My M52TU Swap

[Lawson509]

So I decided to use the e46 steering column with its steering wheel since it has a little nicer setup than the e30s setup. I had to make custom mounting brackets for it, but I did this a while ago in my other junk e30. I got the new column and wheel in my car last night. The wheel itself is a bit rough, but I will get a new one when I have the money. Anyway here it is:

[Lawson509]

Hey so I absolutely hate the stock seats from the sedan. They are not bucket seats in the slightest so I went with some procar seats from scat. Met the guys from scat at the las vegas sema show and they hooked me up with a really good deal. From my donor car I do have a pair of black vinyl bucket seats if anyone is interested. They are a little torn on the bolsters but other than that they are ok.

[hoveringuy]

Oh yeah... good point!

[Lawson509]

Well actually since I am using most of the wiring from the e46 including instrument cluster, I will be using the e46 temp sensor. I saw the billet aluminum piece you had with the e30 sensor adapted to it, but I won't need to do that since I am using the newer instrument cluster and DME.

[hoveringuy]

Supposedly the M54 and M52TU headers are port-matched to the M50. The OBD2 headers rock and I actually didn't gain top-end power when I went to headers, I gained mostly low-end torque.

What are you doing for the e30 temp sensor?

My lower radiator hose didn't fit exactly right. The thermostat inlet is in a slightly different place from the M50, and the radiator outlet is about 3" away from where it is on the 330.

[Lawson509]

Went ahead with the install of the motor. This is only a test fit, cuz it has to come back out to shave the oil pan and to put the snap ring in for the oil pressure regulator on the oil pump which I so handily lost during my motor rebuild. Currently The motor sits in the car and I have been trying to figure out placement of the secondary air pump. I will have to move over the windshield wiper fluid tank due to it rubbing against the engine. I will also have to move the heater core out put lines. I pulled the dash out so I can start work on rerouting my wiring harness.

[Lawson509]

Continuing the project... So I finally took my car down and pressure washed and cleaned my engine bay. Got everything ready for test installing the motor. It was commented early on that the stock M52TU headers were heavy and restrictive. This is very true, and I had intended to use them, or at least for the moment. However, the stock headers are really flat and stick out almost 6" from the engine head. I tried a test install of the motor during thankgiving break and found that this was a problem. The stock headers ended up hitting the frame rail and I couldn't use them. They also hit the eyelet of the control arm and the e36 motor mount arm. So I turned to the e36 m3 headers. The new headers fit nicely and will give better flow. I used high temp paint and painted them black to match the general color them in the bay.

[Lawson509]

as far as what year, I am not completely sure. Mine came out of an 84 2.5L, but as for the master, the piston diameters are the same front and rear. the stroke is slightly shorter on the 944 though. The ports are really close to the same spots as on the 325's, but they are a little closer together and angled slightly up.

[Jand3rson]

Could I get some info on that 944 brake booster/master stuff?

[Lawson509]

I am not meaning to bag on OBDI swaps. I realize they put out more hp than doing what I am doing. I actually was contemplating that fact at the beginning. A guy who graduated from my university two years ago did an OBDI m50 swap. I really didn't want to copy him when figuring out what to do for my graduating senior project, so OBDII seemed logical. Plus i got an entire e46 car with all the matching components for cheap. OBDI is not bad at all, especially when it comes to power. The downside to OBDII for me is that getting extra power will be really spendy.

As far as the question to the swapping out suspension, as far as I can tell, the rings on the axles have the same amount of teeth on them. I could be wrong on this issue, but I will continue looking into it.

[hoveringuy]

a buddy of mine has a TU motor in his e30 racecar. With the Pete M headwork and a few other things, he's pushing close to 240 at the wheels. Its OBDI though

You say OBD1 like it's a bad thing. It's running 240 because it's OBD1!

[accident]

awesome thread! i would love to put this motor in my 98 328is

[RobertK]

I also meant to ask what you were going to swap in the entire E46 suspension accommodate the ABS and traction control or do you have plans to modify the rings on your existing axels/hubs?

[e30rapidic]

a buddy of mine has a TU motor in his e30 racecar. With the Pete M headwork and a few other things, he's pushing close to 240 at the wheels. Its OBDI though

[Jand3rson]

Quick question for you, I have the opportunity to get a 944 booster and master from a friend for dirt cheap, what year (late/early) car do the parts need to come from to work with an E30? Are all the locations for the hardlines on the 944 master the same, meaning will the stock E30 hardlines bolt up to it?