The Cheapest and Easiest 24v Swap

[Tico Frank]

Hi guys, I have searched the threads and cant get the answer I am looking for so here goes.

I have a 1987 325i Convertible and want to swap to a 24v engine for smoothness and reliability. I will not race or do track days.

I would just like a super cheap and simple swap with minimal customization, wiring and hassle. And keep it under $1000.


Seems like m50's are pretty cheap to come by.

Whats the word!

[mattdk318i]

holy hell..... DOHC thread. Start reading, And when you think you are done read some more.

[Lof8]

What you want is an S54. Its very cheap and even a caveman can do it.

[Tico Frank]

holy hell..... DOHC thread. Start reading, And when you think you are done read some more.

Dude I have read and read but it's insane how many options there are.

I would like to avoid buying headers, exhaust, chips, blah blah. Just a simple 24v swap with minimal headaches.

[ACHTUNG]

What you want is an S54. Its very cheap and even a caveman can do it.

This.

[Tico Frank]

What you want is an S54. Its very cheap and even a caveman can do it.

An s54 is going to be a 2003 or newer motor and I cant imagine that those can be found for around $500.

[mattdk318i]

find a E34 M50, E36 engine mount arms, e36 throttle cable, 320i booster, E36 manifolds, E36 exhaust. You want to be spoon fed this information......

All you have to do is get a list up and find the cheapest option

[Lof8]

Dude I have read and read but it's insane how many options there are.

I would like to avoid buying headers, exhaust, chips, blah blah. Just a simple 24v swap with minimal headaches.

You haven't even read 1/100th of what you need to. If you had, this thread wouldn't exist.

[hyperE30]

You haven't even read 1/100th of what you need to. If you had, this thread wouldn't exist.

Sooo true..

[Vince30]

Cheapest way is to steal it

[khalild]

No such thing as cheapest. Engine shopping is like car shopping. Sometimes you catch a deal, sometimes you don't. The cheap route is almost never easy, and vice versa. If you want something cheap, make sure that you give yourself a chance to hop on a deal by constantly hunting for one. Easy depends on your level of mechanical skill. Cheap depends on how much you know, who you know, and availability. Sounds like you need to find somebody with an already swapped e30 24v with a junk shell and offer 1k + "favors" lol.

[ACHTUNG]

serious answer: I think the cheapest motor is the M50. You should be able to pick one up for ~$500. What you do to the motor to refresh it and the install cost will vary.

[Jafxod]

If you wanna get it done cheap and easily you need to put some time in doing your home work, me and my friend just swapped an m50 into his car for under $500 bucks. Heres what he used

e34 M50nv
e36 arms
944 booster with a modified input rod (cut and welded)
Stock throttle cable with a cable stop from a bike shop
Stock tranny
Made his own harness adapter
S52 headers and midpipe

[Jafxod]

Heres some info on the build, like I said stop asking questions and just start reading, all the info is on here somewhere

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=209294

[lolcantturn]

Search and read your ass off. Like jafxod said, I did my swap in under $400, but thats because for the most part I knew exactly the problems I was going to encounter and read threads extensively. Search on craigs for Porsche 944's that no one wants cause they don't know the value of their brake booster, get $5 E34 mounts, and look around for cheap S52 headers and arms