87 cabrio swapola

[scottinAZ]

It comes a time in every E30's life that a swap must be performed. That time for my 87 Cabrio is now. The M20 decided to play games and jump time, so I needed a motor.

New heart is from a 94 325i (M50TU) with about 128k miles on it. Got the motor, harness, mounts and all accessories, airbox to exhaust for $1100 locally. Oil pan, pickup and dipstick are also sourced locally (screamin deal at $125) I will be installing a NEW aluminum radiator, all new hoses, w/p mounts, and all the sundry items, and a 413 red label DME.

I pick the motor up on Friday afternoon, and should have it planted by the end of Saturday.

With everything working as it should, and parts arriving on time, I should have this swap done for the local meet next thursday.

[scottinAZ]

well, the engine is about 10 minutes from being ready to be pulled

everything is disconnected save the trans mount (whoopie do)


Ill be starting a for-sale thread here soon with all the M20 shit that I no longer need. feel free to Pm me with specifics if you have needs/wants

heres some pics of the action

[trackjunkie21]

Goodluck with the swap! You're definitely going to love it!

[scottinAZ]

Its Here, Its Here..:D












And the first care package from Blunt (R3V)

[Tico Frank]

Are you going to use an electric fan?

[scottinAZ]

Are you going to use an electric fan?

depends on radiator clearance. I already have a clutch fan with a new clutch, and I DONT have an electric, so finances dictate that if it fits, it gets installed, at least till funds dictate different. Im already almost 2800 in to the swap between engine, trans, and related new parts and shit (600 bucks+ alone just in new maintenance items), so things are getting tight.

[giantkeeper]

Are you done yet?



:drink:

[scottinAZ]

had to work 12 hrs today and another 12 tomorrow, coupled with the parts that are still not here (engine mount arm for one, pickup for another) No it isnt done yet....

hey, at least it wont have RTV gaskets and reused consumable parts in it :D

[N2MYE30]

Wow, you do have plenty invested in that swap! Good luck. :up:

[Holland]

That looks like a lot of fun. Quick swap, or Japandrew style (minus subframe) ?

[flyboyx]

the most amazing thing about this to me is the color of your car. that is rare indeed.

[scottinAZ]

That looks like a lot of fun. Quick swap, or Japandrew style (minus subframe) ?

mostly gonna be a quick swap, but I dont want to have to revisit something because I ignored it when it was easy (and probably cheaper) to replace it when I had the chance

[scottinAZ]

the most amazing thing about this to me is the color of your car. that is rare indeed.

thanks, its a (piss poor) respray of the factory royalblau metallic. It will get a full respray when I have the swap paid off. cosmetics have to take a backseat to functionality at this point, its my DD

[Holland]

mostly gonna be a quick swap, but I dont want to have to revisit something because I ignored it when it was easy (and probably cheaper) to replace it when I had the chance

True that. Get a little happy with some acid, degreaser, and a power washer. You might be surprised how well it will clean up.

[scottinAZ]

True that. Get a little happy with some acid, degreaser, and a power washer. You might be surprised how well it will clean up.

after the way that the autotragic and M20 were leaking (more like marking territory) I planned on a degreaser party, both for the undercarriage and my garage floor. I have a puddle the size of a small lake where the engine and trans normally sit