Another M30/E30 touring is born!

[SPADGE]

Yes after a couple of days of installing the engine,box etc...the car started 1st time today! It sounded like a sherman tank as there were no exhaust manifolds on it and it was spitting flames out of the head dragster stylee Hopefully the exhaust manifolds will be back tomorrow from the engineering shop where i am having 2 snapped studs extracted and new threads cut and then i can get on with the exhaust side of things. The only other things to do are to install the prop, plumb it in and a couple of minor wiring jobs and it'll be time for a test drive
I did take 10 secs of video footage on my phone when i started it but i can't work out how to transfer it to the pc
Driftboy when you read this can you let me know how you secured the top of your e34 rad as i can't use the 318 bracket as planned as it pushes the rad forward
Cheers Spadge...

[DRIFTBOY]

Nice one Spadge!

I take it you are using engine position 3 and an E34 535i radiator?

I used the standard 325i plastic top rad bracket with the two rubbers shortened, like this!

[gareth]

they sound great like that don't they!!!! did it fire straight up?

what exhaust system are you using? i have a flange on CAD that you can have if you want to mate the M30 downpipes up to a E30 M3 system (best option as it's larger bore than the M20 one which will restrict the 3.5)

bet you really wanna drive it now

[DRIFTBOY]

Oh yeah, at the bottom of the rad I used two of the right hand side E30 plastic cups (riveted into place for good measure), the E34 rad droppped straight into them - perfect fit!

I started mine with no manifolds too.
Very immature, but you just can't help it can you!

[SPADGE]

Driftboy - Yes position 3 and e34 manual rad the same as yours. The 318i top bracket looks similar to that one but pushes the rad forward onto the dizzy cap so i'll pinch a 325 one off one of the other cars tomorrow and give that a go cheers

Gareth - Yes first crank after about 10 secs for the fuel to get through
Exhaust is something i havn't decided on yet but i suspect i will be making one out of what i have here for now.
As for driving it yes it would be nice but i can wait a day or two.

Cheers guys

[SPADGE]

Oh yeah, at the bottom of the rad I used two of the right hand side E30 plastic cups (riveted into place for good measure), the E34 rad droppped straight into them - perfect fit!

I started mine with no manifolds too.
Very immature, but you just can't help it can you!

Not immature mate but sensible to find out if there are any issues before doing more work!
Sorted the bottom of the rad already cheers.

[DRIFTBOY]

That was my excuse too!

My neighbour came rushing out when I first started mine because he thought someone was stealing his Harley Davidson!

I thought he was going to moan but he said it sounded good and that I shouldn't bother with an exhaust!
I like my neighbours!

I'm off to my local (monday night tradition) to celebrate for you!

[Andy335Touring]

Cool, that first drive is so good

[SPADGE]

A couple of pics i took this evening having spent most of the day trying to get it to turn over after yesterdays triumph!

[DRIFTBOY]

I'm getting deja vu looking at these pics!

Nice pics though so I don't mind!

[mattG]

looking tidy spadge i see it's in the silver one is that a new thermostat housing or painted/blasted?

[SPADGE]

looking tidy spadge i see it's in the silver one is that a new thermostat housing or painted/blasted?

It was minging when i took it off the engine mate so i cleaned it up with the aid of a wire wheel on a drill and then painted it with high temp paint and placed it in the centre of the oven for about 5 mins

[SPADGE]

I'm getting deja vu looking at these pics!

Nice pics though so I don't mind!

You should notch out the top of your rad as i have done mate as it gives loads mor clearance for the dizzy cap and leads

[DRIFTBOY]

Yeah, I noticed that in your photo before.
Good idea!

I might also do the same with the bottom of the rad in front of the crank pulley, as mine has just touched it and put two grooves in. I presume under hard braking!

Until I can afford uprated engine mounts, or bother to take the air-con belt part off the front of the pulley off like Gareth did!

[SPADGE]

Yeah, I noticed that in your photo before.
Good idea!

I might also do the same with the bottom of the rad in front of the crank pulley, as mine has just touched it and put two grooves in. I presume under hard braking!

Until I can afford uprated engine mounts, or bother to take the air-con belt part off the front of the pulley off like Gareth did!

Bloody hell mate your engine must be moving quite a bit then as my pulley looks miles away from the rad
I could have removed that lip all the way across but got bored of getting covered in shrapnel from the grinder so left it at that. The rad itself probably isn't much thicker than the E28 that everyone seems to think you need its just that lip that makes it look thicker!

[DRIFTBOY]

Yeah, I was shocked when I first saw the grooves on the rad!

I used brand new engine mounts from GSF.
Maybe they are a bit too squidgy!

[SPADGE]

Driftboy what is your name as i can't keep saying that lol! Where did you fit your ignition coil just out of interest?
Cheers Spadge...

[DRIFTBOY]

It's Martin!

I just turned my coil round by about 60 degrees.
That way the wires from the loom just about reached and it just tucked under my air inlet.
I might have to move it when I put a standard air box on though, not sure yet, I haven't tried.

[fugazi33]

Had a look at this yesterday, very nice install and can indeed perform top fuel style flames out the exhaust ports!

[ric325i]

thats what we like!

looking good! i got the pleasure of being able to see this engine on the stand before being shoe horned in. what a gem!

absolute top quality looking. full attention paid to detail. i would have said this to Spadge on the day but after a long journey and a most superb hang-over, my conversation was slim to non. (sorry spadge).


as soon as i have a mot (need some welding ) then i will start my change over. but i keep driving the big 5 and its so sweet! i dont want to break it.

[ric325i]

driftboy why go back to standard box? know the differences but is there no way to get a cold air feed to the cone?

looks like a nice set up! but can i ask whats the black pipe? is that part of the cone? because it looks big enough to be a bit of drain pipe! (no offence) i like it.

[DRIFTBOY]

driftboy why go back to standard box? know the differences but is there no way to get a cold air feed to the cone?

looks like a nice set up! but can i ask whats the black pipe? is that part of the cone? because it looks big enough to be a bit of drain pipe! (no offence) i like it.

No offence mate - even if you didn't like it!

Drain pipes were all too small!
It's from the plumbing / toilet section of Homebase! 110mm diameter I think.
Was white plastic so I just rattle canned it black!

I've read a few articles / tests that have shown the standard air box with genuine (Mahle) filter element to be the best set up for some BMW 6-cylinder engines.

I do have a flexi-pipe running from the front of the car (where the right hand fog lamp used to be) up to near the cone, and no headlamp outer rings in to try and get some cool air in.

I do plan making a crude cold air box and then when I eventually get the engine sorted out properly (that's another story that I've got a topic running on) and get it on a rolling road I want to do a quick swap and compare the two filters.

We shall see!

[ric325i]

good man!

nice avator by the way. always a good film

sorry if a bit

cant wait to start my conversion! getting excited!

[DRIFTBOY]

Thanks!

Remember to start a thread of your conversion with plenty of pics so we can all keep up with your progress!

Good luck dude!

[SPADGE]

Shane - glad you like it mate

ric - I missed that old 5 for ages after i sold it to you! For an old cheap car that thing felt good to drive
As for the compliments re the engine cheers mate i did get a little impatient in the end so didn't paint everything but the next one will be even better

[Dan318-is]

decided against the lazaur blue one then mate? still a well clean and engine and a tidy install glad its going well fella

[SPADGE]

decided against the lazaur blue one then mate? still a well clean and engine and a tidy install glad its going well fella

Not at all mate the Lazer blue one is still getting done just after christmas That one i will keep and the Silver one will be sold once 100% finished!
Did you get that diff in ok btw?
Cheers Spadge..

[Dan318-is]

chrikey! good plan. i think lazuar blue is the best e30 colour.

diff is in fine. Oil was nasty but changed that, new gasket and hamemrited it up; its a lairy fooker in the wet!

[SPADGE]

chrikey! good plan. i think lazuar blue is the best e30 colour.

diff is in fine. Oil was nasty but changed that, new gasket and hamemrited it up; its a lairy fooker in the wet!

Yes Lazer blue is cool and i have now aquired oze30's beige leather sports trim so thats going in there too
Glad the diff went in ok and would ask you to leave me some feedback on here but my thread seems to have disapeared

[gareth]

It's Martin!

I just turned my coil round by about 60 degrees.
That way the wires from the loom just about reached and it just tucked under my air inlet.
I might have to move it when I put a standard air box on though, not sure yet, I haven't tried.

you'll probably have to move it if you do try a standard airbox. mine is currently sharing the clutch fluid reservoir bracket but it needs a better home as it gets grilled by the manifolds where it is now!

[SPADGE]

Where to move it to is the problem
Is it possible to put the battery in the boot like on saloons/coupe's with a touring as that would free-up a bit of space! Failing that i could lengthen the wires to the coil but would have to do something with the king lead as it won't be long enough

[Toby_Unna]

if it helps any of you, you can use the little e34 coil with no issues whatsoever. direct replacement and about half the size of the e30 one.

[SPADGE]

if it helps any of you, you can use the little e34 coil with no issues whatsoever. direct replacement and about half the size of the e30 one.

Thats the coil i am already running mate as it was on the donor car with my engine.
I may do what you have done there as regards the king lead though and remove it from the ht lead holder thing!
I am going to use the standard air box so will have to trial fit that 1st to see what room is left.

[DRIFTBOY]

There must be a year change on coils or something!

The coil that was on my 1988 325i is exactly the same (and same part number) as the one from my donor 1988 535i.

You could always make a small heat shield or use a bit of that thermo wrap stuff! ?

[fugazi33]

Shane - glad you like it mate

Respect where it's due fella, top job you're doing there

Made any more progress? Got to make up for me holding you up the other day! My seats are still damp