Some m50 swap questions

[BMWE30iS]

Hello everyone, i am in the process of doing a m50 swap on my e30. I am using the M50 with the stock 260 trans, and also using the clutch and flywheel from the m20, my questions are is there any modifications needed to run the m20 clutch and flywheel with m50 and also can i used the m20 started on the m50.

thanks Dan

[BigD]

Hi Dan,

Yes all of the above is possible. You will have to file down some bits of the oil pan in order for the flywheel to clear. You'll see when you get there - just take it a bit at a time.

The starter is not only possible but required - the M50 starter is not compatible with the M20 ring gear.

The only other thing you will need to do is to figure out a mount setup for the transmission brace. The angle of the M50 is different from the M20. There is a guy here who makes a custom brace which will use your stock transmission mounts. Or you can use an E24 mount for the driver's side, and any 1" tall mount of your choice for the passenger side. You also have to bend your selector rod very carefully, to keep the shifter vertical.

[smonkbmw]

shave the stock flywheel as opposed to filing the oil pan. less rotational mass is a benefit to this also.

[madjurgen]

Has anyone made an M20 JBRacing flywheel work with a 24v motor/G260 combo?

[Charlie]

Has anyone made an M20 JBRacing flywheel work with a 24v motor/G260 combo?

Yes, I'm running it right now. It kicks ass, do it.



-Charlie

[el_gringo]

uh. secks.

[FredK]

cool engine cgrizz

[PiercedE30]

I'm with Charlie on that one. I've got a JBR flywheel on mine.

[madjurgen]

Yes, I'm running it right now. It kicks ass, do it.

-Charlie

Sweet. Any flywheel shaving or oilpan grinding necessary?

[Nick325is]

I've got a JBR flywheel bolted to a 260 tranny as well. No clearance issues with the oilpan. I can't wait to get this thing running!


-Nick

[BMWE30iS]

thanks guys, so i decide to use the e24 black hex mounts how do these work with the e36 arms? who has used these

[Kerrath]

I see ebay headers. ;) Just like mine.

I ended up using M50 flywheel with M50 starter cuz I was having problems getting the M20 starter to fit my block and shaving down the oil pan wasn't helping much. Nobody would shave the flywheel for me and we were pretty terrified of trying to shave it balanced ourselves.

For the tranny brace used an E30 engine mount and 2 1/8"ish steel washers there and one where the brace bolted to the car.

I've still got problems with my shifter though. Right now it's driveable with 4 gears, but I want my overdrive! It's an early model so the plate where it bolts to the tranny in two places got rotated with the tranny. The fixes for the late model shifters seem easy, just a bend or cut'n'weld job, but to get the shift plate centered and to seal the opening with the foam, I'm sure there's gotta me more done to get it working right.

Anybody have experience with that?

[Mako18]

when using the jb flywheel what starter did you guys use? Im guessing m20 but wanna be sure!!

[golde30]

starter must match the flyweel.

[dpgrand]

I'm with Charlie on that one. I've got a JBR flywheel on mine.

Yes, I'm running it right now. It kicks ass, do it.

-Charlie

I've got a JBR flywheel bolted to a 260 tranny as well. No clearance issues with the oilpan. I can't wait to get this thing running!

-Nick

What clutch are you all running? Also what pressure plate?