87 cabrio swapola

[Holland]

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

Now is the best time to get it done, it really does make a difference too.

[scottinAZ]

today I started early, and the M20 is no more.

heres a few shots of the action

The Famous M20 Powered Trash Can


Bye Bye M20, Bye Bye


DIE PIECE OF SHIT DIE!!!!!!


and some gratuitous motor dry humping for your viewing pleasure (or to make you gouge out your eyes....)

[N2MYE30]

^^^ew...what has been seen cannot be unseen.

[scottinAZ]

got some of the parts in today, namely the new radiator. All aluminum, no plastic tanks. Dropped right in no issues. Appears to be decent build quality (knockoff of a Mishimoto??)

[scottinAZ]

well after a few days of limited productivity due to waiting for parts (got the wiring done though) got a care package today from Uncle Blunt with my much needed motor mount arm and the oil pickup. Ill get these installed tonight after class (late night for me) and have the motor stabbed in place by noon or so tomorrow morning (fuckin therapies)




ahhh its sooooo nice that I may be back on track for completing this thing

[scottinAZ]

IT IS IN

At long last, the M50 is in place. Motor landed on its mounts as designed at about 1120 this morning. I took a few hours off out of the sun, and then decided to run the wiring harness. Here are a few pics.





Still a bit to do underhood, such as mount the alternator, PS pump and radiator. Hoses need to be connected, and the fluids need to be topped off. Ebay headers will be here tomorrow, so I will start on the exhaust shortly, but for right now I have the stock manifolds open dumping should I get the desire to fire it up. I realise the wiring is a bit ugly right now, but that will be taken care of on payday (M3 covers hide lots of sins...) and the valve cover will be removed and painted soon. I will be most likely rebuilding the VANOS unit soon, and will do the valve cover at that time. no sense wasting a perfectly good gasket

Transmission still needs the linkage connected, the slave bled and a mount manufactured. I have all the materials, what I lacked today was time and ambition. 115 degrees sucks to work in..... Guess Im just not a true enthusiast afterall.... (Ill do it at midnight instead)

[scottinAZ]

IT LIVES!!!!!!

At about 8am this morning, I hooked up the battery, and just for shits and giggles turned the key. Car started within 3 cranks. Did not keep it running as the trans is empty, and the rad isnt in yet, but it DID start, so that vindicates all the wiring, and other electronics as being good. Now I need to desmoke the garage and hook the rest of the shit up.

for all the non-believers out there, here is a short video. keep in mind that I still dont have a throttle cable hooked up, nor the booster and PCV lines (still need the hose for them)





HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!!!

[N2MYE30]

Congrats! Its an killer feeling having it start up for the first time. :up:

[scottinAZ]

Congrats! Its an killer feeling having it start up for the first time. :up:

sure is. Now to finish the 5 speed swap items, exhaust and drive.....

[scottinAZ]

Well, I now officialy consider myself a member of the completed 24v swap club. Finshed installing the exhaust about 130 this afternoon, and then started burping the baby, and finishing the 1000000 little things that needed to be done. I still need the icv-intake hose, as mine is jelly and isnt sealing worth a shit, causing a lopey idle, but other than that, its all cosmetic from here on out. Ill test drive it on monday, as storms are anticipated, and my wipers are shot.

Here is a short video to capture the moment

[scottinAZ]

Figured I would post an update here, as it seems once the swap is done, all information stops.

Its been about 2 months and 3k miles on the swap since completion, and the car is performing admirably. LOADS better than the sick M20/Autotragic combo that was in the car to begin with.

Had some minor issues with hose clamps needing tightened again, and a few wiring niggles, such as the oil level sensor needing to be hooked up correctly, and the diagnostic connector needing a wire redone. other than that, the car has needed literally nothing done to it save adding a half quart of oil.

I finally got the M3 firewall covers. That cleans up the bay a LOT, however I need to track down the 318IC cover for behind the battery, as the M3 one doesnt fit right without a LOT of mods, due to the front mounted battery. I will most likely get another harness, and custom redo the leads for the three relays, and move the diagnostic connector to the drivers side where it belongs on the cover. I will probably also redo the C101 connector as part of the harness at that time as well, but these are things that will happen down the road.

Here are a few pics as she sits today:



Ac compressor installed with custom hybrid lines (e36 compressor fittings to E30 body side)


Rats nest at the battery that still needs some work....


And finally the work done to the exhaust to make the original E30 cat connect to the Ebay headers. This system works surprisingly well, and even though I welded mild steel to the stainless, and therefore wont last forever, it does suit the purpose and fit the budget that I had at the time. when funds are available, it will get redone, but no rush on this. it works, sounds decent, and doesnt piss me off.....

[e30rapidic]

welcome to the 24v cabrio club!