What gearbox? S50 Engine Conversion

[M3Cecotto]

Im planning an engine conversion into my E30 M3, and reckon the E36 3.0 M3 engine to be about the best option, I've considered the 3.6/ 3.8 M5 engine, and also the 3.5 from the 535i sport.

Would it be any advantage to retain the original dog leg box? it'd probably require a custom bell housing, I dont have the gear ratios of the 3.0 gearbox and the original M3, but it would be a pretty safe guess, that the dogleg E30 box would have lower gearing.

Ha sanyone any thoughts? also out of interest, has anyone bought the conversion cd's from Zionsville Autosport? are they a worthwhile buy?


All info/comments are appreciated.

[Kos]

use the 6 speed e36 box, and a 3.25 diff. thats a slightly shorter diff ration than what would be used with the 6sp box in an e36, it will give very quick acceleration as its in a very light car and always keep you in the power band, gtreat for track days. custom bellhousing is very expensive and poinless unless you really want to keep the dog box. try mosley motorsport he may have devolped one. last time a spoke to him he had one so the e30m3dog box could go on to the m50/52 engines.

[ian332isport]

Im planning an engine conversion into my E30 M3, and reckon the E36 3.0 M3 engine to be about the best option, I've considered the 3.6/ 3.8 M5 engine, and also the 3.5 from the 535i sport.

Would it be any advantage to retain the original dog leg box? it'd probably require a custom bell housing, I dont have the gear ratios of the 3.0 gearbox and the original M3, but it would be a pretty safe guess, that the dogleg E30 box would have lower gearing.

Ha sanyone any thoughts? also out of interest, has anyone bought the conversion cd's from Zionsville Autosport? are they a worthwhile buy?


All info/comments are appreciated.

Your best option is to use the 5 speed box that would normally be connected to the 3.0L M3 engine (same as used on the 328i and a few other models - mainly 6 cylinder cars). This box has a 1:1 5th gear which is the same as the M3 dogleg box. Not sure how the other gears compare though.

Not sure if you can get a bellhousing to fit the M3 box onto the S50 engine. Probably very rare if there is one.

As for the Zionsville CD, I wouldn't bother. It's apparently not that great anyway, and not really applicable to the Euro spec M3 engines. I'm sure I can probably answer any questions you may have.

Ian.

[M3Cecotto]

I appreciate your replies, i would say the 5 speed e36 m3 box would best my needs, im restoring a m3 cecotto, which i bought minus the engine/box, but still have propshaft, original 25% LSD etc.

Regards manifold clearance, will uprated 6 branch manifolds make the situation worse? i believe Ian you have the e36 rack, im interested in this, so have been looking over some of your old posts.

What's both your cars like for traction?

[ian332isport]

Regards manifold clearance, will uprated 6 branch manifolds make the situation worse? i believe Ian you have the e36 rack, im interested in this, so have been looking over some of your old posts.

Having a LHD car, you have a little more freedom with the exhaust manifold, but nothing is going to fit without some work to clear the subframe and the bulkhead (if using the BMW manifold). Without the steering column to get in the way, you will only really need to modify the manifold outlet pipes (after the 3 to 1 collectors). The only exception to this is the No6 header pipe that will hit the bulkhead.

I do have the E36 rack, and it's a superb conversion on a regular E30. Not sure if you would get that much benefit on the M3 though. You would also need to find a LHD E36 rack from somewhere.

What's both your cars like for traction?

Traction on my car is surprisingly very good. I know another guy (Henry) that has a similar conversion in an M3, and he also reports that the traction is superb. The back end just squats down and off you go

Cheers,

Ian.

[M3Cecotto]

The reason I asked about the rack, is because I'm giving serious thought to changing to RHD. A lot of people will think its an almighty sin, but its drivability, especially on Irish roads.

Good to have feedback, ill get the engine and get it dropped in, and see the issues for myself. Im doing the car bit by bit, so ill update you later, and hit you with more questions!

Thanks.

[c76jon]

The reason I asked about the rack, is because I'm giving serious thought to changing to RHD. A lot of people will think its an almighty sin, but its drivability, especially on Irish roads.

Good to have feedback, ill get the engine and get it dropped in, and see the issues for myself. Im doing the car bit by bit, so ill update you later, and hit you with more questions!

Thanks.

i think the sin has been committed

john

[M3Cecotto]

i think the sin has been committed

john

If i could get a reasonable priced original engine for the car, i'd take it, but to get the original cecotto/evo II engine, i've been priced a fortune. Also I always fancied a 6 cylinder e30, but love the M3 refinements and body shape.

The M3 I have is more or less a rolling shell, so its not like im killing it, it has a lot of original parts still on it, but is more like a chicken shed than anything else at the moment, a fact that i plan to rectify.

I couldn't drive a LHD car on some of the narrow roads I use, and as i said on another forum, it is a personal thing, I bought the car with this in mind. I wouldn't buy a pristine example and alter it dramatically. In the future I hope to buy another M3 and keep it, as BMW intented it.

But seeing as the M3 models have evolved, then why not evolution of your own? I mean if BMW still made e30 m3's, would they still be the exact same as they were in the early 90's?

I understand the puriest argument, but on the otherhand, people buy's M3's for different reasons, some want to keep them original. some want to track them, some what to change them to suit their own requirements!

[M3Cecotto]

By the way. . . i don't mean to sound harsh, but I bought the M3 to drive, and LHD really wouldn't be in anyway practical for me, and the roads I'd want to drive on.

[c76jon]

each to their own my friend
but a cecotto engine (evo2 are different) surely wont cost any more than what you are planning

what difference do the roads make to whether its lhd or not

i suppose its just a shame its acecotto and not just a more common 215hp

john

[Toby_Unna]

if it's a shed with a lot of care/work/money needed, and maybe worth more in parts than to sell or do up and sell, then this is a pretty good thing to be happening to it as far as i'm concerned

beaking it up would be a sin

sounds like a great project

[Kos]

The reason I asked about the rack, is because I'm giving serious thought to changing to RHD. A lot of people will think its an almighty sin, but its drivability, especially on Irish roads.

Good to have feedback, ill get the engine and get it dropped in, and see the issues for myself. Im doing the car bit by bit, so ill update you later, and hit you with more questions!

Thanks.

I DID THAT!!!
RHD cecotto with s50 engine, e36 rack, macau blue. I didnt regret it, its your car so do yout you think is right for you. Yes it hurt a bit financially but its worth doing, and i understand why. on your country roads you got ot have RHD for overtaking. you lot and your street racing is crazy!!

[M3Cecotto]

@c76jon: i know it seems a waste, but i plan on leaving the car in good condition, im been a fan of e30's since i was 6, an im 23 now. My car is in a sorry state, but as i afford the parts, ill get them.

I've a genuine cecotto bumper lined up, and that'll be the exterior complete, once resprayed.

Kos if you have any pics/ info feel free to email me; admin@hot4imports.com

Toby_Unna, i could've cried when i seen the car, especially seeing that it was a limited edition one. The body itself is in good nick, but engine, box and interior have been removed. So i like to think that im tryin to bring one back to life!

Im over the moon about getting the car, only have it since last friday. Money willing, ill have it ready for the summer.

I hope to get a maiden voyage to the ring in it!

[M3Cecotto]

Just to cover all bases aswell, i'd still be interested in an evo II/ cecotto engine, even one in need of a rebuild. My car has the wiring loom, ecu, propshaft, diff etc still there so a S14 would drop fairly nicely back in.

I was priced a couple of S14's and was quoted fairly scary money, in fact about the same as I paid for the car, and i thought I was mad paying so much for it!

When i've some more work done to the car, Heres a link to some pictures, the front end is like a gapping hole, and forgive the lovely steel wheels!!!!

http://www.hot4imports.com/m3.htm

what do you think????