What gearbox

[RizlaChris]

I have just picked up a 1996 328i E36, it has a gearbox fault which is not an issue as i plan to put the engine into my E30, as for gearboxes which is the best and simplest option to use?

[jmc330i]

The E36 328i gearbox is the best solution but not the cheapest as you'll need to swap the prop and find a diff with a suitable ratio.

You can use an E30 325i box but that's not straight forward. You can also use the E30 M40/M42 gearboxes and although a straight forward bolt in job, they may not last with the extra grunt from an M52.

All the info you need is in the wiki

[Lyne30318]

The E36 328i gearbox is the best solution but not the cheapest as you'll need to swap the prop and find a diff with a suitable ratio.

You can use an E30 325i box but that's not straight forward. You can also use the E30 M40/M42 gearboxes and although a straight forward bolt in job, they may not last with the extra grunt from an M52.

All the info you need is in the wiki

i did not realise you could use the standard m40 gear box i have spent hours looking for an m42 gearbox that most people want, has anyone used this box and have any feedback ? has not exploded yet
what would be my clutch / flywheel options with the m40 ? m20 everything aswell ?
thanks

[RizlaChris]

The E36 gearbox is an auto and has a fault so I need to change it to a manual box before putting it in my E30, anyone tell me which is best to use?

[Brianmoooore]

Best box is probably the very early E34 M50 gearbox, which sits at the right angle, and has an overdrive 5th gear, so matches up with standard E30 diff. ratios, BUT these are as rare as hen's teeth (although one was for sale on here recently, IIRC.)
The best boxes after that are the ones that were intended to be attached to M50/52 engines, but these are direct fifth gear, and require you to source a diff. with a ratio around 2.9 - 3.15.
Whatever you use, don't forget to fit a spigot bearing to suit in the end of the crankshaft, or the box will have a short life.

[massif]

Going to be challenging this in the very near future, using the m42 box as I have a lovely crusty iS =) I never realised the m40 boxes were the same? Hopefully shaving some metal off the m42 flywheel as well.

On the spigot bearing note. That should be one for an M50b25 or whatever block your using right?

[Brianmoooore]

Spigot bearing should be the one that matches your gearbox input shaft.
M40/42 boxes are the same, but, as removed from an E30, will have different output flanges.

[massif]

got ya =) I think I'm going to use the bread approach to get it out of the m50, dont have any fancy puller tools =(

And on the flange note yeah the m42 sticks out a bit more, or vice versa. Meaning I'd need the front half of the m42 prop if i was using a different diff?

Still to take the driveline of the iS, im just hoping for an lsd code on it somewhere, its been about 6 years since I've driven the car and even then it had seen better days =P

[Andyboy]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=267553