Andy's 318iS / M52b30
Moderator: martauto
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randomspeedfreak
- E30 Zone Regular
- Posts: 992
- Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Bristol
Thats what i said mate. The engine build is a credit to you it was absolutely on the buttonDanThe wrote:Epic first start
sorry to join the party late Andy, good thread
Car is nigh on ready for a test run tomorrow and an mot thursday
Im ready to have my face pulled off from the lb/ft!
Well worth saving up for, fredbloke 
Okay, catch-up time! So, once she was starting aok, we set to getting everything else together. Despite having used an M50 inlet, i'm using the M52 Throttle Body, which means the wiki-recommended E34 525 throttle cable is not very well suited. So i'm using an E36 328 one! Bit of extra length means it neatly stows within the loom-tidy, making it much easier to replace etc, and still largely invisible in the bay. Once adjusted, it works perfectly!
Nice (crappy) running in Mineral oil...
The bay...
And for her first time out of the garage, a good wash and a dash of sunshine before heading off for the MOT!
We had a bit of drama at the MOT - We'd got the electric fan up and running the night before, but the fuse had blown as we got to the MOT place, but luckily we caught it in time before it got too far. Passed though, and as you'd expect, NAILED the emissions clean as a whistle.. 0.295% & 120.
Bit of an oil leak turned out to be the dipstick not quite in enough, and i'm going to have a custom fabricated exhaust made up (same tailpipe) as this one just does not fit the e30, despite being an e30 325 system - Thanks, Sportex. (Yes, i know it's a cheapie, but needed something to get her mot'd!). Sounds good though... Now has a good 170 miles under her belt, running in nicely!
Okay, catch-up time! So, once she was starting aok, we set to getting everything else together. Despite having used an M50 inlet, i'm using the M52 Throttle Body, which means the wiki-recommended E34 525 throttle cable is not very well suited. So i'm using an E36 328 one! Bit of extra length means it neatly stows within the loom-tidy, making it much easier to replace etc, and still largely invisible in the bay. Once adjusted, it works perfectly!
Nice (crappy) running in Mineral oil...
The bay...
And for her first time out of the garage, a good wash and a dash of sunshine before heading off for the MOT!
We had a bit of drama at the MOT - We'd got the electric fan up and running the night before, but the fuse had blown as we got to the MOT place, but luckily we caught it in time before it got too far. Passed though, and as you'd expect, NAILED the emissions clean as a whistle.. 0.295% & 120.
Bit of an oil leak turned out to be the dipstick not quite in enough, and i'm going to have a custom fabricated exhaust made up (same tailpipe) as this one just does not fit the e30, despite being an e30 325 system - Thanks, Sportex. (Yes, i know it's a cheapie, but needed something to get her mot'd!). Sounds good though... Now has a good 170 miles under her belt, running in nicely!
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jimbom30cab
- Tech 1 freak
- Posts: 7634
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: in the garage
Quite possibly my favourite thread here at the moment
A proper engine build into a properly prepared car, super work Dan and Andy, a car to be proud of
Oh and I'm starting saving now for this
A proper engine build into a properly prepared car, super work Dan and Andy, a car to be proud of
Oh and I'm starting saving now for this
Cheers lads 
She's now done 300 running-in miles, had another Oil & Filter change, and i've since had a chance to open the taps a bit - Man alive she is fast!
Next up is the exhaust - Ground clearance is as already mentioned pretty poor with the current temporary system (I've been avoiding speedbumps, ramps, matchsticks on the floor...) so she is booked into Infinity in Bristol a week today, to have a custom stainless system made up, including a crossover behind the downpipes. I'm keeping the tailpipe though - I've come to really like it! Also looking into stiffer springs for the rear - The current setup (Bilstein B8s, Apex Yellows) were great when the car was M42 engineed, but now the rear could do with more beef under acceleration - Hello Mr Torque.
She's now done 300 running-in miles, had another Oil & Filter change, and i've since had a chance to open the taps a bit - Man alive she is fast!
Next up is the exhaust - Ground clearance is as already mentioned pretty poor with the current temporary system (I've been avoiding speedbumps, ramps, matchsticks on the floor...) so she is booked into Infinity in Bristol a week today, to have a custom stainless system made up, including a crossover behind the downpipes. I'm keeping the tailpipe though - I've come to really like it! Also looking into stiffer springs for the rear - The current setup (Bilstein B8s, Apex Yellows) were great when the car was M42 engineed, but now the rear could do with more beef under acceleration - Hello Mr Torque.
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jimbom30cab
- Tech 1 freak
- Posts: 7634
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: in the garage
sounds a great plan, do post lots of pics
enjoy it
enjoy it
Not a fan of infinity exhausts tbh, but that's just my experience 
M50B25NonVanos & M52B28Vanos Heads for sale. Pm Me.
So, bit of an update.. Hadn't done much due to being busy with work, and being in the middle of a 5-week pay period (ouch), but i went to Infinity yesterday to finally have a stainless system made to fit. Very chuffed with it too, car feels more solid for it, as they made some decent mounts for me too, and added an extra one as well.
Build pics (Unfortunately not the greatest quality photos)..
All lined up, complete with crossover..
Welding it all together..
Unfortunately, i didn't get a pic of it back on, as i got chatting to a guy that came in in an E36 323 whilst they finished up, and talked him through the M50 inlet stuff! Anyway, they did a great job, definately recommend their work for any Bristol/SW zoners. I'll grab some more pics next time i have her up in the air
Oh, this nice GT3 was in too. Had a good gander around the flat 6, as i've not seen one up close (and underneath!) before. Nice!
Build pics (Unfortunately not the greatest quality photos)..
All lined up, complete with crossover..
Welding it all together..
Unfortunately, i didn't get a pic of it back on, as i got chatting to a guy that came in in an E36 323 whilst they finished up, and talked him through the M50 inlet stuff! Anyway, they did a great job, definately recommend their work for any Bristol/SW zoners. I'll grab some more pics next time i have her up in the air
Oh, this nice GT3 was in too. Had a good gander around the flat 6, as i've not seen one up close (and underneath!) before. Nice!
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jimbom30cab
- Tech 1 freak
- Posts: 7634
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: in the garage
How's it going Andy, getting much driving time in?
FULL description needed
FULL description needed
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Cypriotgeeza
- E30 Zone Addict
- Posts: 3032
- Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: Under a bonnet somewhere..
Liking this mate! Must be a beast!
Check my M30 build threads:
Project Frankenstein: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=194154
Headgasket: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=165704
Clutch issues: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=172482
Instagram: www.instagram.com/Cypriotgeeza
Project Frankenstein: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=194154
Headgasket: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=165704
Clutch issues: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=172482
Instagram: www.instagram.com/Cypriotgeeza
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jimbom30cab
- Tech 1 freak
- Posts: 7634
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: in the garage
am dead jealous - i'd flippin love to have a M52B30Nice work cant wait to do my M52b30 now
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DanThe
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 28641
- Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Staffs
- Contact:
Well if its as close to my original 3.0 that it is a clone of it will be near enough 240hp and 240lbft
Still running 2.8 management, but I am hoping to get a custom map sorted over the winter now the racing season is over with.
Still running 2.8 management, but I am hoping to get a custom map sorted over the winter now the racing season is over with.
Hey lads! Sorry, i've been insanely busy with work and a couple of production projects the past few weeks, (AND my old surrey-based band got back together after a 5-year hiatus, and with the first show looming in december some of my sundays have been eaten up by that too) so not had much chance to work on the car or post much, but has definately seen some road time - oh yes..
Jimbo mate, So good. She's done just over 1,000 miles now, pulls like an absolute train! The 3.64 diff is ideal, Motorway driving is a doddle, (instant shove even in 5th at 70mph when you put your foot down) and much happier since i had the custom exhaust built for her (last post of page two). Bit lairy when you floor your foot (open diff), but that's been part of the fun ;) The noise is just plain awesome, reminds me of a friend's E36 M3 he had many years ago.
Just awaiting a coding plug from Adit, and then i see what's happening too.
Also bought a bbs centrecap (one fell off on the way back from the MOT, d'oh!), a new gearknob (mine was tatty) and some newer rear dampers w/ new top mounts to get me by for now - Actually hoping to get under her today and try and get those fitted, as my old Billies are sagging under the torque assault now causing her to "tiptoe" on the sidewalls with too much neg camber, so i'm not getting the power down as well as i'd like - yet. I'll try post some pics and more info later Also bought an M50 centre engine cover, as the M52 one doesn't fit with the M50 inlet.
Dan - i promise i'll get her on the rollers asap haha Been working 6 day weeks so not had much chance sadly :/ Keen to get her on before doing any remaps or other engine work, but would like to get the air box in first.
Current to-do list:
* 1,000 mile Oil Change (Had one at 10-15 miles, and one at 300 miles)
* Finally fit the airbox - Bye bye, K&N stopgap.
* Rolling Road
* Replace [M52] PAS Resevoir - Been doing a long, long pee.
* Replace steering Spline with one of Danthe's (Dan - Must text you about that actually!)
* Refurb Alloys & Fit Toyo Proxes - Prob whilst putting 14" bottletops & winter tyres on.
* Underside Refurb: Change all suspension & beam bushes, refurb trailing arms/beam, replace springs, front wishbones, droplinks etc. Currently putting this set of parts together! Then add a front, and poss rear, strut brace.
* Have the rear valance fixed (see page 1)
* Hunt out a decent, solid A/C front valance
Then with that all done, WMS 4-pot kit & fit the two new front wings, new valance, an iS lip (finally - keeping in black though) prep & sort any surface rust / rust that makes itself known, and it's respray time, to put the brilliant back into brilliant red. To save 20KG at the front, i'm seriously considering one of those full-replica Carbon Fibre bonnets too, that fit onto the existing bonnet hinge mounts. In brilliant red, of course! Might have to rob a bank or sell a testicle tho.. ;) If i do, i'll get my old bonnet prepped and sprayed at the same time too, so i have both.
Just for now, here's a pic from the MOT Matt sent me a while back..
Jimbo mate, So good. She's done just over 1,000 miles now, pulls like an absolute train! The 3.64 diff is ideal, Motorway driving is a doddle, (instant shove even in 5th at 70mph when you put your foot down) and much happier since i had the custom exhaust built for her (last post of page two). Bit lairy when you floor your foot (open diff), but that's been part of the fun ;) The noise is just plain awesome, reminds me of a friend's E36 M3 he had many years ago.
Just awaiting a coding plug from Adit, and then i see what's happening too.
Also bought a bbs centrecap (one fell off on the way back from the MOT, d'oh!), a new gearknob (mine was tatty) and some newer rear dampers w/ new top mounts to get me by for now - Actually hoping to get under her today and try and get those fitted, as my old Billies are sagging under the torque assault now causing her to "tiptoe" on the sidewalls with too much neg camber, so i'm not getting the power down as well as i'd like - yet. I'll try post some pics and more info later
Also bought an M50 centre engine cover, as the M52 one doesn't fit with the M50 inlet.Dan - i promise i'll get her on the rollers asap haha
Been working 6 day weeks so not had much chance sadly :/ Keen to get her on before doing any remaps or other engine work, but would like to get the air box in first.Current to-do list:
* 1,000 mile Oil Change (Had one at 10-15 miles, and one at 300 miles)
* Finally fit the airbox - Bye bye, K&N stopgap.
* Rolling Road
* Replace [M52] PAS Resevoir - Been doing a long, long pee.
* Replace steering Spline with one of Danthe's (Dan - Must text you about that actually!)
* Refurb Alloys & Fit Toyo Proxes - Prob whilst putting 14" bottletops & winter tyres on.
* Underside Refurb: Change all suspension & beam bushes, refurb trailing arms/beam, replace springs, front wishbones, droplinks etc. Currently putting this set of parts together! Then add a front, and poss rear, strut brace.
* Have the rear valance fixed (see page 1)
* Hunt out a decent, solid A/C front valance
Then with that all done, WMS 4-pot kit & fit the two new front wings, new valance, an iS lip (finally - keeping in black though) prep & sort any surface rust / rust that makes itself known, and it's respray time, to put the brilliant back into brilliant red. To save 20KG at the front, i'm seriously considering one of those full-replica Carbon Fibre bonnets too, that fit onto the existing bonnet hinge mounts. In brilliant red, of course! Might have to rob a bank or sell a testicle tho.. ;) If i do, i'll get my old bonnet prepped and sprayed at the same time too, so i have both.
Just for now, here's a pic from the MOT Matt sent me a while back..
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jimbom30cab
- Tech 1 freak
- Posts: 7634
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: in the garage
Without doubt my favourite build thread on here, proper old school engineering and incredible performance from an M52. Can't tell you how jealous i am !
Keep up the good work and we want plenty of pics and sideways stories
Keep up the good work and we want plenty of pics and sideways stories
D'aww cheers man! Certainly plenty more sideways stories as we delve further into winter..
Ok, so as well as having a good blast out to a meeting i had today, i popped over to my folks to say hello, and borrow extra tools/driveway space/a second set of hands.
As it stands, i've covered just over 1200 miles since putting the engine in, so as well as deciding i better buy some oil & a filter tomorrow, we decided to do a compression test, just to make sure all is well in the hood. Really excellent results:
Cyl 1 - 182
Cyl 2 - 185
Cyl 3 - 185
Cyl 4 - 184
Cyl 5 - 184
Cyl 6 - 185
Plugs also looking super healthy too - Truly a testament to the quality of Dan's engine rebuild work. This is only one of them but all 6 are identical - Basically, exactly as you'd want them to be..
Also finally fitted the 2,000 mile-old Spax Adjustable dampers & E36 top mounts courtesy of Mick, to replace my seriously aged Billies. We had some fun pushing them all the way in then pulling one end each - The Spax are a serious upgrade at this point.
Old Vs New:
Accessing the Top Mount nuts:
Getting lined up.. Should point out at this point that the car needs a wash!!
I must have dropped a sleeve out of one of the shocks whilst upwrapping like a total plank - luckily, after a mere 1 minute of attacking with a file, we managed to make use of a bolt sleeve from an old Rover SD1 towbar, that actually fitted the bottom shock bolt better than the standard sleeve in the Spax shock that i hadn't unwrapped like a ****. Needed a quick date with a hacksaw and then another minute with the file to make nice, but i might rob the other sleeve he has next time i'm over ;)
Even from the quarter of an hour drive home, it is a HUGE improvement. Rear end drops far less under acceleration, and nicer through the corners too. Now very excited about refreshing the whole underside, as even the damper switch makes the car feel more solid.
Lastly - time to talk knobs. I'd bought this E36 weighted 'knob from a zoner recently to replace my scrappy, non-weighted existing one mostly for aesthetic value, but i have to say - it makes a colossal difference to the feel of the gearchange - Didn't think it would be so noticeable, but it really makes gearchanges better in everyway. Less (knob) talk, more pics..
(I know mine's not a 6-speed, but it will do for now - The price was right and there's many other things on the car that i want to spend money on ;)
Ok, so as well as having a good blast out to a meeting i had today, i popped over to my folks to say hello, and borrow extra tools/driveway space/a second set of hands.
As it stands, i've covered just over 1200 miles since putting the engine in, so as well as deciding i better buy some oil & a filter tomorrow, we decided to do a compression test, just to make sure all is well in the hood. Really excellent results:
Cyl 1 - 182
Cyl 2 - 185
Cyl 3 - 185
Cyl 4 - 184
Cyl 5 - 184
Cyl 6 - 185
Plugs also looking super healthy too - Truly a testament to the quality of Dan's engine rebuild work. This is only one of them but all 6 are identical - Basically, exactly as you'd want them to be..
Also finally fitted the 2,000 mile-old Spax Adjustable dampers & E36 top mounts courtesy of Mick, to replace my seriously aged Billies. We had some fun pushing them all the way in then pulling one end each - The Spax are a serious upgrade at this point.
Old Vs New:
Accessing the Top Mount nuts:
Getting lined up.. Should point out at this point that the car needs a wash!!
I must have dropped a sleeve out of one of the shocks whilst upwrapping like a total plank - luckily, after a mere 1 minute of attacking with a file, we managed to make use of a bolt sleeve from an old Rover SD1 towbar, that actually fitted the bottom shock bolt better than the standard sleeve in the Spax shock that i hadn't unwrapped like a ****. Needed a quick date with a hacksaw and then another minute with the file to make nice, but i might rob the other sleeve he has next time i'm over ;)
Even from the quarter of an hour drive home, it is a HUGE improvement. Rear end drops far less under acceleration, and nicer through the corners too. Now very excited about refreshing the whole underside, as even the damper switch makes the car feel more solid.
Lastly - time to talk knobs. I'd bought this E36 weighted 'knob from a zoner recently to replace my scrappy, non-weighted existing one mostly for aesthetic value, but i have to say - it makes a colossal difference to the feel of the gearchange - Didn't think it would be so noticeable, but it really makes gearchanges better in everyway. Less (knob) talk, more pics..
(I know mine's not a 6-speed, but it will do for now - The price was right and there's many other things on the car that i want to spend money on ;)