Time needed to do a S50 swap

[Wanganstyle]

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!

E36 interior is not part of lap time or handling. E30 interior is retro cool but I was happy to remove as much as possible from it also.

Our 24v e30 is about as well sorted as it can get; its getting corner balanced and aligned for full race currently. Sponsored vehicle benefits I suppose?

Have you raced a 24v e30 wheel to wheel with contact and raced the same car m20 sohc?

You might feel much differently if so.

E30 does not handle better than e36 if a lap time is the goal; it does like to step out sideways more though and thats quite fun.

Our e30 24v is full race/trailer only with fia fuel cell and nascar leg bars; no street e30 is anything close to the stiffness and will be stressed even more from the 24v weight/torque/additional hp.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

[agent]

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

Yep, and there's always something getting added to that list.

cleaning up the wiring is taking lots of my time. Also making various brackets to hold things together.

Sounds like it's not really "finished" then...?

The exhaust being on the car should factor in to the totals, since it's part of the swap.

[E30_Doc]

I did the swap this past weekend.

It took me 2 days to get the car running (this past weekend)... That is from engine out to engine in. This was my first engine swap. The trick is having everything you need ready for you. The exhaust shop took thier time welding up my exhaust but there is no reason you can't pull the engine Friday night, and be at the exhaust shop monday morning.

I have since made additional changes to get things more to my liking, and cleaning up the wiring is taking lots of my time. Also making various brackets to hold things together.

goodluck

[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!

[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

[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!!!

[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.

[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.

[Cephas]

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

[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 ?

[agent]

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

Touched that up a bit. ;)

[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]

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.

[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.

[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