Fender's M52 E30 Build

[Fender13Bender]

Hey guys, been a member on Bimmerfest and BFC for many years, I'm new here. Feel free to check out my Hellrot Turbo Build which is always ongoing.

Right now I'm DDing an E39 540 6 speed, the plan is to get my E30 build going so I can sell the 540.

I bought the car last January from a member on here who had kept it in his garage for many years. Super nice guy. It's an 84 318i, no engine or tranny, etc. One of the cleanest E30s I have ever seen and it's all original. There are two spots where clear coat is peeling but that's the only flaws. Eventually I'll have that taken care of once it's up and running.

The plan is to use my M52 that I have from a parts car and a ZF transmission (not bought yet) Plans are as follows:


Keep it OBD2
Headers
2.5" Quiet exhaust
S50 cams I have laying around
Tune
Different MAF maybe?
F1 racing stage 3 clutch
M50 intake manifold
New gaskets for OP, VC, oil filter housing, thermostat housing, etc, etc.
Powdercoat various parts (thinking gloss white, other ideas?)

Now for other odds and ends I have many questions. I'm trying to figure out everything else I need. What are the top options for motor and tranny mounts, tranny crossmember, wiring, etc?


And here are some pictures, not sure how fast progress will be because it's freezing cold here in PA and my garage isn't heated.


IMG-20120312-00030 by fender13bender, on Flickr



IMG-20120312-00031 by fender13bender, on Flickr



IMG-20120312-00032 by fender13bender, on Flickr




Various engines I have laying around:



Untitled by fender13bender, on Flickr


The M52 teardown:



Untitled by fender13bender, on Flickr



Untitled by fender13bender, on Flickr



Untitled by fender13bender, on Flickr


Ebay headers:



Untitled by fender13bender, on Flickr


Please feel free to give me suggestions. Thanks.

[Fender13Bender]

Here are my other rides just for fun:



Untitled by fender13bender, on Flickr




Untitled by fender13bender, on Flickr

[techno550]

Looks like a fun build.
Gloss white powdercoat might be difficult to keep clean.

[Fender13Bender]

Based on what I'm doing with the car, I could use some suggestions for the following:

Motor and tranny mounts

wiring (does anyone make a plug and play kit for for the 84 318i? I know they do for other models.

Tuning package

Radiator, I have some E36 ones laying around but they don't swap in to the early model E30

M50 manifold swap

and I'm sure I'll think of other things

[Munich Man]

I would suggest Revshift motor mounts to you but they do business terribly. If it's more a track set up go with a dense or even aluminum mount. If street, just get E28 mounts.

[328ijunkie]

We can help you out with a P&P wiring/ecu setup for your swap ;)

[Fender13Bender]

I would suggest Revshift motor mounts to you but they do business terribly. If it's more a track set up go with a dense or even aluminum mount. If street, just get E28 mounts.

I'm thinking maybe AKG mounts as I love their stuff.

We can help you out with a P&P wiring/ecu setup for your swap ;)

How much? More info please!


First thing is I want to get the M50 manifold swap done. I don't think I'll have any emissions stuff, at least what I can have turned off in the DME, so what's the course of action here?

I see there are kits that are metal, and some that are just hoses? Kinda confused here.

[techno550]

First thing is I want to get the M50 manifold swap done.

http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=trm-m50-manifold-conversion-kit

You won't need any other stuff than the kit for the swap. You want to delete the Cyclone Separator since you won't have an OBD2 dipstick on the E34 oil pan.

I don't think I'll have any emissions stuff, at least what I can have turned off in the DME, so what's the course of action here?

All of that stuff that isn't there on a swap gets turned off with:

http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=trm-ms41-swap-tune

[328ijunkie]

Its best to keep the cyclone seperator and modify the dipstick to add the drain. It will keep oil consumption down and oil out of the intake manifold....

[techno550]

Its best to keep the cyclone seperator and modify the dipstick to add the drain. It will keep oil consumption down and oil out of the intake manifold....

To properly modify the dipstick to add the drain, you need to add an outer shroud. It can be done, but its difficult. Probably easier to cut the bottom off the obd2 dipstick and weld it to the obd1 top, and then drill the pan to accept it.

That said, why bother? And running the crankcase back into the intake is not needed.
Use an obd2 throttle body boot:

http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=m5x-intake-elbow

Run from the crankcase vent on the valve cover to a catch can:

http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=trm-catch-can

and either vent that to atmosphere, or use the exhaust to pull vacuum on it with:

http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=trm-crankcase-evacuation-kit

[poopin04]

Hate to hijack someones build thread with my questions, but is there a write-up for the setup below? I'm doing an M52b28 swap into my 86 ETA and I love to read more about this.

To properly modify the dipstick to add the drain, you need to add an outer shroud. It can be done, but its difficult. Probably easier to cut the bottom off the obd2 dipstick and weld it to the obd1 top, and then drill the pan to accept it.

That said, why bother? And running the crankcase back into the intake is not needed.
Use an obd2 throttle body boot:

http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=m5x-intake-elbow

Run from the crankcase vent on the valve cover to a catch can:

http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=trm-catch-can

and either vent that to atmosphere, or use the exhaust to pull vacuum on it with:
http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=tr...evacuation-kit

[techno550]

Hate to hijack someones build thread with my questions, but is there a write-up for the setup below? I'm doing an M52b28 swap into my 86 ETA and I love to read more about this.

Which part specifically? or start another thread and I'll chime in there. :)

[Fender13Bender]

http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=tr...conversion-kit

You won't need any other stuff than the kit for the swap. You want to delete the Cyclone Separator since you won't have an OBD2 dipstick on the E34 oil pan.


All of that stuff that isn't there on a swap gets turned off with:
http://www.trmtuning.com/?product=trm-ms41-swap-tune

Sweet, just ordered the M52 elbow and your manifold swap.


So what do I do with the dipstick now?

[328ijunkie]

if you went that route with the m50 manifold conversion just run the regular e34 m50 dipstick

[George77]

If you want to stay N/A I would swap some m50b25 vanos pistons and bring the C/R little over 11/1 and I think they are also lighter.