1991 325i M50NV (first ever) Build Thread! (now CA BAR'D)

[drummerchubbs]

Per arthb7's request...here's an UPDATE :)

Thanks to my friend Serge for helping me source some really high strength degreaser to clean the motor.















What a professional cleaner ;)



ALSO, I got the transmission cleaned up and resealed it.

BEFORE








AFTER











Everything is cleaned up and looking purdy.

Now I have to go to Auto Heaven and borrow a thin walled 30mm to get the output nut off so I can install a new seal. Also, I'll drop off my OBDII headers (BTW, they are 2xs lighter than the cast iron ones) to get the EGR port welded up.

TO BE CONTINUED...:nice:

[drummerchubbs]

Here is an AWESOME shot from my cousin's drift spot. Photo cred to Edward Khoma from Carbon Studios in Sacramento.

[catuned]

I like that Ford in the shop.. Mmmm that thing is sexy..

also I have a powder coated valve cover if you want.

[drummerchubbs]

I like that Ford in the shop.. Mmmm that thing is sexy..

also I have a powder coated valve cover if you want.

I have my cover off to get a few quotes locally on valve covers. I want a plain black one.

[drummerchubbs]

UPDATE 7.12.13

It's been a super dooper busy summer so far and the car progress has been slow, BUT there HAS been progress, nonetheless.

Last night I finally got the output shaft seal installed (HUGE thanks to SAVAG and Vlad @ Auto Heaven for helping me), filled the tranny with redline Synthetic, sent my flywheel to Dels machine shop for resurfacing, and got a new CSB on the driveline.

Now I'm waiting for a powerder coating valve cover from Renewed Finishes to come in and the engine will be ready to be mated to the trans and ultimately INTO THE CAR!!!!

I'll try to get the E30 into the shop tomorrow and start prepping for marriage ;)

No pics this time :(

[kbeefy]

nice writeup, thanks for all the pics.
Getting ready to do this on a new to me '89 325i.

[drummerchubbs]

7.17.13 UPDATE

After some DMV mix-ups, I finally got an appointment for pick-n-pull to buy the car (what's left of it) from me for $75. They said they will tow the car for free!!!

Last night me and my cousin ripped out all the valuable bits and pieces from the shell and dragged (see pics) her outta there.

I'm happy to say that the e30 will be at the shop on Saturday! :)





It's sort f hard to move an entire car with a forklift that Is trying to kill you because the brakes are literally NON-EXISTENT

Fun times

[drummerchubbs]

7.20.13 UPDATE

MOVE IN DAY!!!



Now I have even less room at the shop but I've missed the e30 :)

[drummerchubbs]

7.24.13 update

ENGINE BAY BATH TIME :):):)

Before (you can't even tell how yellow and nasty it really was)


AFTER


I got this result using the following items:
1) "Gunk-Off" foam
2) "Gunk-Off" non-foam (above products only got surface dirt off)
3) *Professional grade degreaser (*more like witch-craft grade)
4) Pipe cleaners, brushes, and steel wool
5) Pressure Washer

There was a lot of yellow crap all over the shock towers and a lot of oil on the rails. After spraying the degreaser and just agitated it with a brush lightly, all the crap came off and made the engine bay sparkle like Orbit Gum! ;)













ALSO, there is a black widow infestation and these things are crawling out everywhere...(this one was the smaller of the 5 I killed that day):crazy:


ALMOST FORGOT.......Dave @ Renewed Finishes sent me pics of my finished valve cover





I'm stoked.

[Aviator]

Great thread! I just brought home an M50 swap and will be doing this soon as well.

[Joseph.]

Keep this thread going! Will soon be doing an m50 swap as well!

[drummerchubbs]

Thanks guys! I plan on working on it tonight.

[drummerchubbs]

Update 8.3.13

I finally got to prep the e30 for the transplant.

First things first - MOVE THE BRAKE BOOSTER. I decided to use my stock booster and MC to retain the stock brake feel. I talked with Igor @ Auto Heaven and he said the e21 brakes are not enough for a 24v swap.

BTW: I was sort of dreading this step for 2 reasons:
1) I hate working under the dash area b/c im on a tiny monkey
2) I've never cut metal before, and this was the firewall of all things! :o

I put my fears behind me and just went for it, slow and steady.

I drilled exactly 1/2" and opened the whole a litter bigger


Then I had a really tough time getting the pin out of the clevis because it was rusted. After 20min of banging on it with a chisel and crowbar I finally got it out.


The next day I went to Pick-n-Pull and got another clevis so I can do this DIY:http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=250474

MadMax (the guy with the F20c turbo powered 2002 on here BUILD THREAD HERE: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...ight=f20c+2002) was kind enough to weld up the clevis on his free time.


I got back to the shop, got the modified clevis on the booster, cut the bottom passenger side stud, installed booster, and (after 30min of trying to line everything up) I got the pin though BUT.....

I screwed up 1 hard brake line (closest to the FW) after I bent the line by hand and tried to install on the MC. It appears that the threads on the line are very delicate because they pretty much stripped out when I tried to install the line on the MC. I was a little cock-eyed (I thought it was pretty good for a bend-by-hand) but it just wouldnt thread on. Now I have to go to pick-n-pull again and get another hard line and bend it a little better.

ALSO, I'm going to have to re-degrease the bay again because I got brake fluid all over it because I bench bled the MC.

Overall - I took 1 giant leap forward and a little step back. :???:

[Mr.SWISS]

Ahh think of the time and headache you would have saved using a proper booster setup.

[drummerchubbs]

Ahh think of the time and headache you would have saved using a proper booster setup.

Gotta live and learn I guess ;)