3.5 Conversion

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:02 pm

Hello!

I love having more power with the 2.5 engine in my car, but it's got me thinking.

I was chatting to Karan about an M30 3.5 conversion.

This is aimed at anyone who knows (andy335/toby etc).

I'm just interested in what bits I need.

Say I bought an e34 535i, what additional bits would I need?

1) Mounts...what mounts and where from?
2) Prop...what has to be done?

What other things?

Thanks.

This is just building knowledge for the future. I am considering this for the summer...

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:07 pm

mounts - can make em or buy em from e30.de

the prop is approx 193cm long in position 3 - iirc a shortened m3 one does the trick

bulkhead needs careful manipulation (big f*** off sledgehammer lol) for clearance

think thats about all.. might be an idea to convert to electric fan while your at it for more space and less power sap...

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:08 pm

e28 flywheel is an idea as well as its lighter iirc

or just lighten the e34 one..

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:22 pm

Cool....

A probable summer venture!

Now I have more power, I want even more!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:41 pm

Calm down dear!

u only just got more power

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:51 pm

What about an M50/M52 engine conversion Dave?

Esp an M52 theyre meant to be easily modded to 230bhp ish easily, chip, tb, m50 inlet i think? Feel free to come round and look at how theyve done mine if your interested

Oh it might save you a few quid per tank of fuel! But dont expect any miracles! 20 mpg around town and 28+ on the motorway!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:15 pm

Demlotcrew wrote:Calm down dear!

u only just got more power

Hmmm. What's easier, M50/M30? Surely the M50 has got more torque?!

What's more reliable....?

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:24 pm

M30 has more torque low down for sure, it gives quite a surge, but youve seen how mine revs up smoothly to the red with an even distrubution of power all the way

Multi valve straight 6s are meant to be cheap to buy too cause theres so many of em around!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:30 pm

Yeah, yours pull nicely for sure.

I dunno though, I want silly amounts of power. I'm just being greedy, but I'd love it. I was just watching that ticco turbo E30 video, leaving two black lines from spinning up at about 90-100mph in fourth FFS!!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:38 pm

M50/M30 seem easier than most other routes to "high power" lol
Most of the newer ///M engines arent quite drop in and party affairs, EWS and all that kinda thing

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:39 pm

Yeah, that's a shame. But I guess everyone would be doing it if it were that easy.

Hmmmmm.

Will see what happens after I finish uni in terms of income

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:40 pm

hi dave,
be careful, power is adictive
the more you have, the more you want!!
big power engine swaps, i love em

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:41 pm

glenn wrote: big power engine swaps, i love em

I've noticed!

I'd love to have your M5 engine in mine!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:13 pm

Hi Dave,heres a bit of a list for you mate....

E30 M3 prop bolted up on Tobys car 100 quid apx
Or cut/weld/balance E30/E34 props for 140
E30.de mounts are 140 apx depending on the pound/euro exchange rate
new E28 535 radiator 125

other stuff

Exhaust-you should be ok with an after market sports exhaust from an 325. E30.de suggest's you use an after market sports exhaust from an M3 with a minimum tube bore size of 2 x 50mm.
Bottom radiator hose from E28 535
top radiator hose E34 535 with a plastic T-piece from an E28 535.
Expansion tank-you can use either E30 325 or E34 535
uprated suspension-you've got that covered
Electric fan-i got one from a scrappy
Throttle cable from E34 535

Swapping to the E28 fly wheel is only realy worth it if you were going to change the clutch.Sach clutch kit is about 150.If you buy the E28 fly wheel you will need the shorter E28 mounting bolts and gaul(sp?) plate.TBH if i was doing it again i wouldn't bother with the E28(180 new ! ) fly wheel as it's only a couple of kgs lighter than the E34 one.

If you need help with the wiring Toby is your best bet.

I'd recomend a 3.64 ratio LSD dif.

Oh and the M30 can make BIG reliable power with a turbo !

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:20 pm

Thanks Andy, useful info!!

Been talking to Karan about doing this conversion in mine!

Would love it.

A Civic Vti Jordan crept up on me this afternoon.....

Need more!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:23 pm

davetouring wrote:

Need more!

Me to mate !

You still ok for Donington ?

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:26 pm

I really wanna do Donny.

I've got to see how it goes financially. Plus I want the engine to be spot on, and it certainly isn't right now.

Plus it's just a week before my dissertation has to be in. So I need to get bang on that before then if I wanna go.

So yes, I really want to go, but I'll have to see nearer the time.

I should have booked it a while ago

Then I'd have to go.

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:39 pm

Have you booked/Are you booking soon?

I might just do it.....

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:42 pm

I'm going to book it tomorrow if theres any one there,other wise i'll try again on Tuesday

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:44 pm

Ok......would be cool to try to keep up with you

It's gonna cost me ~200 pounds......

Will try to find it from somewhere!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:46 pm

They've still not got back to me re: insurance.

They said less than 5 days.....it's been about 2 months!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:47 pm

I think we are both going to get pasted by the tricked up E30 M3 !

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:48 pm

oh.....for sure!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:25 pm

Dave... I'll be watching this space. This is a sure thing for my track car. But once the engine's in, it won't just be a track car. I'll not be able to resist taking it out on the roads!

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:31 pm

looks like andy beat me to this post, good effort

will have a read thru when i get home on sunday

my tip is, PUT A NEW FCUKING OIL PUMP ON IT BEFORE YOU FIT IT!!!

m30's the best bet for big power and torque for little money dave! mine will indicate 150 pretty easily and was only stopped by the rev limiter!!!

jhonno you don't necessarily need to touch the bulkhead it depends what position you want the engine in

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:01 pm

So... should someone need a set of 'position 3' engine mounts and a custom air intake duct for an M30 conversion... where would one go?

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:23 pm

You can use the E34 535 air box,it's a good design and looks good but it sits where the washer res normally goes and it will need a mounting bracket making up.

Or if you look at Tobys sig pic you could use some pipe in between the 90 degree black intake belows and a cone filter to make it so the filter is tucked right up behind the head light and then make a simple heat shield.

I would have done some thing similar my self if i wernt swapping over to the TB's.

Mount's can be had from the E30.de site or if you know some one handy with a welder you can make some up your self.

What/where P3 is debatable as i think it is confused by the German translation from the E30.de site. I thought i had P3 but after speeking to Seaman Stains/Master Bates i'm not to sure ?

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:21 pm

I think purchasing an e34 535i manual in summer may be the way forward.

I may buy the mounts from e30.de looks like a useful site.

But the mounts don't seem to have rubbers?? Won't they snap??

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:47 pm

You use standard rubber 325 mount's but i've got a clearance problem between the steering coupling and exhaust manifold.

The manifold has been ground down and JUST SLIGHTLY touchs when you realy tank it.

I've been told that on the E28 M535 rubber mounts the studs are slightly off set so if i use these it will move the engine over and solve the problem.

I was looking for this picture earlier as it shows the E34 air box,E28 535 rad and a very tidy M30 installation.

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:49 pm

That DOES look rather nice.

I see there's an intake pipe instead of a headlight on the right hand side just in front of the air-box...

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:50 pm

That does look like a decent set-up in that red car, not that yours doesn't...!

The mounts on e30.de then......they bolt to the engine, and they bolt to the other end to the normal rubber mountings (or e28 m5 ones as you mentioned)?

Also....just another question....do you use the same clutch slave cylinder?

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:53 pm

And anouther intake set up

Post Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:04 pm

davetouring wrote:
The mounts on e30.de then......they bolt to the engine, and they bolt to the other end to the normal rubber mountings (or e28 m5 ones as you mentioned)?

The rubber mounts bolt up as normal,the garage fitted the mounts to the engine,you have to tap the threads in to the block and bolt them up.Sounds hard but there are some raised bits on the block with holes in them so it was supposed to have been an easy job according to the chap at the garage.

Also....just another question....do you use the same clutch slave cylinder?

The master cylinder is E30 and the slave cylinder is E34.

Post Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:19 am

my intake is the coolest even if it's going rusty!

andy sorry i didn't get back to ya about those m535 mounts. i'm sure they're ofset studs but need to measure the height for you, i think they might sit the engine higher up.

Post Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:22 am

Toby, when the time is right I may commission you to manufacture another for me, for a price of course. It seems the best way to do it as a) it saves taking out a headlight and b) I already got my fogs out...

Have you had problems with your brake servo and steering column clearances like Andy had...?

Giles.