M10 Engine

[Ianb]

I've just bought a rot free 1986 316 carb ( 1766 i think ) , non sunroof, wind-up window cromie at an incredible price. It has been garaged off road for the since 2008 and started right up with some fresh petrol and a jump. It runs great and has no rust whatsoever bar a little general surface rust on the sills, even the bumpers are immaculate, it's Totally original down to the BMW Mudflaps / floor mats etc. It's currently auto so i think i will likley convert it to manual even if i leave the current m10 engine in it. My question is what's the M10 like, I realise that it's really the old E21 engine as opposed to the M40 i'm familiar with but it sounds really nice. What do people think engine Transplant or convert to manual & tune the M10 ? I'm presuming there's little point in keeping it standard as a basic non sunroof / wind up window cromie car despite rarity would not have much value i'm guessing ?

[Duke137]

Was it the one off ebay that sold for £470 approx?

[Ianb]

It was indeed, I got it for 400, the winner, who after winning it said he couldn't go through with the deal as he didn't know it wasn't road legal. I got 2nd chance at 460 but when i checked the bid history it was just me and the no deal guy from 380 upwards so i said i'd pay 400 and lo and behold i got it. Picked it up on a trailer last night and it's a real beauty.

[Duke137]

Cool, get some pics up the advert was crap!

The M10 carb is horrid put a 24V lump in and just do it right first time

[Ianb]

You are right that the advert was crap, I just had a feeling about the car. I'd love to put pics up but that's the one thing on here i've never been able to do, too much messing around with photofucket etc. Afraid I'm a car enthusiast not a computer enthusiast LOL.
I only just sold my cabby that i converted to 24v single vanos and i must admit i was not that pleased with it, IMO the old M20 2.5 i had in it before felt better, notice i say felt because i know the 24v was actually quicker, but it just didn't feel as torquey. I'm thinking of either a 2.5 m20 or possibly a 318is engine in this one, always assuming i can find a rotten or smashed version of either as a donor.

[Duke137]

A 318is would be interesting actually! Have you seen the chap with the supercharged one in the photo section?

Should be able to pick up a rotten IS easy enough then you literally have everything you need as they had rear discs, larger struts, etc etc

Putting photos up is easy if you use www.imageshack.us
- create a log in
- upload your photos (select 15" monitor size is ample)
- copy the "Share photo" link
- Paste into a reply box on the forum with [img]at%20the%20front[/img] at the end
- preview post and done.

What is your budget?

[harry_p]

As much as people take the piss out of the 318is ( i know i have done on occasion ) i think it would make quite a good conversion on a lightweight poverty spec chromey shell

[Kedge]

I like the sound of the 318iS swap as well, the 4 pot haters will be along soon though. A lightweight flywheel makes a big difference to the M42 as well. M20 is a good shout as well. Hope we get some pics of this at some point.

[Duke137]

I reckon it will be quite a lively thing with an IS donk. Would have thought it would be very useable too as a dailly etc

[Ianb]

I'll have another go at the photo's and try and get them on here Friday, the cars just dumped on my drive as my e36 Cabby's in the garage at the mo but only sb ready to leave by tonight in which case the E30 arrives in it's new home tomorrow. As far as budget goes no fixed amount but as It's January and moneys tight i'm just going to start searching for a smashed or rotten IS with the view that if it's not a really good deal i'll leave it untill March but if a cheap one comes up in the meantime I'll just rape the credit card

[Kedge]

Seen the advert now, I like the colour combo. Will look nice all cleaned up! Good buy!

[Ianb]

Thanks for the positive comments guys, It seems you guys agree regarding the IS route. I'll get it in the garage & cleaned up and will try and get pictures on here. I couldn't believe the guy i bought it off didn't even say in the ad it was a non-sunroof car ( but i'm glad he didn't LOL). From what i've seen so far scuttles are original & perfect as are rear arches etc so hopefully it's all as good. It's uber straight as well no car park dings at all from what i can see. Looks like i'll be busy with the dintrol anti rust wax.

[Duke137]

Good for you mate, keep us posted we need some new projects to look at!

[DanThe]

A 2.5 M50 would feel slow in a cabby mate, a 2.8 is pretty much the same weight as a 4 pot slug but 10 times more useable

[aimlessrock]

my first E30 was a M10 poverty spec 318 auto...i miss that car, (where are you D598 YBY?)

Personally given how original the car is and the low price you paid i would be tempted to leave it as is and just enjoy it. At some point the E30's will start increasing in value and original cars should be more desireable.

my opinion only, its your car.

[DanThe]

A standard M10 will never be worth leaving in an engine bay, waste of petrol

[Ianb]

Dan, You're just saying that because as i found out to my cost last time you make the only decent exhausts for the 24v conversions ( my home brewed crap ruined the cabby, rattling and blowing it's way down the road.
I've now got a truly imaculate E36 Cab in white ( 328i auto ) that supplies the 6cyl fix so i really fancy keeping this e30 light and chuckable. Only problem will be finding a smashed / rotten IS that is in the right price range / distance

[Duke137]

my first E30 was a M10 poverty spec 318 auto...i miss that car, (where are you D598 YBY?)

Thought that was Rav's for a minute!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... vs+chromie

Page 1, 1st pic!

[Duke137]

Dan, You're just saying that because as i found out to my cost last time you make the only decent exhausts for the 24v conversions ( my home brewed crap ruined the cabby, rattling and blowing it's way down the road.
I've now got a truly imaculate E36 Cab in white ( 328i auto ) that supplies the 6cyl fix so i really fancy keeping this e30 light and chuckable. Only problem will be finding a smashed / rotten IS that is in the right price range / distance

You could just attempt to find engine and drive first? I sold an IS engine and running gear (minus diff and gearbox) for £250 Christmas before last.

standard 318i manual prop and gearbox will work and the diff you have is probably 4.10 too so can't imagine the cost being too high ?

[DanThe]

How about an M44B19 then?

[Ianb]

Point taken on the engine but as it currently sits like a pig on stilts and has drum rear brakes 45mm pencil struts, bus steering wheel and crapfort spec seats it would be far cheaper in my experience to get a whole victim to dismember, that way it will get polybushes etc as it's built otherwise it will land up a peicemeal car that never gets finished. The benefit of a double garage is getting the two side by side and playing mix & match

[daimlerman]

Are you not tempted to play with the M10?

Bore and stroke as per 2002tii.....

More of a 'period' mod than using an M42....

[Ianb]

Dan, M44 B19, is that the e36 318 lump ? If so surely i would still need the E30 sump, p.up pipe, mounts etc to put this in my cromie which kinda kills the cheap / straight forwardness of the conversion

[Ianb]

Daimlerman, I had initially considered that especially as the engine has 80k miles on and sounds really sweet, even from cold and already has a webber conversion that was only done just before the car was stored. Do you know if an m40 318i manual gearbox/ flywheel would fit on the M10?

[Speedtouch]

If it's running well, best to leave it and enjoy it. The M10 is an iconic engine after all.

[daimlerman]

Daimlerman, I had initially considered that especially as the engine has 80k miles on and sounds really sweet, even from cold and already has a webber conversion that was only done just before the car was stored. Do you know if an m40 318i manual gearbox/ flywheel would fit on the M10?

Regretably,M10 sits at a different angle to M40/M42/M50.
The gearbox of choice for those lunatic's that fit M30 engines is an ex M10 manual 'box!
You would need to stalk the E21 fraternity to seek out a manual 5 speed 'box to suit an M10,I fear.
If your fabrication skills are up to making a bellhousing,this would open up a lot more choice,Ford type 9 springs to mind....Getrang 'box from some E24 versions has a seperate bellhousing...I do not think a Getrang 240 from an E30 320i will fit,seem to remember that the bellhousing bolts are spaced wrongly,but Andyboy may have more information here.

[Duke137]

Do you know if an m40 318i manual gearbox/ flywheel would fit on the M10?

No I don't think they do. There was a thread on here recently that said big power gains from M10 cost ££££ "S14" parts were mentioned so M-Tax innit

[daimlerman]

There was a thread on here recently that said big power gains from M10 cost ££££ "S14" parts were mentioned so M-Tax innit

I was 'dreaming in the bath' more along the lines of fuel injection,turbo and controlling the lot via Megasquirt or similar.M10 goes to 2ltr using stock parts,E12 520/early E21 320 block/rods/pistons....

[Ianb]

"M tax innit" LOL, From the sound of things the M10's going to get sold together with the slushbox though i fear it will add little to my piggy bank. If anyone knows anybody with a e21 who needs an engine and slush box get in touch!

[Fushion_Julz]

Cool, get some pics up the advert was crap!

The M10 carb is horrid put a 24V lump in and just do it right first time

It isn't horrid at all...

It can, given the right parts (in a 2litre format) and care, be made to give 200bhp on carbs, it is pretty robust, fairly light and mechanically simple.

This one http://www.zaprace.com/shovel.htm was a very fast 1800cc car...

[Ianb]

There was a thread on here recently that said big power gains from M10 cost ££££ "S14" parts were mentioned so M-Tax innit

I was 'dreaming in the bath' more along the lines of fuel injection,turbo and controlling the lot via Megasquirt or similar.M10 goes to 2ltr using stock parts,E12 520/early E21 320 block/rods/pistons....

Daimlerman, you are a pervert of ledgendary proportions. Seems like a boatload of grief for 234cc,

[daimlerman]

Daimlerman, you are a pervert of ledgendary proportions. Seems like a boatload of grief for 234cc,

Guilty as charged,m'lord!

But go on,you know you want to...really....

[Ianb]

Annoyingly and illogically I must admit I do ! Must be the sound of a cammy tickover gurgling through sidedraft webbers, aaaah Rekindles the smell of a rotting RS2000, one of the few cars whose power to weight ratio improves with age even though the BHP goes down

[Duke137]

Got any pics of this yet?

[daimlerman]

Got any pics of this yet?

Give the man time,it's been to bloody cold to be out there spannering for pleasure!