Project E30

[Beej]

I don't want to do a transmission swap, but if it's a manual trans I don't mind an E. It's probably got a broken TB, which is just an excuse to convert to an I or even a "big block" six.

But yes. The DSM will be on the block as soon as I buy fluids to put in the transfer case. I'll need a replacement. A proper wheel drive replacement.

Ha, you don't want to do a transmission swap but you want to swap to an 'i' or (bigger HA) an M30? Those motors are HUGE. Broken TB's aren't really a common issue anyway, so I don't think you'll have to worry about it.

I did a manual swap on my e30 and it's a pretty smooth process...but it still sucks.

TB can and DO break on E30 motors. They are destructive failures as it is an interference engine. Cam seals leak oil on the belt and.......bad ju ju

What difficulties did you run in to on the manual swap, Bill?

Ahh...TB = timing belt. I'm not used to that acronym - I thought he was referring to the throttle body (which can sprout those coolant leaks, but that's about it). Ha, didn't mean to say that at all - and I'd be particularly wary on a car in this situation. But I'm very thankful for my timing chain.

As for difficulties during the tranny swap, there really were none. Everything bolted up right the first time...there were some annoying things (one hard clutch hydraulic line is in a VERY annoying spot - up above a bunch of brake lines), but I took my time. One day to pull everything, the next to put it all back in. I did plenty of research and made sure I had all of the correct parts though. Benching the transmission up into place was a pain too, but only took 15 minutes or so.

EDIT: And the starter bolts (and other ones at the top of the bellhousing). Those are a B.

[bimmerboodle]

Ha, you don't want to do a transmission swap but you want to swap to an 'i' or (bigger HA) an M30? Those motors are HUGE. Broken TB's aren't really a common issue anyway, so I don't think you'll have to worry about it.

I did a manual swap on my e30 and it's a pretty smooth process...but it still sucks.

It's not that I don't want to do a trans swap, it's that there are enough E30's out there that I'll walk on one that's got an autotragic in favor of one with an automatic.

I did an auto-to-manual swap with dave once already. It's just a process I don't particularly care to repeat if I ain't gotta.

And, on the timing belt note if there's an E30 in a field owned by a pair of rednecks, then a timing belt seems a likely culprit, knowing nothing else about the car. Forget about it, or don't know about it, and SNAP! Piston and valve salad.

I have had that salad, it tastes like doody

[Mike]

Ha, you don't want to do a transmission swap but you want to swap to an 'i' or (bigger HA) an M30? Those motors are HUGE. Broken TB's aren't really a common issue anyway, so I don't think you'll have to worry about it.

I did a manual swap on my e30 and it's a pretty smooth process...but it still sucks.

It's not that I don't want to do a trans swap, it's that there are enough E30's out there that I'll walk on one that's got an autotragic in favor of one with an automatic.

I did an auto-to-manual swap with dave once already. It's just a process I don't particularly care to repeat if I ain't gotta.

And, on the timing belt note if there's an E30 in a field owned by a pair of rednecks, then a timing belt seems a likely culprit, knowing nothing else about the car. Forget about it, or don't know about it, and SNAP! Piston and valve salad.

I have had that salad, it tastes like doody

uhhh wrong salad...

[Chris]

Rex you have a PM. It definitely is a manual tranny.

[ViPER1313]

Ha, you don't want to do a transmission swap but you want to swap to an 'i' or (bigger HA) an M30? Those motors are HUGE. Broken TB's aren't really a common issue anyway, so I don't think you'll have to worry about it.

I did a manual swap on my e30 and it's a pretty smooth process...but it still sucks.

It's not that I don't want to do a trans swap, it's that there are enough E30's out there that I'll walk on one that's got an autotragic in favor of one with an automatic.

I did an auto-to-manual swap with dave once already. It's just a process I don't particularly care to repeat if I ain't gotta.

And, on the timing belt note if there's an E30 in a field owned by a pair of rednecks, then a timing belt seems a likely culprit, knowing nothing else about the car. Forget about it, or don't know about it, and SNAP! Piston and valve salad.

I have had that salad, it tastes like doody

You silly people with your foreign cars and interference engines 8)

[CaptainHenreh]

Rex you have a PM. It definitely is a manual tranny.

I call dibs, fuckers.

[Chris]

Update 3/12/06

Last weekend consisted of finishing my timing belt, stripping the interior of Eric's E30, and removing more parts off the parts convertible.

My timing belt problem from a couple weeks ago was because I forgot to install one of the bolts on the waterpump... stupid mistake. So sure enough I just installed that, tightened it down and it ran great. The old belt was worn a bit so I'm very glad we replaced it.

We removed the entire front suspension, steering column, and rear diff on the parts car. we tried to remove the windshield to have as a back-up but cracked it by accident. All that is left is to remove the rear suspension, unbolt the tranny, and pull the engine. Rex is coming on Sunday to help with all this and chop off the front bumper with his saw-zaw (sp?) and put teh engine into storage. Then we'll have fun chopping the car into several sections and take it piece by piece to the dump!

pics!

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[Chris]

installed the front suspension on my friend Eric's E30 this past weekend. H&R race springs, bilstein sport shocks, and powerflex control arm bushings.

things are coming along nicely, but there just isn't enough time to get things done! These 3 hour drives to Richmond and back each weekend are getting to me. I can't wait until the major work is done, then I can get the car up here in Annapolis.

I added a few pics from the suspension install under "E30 Project"

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[ScottyB]

H&R race springs, bilstein sport shocks

could you please give us a review on this combo? i've considered it myself but i'm on the fence. i love the simplicity and low cost of this setup but i want to keep my stock ride height, or close to it....which mean coilovers

[BLINGMW]

could you please give us a review on this combo?

well heck, YOU drove on the same setup on the way from picking up Chris' E30, you probably know better than him! :lol:

[ScottyB]

could you please give us a review on this combo?

well heck, YOU drove on the same setup on the way from picking up Chris' E30, you probably know better than him! :lol:

*slaps head*

i was distracted by the pretty colors on the air/fuel gauge, i couldn't concentrate!

[Chris]

well the last 2 weekends have been pretty successful. Here is where we stand.

Eric's 84 E30:

suspension complete!
brakes complete
interior removed
timing belt complete
and a bunch of small stuff of course

To Do:

some minor maintenance items like diff fluid, tranny fluid
seats
harnesses
visit to the cage shop for the weld in rollbar
paint shop for the outside of car (its multiple colors)
wheels and tires

My 89 E30:

Maintenance has been the main focus so far.
Timing belt complete
Oil pan replaced
interior stripped

To Do:

Suspension and brakes by the end of April
Seats ordered and installed
harnesses
Cage shop for the weld in roll bar
Fix gauges that won't work
tranny fluid
diff fluid
have a locksmith make a key that will work in the door locks
possibly buy tires for the stock wheels, or just wait an event or two

We also have to pull the engine and tranny on the convertible and get that POS off of my parents property sometime in May so they can rent the space for horses.



I've added a bunch of pictures under "E30 Project"

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[Jeff]

Boobies, don't fix OEM gauges. It is a waste of money. Buy some autometer Phantoms or Ultralites. You will thank yourself when you actually know what is going on with your engine and you have spent money in the right direction. My .02.

[JustinG]

Agreed, if i were you i would spend the extra cash if available to eventually pahse out the factory gauges for autometer stuff.

[Chris]

I thought about some aftermarket gauges but they seem really expensive. I've got enough money already planned on this thing, and just want to get it on track. I was planning on switching out the tach from my parts car and see if that would work. Any reasonably priced solutions out there or a cheap temporary way to get the gauges to work?

[BLINGMW]

which ones aren't working now? Taking your cluster out and fiddling with/cleaning them often helps. Getting a whole other cluster on eBay or E30Tech is usually cheap, and you can swap out the parts you need. I have some "e" clutsters that I can send you, the only part of them that wouldn't do you any good is the tach

[Chris]

all that works is the speedometer :x Chan I'm looking into the site you sent me, thanks!

[Chris]

My Spec E30 suspension is in the mail and I'm registered for Hyperfizzle! Its slowly getting there...

[Dave]

how come the Spec E30 suspension? Is that where this car is eventually headed?

[Andy]

how come the Spec E30 suspension? Is that where this car is eventually headed?

Eggg-cellent.

Good job Chris. Your weekly 6 hour commute to Richmond is paying off. It looks like within a few years, MM will be clogging up NASA races series.