bringing this back from the dead, but for some of you early model guys, what radiator did you guys fit in with this swap? and how did you guys mount it?
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1. Engine
S52 with Eagle rods, 11:1 Carillo pistons, Schrick 276/270 cams, Supertech double valve springs, hardened steel retainers, seats and keepers, SI stainless stock sized valves, Arp rod bolts and head studs, new INA lifters, Achilles oil pump shaft upgrade, oil pump chain tensioner retrofit, Iwis racing chains, Harper Fabrication 24v pan setup, GDM engineering crank hub w/ac pulley and ATI super damper, s50b32 euro throttle bodies using Metric Mechanic adapter, Custom tps mounting bracket by Alex Walker, RHD phenolic spacer, 24lb Bosch injectors, SPA Turbo adjustable FPR, Walbro 255 fuel pump, Performance MRP custom maf housing, Porsche 803 maf, Castro Motorsport’s air box, Radium catch can & Pcv valve, VTT Oil cap breather (in case of pcv failure), K&N air filter, Vac 3 piece underdrive pulleys.
2. Engine Wiring
Siemens ms41.2 Dme tuned by Mark D’Sylva from live data logs. Modified Obd2 harness with added Obd2 port and ac idle bump relay. LeatherZ oil distribution block with gauge senders for oil temp and pressure wired into center vent gauge pod. Along with battery volts. Aem 30-4110 gauge in glovebox with stealth mount and serial port for logging.
3. Drivetrain
Getrag 420g converted from smg. UUC 8.8lb flywheel, e34 m5 pressure plate, Clutchmasters FX250 e46 M3 sprung disc, e36 325i slave, e46 M3 release bearing, Ben Sipson trans mounting bracket, rebuilt e36 M3 automatic driveshaft with e30 center bearing, 3.46 torsen differential from a Z3, Garagistic braided clutch hose, Revshift 80a trans and diff mounts.
4. Shift Lever and Linkage
BM Speedshop oem height chassis mount shifer, AKG euro 6 speed dssr, weighted Bmw 6 speed wood knob.
5. Motor Mounts
Revshift 80a 24v swap mounts. 6mm shim on top for header clearance.
6. Brake Booster, Master Cylinder, and Reservoir
Massive Booster Delete, AKG bronze pedal bushings, Bimmerworld Aluminum pedal set, Porsche 911 19mm master cylinder, Wilwood 260-12627 adjustable proportioning valve, Massive 280mm front Wilwood brake kit, 2002 remote reservoir with n15design mounting bracket, rebuilt/powder coated rear calipers with new seals, Bimmerworld stainless pistons and brass caliper guide bushings, Garagistic braided brake hoses.
7. Steering System
Z3 steering rack, Ireland Engineering poly steering disc, e30 inner/outer tie rods, e36 M3 reservoir on engine arm and lines.
8. Cooling System
E36 m3 Behr radiator, 80/88 temp switch, factory aux fan up front with new resistor, Spal 16” puller in front wired to factory temp switch and fusebox, Castro Motorsport’s solid radiator mounting bracket and Spal fan brackets. Stewart water pump, 88C thermostat and e39 m52 housing.
9. Exhaust System
S50b32 euro headers ceramic coated, cut shorter with 2” v-bands at the ends, custom dual midsection and x pipe using 2” 304 stainless mandrel bends and magnaflow resonators. E30 325i Billy Boat cat back exhaust. Braided flex joint near one side of x pipe. Wideband bung in side of x pipe. Garagistic sway bar spacers for additional header clearance.
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Looks fantastic, any sound clip's?Originally posted by bimr84 View Post
S52 with Eagle rods, 11:1 Carillo pistons, Schrick 276/270 cams, Supertech double valve springs, hardened steel retainers, seats and keepers, SI stainless stock sized valves, Arp rod bolts and head studs, new INA lifters, Achilles oil pump shaft upgrade, oil pump chain tensioner retrofit, Iwis racing chains, Harper Fabrication 24v pan setup, GDM engineering crank hub w/ac pulley and ATI super damper, s50b32 euro throttle bodies using Metric Mechanic adapter, Custom tps mounting bracket by Alex Walker, RHD phenolic spacer, 24lb Bosch injectors, SPA Turbo adjustable FPR, Walbro 255 fuel pump, Performance MRP custom maf housing, Porsche 803 maf, Castro Motorsport’s air box, Radium catch can & Pcv valve, VTT Oil cap breather (in case of pcv failure), K&N air filter, Vac 3 piece underdrive pulleys.
2. Engine Wiring
Siemens ms41.2 Dme tuned by Mark D’Sylva from live data logs. Modified Obd2 harness with added Obd2 port and ac idle bump relay. LeatherZ oil distribution block with gauge senders for oil temp and pressure wired into center vent gauge pod. Along with battery volts. Aem 30-4110 gauge in glovebox with stealth mount and serial port for logging.
3. Drivetrain
Getrag 420g converted from smg. UUC 8.8lb flywheel, e34 m5 pressure plate, Clutchmasters FX250 e46 M3 sprung disc, e36 325i slave, e46 M3 release bearing, Ben Sipson trans mounting bracket, rebuilt e36 M3 automatic driveshaft with e30 center bearing, 3.46 torsen differential from a Z3, Garagistic braided clutch hose, Revshift 80a trans and diff mounts.
4. Shift Lever and Linkage
BM Speedshop oem height chassis mount shifer, AKG euro 6 speed dssr, weighted Bmw 6 speed wood knob.
5. Motor Mounts
Revshift 80a 24v swap mounts. 6mm shim on top for header clearance.
6. Brake Booster, Master Cylinder, and Reservoir
Massive Booster Delete, AKG bronze pedal bushings, Bimmerworld Aluminum pedal set, Porsche 911 19mm master cylinder, Wilwood 260-12627 adjustable proportioning valve, Massive 280mm front Wilwood brake kit, 2002 remote reservoir with n15design mounting bracket, rebuilt/powder coated rear calipers with new seals, Bimmerworld stainless pistons and brass caliper guide bushings, Garagistic braided brake hoses.
7. Steering System
Z3 steering rack, Ireland Engineering poly steering disc, e30 inner/outer tie rods, e36 M3 reservoir on engine arm and lines.
8. Cooling System
E36 m3 Behr radiator, 80/88 temp switch, factory aux fan up front with new resistor, Spal 16” puller in front wired to factory temp switch and fusebox, Castro Motorsport’s solid radiator mounting bracket and Spal fan brackets. Stewart water pump, 88C thermostat and e39 m52 housing.
9. Exhaust System
S50b32 euro headers ceramic coated, cut shorter with 2” v-bands at the ends, custom dual midsection and x pipe using 2” 304 stainless mandrel bends and magnaflow resonators. E30 325i Billy Boat cat back exhaust. Braided flex joint near one side of x pipe. Wideband bung in side of x pipe. Garagistic sway bar spacers for additional header clearance.
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Finally adding my project to this. I've been watching this thread for years, and two years ago, I finally took the plunge and did the swap myself. Of course it's unfinished, but here's where it stands:
1. Engine
Frankenstein M52: completely rebuilt an M52 from a Z3 to utilize an aluminum block, then installed M54 rotating assembly. This bumped up the displacement from 2.8 to 3.0 due to the longer stroke, but same bore size (of 84mm). Then I paired that with S50 cams. I pieced this all together from several engines, then I handed the parts over to BimmerHeads. They performed the necessary machine work as with any "stock" rebuild, from honing the bores to rebuilding the head. They assembled the long block, and I did the rest to get the engine in the car.
Almost everything is new, from a rebuilt Vanos to the intake boot. At this point, the only two things that aren't new are the alternator and the idle control valve, which I think is giving me problems lol.
2. Engine Wiring
I was adament from the beginning of the project that this needed to be kept OBD2, and that I was going to get this car BAR'd in California. I haven't done that yet, but am close. Just about everything is there in the harness, which was nicely fixed up for me by a forum member here, by the name of sweet3 I think. I'll add here that because it's OBD2, I have a digital scan gauge permanently installed in my center console, where I have 4 parameters shown a at all times. (RPM, volts, water temp, & air intake temp. It can be customized beyond those.)
3. Drivetrain
Used the standard ZF 5-speed trans, and used my original driveshaft, thanks to an adapter plate from somebody in the UK. Forgot the name but can find the receipt. Current diff is a 3.15, sold to me as a Torsen, but I think I was lied to. I have a rebuilt 2.93 LSD almost ready to go in soon, I find the revs on the highway to be too high. I lose a little bit of power by lowering the ratio, but the engine is plenty for passing as it is.
4. Shift Lever and Linkage
Installed a stock Z3 shift lever, with a Garagistic DSSR. I also cut and welded the rear carrier mount, moving it over, to center the shifter in the hole.
5. Motor Mounts
I utilized the AKG motor mounts that are solid urethane. I don't find them to be harsh or annoying. At an earlier time, I did reinforce my front (and rear) subframes, so I have stronger base for the motor mounts, & sway bar, etc.
6. Brake Booster, Master Cylinder, and External Reservoir
E83 booster and master (from an X3). I did have to cut off the clevis & shorten the rod, and I welded on the E30 clevis. If I had to do it again, I would order a Euro-model E90 booster/master. I remote-mounted a 2002 reservoir on the shock tower, using a bracket I custom made.
7. Steering System
One of the first upgrades to my car, many many years ago, was a regular E36 rack. For this swap, I kept the rack and installed the power steering pump that came with the engine (Z3's are a little different for some reason). I ditched the stock reservoir in favor of a Chase Bays reservoir. OEM high pressure line, standard low pressure line.
8. Cooling System
This, in my opinion, is the most significant change, but also very easily unnoticed. I cut out the stock core support and built my own. I also cut the area just behind the hood latch, and plated it back together to hide the change. This allowed me to push the top of the radiator forward a little, and the bottom got pushed forward a lot. This then allowed me to fit a high-flow (3000 CFM) 16" puller fan from Flex-a-Lite, called Flex Wave. I live in the desert, so making sure the car would stay cool was important to me. However, even with those changes, I could not fit a thicker Z3M radiator. I have the standard E36 radiator... and it works just fine. All the hoses are OEM, and the pump is a Stewart. And since it's an early model, I did mount a late model tank on the other side by welding a tab on and bolting the clip in.
Since there's no A/C section here, I'll add here that yes, I do also have functional air conditioning. This also is sitting on the custom core support, with its own 16" pusher fan, mounted on my own custom brackets. The lines from the compressor had to be custom made. I bought the individual components (fittings and lines), marked, cut, and took them to a shop to crimp.
9. Exhaust System
Stock OBD2 headers, fully custom stainless after that. I built that from scratch as well. Downpipes are 2" I think, then merged in a 2.25" followed by a 2.5" transition, then to a cat, a Vibrant resonator, more 2.5" all the way back to a Vibrant muffler, with 2.25" to 2.5" dual tips. The tips, I had to set perfectly too, since they sit at an angle but needed to stay lined up. Personally I find the car a little loud, so will upgrade to a larger Vibrant muffler in the future.
This is my daily driver, my only car. Basically everything works, and it works every single day (knock on wood). You'd never see this car on the street and think, nice, or wow... and I'd like to keep it that way. All the work is underneath lol.
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Full parts/mod list in my build thread, and pictures of everything.
Did the swap N/A first then went turbo a few years later.
Highlights below:
1. Engine
1996 M52B28
Precision 6062 Ball Bearing Gen2 Turbocharger. T4 Divided .84 A/R
ARP Head studs
SCE/ATHENA Vulcan "High Boost" Cut Ring Headgasket
RallyRoad Billet Fuel Rail
Injector Dynamics ID1050x
2. Engine Wiring
Custom semi-tucked engine harness I built.
Thinned chassis harness in engine bay.
Shaved main power wire in engine bay.
Standalone ECU - Megasquirt MS3X
Full Sequential Spark & Fuel, Knock Sensors, Dual MAP Sensors (Altitude Compensation)
14point7 Spartan 3 wideband O2 with LSU ADV sensor
3. Drivetrain
Initially used the G260 transmission, 7.5lb flywheel, stock clutch. This was when the engine was N/A.
Arrived at this current setup:
ZF320 Transmission
HDT Automotive Upgraded Driveshaft w/1310 Spicer U-Joints
SPEC Stage 3+ Street/Track Clutch Kit
Racehead (RHD) 7.5lb Chrome-molly steel flywheel
Weld-in reinforcements for Rear Sway Bar, Differential Mount Point, Rear Shocks, Trailing Arms
Garagistic Secondary Diff Mount
Revshift 80A Polyurethane Differential, Subframe, Trailing Arm Bushings
2.93LSD
4. Shift Lever and Linkage
Originally used a Z3 1.9 short shifter with the G260, but changed to this when I installed the ZF320:
Modified/Custom Garagistic DSSR.
CRS Chassis Mount Shifter w/Delrin knob
5. Motor Mounts
E28 rubber mounts
Level Motorsport 24v Upgraded Engine Arm (passenger side)
6. Brake Booster, Master Cylinder, and External Reservoir
E83 X3 Brake Booster w/ 2002 Reservoir
Chase Bays Brake Line Relocation kit
7. Steering System
Z3 steering rack (2.7 turns lock-to-lock)
M-Tech 1 270mm Steering Wheel
8. Cooling System
SPAL Electric Radiator Fan (16" - 30100401)
M42 Radiator
Treadstone Front Mount Intercooler
9. Exhaust System
When the M52 was N/A, I used the OBD2 headers and made a custom connection to my modified Ansa sport exhaust system.
Turbo setup:
Level Motorsports Twin Scroll Tubular Exhaust Manifold.
Custom 3" Turboback Exhaust System w/v-bands
Dynomax Super Turbo 14" Muffler (17744)
DEI Titanium Exhaust Heat Wrap
Heatshield Products Lava Turbo Blanket (300074)
Dual TIAL MV-S Wastegates
Last edited by Panici; 12-13-2023, 10:17 AM.Comment
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Finally, I get to contribute! Just finished my 24V swap on my '88 super ETA coupe after the stock M20 went full milkshake. Just 2 weeks after I manual swapped it the fuel pump died and I checked the oil only to find something nasty. I acquired a free M50 from a friend who swapped it out of his E36 when it was burning coolant. The head was cracked but the bottom end was perfectly good. I didn't touch the bottom end but had to source an uncracked head.
1. Engine
Bone stock M50tu was acquired for free as I said above. Typical M50 oil pan and pickup from an E34 525i. Pretty much completely resealed as I did not want to deal with any leaks.
2. Engine Wiring
I found an E34 harness on marketplace that was in great condition. I depinned the body connector on the E34 harness, purchased the other side of the E30 C101 connector and just pinned it myself to retain a factory look and avoid paying $200 for an adapter. Other than that the harness went in no problem. I have yet to mount the relays and ECU in the passenger foot well but I'll get around to it.
3. Drivetrain
Since I had just recently manual swapped it with a ETA G260, is flywheel lightened by me on a lathe, and the euro 323i TOB, I did not want to source a ZF and do it all over again. The clutch was brand new so I retained that and just bought the Condor trans mount. I also had just bought a new driveshaft since the one that came with the manual swap kit was pretty haggard so keeping that was a priority. I have a 4.10 LSD I got from a buddy which is super short and fun around town but I do get tired of being at 3500 RPM on the highway. I might try to find a 3.73 but I know those are expensive now.
4. Shift Lever and Linkage
Turner Motorsport DSSR I cut and welded 15 degrees twisted. I also had to heat up and twist the shift carrier to get the shifter to clear in all gears. I have a Turner Motorsport short shifter with the rally lever and it's my favorite shifter set-up I've had in any car.
5. Motor Mounts
Got a tip from a friend that E46 M3 motor mounts flipped upside down work well and give you some adjustability as you can twist them to move the motor around. This works really well and I did not want to go with polyurethane for NVH reasons.
6. Brake Booster, Master Cylinder, and External Reservoir
My set-up is not ideal but I was gifted an E32 double bellow booster and master cylinder which bolts right in. This did require me to shave a few fins on the M50 manifold to get it to fit. I also had to relocate the brake master cylinder reservoir and remote mount it using the 2002ti reservoir and fittings. This was no big deal but if I was going to go it again I would try to find a 944 booster as the E32 booster just sits so far forward it also gets in the way of the PCV fittings under the intake boot. Additionally, I noticed the brakes are pretty touchy as the vacuum assist is very strong with the double bellow set-up.
7. Steering System
Stock E30 rack for now but I will definitely be getting the Z3 1.9 rack to tighten things up. I flipped the pump feed line upside down to go under the E36 motor mount arm and then trimmed the rack return line to get it to fit with the reservoir mounted on the arm as it is in an E36. I also have the Turner Motorsport billet power steering reservoir which looks great!
8. Cooling System
Still rocking the E30 radiator from when my car was an automatic. Since the '88 has the late cooling system I used the E36 hoses and it fit pretty well. Threw in a new expansion tank while I was in there and its good to go! I was also able to reuse the M20 spider hose since I deleted the throttle body heater and plugged that hole in the head.
9. Exhaust System
I already had the Turner Motorsport catback on my car when it was M20 and I wanted to keep that since it was light and sounded great. My mid pipes and cat was in good shape with no rust so I used stock M50 cast manifolds and cut my front pipes before the cat. I then used some 1.75" pipe from Summit to mate the stock front pipes to the M50 flanges. My MIG welding was sloppy but it sounds pretty good with no rasp.
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