Time needed to do a S50 swap

[Kevinl]

I am really trying not to turn to the dark side by getting a E36 m3
However the M20 doesn't do it for me at all.

I work 60 hours a week so my free time to do a swap is limited and I don't want to start a swap and not finish it I will take the easy way buy getting a wiring adapter or getting the harness repinned by someone and a trans crossmember

so if I have a s50 sitting there all resealed with an e34 oil pan how many hours Am I looking at 100? More? Less?

I have done plenty of work on cars head gaskets, pulled engines tranny's etc

Also what brake booster is the least fuss? Ix?

[evandael]

is your e30 your only car?

if this is your first rodeo (mine sure is), two weekends, but only if you've gathered e-ver-y-thing. literally everything, researched it all, figured out all the wiring, and verified all your sensors/DME/coilpacks/etc are working.

that may put you in a predicament if you need to get to work.


re: your last question.. a b5 audi a4 brake booster/master cylinder. it requires a few fittings or custom lines but it's probably the best option now, outside of the iX booster.

[hfabricius]

If you have EVERY single part that is needed for it to be running and to do any kind of state inspection, then it is entirely possible to do it in a weekend. Just make sure you have every sensor, cable, wire, any thing you can possibly think of that makes the car run and move.

I used 944 booster and its a tight fit.

[Kevinl]

No it's not my only car I just don't want to start a project and lose interest because its taking so long

I may gather everything and use my vacation time from work to get it done there may be some snags along the way but with 9 days I should have it running I plan on buying a running 95m3 that has accident damage or something and take everything I can from it
I want working a/c as well but since I would do something like this in the fall I would have a few months to get that sorted out

[drumad]

If I knew what I knew now, then it'd take me one full day. The first time, it took me a few weekends.

[agent]

My 24v swap took somewhere around 50 hours, though there was a considerable amount of custom work that went in to it... a complete front subframe rebuild, lots of cleaning and painting, troubleshooting and repairing (existing) wiring and electrical, cam swap, VANOS rebuild and a custom fabbed true dual exhaust (from scratch) to name some.

[evandael]

... a complete front subframe rebuild, lots of cleaning and painting, troubleshooting and repairing (existing) wiring and electrical, cam swap, VANOS rebuild and a custom fabbed true dual exhaust..

so true! the 'while-i'm-in-there' effect is a slippery slope!


OP, buying a donor car is a wise choice, and like you said, i'd do it during your vacation time.. that is, if you don't have a wifey who would prefer you spend time with her, actually doing something relaxing

[agent]

...the 'while-i'm-in-there' effect is an expensive slope!

Touched that up a bit. ;)

[36brua]

[quote=agent;3767866]My 24v swap took somewhere around 50 hours, though there was a considerable amount of custom work that went in to it... a complete front subframe rebuild, lots of cleaning and painting, troubleshooting and repairing (existing) wiring and electrical, cam swap, VANOS rebuild and a custom fabbed true dual exhaust (from scratch) to name some.[/quote

Didn't 2- 3 guys work/team up on your swap ? Is your 50 hrs total all up,or per person ? about 16 hrs ea ?

[Cephas]

Whatever others tell you, mulitply by 2x - at least. Good luck!

[agent]

Didn't 2- 3 guys work/team up on your swap ? Is your 50 hrs total all up,or per person ? about 16 hrs ea ?

I'm ballparking that number based on the amount of time at least one person was working on something. I'm sure it could have been done in less time if we hadn't spent quite as much time on the details as we did, but that's not how I do things and thankfully not the way Robert does them either.

[e30austin]

Did both my white and red cars in under 30 hours each. My white car originally had an ETA motor and the red car already had an M50. FWIW, at least.

[Wanganstyle]

I am really trying not to turn to the dark side by getting a E36 m3
However the M20 doesn't do it for me at all.

I work 60 hours a week so my free time to do a swap is limited and I don't want to start a swap and not finish it I will take the easy way buy getting a wiring adapter or getting the harness repinned by someone and a trans crossmember

so if I have a s50 sitting there all resealed with an e34 oil pan how many hours Am I looking at 100? More? Less?

I have done plenty of work on cars head gaskets, pulled engines tranny's etc

Also what brake booster is the least fuss? Ix?

Turn to the dark side; the e36 M3 handles better than a swapped e30 and is dead easy to deal with.

I race a 24v e30; it took probably about 60 hours or so to install and there were a lot of annoying ........while you r at it kind of stuff;

new e34 throttle cable
+all new gaskets for the 24V engine
weld oil pump nut to the sprocket and re-pack the oil pump with assembly lube
install injectors+intake manifold of choice
DME chip mapping of choice
throttle body boot of choice and airflow meter
Camshafts if you want to; remember to buy the proper camshaft install tool set as well if you are going to open it up -
new thermostat
new thermostat housing
new waterpump


in addition to the 24v engine a few other time consuming and expensive items went into the car:

A. Z4 steering rack went in with custom connector joint
B. New brake booster and ABS delete
C. Zf gearbox and new clutch set with lightened flywheel
D. new driveshaft centre bearing for e30 fitted on e36 M3 driveshaft
E. New differential built for the 24v engine and ratio suited for Zf gearbox
F. new front brakes to slow the car down as 60lbs heavier and 40rwhp increased
G. ADJ. proportioning valve is needed to balance the braking; needs to go in before next race.
H. New exhaust setup from headers to muffler was needed
I. S52 oem exhaust manifolds had the air ports deleted
J. Changed radiator to PWR e36M for extra capacity of engine
K. changed radiator hoses to fit the E36M radiator


................

and new tires, new wheels, new rear and front springs, new corner weight and balance and alignment at edge motorworks.......



its a never ending list!!!

[Kevinl]

Turn to the dark side; the e36 M3 handles better than a swapped e30 and is dead easy to deal with.

That is something I have considered as well even with new suspension the e30 wants to understeer then start to oversteer I am hoping better tires would maybe help

After all the e36 m3 was the best handling car in the world at one time where as the e30's rear suspension is one notch above a live axle

I know 95% of e30 guys hate the e36 I used to own a E36 328i and I thought it was fine

[giantkeeper]

I know 95% of e30 guys hate the e36 I used to own a E36 328i and I thought it was fine

I've owned two e36 M3's and neither compare to my S50 e30 in any category other than most likely to fall apart.

E36 M3s are fun, but just not the same an an s5x E30, well sorted of course!

I'm willing to bet turbo m20's are pretty epic too!