Engine conversion #2 - M52B28!

[Jimbob]

Life without an E30 was shortlived, about 9-10 months I think! Saying that, I still don't have a shell however there is something soon to be in the pipeline, pics and info will follow hopefully at the weekend.

Anyway, today my engine arrived (courier reckoned it was refused delivery a few days ago?! How could ANYONE refuse this??) pretty much everything is in there ready to drop in, just need a 5 series sump ,oil pick up pipe . The previous owners have sorted me right out and have even cut up some exhaust pipes which should aid the car to run if I get the conversion finished before I receive my exhaust manifold from Ste.

I got the engine through Andyboy (many thanks) and its from the guys at Parkside, Gary and his bro (sorry dude never caught your name!) who have previously built an M50 E30 (first in the country I think?) which was Wil's car. They're great guys so anyone just north of Nottingham needing work done, go here!

Here's my first and only pic of the kit:


That's an M40 gearbox, unsure of the rubber engine mounts, m20 clutch/flywheel and the block has been fitted with new pistons and a few other lovely jubblies!

More pics at the weekend.

[DanThe]

Nice one

Those are E34 rubber mounts, I see youve got the best inlet manifold

[JazzMan]

nice should be a bit of beast with that.

[appletree]

good lads at park side arnt they! gaz and dave have been ordering the bits for my S/C conversion for me and giving me some ideas on the project hope you're conversion goes well

[m-dtech]

im in the same boat as you at this stage.

im still unsure of what prop to use.

the guys that use the 320i m20 gearbox use either an m3 prop or 320i m20 prop, so surley as the m40 box is shorter the standard m40 prop should fit ???

im using the IS gearbox, looks the same but slightly different ratio.

[Gunni]

318is trans has a longer extending flange from the back, a M40 one is rather flush with the trans,

[rare]

Nice one jim. Looking good, keep me updated!!

[eko]

Keep us posted on your progress Jim

[Jon_Bmw]

As discussed, super Looking forward to seeing the end product...before summer?

[Ziggy]

Good work fella! Gimme a shout if you need a hand & the regular slave's not about...

[Jimbob]

Cheers for the encouragement lol, can't wait lads! Really looking forward to getting back into a nice E30, the engine is just a nice touch

Dan, good shout on the mounts

Jon - hopefully end of March at the latest (bodyshop is pretty busy though for several weeks)

Jon - definately pop over mate!! Hopefully Adam will come along and my nextdoor neighbour and his dad are both mechanics and are up for the challenge :

[jaistanley]

Oh for gods sake.. I'm retardedly slow at all this. You'll have this done before mine and I've had the bloody engine since last year!

Stupid job, stupid lack of driveway and now stupid lack of everyday car has done it. Lame!

Good luck dude.. Hopefully I'll be able to join you in a victory drive come summer. I really want to have the S50 in when the manifold (and possibly exhaust) come in from Ste too.. Just need to find the funds for the exhaust (it'll save me time and at this stage time is the thing I want to waste least of!)

Jai

[jmc330i]

Does the M40 gearbox fit the M50/M52s with the M20 flywheel and clutch then?

Oh for gods sake.. I'm retardedly slow at all this. You'll have this done before mine and I've had the bloody engine since last year!

I know exactly how you feel

[Jimbob]

It sure does, it was checked before they sent the engine.
Only a few niggles to get on with at the mo, just dawned on me that I'll have an early M20 engine so the header tank is in a w*nk place

[eko]

Jim,just do away with the early tank,fit the later rad or convert to later tank!

Trust me the early tank mounted on the O/S looks ugly and old fashioned against the M50/52

[Jimbob]

My 2.7 started life as an earlier type engine, I did exactly as you say though and fitted later cooling system. Guess I will have to do the same now did you use an E30 rad then yea?

[eko]

I am using E30 318is rad,seems to be ok upto now!

[jaistanley]

Will an E36 325i one do?? They have integrated header tank too.. I'm thinking about one for my S50B32

Jai

[eko]

E36 is fine i seam to remember,just dont use E34 one,too big!

[DanThe]

I would keep your cooling system as it is, get an alloy tank and mount it on the battery tray combined with a rad without side tank will give much more room for a suitable air filter. The E36 M3 rad is the best you can use IMO. I bought one brand new but took it back because of my airfilter setup. Should have done the cooling first then plumbed the airfilter in around it.

[Jimbob]

Ok so it will seem there's a couple of ideas for the rad, will see what the scrappies have got before committing to anything.

For the air filter I've read that the M30 airbox is the best option, or is this wrong?

[eko]

M30 airbox is what im going to use,when i finish modding it!
Ill find a link for you.

[Jimbob]

This one? http://wp1016621.wp027.webpack.hosteuro ... f01130.htm

Dan - how much was that rad brand new?

[eko]

Yes thats the one

[Jimbob]

Sprechen Sie Deutsch ja? lol

[DanThe]

Dan - how much was that rad brand new?

£84

Via my mate who works at the local motor parts, crazy thing is, is that an E30 325i air-con rad would of been £120!

[320Touring]

all hail jimbob, return of the king *

assuming that shell is alpine white lol!

[Jimbob]

£84! Nice, wonder if my mate can pull that off if I don't find one!

Neil, unfortunately not white mate (even though white is clearly the best colour when spankingly clean!!)

Will be acquiring a few parts this weekend so will update soon.

[jmc330i]

Does the M40 gearbox fit the M50/M52s with the M20 flywheel and clutch then?

It sure does, it was checked before they sent the engine.

That may of just sealed the fate of my touring then
Getting a bit bored of the ticking M20 and if I get hold of an M50/M52, I have all the other parts needed for the swap.

Keep us posted how you get on with the M52 engine/M40 gearbox combo

[ste]

Nicely Jimbob!

M52 is the choice of champions.

[Jimbob]

James - will do mate, I might bolt them up when I get a chance over the next few days

Ste - you knows it fella

Went to look at a Tech 1 yesterday, advertised for £300 with big end shell gone and in need of TLC. TLC is an understatement, my uncle came with me who owns a bodyshop and said £1200 would see it right in his hands. I had budgeted about £700 for the work so that car was out of the window.

Just got a Porsche 944 brake servo for £1.69 too

[Jimbob]

Anyone got any E28 M5 mounts they could measure for me please? Getting worried about the manifold being designed to take these mounts against the E34 ones I have lol!

[ian332isport]

Anyone got any E28 M5 mounts they could measure for me please? Getting worried about the manifold being designed to take these mounts against the E34 ones I have lol!

Jimbob,

Should be the same height mate

This picture compares the height of E28 mounts with those from a 740i, but I believe the 740i and E34 mounts are the same height.



Ian.

[Jimbob]

I shall sleep peacefully tonight Ian, thanks very much for the perfect image.

[jkarran]

Just got a Porsche 944 brake servo for £1.69 too

Now a Complete 944 for £1.69 would be impressive

Cool sounding project. a mate had an auto E36 with M52B28, that was rapid, in an E30 with a manual box it'll be

jk