S38B36 Laguna Touring

[lellis]

The alternator restoration is in full swing. Video to come soon!

I usually look to restore as many parts as I can, but with this alternator, I have had to replace quite a few parts now.





Whilst waiting on a few more parts which I ordered incorrectly, I thought I'd start on another project.





Here is a quick video of me and my friend dismantling the front end.

[lellis]

And here is a pretty good update, now with the subframe components, I can finally use the subframe to test fit the engine/gearbox.



The engine was mock built up, and only needed some slight persuasion of the bulkhead to be installed in the rear position.



Then with the gearbox was fitted to the engine, and then mocked up







There is defiently some serious work needed to be done to get the gearbox to sit correctly in the transmission tunnel, but that is for another day.

[Sanchez]

Wow.......... nice.

There’s a lad up here Ali Grieve, he has a silver Touring with s38 from e34 but he didn’t build it. You can find him on Facebook but I’m not sure about on here. Nice lad, I’m sure he will advise but like I say he didn’t do the engine swap though.

[lellis]

Wow.......... nice.

There’s a lad up here Ali Grieve, he has a silver Touring with s38 from e34 but he didn’t build it. You can find him on Facebook but I’m not sure about on here. Nice lad, I’m sure he will advise but like I say he didn’t do the engine swap though.

Thanks! I am pretty certain i have seen some pictures of his engine swap before, there seems to be only 2 other people who have done this swap! So it is not too easy to get help.

[lellis]

So after finally uprating my power supply for my zinc plating, I was able to do some larger parts. First on the list was the alternator tensioner bracket, I had just recieved it new from bmw for a reasonable price.





Here shows the cooling impeller which was has been plated from factory, against the parts I just plated myself. I think I can happily say that it is pretty close.



With the plating done, I finished up cleaning the stator and applied some paint to match how it would've been from factory. (which i forgot to get a photo of)

And whilst still missing a few screws which I ordered incorrectly and still needing to replace the brushes, here is the finished product! Well, I still have to build it up..



Here's a quick before











Once the parts arrive, I can get started and finally tick off another restoration project! Once done I can then complete all the ITB's.

[lellis]

And here it is!









Super happy with the result of this! It is missing a couple screws which are on their way, but couldn't wait any longer!

A youtube video of the whole process with be uploaded soon.

[lellis]

Moving straight onto my next project, purple tag steering rack!





The seal kit is on its way, I'll be platng the necessary hardware and will get the body vapour blasted.

There is really no solid information on the rebuid of these racks, so I have compiled what I have found, and hoping that gets me through!

[wrcarter]

Some great work there and amazing results. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

What paint did you use on the aluminium? I thinking of paint as well, just for the durability.

[lellis]

Some great work there and amazing results. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

What paint did you use on the aluminium? I thinking of paint as well, just for the durability.

Thanks for the kind words!

The paint i use is 'Simoniz Enamel Matt Aluminium Engine Enamel Car Spray Paint Aerosol 500ml'

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/123962348080?c ... UkQAvD_BwE

The paint seems pretty durable, just needs a decent curing time.

[lellis]

For those interested, here is the youtube video of my complete restoration of the s38 alternator!

[wrcarter]

Some great work there and amazing results. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

What paint did you use on the aluminium? I thinking of paint as well, just for the durability.

Thanks for the kind words!

The paint i use is 'Simoniz Enamel Matt Aluminium Engine Enamel Car Spray Paint Aerosol 500ml'

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/123962348080?c ... UkQAvD_BwE

The paint seems pretty durable, just needs a decent curing time.

Cheers. I got some of that for my differential cover but it mentions heating it to cure it so I bought an Eastwood product instead. Does it cure ok without baking it?

I still have the aerosol so I might try it out. The Eastwood product is very expensive in comparison.

[lellis]

Cheers. I got some of that for my differential cover but it mentions heating it to cure it so I bought an Eastwood product instead. Does it cure ok without baking it?

I still have the aerosol so I might try it out. The Eastwood product is very expensive in comparison.

I simply have just evenly applied heat using a heat gun for around 30 mins to an hour, then left it for 24 hours or so. Works perfectly for me then, I can handle the item without damaging the paint

[lellis]

And here we have it!









Really happy again with the final result. Glad to have sourced all the parts needed with such a lack of information.

[lellis]

As always, here is the youtube video!



Enjoy

[martauto]

Give this a watch guy`s, quality all the way.

Mart.

[lellis]

Give this a watch guy`s, quality all the way.

Mart.

Thanks Mart for the support!!

[lellis]

Next on the list is the starter!



I'm currently looking to tick off each part for the engine/car one at a time as I am very bad for having way too many projects on at one time and I really struggle with it.







This is from the s38, and is as expected, pretty rough. The disassembly of it was pretty straight foward and went smoothly expect the usual countersunk philips head screws..



WIth it all apart, (i did disassemble it further) I started with the restoration of every part.





The plating went quite strange on the body, but I am going to go with it!

[lellis]

And here we have the finished product!

There were some usual issues a long the way however I am happy with it all back together, the zinc plating on the rotor body did go slightly wrong due to me applying too much current in the electrolyte solution causing scarring but I will leave it as it's my own work!

[lellis]

And here is the youtube video on how I did it!

[lellis]

Not a crazy amount to update on as I have not had too much time.

I started on the restoration of my the emissions pump for the s38 which I will sell once complete.

[lellis]

An early christmas present to myself



Which made light work of the bushes and ball joints of my lower control arms



For anyone interested in my first impressions of this 'ebay' press, see below.

[lellis]

Whilst waiting on replacement parts for the emission pump, I decided to treat the daily to an interior make-over.

I replaced the front seats for armrest versions and started on the carpets/matts















Super happy with the result of this, forgot to get more photos with the seats in, but here is a video of the whole process!

[HartgeRaul]

Great s38 project.
I’m also doing a s38 turbo in a e30 m3.

[lellis]

Great s38 project.
I’m also doing a s38 turbo in a e30 m3.

Good choice! How far are you with the swap? Could you share any photos?

[steve_k]

Great s38 project.
I’m also doing a s38 turbo in a e30 m3.

An S38 turbo m3? now that I would love to see.

[HartgeRaul]

Great s38 project.
I’m also doing a s38 turbo in a e30 m3.

Good choice! How far are you with the swap? Could you share any photos?

I have s38 in the e30. I made my motor mounts to work with Hartge H35-24 oil pan. I made my tranny cross member to work with the s38 tranny 280. I need to modify PPF turbo manifold. I think you are a member on Facebook on s38 swap e30. I’m on there.
Here is a link on Facebook book.

[lellis]

This thread is long overdue an update, i've been moderately busy..

Got started on more subframe components,





Pressed all the bits out



here are some bits before sand blasting.



(can't find a pic of them post sand blasting..)

Started with the POR15 coating, obvs.



Then pressed in the lemforder ball joints.





Then finished off with polyflex concentric bushes.





I made a quick video of the whole process:

[lellis]

Moved on to the subframe.



It was blasted, then reinforced using a 2mm steel kit. Then a coat of POR15.



Absolutely love the finish of this paint



Here is how the front components look so far! BC coilovers and Willwood brakes ordered to finish off the struts.







A video showing how I did the reinforcement/restoration of the subframe here:

[lellis]

Got the e34 ready for sale

Had my friend detail it for me





And then I cleaned up the wheel wells



And it sold before I finished cleaning it!! Sad to see it go, but now I can focus all my attention on the e30.

[lellis]

A lot to update! now with the e34 gone, I have had funds to spend big..

Had my head sent off finally for major repair work and then new BC coilovers, Willwood brake kit, LSD, E28 m5 thermostat housing and a ton more.

Been working through getting it all restored.

Here is the thermostat housing





For those that don't know, this is a seriously rare part. Luckily this is a reproduction making them that little bit more accessible.
They are from the e28 m5 cooling system which works on the e34 m5 engines and helps gain much more space at the front of the engine.

Next is the LSD, it's a 3.15 from a Z3 2.8. That'll be just right for me due to the torque of the s38 and me wanting a low rpm on motorways





As always, it is getting a proper treatment..



Has anyone ever seen a stock LSD with 4 clutch plates instead of the usual 2? This has come with 4, i'll be putting that many back in.

Here are all the new bits, found the rear cover to be cracked in two places. Have gone for the e36 twin mount diff cover.

[lellis]

And a few more little side projects:







Just need to zinc plate them now and rebuild.

Also rebuilt the e34m5 emissions pump









I made a video of the whole process here

[DanThe]

You have dropped lucky with that diff, the 4 plate units were fitted to the Z3M, apparently a handfull of 2.8 cars came with the same unit

[lellis]

You have dropped lucky with that diff, the 4 plate units were fitted to the Z3M, apparently a handfull of 2.8 cars came with the same unit

That’s pretty satisfying to hear! Had rumours of all sorts of ideas as to why it had 4. I was adamant that no one had got into the diff.

Thanks for clarifying it! Hopefully it won’t be too aggressive for my planned use (mainly road trips).

[lellis]

With the cracked diff cover not worth saving, and the stupid prices of a replacement; I went with the e36 tiwn mount.
Now I know these need some modifications to get it to work, but certain it'll be benefical.
Currently getting vapour blasted, obvs..



Now the car has not seen any bodywork fixes for a long while, mainly due to be refusing to lay on the floor and overhead weld.. So I have come up with a solution.



After a bit of help getting the core measurements, me and a friend have got to work



Due to my small garage it will require being mobile and height will definitely be an issue, but i'll worry about that when it actually doesn't fit..

[lellis]

Had a few exciting deliveries recently



So it was time to get to work













Few final bits needed and there will be a video showing how i did it!