Engine conversion #2 - M52B28!

[Jimbob]

Got the brake servo through today.

Still no car to put it in, and I'm having no luck finding an E34 M50 sump !

[Geeman]

Spadge has got a rolling shell (everything bar the engine, box, loom and exhaust) that used to be a 318iS... no good to you?

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... sc&start=0

[Jimbob]

Good shout Giles but not what I'm after I'm afraid.

A Cat C would put off potential buyers when I come to sell this car so haven't decided against it (does look bloomin' nice in the photo's tho!)

Was originally only after a 2dr but if the right touring comes along then that's a possibility too!

[Geeman]

Damn... forgot about the Cat C bit. Sorry!

There's quite a few in the 'For Sale' section too... two white iS's, for example.

[jmc330i]

and I'm having no luck finding an E34 M50 sump !

I phoned most of the BMW breakers every week for 2 or 3 months and only found one - and it turned out to be cracked and beyond repair
Ended up buying a new one from the dealer


Another quick question on the using the M40 gearbox - will the gearbox be rotated the same as if using the M20 gearbox, so the gear linkage needs modding?

[ste]

Apparently not. Andyboy reckons it has the same rotation as the M/S50 boxes.

[jaistanley]

Jimbob:

Whats the 944 brake servo like? Is it a remote one?

Can't seem to glean (gleen?) much info on these.

Many thanks.

Jai

[Jimbob]

Giles, I'm on a bit of a tight budget as well maybe i'll never find one

James, the M40 box doesn't need anything modding at all, happy days!!

Jai, all I can say is that is what was recommended to me (Wil's M50 car was running one and I've bought the engine from the guys that made that car so they recommended it), it needs no modding apart from the push-rod is longer, so only needs cutting an re-threading which is simple.

[Jimbob]

Oh yea, found all the E34 M50 stuff I need but he wants £75 for the lot, dunno if I'm being tight arsed or if I think he is genuinely asking too much..

..How much was it brand new from the dealer James?

[jmc330i]

Oh yea, found all the E34 M50 stuff I need but he wants £75 for the lot, dunno if I'm being tight arsed or if I think he is genuinely asking too much..

(When I use the $ sign, I do mean pounds)
$75 for the E34 sump and oil pick up? Thats probably not bad, most BM breakers wanted $50 (plus P&P) just for the sump when I was looking. I cant remember how much the oil pick up pipe was new, but its probably more than $20. Dont forget it would probably be best to fit a new sump gasket as well.

..How much was it brand new from the dealer James?

I seem to remember I was quoted about $200 +vat I didnt pay that much though

And good news about the M40 gearbox not rotating

[jaistanley]

Righty ho...

Small brake servo it'll probably be. Golf 1.3, porsche 944, Golf MK1. Coupled with a 25mm Audi master cylinder for me (the MCoupé brakes I have will have right balance and feel with a 25mm, if a little heavy cos of the small servo).

For moding the brake position am I right in saying people have used a five series pull bar from the pedal box, across the car to the 90 degree linkage on the passenger side? Was this an E28 part? Does it need shortening and re-tapping? Does anyone have a part no?

Many thanks..

Jai

[DanThe]

For moding the brake position am I right in saying people have used a five series pull bar from the pedal box, across the car to the 90 degree linkage on the passenger side? Was this an E28 part? Does it need shortening and re-tapping?

This is only if you are moving the servo accross the bulkhead, Brianmoooore said he used a modified E34 pullrod

[jaistanley]

Do the M50 converters not have to do this too? S50 swaps need it in conjunction with a smaller servo and a modded plenum, stupid massive thing.

E34 part you say? Many thanks. I'l get on RealOEM and take a look in a bit..

Jai

[DanThe]

Just the smaller servo is needed for the M50/M52.

If I were you Jai id get onto old skool 2002 and see if he can get you a pair of those plates made up. It looks like you may get away without having to have the plenum cut

[jaistanley]

I've been following his thread (awesome progress) but hadn't thought to ask him.. I'll see what he can do. The zone is a hotbed of M and S-50 conversions these days!

Perhaps it could have it's own section (Although I mainly hang around the engine swaps section which I guess is the same thing)

Jai

[DanThe]

The zone is a hotbed of M and S-50 conversions these days!

It is the way forward you know

[Jimbob]

Definately, the wealth of knowledge on here is amazing!

Got a few E30's lined up for viewing soon, hopefully one of them can fit the bill.

Now to find that bloody sump

[jaistanley]

Jimbob... I seem to recall Ste offering to sell me one when I was there but I could be waaay off, I have the brain of a forgetful wossitcalled....

Jai

[Jimbob]

I somehow missed your post Jai! I'll give Ste a shout see if he can help.

After doing a bit of digging it turns out my engine is the 2.5 block with the 2.8 internals, happy days!

[DanThe]

Is it the non vanos?

[Jimbob]

Sure is, non vanos.

[DanThe]

Just like im building then! Have you got any info about the ECU? Standard, chipped etc? Gonna have to have a head to head on the rollers once finished

[ian332isport]

Jimbob... I seem to recall Ste offering to sell me one when I was there but I could be waaay off, I have the brain of a forgetful wossitcalled....

Jai

I'm pretty sure the only M50 sump that Ste has is currently hanging off the bottom of his M52. He may have a spare M50 dipstick and tube though.

Ian.

[Jimbob]

Gonna have to have a head to head on the rollers once finished

Let's do it lol

It's a standard ECU as far as I know. Not sure on what to do about getting it chipped, I was hoping Ant might be able to sort something out. Or even give it to Sal as he offers an M52 tuning service...

I have set myself a total budget for start to finish and will do my best not to exceed it (for the time being ) as the engine already has new pistons and stuff so I'm hoping for pretty good power out of the box so to speak.

[jmc330i]

Do the M50 converters not have to do this too? S50 swaps need it in conjunction with a smaller servo and a modded plenum, stupid massive thing.

Moving the servo over (and using the 5 series bar) isnt actually needed for the S50 conversion - just means you would have to cut less from the plenum if you do move the servo over.

My Golf servo is fitted to the original E30 servo position and it fits fine. I could probably have cut less from the plenum, but I was trying to get it to fit with the E30 servo at first (no chance).

[jaistanley]

I think I'd still want to move it over to minimise the mods to the plenum, but how much have you had to change it? Will it affect its performance at all do you think? If it's one less thing to do, all the better!

I had a dipstick and tube from Ste (many thanks again)... I must've dreamt the sump.

How did you end up with 2.8 internals jimbob? Did you get lucky and buy it off a modifyer? Gonna be a torquey engine..

Jai

[appletree]

Jimbob did you know that dave at parkside is selling a mint IS?? think he said he would sell it without the engine to, might be worth a chat.

[Jimbob]

Yea I spoke to Dave the other night, it's a bit of out my price range really. Does sound like a lovely motor though. He was telling me about a 320i though that might be worth a punt

[jmc330i]

I think I'd still want to move it over to minimise the mods to the plenum, but how much have you had to change it? Will it affect its performance at all do you think? If it's one less thing to do, all the better!

I cut quite a lot out of the corner, but I was trying to fit it round the E30 servo. I could of cut a lot less for the VW servo.

I have no idea if it will affect performance, but dont see why it would - the No.6 intake is not restricted at all.

At the time I didnt know anything about moving the servo over, which is why after trying to use the E30 servo, I went through the search for the VW servo. Moving the servo is not something I would consider for my car anyway, Ive done the whole conversion without modding the car at all, just the bits Ive fitted for the conversion.

[Jimbob]

Right finally a bit of an update. The local scrappy has a few M50's in so managed to persuade them to strip the parts for me from a 525i estate for the princely sum of £30 + an M30 airbox.

And I've upped by budget a few hundred quid and bought an M-Tech 1 Sport with fairly complete restore of the shell.

finally starting to get going!

[Jimbob]

Right, after doing nothing since this last post car-wise due to other commitments, I finally got off my arse with this project.

The M52 would be going in today but unfortunately my oil pickup pipe is damaged I went to get a replacement from the scrappy yesterday but unfortunately couldn't get to the underside of the car and they had no forklift drivers in yesterday!

The engine bay is now empty, the M20 is pretty easy to get out (gearbox still attached) but had a few issues with the prop (royally pissed me off that did!) would've had it out on Friday if it wasn't for this, but it was long day doing it by myself so called it a day, then had a few things to do yesterday.

Gonna drop the M52 in on the mounts today I think, wanna make a start of modifying the exhaust manifold!

Pics to follow

[brian325i]

goodluck with the project..if i encounter probs i can let you know and vice versa

i have to get a wiring loomm before i drop mine in..what exhaust you gonna use?

[Jimbob]

The car came with a full stainless system, and the engine I bought came with two pre-cut downpipes.

What I'm going to do for the time being is cut and weld the original 2.8 manifold, use the downpipes then cut and weld my existing stainless system.
This is until Ste's group buy eventually comes through with the stainless manifold professionally modified for the e30. Then I guess it's a case of more welding

Here's a few pics (weather's been fantastic! Would've cleaned the engine bay today but went out on my mates boat):




Soon to be back like this but with a bigger engine

[eko]

Good work Jim,keep us updated

I just watched the video of my first start up/test down the road.Big grin all day that day

[Jimbob]

Fckin c*nts up at the scrappy scrapped the car I had planned on getting the pick up pipe from, 3 weeks delivery if I order from BMW