Raising an engine

[JdmFanBoy]

My cars quite low and I've just broken my sump for the second time. Decided a good option will be to lift the engine and then fit a sump guard, I can make the sump guard but I don't know what to use to lift the engine?

Any help greatly appreciated

[gudgeon]

Is it an M20?
You could try using the e28 M5 engine mounts.
These are used for the M50/M52 engine swap. Not sure the effect on prop alignment or bulkhead clearance though. Fan will probably snag the ducting as well.

Is it really really low, or do you just have bad roads?

[craigieeb]

Fix/change your suspension

[JdmFanBoy]

Its an M40, its because of the ride height not bad roads. Also I am changing the suspension but only to go lower. I need to raise it to fit a sump guard, I can't fit one now because there's no room for a sump guard under there

Edit: This is my car

[hongkongfuey]

lower??? you will need more than a sump guard, what aabout protecting the petrol tank etc

[gnrsoul]

your going lower ?

i would say same as gudgeon probably effect on prop alignment and maybe more if you lift the engine and make it lower

[Rav335uk]

This things scrapes the floor as it is now.
Saw this at the German car show, and had the fortune of following him on the Motorway too. All I saw were sparks then!

You seriously want to go lower???
Fit some SE skirts, it'll make it look lower

[Jim320i]

This things scrapes the floor as it is now.
Saw this at the German car show, and had the fortune of following him on the Motorway too. All I saw were sparks then!

You seriously want to go lower???
Fit some SE skirts, it'll make it look lower

And some smaller wheels.


The only way to do it would be some new custom made engine mounts, but I dont see you having much space to raise your engine up? Especially if you cant get a sump guard under there now and you want to lower it...

Out of curiousity, why do you want to take it lower?

[capri_rob]

That looks suspiciously like Stevies old car albeit slightly shinier

[Jim320i]

That looks suspiciously like Stevies old car albeit slightly shinier

It looks like it but it isnt, Stevie's car was still in his possesion when this picture was taken.

[JdmFanBoy]

I wanna go lower because you don't see too many properly low E30's around. If it was fast It would be more sensible but its only a rattley M40 and I don't have any plans for a faster engine atm. In the process of building some coilovers for it, if its undriveable then I'll just wind them up

I'm not looking to raise it a lot. Basicly I want the sump guard to be where the sump is now, I need to raise it so the sump doesn't hit the guard. At least when I hit bangs and scrapes I know its just a piece of metal and not something too important

[JdmFanBoy]

This things scrapes the floor as it is now.
Saw this at the German car show, and had the fortune of following him on the Motorway too. All I saw were sparks then!

You seriously want to go lower???
Fit some SE skirts, it'll make it look lower

hehehe, I'm not a big fan of skirts on older cars. it would also just be something else to break

[JdmFanBoy]

lower??? you will need more than a sump guard, what aabout protecting the petrol tank etc

The petrol tank only hits stuff over speed bumps etc. The sump and exhaust hit stuff just driving around

Triple post y0!

This is why I want a sump guard



I javascript:emoticon('winkeye')then had to walk to a nearby halfrauds in the snow and buy oil so I could try and get home

[Tom_Maverick]

I wanna go lower because you don't see too many properly low E30's around.

there's a reason for this (see your pic)! I've seen quite a few LOW E30's.. a few running static and a couple on air.. air is the only way to get seriously low for show and then get it back up so you don't keep killing it..

as far as I can see with a better choice of rims / skirts etc the car would look 100% better.. if it's just low as fook it's going to handle like pants and not really be any more eyecatching!

[redcar]

New engine mounts and a sump guard will do the trick

[JdmFanBoy]

I'm looking into banding the 14" steelies and running some smaller stretched tires. The reason there isn't too many low E30's is because people don't try hard enough. I don't care how the car handles, I drive it slowly so I don't need to fly around corners

[Jim320i]

lower??? you will need more than a sump guard, what aabout protecting the petrol tank etc

The petrol tank only hits stuff over speed bumps etc. The sump and exhaust hit stuff just driving around

Triple post y0!

This is why I want a sump guard



I javascript:emoticon('winkeye')then had to walk to a nearby halfrauds in the snow and buy oil so I could try and get home

Looks like it needed an oil change anyway



For a quick cheap fix... Loads of strong washer and above number 4 on either side?

[leeparkes]

If your going to run smaller tyres it will be even lower to raise the engine just put spacers under the mounts it wont have that much of a bad effect on prop alignment as long as you dont go too mad.

[JdmFanBoy]

I've heard about people using washers but from that diagram doesn't look like there's much thread to play with

[Jim320i]

20-30mm? I had a some of the bushes somewhere but fook knows where now else I could have checked for you.

[e30-EVN]

Sorry but it just looks utterly pathetic! Will handle like crap and if your that low you should expect to smash sumps. Maybey you should get a VW instead of ruining an e30

My car is lowered yes but only 40mm. That just looks like shite. Only my opinion so no need to come back with any sort of abuse lol

[gnrsoul]

this is what you need if you want to splash the cash ?
then you can have it low and not kill your car on speed bumps.

[sweep]

Why is it always m40 engined four door models thats dropped on there bottoms

[JdmFanBoy]

Sorry but it just looks utterly pathetic! Will handle like crap and if your that low you should expect to smash sumps. Maybey you should get a VW instead of ruining an e30

My car is lowered yes but only 40mm. That just looks like shite. Only my opinion so no need to come back with any sort of abuse lol

If you bothered to read I've already said I don't care about the handling. Not everyone builds there cars to be fast. Why would I smash sumps if I don't have to? I prefer RWD so I wont bother buying a VW. Ruin it? I'm fitting it with suspension and wheels, if you can't remove wheels and suspension you shouldn't be modifying a car. I started this thread because I was asking for help, if you have some advice relating to the subject feel free to join in. If not go and post abuse in my thread in the photo gallery section

[JdmFanBoy]

Why is it always m40 engined four door models thats dropped on there bottoms

No idea mines a two door?

Also to the person who said about hydraulics. Its brilliant if you have thousands to throw a suspension set-up. I unfortunately don't.

Also thanks Jim for the advice, 30mm might be just enough to make it work

[e30-EVN]

"if you can't remove wheels and suspension you shouldn't be modifying a car"

Wondering what you mean with this comment??

[JdmFanBoy]

You said I've ruined an e30. I'm fitting it with wheels and its lowered. Its hardly beyond repair, I haven't painted it bright pink and made it look like the batmobile.

[leeparkes]

I haven't painted it bright pink and made it look like the batmobile.

[JdmFanBoy]

Haha see E30-DK thats what a ruined e30 looks like ;)

What's DK stand for? Donkey kong

Are you like the justin timberlake of Japan or something?

[e30topless]

Lifting the engine enough to avoid ground contact could cause all sorts of drama's..

gear linkage, exhaust, coolant pipes stretched, cog box vibrating on the trans tunnel to mention a few...

but then all of the above happening won't really ruin this turd anymore than you have already ?

[e30-EVN]

Bet you wouldn't be so fukin mouthy to my face you fukin keyboard warrior!!

I happen to know how to modify a car for the better unlike yourself who obv like to slam a car so far it rips cats eyes out of the road and looks like you payed 60 quid from your local breakers yard you fukin goon!!

Arite bruv

[JdmFanBoy]

Are you actually like the drift king of E30's? I'll stop now I seem to be upsetting you and I wouldn't want to emotionally scar anyone because of a discussion about ground clearance.

Also E30 topless how old are you? Just out of interest

[e30topless]

Also E30 topless how old are you? Just out of interest

I'm 17,

[e30-EVN]

You wouldn't know drift in your beast of an m40 if your passenger ripped up your fukin handbrake! And with over 200bhp under my right foot I suppose I'm more of a drift king than you would ever be.... My user name was 1st made up as a joke between my mates which stuck, so you can carry on with your theories all you like ya nugget

Upset?? No, not in the slightest

[e30-EVN]

Lol Steve,,,, yeah right