My e30 318is s52 swap thread

[loonibab325i]

Ok, i sent my car of to the shop to get the clutch fixed, but as soon as I get it back i'm going to post what I did and pictures.

Windsor, that's what I did. I installed my oil pan, and didn't mess with any coolant hoses, or wiring until I put the motor in, i also made sure to have the headers installed while the motor was out of the car. Don't get frustrated when your putting the motor in, it could take a while.. it took me and my buddies about 2 hours trying to get it in there!! It was kinda frustrating haha.



Also, you really don't have to worry about your oil pan nut on the s52s, it's the s50 guys who like to track/autoX/drive their cars heavily who have the oil pump nut issues. You can never be too safe, but i didn't bother messing with mine.

Also, if you haven't already remove your fan clutch out of the car, i think it would be easier, it was kind of a pita doing it in the car, but not to bad.

-Abe.

[dude8383]

Ok, i sent my car of to the shop to get the clutch fixed, but as soon as I get it back i'm going to post what I did and pictures.

Windsor, that's what I did. I installed my oil pan, and didn't mess with any coolant hoses, or wiring until I put the motor in, i also made sure to have the headers installed while the motor was out of the car. Don't get frustrated when your putting the motor in, it could take a while.. it took me and my buddies about 2 hours trying to get it in there!! It was kinda frustrating haha.



Also, you really don't have to worry about your oil pan nut on the s52s, it's the s50 guys who like to track/autoX/drive their cars heavily who have the oil pump nut issues. You can never be too safe, but i didn't bother messing with mine.

Also, if you haven't already remove your fan clutch out of the car, i think it would be easier, it was kind of a pita doing it in the car, but not to bad.

-Abe.

Nice!

Quick question, are you going to keep the fan clutch or remove it?

Any plans to run an electric fan?

What about you Windsor?

[etxxz]

get rid of the mech Fan AND clutch. the only thing that will fit between the engine and the radiator is a SPAL 16" 2.05"thick 1300CFM fan....and it'll have maybe .1-.2" of clearance. i still had the stock A/C pusher on the front, i planned to keep the condenser but not any more so i might get a high CFM 14" SPAL pusher for the front.

also, you don't have to delete the TB coolant lines, if you want to put a sensor there, just Tee it and route the flow 90* so that the sensor gets plenty of flow...(temp sensor right?) this is what i'm going to do

[Mike B.]

get rid of the mech Fan AND clutch. the only thing that will fit between the engine and the radiator is a SPAL 16" 2.05"thick 1300CFM fan....and it'll have maybe .1-.2" of clearance. i still had the stock A/C pusher on the front, i planned to keep the condenser but not any more so i might get a high CFM 14" SPAL pusher for the front.

also, you don't have to delete the TB coolant lines, if you want to put a sensor there, just Tee it and route the flow 90* so that the sensor gets plenty of flow...(temp sensor right?) this is what i'm going to do

Not necessarily true... For some reason the spacing of various items on these swaps (fans, brake boosters, etc...) vary greatly from swap to swap. I've seen plenty of setups that have maintained the stock fan/clutch setup. In fact, the stock fan/clutch fit fine with my euro engine.

[loonibab325i]

Not necessarily true... For some reason the spacing of various items on these swaps (fans, brake boosters, etc...) vary greatly from swap to swap. I've seen plenty of setups that have maintained the stock fan/clutch setup. In fact, the stock fan/clutch fit fine with my euro engine.

yeah, there was no way my factory s52 fan clutch fit. I'm not saying you can't get one to work, because you can. I just think you might as well delete it and go a different way.

-Abe.

[So Live]

I used the m20 one for a while. Ended up contacting the rad under braking (not even being too rough on the thing!) Oh well. It was close though. I hear the m20 fan/clutch is skinnier than the others.

[loonibab325i]

yes, i heard that as well. I don't know, to me it's not worth the hastle, fan clutches FTL!

-Abe.

[windsor318is]

Nice!

Quick question, are you going to keep the fan clutch or remove it?

Any plans to run an electric fan?

What about you Windsor?

nope no fan here, ill prolly get the spal if i have any issues......since i just got a powerdyne supercharger!! im going to leave it off for now, i might as well see how the s52 feels first. i hate making more work but this is worth it.

Abe like the others said post em up when you get a chance!

[windsor318is]

anyone have a pic of the temp sensor setup with an elbow for the TB lines??

heres what i did yesterday...



heres my concern, this chain had a little play i took 2 pics to show, should i be concerned or is it normal.

[loonibab325i]

I'm not too sure about the chain, maybe some one else will chime in on that.

What headers are those?

-Abe.

[e30s52]

they are the ebay ss headers i got the same ones. i will let you know about the chain im about ready to open pandoras box lol. i will let you know on sunday

[windsor318is]

motor was suppose to go in today, but i seem to have misplaced the throw out bearing, so tomorrow im trying to get it in, instead i did some little shit here and there. the car is offically on the floor, first time in 4 months... anyone ever use a 318 throw out bearing? its a centerforce piece, seems to fit okay. check out my clean wiring loom, last pics of the car with mo motor in it.

[Drew325is]

Great looking swap unfolding here!

motor was suppose to go in today, but i seem to have misplaced the throw out bearing

This is the sort of the crap that keeps happening to me...small things delaying big jobs...very frustrating!

[ZiMMie]

wow really liking the car.
Minus the painted booster :D.

the play on the oil pump chain its nomal.
tell me ur welded the bolt before u put back the pan.

[etxxz]

lube the **** out of the throw out bearing maybe you'll be the first R3v member w/o that annoying rattle. looking good man. is that all spray paint?! dayuum