M30 install into calypso cab. Back on the road :)

[jimbom30cab]

I've got a M30 e34 535 gearbox but need a 325i output flange still.

I've managed to get the e28 M535i flywheel and clutch kit so it should spin up well and a BBR star chipped ECU.

What exhaust are you running on yours?

[mcbonio]

I've got the standard e34 manifold that goes into a 325i center box and 325i back box.

As per your previous question, I'm use e30 sport springs with standard 325i bodge shocks. Nothing fancy, and the ride is really nice.

That m30 will drop the front end more than an m20 will, so take that into consideration if/when changing your springs.

[Eddie25]

Love to see an M30 being saved.

[jimbom30cab]

take that into consideration if/when changing your springs

http://www.venommotorsport.com/product_ ... Suspension

do you think these would do the job even though the M30 is heavier than the M20 ?

THANKS

[leeparkes]

Im running those, good springs.

[jimbom30cab]

need to sort out that loom

[jimbom30cab]

[mcbonio]

Hey Jim,
You fitting an oil cooler to your m30 when the engine is in?

[jimbom30cab]

nar, i wasn't going to, its not for the track just for mooching about in.

Are you fitting one, i think they were fitted on the 635i if you can get the kit might be an easy add on, if the cooler matrix + pipes are in good condition

[mcbonio]

Nah, mine ain't got one either. Today's oils are vastly different to what the oil spec these engines were designed for...

[jimbom30cab]

got the cabby back from the spray shop today and the engine bay is looking nice and Calypso'y....

few pics

Getting ready to go:



nice and red, should hide the rust well.












So next up is to put the engine bay back together and tidy up the wiring. Then fit the flywheel, clutch and box to the M30 lump, few final bits like prop shaft and get the radiator brackets sorted.

[mcbonio]

Nice...! Kinda reminds me of candy apples at Halloween.! Now is the perfect time to do a e46 rack swap...!

Did you remove the sound deadening from inside the transmission tunnel?

[jimbom30cab]

Hi Mcbonio, yes i took out all the sound proofing excepth that behind the fuse box which i will remove so i can get loads of waxoil down there.

I've got your starter motor in the kitchen now, its the one which came with the engine which i was assured was a good runner, i bought the engine of Barry on here, bss325i is his user name if you wanted to check the condition of it with him.

will try to package it up over the weekend. would rather swap for anything e30 interesting that you don't need, got anything ??

[mcbonio]

I don't have anything of use to be honest.! Sent you cash anyways.!

You gonna get the sound proofing back in or you want to hear the up close sound of the m30 and gear box spooling up like a loonatic?

[jimbom30cab]

Loony option for me see how it goes can always sound proof it up later on if needed. Really want to get cracking and finish off the conversion now but have the kids all weekend, my girl just wants daddy cuddles like 24 7 so no chance of getting anything done, can't even go to the bog by myself. Still need to obtain a m3 exhaust without costing the earth.

Then I'm all ready to fit out the bay and drop the engine and box in. Factoring in the kids progress slowdown inshould have that done by easter

[Rav335uk]

Nice work.
Be CAREFUL!!!! when you put the M30 in there, the bast4rd is a big engine, and prone to Kiss the paintwork in places.

[jimbom30cab]

Will do Rav, I have a helper and will do it very carefully.

[mcbonio]

Looking forward to seeing it done. Should be a very nice build, one of the better ones on here.!

Loving the calypso red too, so nice. It's one of those colours that on paper sounds awful but looks amazing. Like marrakesh brown..

[leeparkes]

Nice work.
Be CAREFUL!!!! when you put the M30 in there, the bast4rd is a big engine, and prone to Kiss the paintwork in places.

+1, id bubble wrap the coont up.

Id remove the power steering pump too as it will make it a lot easier to clear the front slam panel when it goes in.

[jimbom30cab]

Thanks for the tip Lee. Need to get out from under the tech 1 turd and get this finished off.

[Tan91]

Holy mother of a build, That engine is such a nice show piece

Should run like a dream.

[jimbom30cab]

Ha, lol , love the hand action thingy very funny,

I'll be putting it in the cab in April, hope,it all works ok

Ta.

[Tan91]

Ha, lol , love the hand action thingy very funny,

I'll be putting it in the cab in April, hope,it all works ok

Ta.

Yeah found that emotion other day makes me laugh, yeah youll be alright, coming along well, looks amazing on the engine stand next to the turd, once yours and Ravs are done you should get them featured in BMW Car Mag, titled "E30 Hybrids" or something. Would be interesting, just a thought haha...

Do you know what type of MPG you may be expecting from the M30?

Tan.

[Rav335uk]

Tan mpg expected is NIL

[Tan91]

Tan mpg expected is NIL

[Rav335uk]

Time Will be worse when the super charger is fitted

[Tan91]

Time Will be worse when the super charger is fitted

Sh*t man, that should be fun all the way...like fun filling and driving haha.

I knew a mate who had a very nice VW VR6 and charged it, ran it on Premium Unleaded and out of filling 55L Tank which cost him £80ish I think he only got 150 miles..

That was only 2.9VR6 + Charger

Yours being 3.5 + Charger...hmmm lol

[jimbom30cab]

Right gents, we're back on track for this conversion after a little love affair with a tech1 in need of some TLC

So got the car jacked up and started putting the engine bay back together.

Need to find a nice way of securing the header tank as the donor car was a 318.

[Rav335uk]

You mean you haven't finished Jim

[jimbom30cab]

LOL, I so wish that was the case.

Going to be a month i think at least to get the bay and underside all ready before the lump goes in.

Still got a few things to buy but have completely ran out of cash and i'm in the dog house big time with the mrs for spending too much so far.

Hope to have it running for fathers day as there is a local classic car show i'd like to take it to with my son. That's the plan.

[jimbom30cab]

Right oh gents, now i've got that old tech1 piece of cack back on the road, all attention is on the M30 conversion, i just have 2 slight problems:

1. i'm now broke

and

2. my engine crane is knackered

so sold some spare parts here on the zone and bought these:

Fan 16" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-16- ... 589e948991

Switch http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/Fan_ ... _1.5_FANSW

and a 3.46 medium case diff off top zoner Magpie (was on a 323i)

which is all i need to finish off the job..... i hope....

to be honest, i'm lacking a bit in confidence getting this conversion done, so thought i'd share my tribulations on here for everyone to laugh at

The problem with the engine crane i think is the piston seals passing, i'll need to get a mobile repair bloke out. Its a really solid crane so worth spending a few quid to get it fixed. Besides, i need to get it done as this lump ain't going anywhere otherwise.

So whilst putting on this e28M535i flywheel, i noticed the engine was quite easy to turn over and i didn't get the usual 2 "stiff" bits per revolution as the pistons compress. The timing is dead on, head bolts tight, valve clearances set and the spark plugs are in. Is there a problem or do they turn over quite smoothly ??

There was a spigot bearing in there already which i was surprised about for a auto lump ? Anyway, i couldn't get it out at all, so i greased it up and fitted new cover, felt and cap.




I've tightened these flywheel bolts up to 105nm

I've ordered a load of clutch cover bolts and gearbox bolts from BMW as i had none with the manual box i bought.

I'll next get the clutch and gearbox on.

Then i'll change the diff, fit the prop and heatshield.

Cheers

[Bristol_Jer]

Jim if you can fit my engine crane in your car you are more than welcome to borrow it

[Rav335uk]

Jim, is there no resistance at all on turnover?

[leeparkes]

So whilst putting on this e28M535i flywheel, i noticed the engine was quite easy to turn over and i didn't get the usual 2 "stiff" bits per revolution as the pistons compress. The timing is dead on, head bolts tight, valve clearances set and the spark plugs are in. Is there a problem or do they turn over quite smoothly ??

No, imo M30's can be a quite heavy to turn over when they compress, can you hear any hissing anywhere?


Good to hear you got cracking on it though! unlike some *cough* Rav.

[jimbom30cab]

thanks gents, i guessed it must be the valve clearances, can't be anything else as the head has been pressure tested and is tight on and the timing is correct. So i re-did the valve clearances and it is now a bit better, there is resistance and lots of hissing and puffing. its still quite easy to turn over but the belts are slack and i've not done the crank nut up yet (if this makes a difference) and i was levering it with the flywheel bolts.

can you see anything obviously wrong here?





Anyway, don't have much choice but to fit it really and do a compression test so i thought i'd start by changing the diff and then the first torx bolt sheared off. Gutted. So I removed the hydraulic ram from the engine crane to take in for a service tomorrow.

Gutted !!




thanks again