suggestions?

[Ball325]

Alright im looking to do this swap and have an oppurtunity to get a salvaged M3 with 8000miles on it for the motor should i use the trans as well? i have a 4.10 that i can get rid of if its a better option. I know i can use my 260 box but id rather have the stronger m3 box if i can. but then i might have to change diffs. What should i do? Just use my 260 trans or try and use the M3 trans? that is if i dont get the motor from someone else. Its not hard to get a diff or anything like that. just curious as to what you guys think is the best move.

Thanks

[permit]

If you use the e36 tranny, you'll need a diff in the low 3's. If you use the M20 trans, then 4.10 is useable, but you'll still be wanting a 3.73 or less. If your 260 is in good condition, I'd say use that since you'll save $$ by not having to buy the e36 tranny.

[Jarvis]

G260s generally hold up well to S50/52s. It's the E36 325 trannies (G250?) that aren't worth using.

If you use the E30 gearbox, you can trade your 4.10 for a 3.73 + cash probably, and sell the M3's gearbox - which is worth more than your E30's 260.

[Ball325]

thats what i was thinking but i might be buying a Salvage title M3 so i would have everything. IM assuming i cant use the E36 diff id need to get my diff gear changed huh? no problem them i can just order a 3.29 gear set or something like that.

Thanks

[Jarvis]

Doesn't using the E36 transmission require an E30 M3 driveshaft (or at least something other than the stock E30 325 one)?

95 3.0 M3's had a 3.15 and 96+ 3.2s had a 3.23 IIRC - either way, another thing you could sell to the E36 chumps.

[FredK]

Yes, using a ZF 310/320 requires either an E30 M3 driveshaft, a 97+ M3 driveshaft, or a E36 328i driveshaft.

You'd be better off sourcing a complete diff rather than trying to swap out the ring and pinion gears. That requires a few measurement tools and is not that easy.

Using the ZF allows you to use a bigger clutch (240 vs 228 mm) and generally speaking it can handle more torque.

[Ball325]

well im good friends with the owner of VAC Motorsports and he hooks us up and does diff work. so he would be swapping teh gears but i might just buy a used diff but i already have a 4 clutch pack 4.10

[Rev Engineer]

Using the ZF allows you to use a bigger clutch (240 vs 228 mm) and generally speaking it can handle more torque.

I would have liked to have kept the bigger clutch with the e36 m3 zf, but I went with the smaller e30 325i clutch so I could get rid of that huge hunk of e36 m3 flywheel. I think the e36 lightweight flywheel and clutch cost way too much to go that route. Can anyone comment on how well the 228mm clutch handles the s50 or s52? Mines not running yet.

[FredK]

Ha I'm gonna be using a huge hunk of e36 m3 flywheel. It has its own gravitational pull it's so heavy. The S50 clutch is mega bank for some reason--around $275 for the kit.

If you want to cheap out, you can get a M52 flywheel, which is still 240 mm, but uses a different pressure plate than the M3. The M52 dual mass flywheel weighs a ton as well, but at least the clutch kit is around $200.

[motronix]

I would have liked to have kept the bigger clutch with the e36 m3 zf, but I went with the smaller e30 325i clutch so I could get rid of that huge hunk of e36 m3 flywheel. I think the e36 lightweight flywheel and clutch cost way too much to go that route. Can anyone comment on how well the 228mm clutch handles the s50 or s52? Mines not running yet.

I have installed many 228mm clutches and m20 g260 gear boxes with either s50 or m50 swaps. Personally, they hold really well, and you can keep the 3.73 diffs or install 4.10's. And you can go with the single mass flywheel from the 528e/325e early and that would make it spool the revs up quicker. I dont know if mike is on here (mr.mtech) but i installed a 3.0 m3 engine with his m20 260 gear box and 4.10's, plus i added the supercharger kit as well. Car pulls like a mother f'er :)
If you have the e36 m3 gear box, you will need the front section of the drive shaft from that same car or e30 m3. And of course change the rear diff ratio to 3.45 or 3.25

I hope this helps :)

Dave

[Ball325]

i have a 9lb Flywheel in my E30 with a 4.10LSD im not worried about a slipping clutch im worried about ruining the transmission. We have 5 262 gear boxes of which 4 are ruined from a 2.5L S14 i cant imagine what an S50 will do even to the tougher over drive box. I think i will try and get the 325 or m3 transmission