Mounting late e30 radiator to early e30

[JGood]

From what I've found searching, it seems people are saying the late radiator does sit on the bottom mounts of the early e30, but what do you do for upper support? How does the late model reservoir mount, and is there a common way to mount the reservoir on the early cars?

Anything else to know for the early to late coolant system swap?

[Hick]

Done it. I can get you some pics.

84 318i w/ 325e motor and 89-91 325i rad, so its a frankcar.

It will sit on the lower mounts, i 'fabed' some clips, much like the clips that hold on the grills, to fit on the top of the radiator. fits very snug.

[JGood]

Cool, pics would be helpful. Thanks.

[FredK]

Beej is finishing a swap in an early model car. The bracket is shown in his pics.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=112887

There is a black plastic bracket that snugs onto the upper crossbar of the radiator support shown in the first pic. PN 17111709347, and gets snugged using two screws PN 17111712142.

If I recall correctly, the late model expansion tank sits on a sheetmetal bracket that is welded to the wheelhouse.

[JGood]

Cool. I was curious if that upper piece would work. I had one laying around that I threw away a few weeks before deciding to do this swap. It always works that way...

[MR 325]

On my 85 with 89 M20 and cooling I just drilled it out and nut and bolted the late model upper bracket.