks new...but I want to remove it to be able to clean and paint the block...so i'ts safe to do it?

[e30-EVN]

yeah totaly safe man. mine looked new aswel but for the sake of a few quid i changed it anyway..... piece of mind thing also like ya know

[StefanAnghel]

yeah totaly safe man. mine looked new aswel but for the sake of a few quid i changed it anyway..... piece of mind thing also like ya know

OK, Thanks...I'll do that tomorrow morning...and after that maybe changing that gasket between the oil filter housing and engine if that was not done by Dezzy

[StefanAnghel]

I've just found this picture on Dezzy's original topic about my engine and noticed the pipe, means that I have two blue sensors?

[Dezzy]

The blue and brown sensors were E30 ones when it was in and running in my moredoor. Dan used the other sensor as a blank.


I never had the oil filter housing off mate.

[Brianmoooore]

Thanks Dan...from left to right as you look to the picture? because I've found the first in the left not connected the middle one connected to the brown connector and the one one int right was with the blue connector?!? pics like i've found them...


What for throtle heater? any good to put it back?

As long as they are both blue sensors in full working order, it isn't going to matter which you connect to.

[Brianmoooore]

Can I remove the drive belt and put it back without silly problems and adjustments like on the M40? (where the accesories belt is the cambelt also)

Thanks

The accessories belt on a M40 is not also the cambelt. Only rubbish like Vauxhall do things like that!
M40 uses a toothed flat belt to drive the camshaft only.
Oil pump is driven directly off the crank, and water pump, alternator, power steering and aircon are driven by one or more vee belts. Can be four belts on an M40.
Serpentine belt on an M50 doesn't time anything, and is automatically tensioned, so is easy to remove and replace, but draw a diagram of how it runs first.

[StefanAnghel]

The accessories belt on a M40 is not also the cambelt. Only rubbish like Vauxhall do things like that!
M40 uses a toothed flat belt to drive the camshaft only.
Oil pump is driven directly off the crank, and water pump, alternator, power steering and aircon are driven by one or more vee belts. Can be four belts on an M40.
Serpentine belt on an M50 doesn't time anything, and is automatically tensioned, so is easy to remove and replace, but draw a diagram of how it runs first.

Now I realised that I was talking crap... I don't know at what I was thinking...I only know that M40 needs to be blocked/marked when you change the timing belt...and was a pain to be done...

I removed it and I took pictures of everything before!

I was thinking now that I have the engine out to change and clean/recondition everything that might be a problem later on...does anyone have any suggestions?!

Also I was thinking at some extra gauges (oil temp, oil presure and something else) are they hard to be fit?
Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

Oil pressure gauge usually involve fitting a tee piece in place of the existing switch, then screwing the original switch into the one of the female ports on the tee, and a capillary tube or electric pressure transducer into the other port.
Oil temp gauge fitting involves either fitting a thermistor into the sump pan, or into the sump plug.

[StefanAnghel]

Oil pressure gauge usually involve fitting a tee piece in place of the existing switch, then screwing the original switch into the one of the female ports on the tee, and a capillary tube or electric pressure transducer into the other port.
Oil temp gauge fitting involves either fitting a thermistor into the sump pan, or into the sump plug.

Thank you
Any pros and cons? what the 3rd gauge to be for?

[Brianmoooore]

3rd gauge?

[StefanAnghel]

I've seen that instead of ashtray can be fitted 3 gauges...I'm not a smoker so what other gauge will be good on the m50?

[Green]

Guess you could have voltage.. although to be fair on a road car all those seem a little over the top.

[StefanAnghel]

Guess you could have voltage.. although to be fair on a road car all those seem a little over the top.

I know they are a bit over the top..but if can be done and looks stock and helps the good health of the engine...why not??

I might take the turbo way after I get bored with the stock M50..

Small shot to show you how the e30 looks on brock b1 with KW coilovers...at the moment as high as it's possible...

[StefanAnghel]

more cleaning...
Before:


After:

[StefanAnghel]

I'll paint the engine block with por15 engine enamel...red

should I leave the Gearbox and Sump like that or sealed them with something?