Engine Conversion

[no1_jazz]

HI IF ANY BODY COULD HELP ME I WANT TO KNWO IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO PUT A 2.3L ENGINE INTO A E30 1.6 BODY?

WOULD THE CHASSIS HANDLE THE NATRUAL POWER OF THE 2.3L ENGINE AND WOULD IT SIT IN NICELY?

OR

WOULD IT BE BETTER IF I PUT TAHT SAME ENGINE INTO A E30 1.8L CAR INSTEAD I MEAN AS AN OVERALL WOULD THERE BE ANY DIFFRENCE AND IF IT IS POSSIBLE HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST?

CHEERS IF ANY ONE COULD HELP ME WOULD BE GR8;).

[StuBeeDoo]

The 2.3 would fit, as long as you have all the ancilleries, the engine wiring loom, gearbox, propshaft and differential to go with it.
You would also need to upgrade the brakes, 2.3's have rear discs.
The bodyshells are all the same (except the M3 of course).
HTH
Stuart.

ps can you take the caps lock off please - capitals = shouting. Ta.

[ed325i]

When you say 2.3 do you mean the e30 323 engine or the e36 323 engine ?

[StuBeeDoo]

When you say 2.3 do you mean the e30 323 engine or the e36 323 engine ?

Good point Ed.
"2.3 engine" needs to be a bit more specific. Could even be a non-BMW engine.
I was assuming M20B23 (the E36 323 engine is actually a strangled 2.5).

[oakey]

or the e30 m3 engine?

[Jesus325iTouring]

Or a Ford Granada 2.3V6

[no1_jazz]

firstly i would like ot say sorry for the Caps Lock lol and secondly ill like ot thank u guys for the help essbee cheers for that. well as for what exact engine i cant exactly say i would like to lump any 2l or a 2.2l engine in the car i mean if anyone dose knwo what would be the best to put in there well in terms of what engine would sit in nicley and would rip speed lol

engines i would like to invest in are bmw e30 and bmw e36 32.0i well manily a bmw engine but if any one knows anything better which would fit in nicley could u please let me knwo.

what engine out of the two will fit in better e30 323 engine or the e36 323 engine???

anybody i need help lol i dont know what engine to put in i just want a good nice strong engine looking for a 20.l max 2.3l bmw e30 or e36 engine somethign which is cheap and cheerfull and yet quality to drive ??

many thanks once again .

[fuzzy]

pretty much most will go in without to much trouble although if your going to go to the trouble of an engine conversion you might as well go for the biggest you can rather than a half measure.i wouldnt bother with a 2.0 at all but why a 2.3 max?

[maxfield]

I'm guessing insurance.

Drop in a 325engine and say it's a 2.0l engine

[ed325i]

If you want a m20 323 engine I know where one is for sale.

[no1_jazz]

mr fuzzy u got a good point there but maxfield u got it its the insurance thats gonaaa be a bit much coz my income aint enough for me to afford the insurance i would like to buy a porsche 911 turbo instead of doing this bmw project lol but hey im just working with what ive got so at the mom a bmw and a 2.3l i think is quite acceptable but how much would it coz to get a 2.5l engine well the one your on about, infact what 2.5l are u on about lol and if the car i have a is regestered as a 1.6bmw e30 wouldnt they work with that and just knwo i have a 1.6 lol is it risky i mean ofcourse god forbids if i have a crash then the insurance im guessing will not cater for my custom specs rite or no???????

[fuzzy]

an e30 2.5 engine and other bits will cost a few hundred quid,if you dont tell the insurance you risk losing everything with the added bonus of possibly losing any other person involved their car/good health/life.

[no1_jazz]

ed325i m20 323 engine what engine wuld be good to lum in there im looking for somethign which would be good and not expensive something that is in mint condition im not intrested in something thats been riped the hell out of lol.

[maxfield]

Just tell them that you have converted it to a 2.0 theres not visual differences between them.

You can pick everything up for the conversion for less than £300

[DanThe]

Just tell them that you have converted it to a 2.0 theres not visual differences between them.

Apart from the engine No

[no1_jazz]

this is for all u guys where is the best place ot get exclent condition engines from??? cheers fuzz.

[maxfield]

Just tell them that you have converted it to a 2.0 theres not visual differences between them.

Apart from the engine No

Nothing a file or grinder won't sort out

[snoops]

just buy a 325i

[fuzzy]

just buy a 325i

is the easiest most obvious solution

[chicken]

and cheaper

[maxfield]

and cheaper

£250 for everything needed to convert to 325

£400 318

[fuzzy]

and cheaper

£250 for everything needed to convert to 325

£400 318

i thought decent engines and boxes go for about £350? not including wiring looms,ecu etc.then there would be the suspension to upgrade and possibly the brakes?sell the 318 for £400 and buy a 325 for about £600.much cheaper and easier solution.

[maxfield]

i thought decent engines and boxes go for about £350? not including wiring looms,ecu etc.then there would be the suspension to upgrade and possibly the brakes?sell the 318 for £400 and buy a 325 for about £600.much cheaper and easier solution.

Nothing WRONG with 318 brakes unless your on a track.

And suspension 45mm struts have the option for good bilsteins.

E30Mark had everything you need for £250.

And it would be cheaper to insure

[no1_jazz]

not forgetting people im a student and not looking forward to spend alot on my insurance so something which is resonable with insurance and under the hood sweet and powerfull breaks , suspen, wishbones and all the ect i can work on gruadually as this is onli a small project that im undergoing whilest still in my education

[StuBeeDoo]

Just tell them that you have converted it to a 2.0 theres not visual differences between them.

Apart from the engine No

Nothing a file or grinder won't sort out

Angle grinder won't sort the most obvious difference - the 2.5 inlet manifold is a different shape.

[maxfield]

Angle grinder won't sort the most obvious difference - the 2.5 inlet manifold is a different shape.

Will mr insurance man be able to tell tho?

[StuBeeDoo]

Angle grinder won't sort the most obvious difference - the 2.5 inlet manifold is a different shape.

Will mr insurance man be able to tell tho?

If he knows his BMW's he will.
Now, passing a 2.3 off as a 2.0 is much easier. No visible external differences at all.

[ed325i]

Now, passing a 2.3 off as a 2.0 is much easier. No visible external differences at all.

Yes but you would what to fit the 2.5 inlet to the 2.3.

[Scrotty]

sell the 316, as it has different shocks diff brakes etc and buy a 320.....THEN drop a 325 block...most of the stuff stays the same and its much less work..plus the e30 320 is rather cheap to buy and insure, any officer that knows the sound of a staight six will no its not a 316! fin a copper that can tell a 320 and a 325 apart??
buy a rusty 325 sport and take engine box and diff...sell kit and leather to get your money back....316 will fund the 320 purchase...keeping it cheap and as said...not transferring ALL the drivetrain

[tim-ix]

Will mr insurance man be able to tell tho?

Yes he will. I work for an insurance company and the engineers who work here are recruited from main dealerships and insurance-approved bodyshops. They know cars and their job is to reduce the amount we pay out by spotting stuff like Maxfield is suggesting.

You can also be prosecuted for knowingly wrongly insuring a vehicle. Don't bother, it's not worth it.

[no1_jazz]

hmmm cheers lol i knwo its been a long time now but thats wot the army and education dose to u limits your time to respond to your fellow people whos help u thanks alot guys

[no1_jazz]

Hey People im back to the game the Holidays have come and so has the car well i initially got it for my sister and its still her but hey whos not to say her younger brother aint gonaa do it all up. ok its a 31.8IS and i want to put a max 2.5l bmw engine in it lets get this show on the rroad help!!!!!!

[munky30]

And you have to give the dvla the engine number when you declare it.

Just drop in an m20b25. Anything else is retarded.

[no1_jazz]

hmmm is the s42 engine any good??? i mean putting a nice 3.0l lump in there wuld be nice but also very expensive but hey more power the more better rite mr insurance can rob me for all i car bnut hey he wont beat me of the line, rund a track or even in a stright line lol but hey whats better then a s42, m20b25 or a nice 3.0L ???? and y is putting in anything else retarded??????

[Simon]

Moved to the engine swaps section.