It's begun....M50 -> 84' 318i

[Cracker Red]

Total newb here, had some questions after pulling the M50 out.

Background:

Bought a minty stock 84' 318i. 44k miles. Broken M10, auto, drum rear brakes.

Bought a swapped (M50NV) 89 car that had been hit in the rear. 4 door, 5 speed, discs, and of course the m50nv.


Pulled the motor out today, went pretty smooth. I started by pulling the intake, and trying to remove the entire wiring harness.....after I nearly did realizing it could stay with the motor :)....so it did.

Questions-

The transmission has 2 sensors, I would assume these are flywheel trigger sensors. It appeared that these were cut (RobertK did the swap iirc), although I'd like to confirm they wern't cut/squashed or snipped when I pulled the motor out. Hoping I didn't screw that up...they probably arn't cheap.

When I pulled the motor/trans out, I also noticed the guibo (sp?) on the trans had an arrow on it. I marked it to keep the position, but apparently the mark got rubbed off when I man-handled the motor out.....is this critical to alignment, or can I forget about this?

Tomorrow I get to pull off both subframes, the e36 steering rack, suspension, brakes, etc. Car came with some decent parts on it, so I plan on re-using as much as possible. A 5 speed/disc swap and 24V swap might be a lot for a first timer, but if I do one thing at a time I think I can do it. Later, perhaps some A/C, 5 lug swap, and maybe some boost. For now I want to make everything as CLEAN as possible.

-T

[Cracker Red]

Today I removed everything else from the donor car. Both subframes (and everything attached).

Figured out the guibo alignment doesn't matter at the trans (only direction of install) and the sensors on the trans (Getrag 260) are for a ETA car (if I rear right...basically I didn't cut them and I don't need them).


Can I use the driveshaft from this car (4 door) for my swap (2 door) ? I would guess the cars are different lengths, but I dunno....

Wondering if I should pull anything else off the donor. It's ABS, but is rear disc.

Is the proportioning valve for 4 wheel discs different from ABS to non-ABS cars?

[iceman]

Wow, nice! Post some pictures.

Don't worry about any alignment on the guibo, just make sure you get the carrier bearing in the right spot I guess (I think you will need the right bearing for your chassis). I am at this point myself.

[Cracker Red]

What I'm working with:


Say goodbye to your transplant donor



Misc parts/front subframe and E36 rack


Rear subframe with LSD


Damn this thing is messy....no idea where to begin here. Where isn't it leaking from?

[ck_taft325is]

Whoa, you threw that car away with the bumpers, doors, glass, trim, etc all still on it? I am disappoint.

[Smelser]

If the M10 is broke, what is wrong? would you donate it ( I will pay shipping if its not outragous) to a DIRT race team, trying to take a Bimmer into a world DOMINATED by 4 cyl Mustangs, Dodges Chevettes and Rabbits?? PM me with your old, USELESS to ya 4 cyl stuff, perhaps we can talk about some dealin. I live in Canada but ship everything to Niagara Falls NY (14303)
Thanks
Chad

p.s. I may have a small case diff 4.44 LSD to trade if your intrested.

[ButtJuice]

Whoa, you threw that car away with the bumpers, doors, glass, trim, etc all still on it? I am disappoint.

+1


dude..

but anywho, good luck and have fun

[Cracker Red]

M10 has a cracker/busted head. I got so far as to pull the head off in hos of fixing the "blown head gasket", and discovered the issue. After trying for awhile to find a replacement head that would work, I made the decision to swap the car.

Motor has been sitting in the car, out in the weather, for over a year.....I'd venture a guess it's an anchor now. If you pay for shipping and the time/gas it takes for me to drop it off to ship, you can have it :)

As far as the donor goes.....that thing was hit twice (front and rear), twisted badly. Exterior trim was peeling (rattle cann'd), interior was rough. Had some nice door panels on it that I didn't get. Glass....meh I don't have time for all that.

I kept the good left side startac light, figured someone out there might have a right side and has been looking for a left. Oh yeah, I let the off brand pep-boys steering wheel stay on the car too :)

The donor left me with:
complete but dirty M50 swap
G260
stainless brake lines, slotted rotors, axxiss pads
billys and springs (can't remember if they are H&R's or another brand), E36 rack
E36 seats
and some wheels.

[Cracker Red]

Found links to the car. I thought the rear bumper was pretty shot:



Front wasn't what I needed as I'm working with a 84' car. I've got an Mtech1 kit waiting for it with euro bumpers.


It's at the Atlanta U pull it (south) if anyone wants something off the body...???

[Teaguer]

Your donor car used to belong to and was built by "RobertK".
Sold it to some kid and was totaled shortly after.

[ck_taft325is]

Still could have saved the one Startec, the handles.. man..

[Teaguer]

He said that he kept the good Startec.

[Jean]

That thing got rap3d

[ck_taft325is]

He said that he kept the good Startec.

Oh well... roger that, "Chicken Sandwich".

[Cracker Red]

It's my first experience with E30's, so forgive me if I gave stuff away :)

Next up, getting the engine cleaned. The motor apparently had a lot of maintenance items done to it prior to the swap. I'll go through the list and see what else I should do, but it looks now like a few gaskets, some elbow grease and paint, and I should be good to go.

I'm also wondering about the condition of all the suspension pieces on the 84. It only has 40K miles on it, so I'm assuming if the rubber boots are OK the ball joints should be fine? Should I replace the control arms anyway due to age?