The comprehensive DOHC engine swap thread.

[Addissimo]

I figured it out... I just stopped being lazy and figured out what went where with some common sense... I just ordered a bunch of coolant and vacuum hoses etc... so hopefully i'll get her back together and running next week. Its perfect cabby cruising weather and I'm more than stoked.

Thanks for your answer

-Addis

[1991318is]

Got my e21 320 brake booster ready. Was a heck of a job ones i had to make threads with a tap. The diameter of the shaft is thicker compare to the e30 one so i had to shave some off all around it in order to insert the M10 1.5mm tap. When i was done i was really pleased from the result, look's like original. I noticed that the 4 bolts welded on the back of the booster wich are used to bolt it in to the firewall are shorter compare to the e30 ones. Has anyone noticed this, just curious in case i got the wrong booster. I got a bigger master cylinder came off from a e30 M3, i would like to use it since it's bigger then the original e30 one. I noticed on the M3 master cylinder that the shaft is a bit shorter. Will this affect anything? I know that the shaft on the booster is ajustable to the brake pedal so i figured that it's ok. Id like to hear opinions from others to make shure i'm doing the right thing.
Thanks

[Stu]

Intake manifold cracks---anyone else had this happen?

Pulled my intake manifold last weekend to replace the ICV, found a large crack on the top-side of the manifold, where the fuel rail bolts to the mani. Anyone else had similar problems?

[Mtriple]

Weird, are you using the two manifold supports?

[nefarious7907]

I am surprised that you didnt hear the vacuum leak

[Stu]

Yes, it has the manifold supports.

[bimmers4life]

Well I will be hopefully starting to buy parts next week for my swap. I just got done reading the entire thread and am very impressed. it only took me 2 days to get throught the whole thing! :) But I still have a couple questions. First are any of you located in the bay area? I know that some problems will come up and I was hoping that if they did someone locally might be able to share some knowledge. and my second question which I have had mixed yes and no on was will my 91 318is tranny work? I know it aint the strongest thing around but for the time being will it bolt up? Preferably I would like answers from people who have tried this setup because there are a lot of rumors floating around on this subject and I need only straight answers. Thanks guys!

[aaron_silva]

1) I am from Sacramento.

2) No, your current tranny wont work. You can use a e30 Getrag 260 with the stock 325i driveshaft and 3.73LSD. Or, you can use the manual tranny from an e36 (325i, M3) with the e30 m3 driveshaft.

Aaron

[Addissimo]

So its running... But the idle is off the charts. It starts up and immediately goes to 3k then after it warms for a few seconds, starts to climb without any thought of stopping. I turn it off before it goes any higher than 4k. Any ideas?

When I turn it off at those high revs it takes about 15 tries to get it started again. I dont know whats up with that either.

Thanks for any input

-Addis

[325Projectz]

Check your ICV, could be getting stuck open.

[86325e]

:D I got my car to start. Im using an E34 harness and silver label 413 DME withOUT a EWS delete chip, thats right, the factory stock chip. The donor car was a 1995 525i with a build date of 11/94. I've read in various places that 1/95 and up got EWS. Im going to go ahead and put in a TMS/Conforti chip anyway. So to add to the confusion some silver label 413 DME's have EWS and some don't.

[Addissimo]

two in one day? that has to be a record! Congrats and have fun driving it- I cant wait to get my damn clutch bleeding figured out so i can drive mine.

I got my car to start on a regular basis now. The idle issue has been worked out- a loose vacuum hose on the bottom of the throttle body.

The only issue with the electrical system now is: When I attach my AFM the revs go waaay up and keep going. Do you suppose i have a bad AFM?

-Addis

[Bryson]

:D I got my car to start. Im using an E34 harness and silver label 413 DME withOUT a EWS delete chip, thats right, the factory stock chip. The donor car was a 1995 525i with a build date of 11/94. I've read in various places that 1/95 and up got EWS. Im going to go ahead and put in a TMS/Conforti chip anyway. So to add to the confusion some silver label 413 DME's have EWS and some don't.

I do believe this has been covered ;) but congrats on getting your car running anyway!

[Addissimo]

which coolant sensor do i need to replace for the guage cluster? The front or the rear one? Where does the radiator coolant temp signal go (what is its use)?

-Addis

[325Projectz]

It will only go in one because the thread sizes are different, but I'm 99.9% sure its the rear.