N52 oil pan design for Z4 engine arm based swap

[hoveringuy]

Here's what oil pan origami looks like. Those 3 pieces make the entire pan. Plus the flange and then baffles.

[moatilliatta]

Most subframes need reinforcements, and or cracked up. A good developed fresh one would be nice.

With development of spec E9X there maybe a better oil pan baffle available to fit in the stock oil pan.

The setup with the steering rack being grabbed by the front looks to have the steering rack pretty darn close.

I've had oil starvation in spec E30's with a poor designed baffle and street tires in brake zones before.

[hoveringuy]

Any chance a Subframe that will fit a rear sump stock s52/s54/m54/n52 oil pan.


I think Bayside is building them this way now.

I've had a modified subframe with rear sump. There's really not much of an advantage and you need to move the sway bar up front. I actually had more oil pressure issues with the rear sump than I do presently (zero..). The rear sump would get me the oil light under heavy downhill braking because all the oil was pinned to the front. Never had a single issue with the front sump, either with oil pressure or clearance. I've even had an "off" where I bashed the pan on the curbing re-entering the track and it was nothing. Steel... Plus, the front is beveled in the genius design so there's nothing square to catch.

If the pan becomes any narrower front-to-rear I would add that capacity back in the wing because 4 QT capacity should be the minimum.

These pictures are when it had the original arms that had the motor even lower than it is now:

[hubcapboy]

Any chance a Subframe that will fit a rear sump stock s52/s54/m54/n52 oil pan.

Less need for skid plate, Have front mounted sway bar for header clearance. 1 part fits 4 motors. Steering rack mounting from opposite side.

I think Bayside is building them this way now.

Totally different conversation - and *way* harder to release as an opensourced DIY because it needs to be built on a jig. The steering rack of the e30 physically interferes with the rear sump pans on all of these engines so the Bayside subframe still requires a modified pan (or any subframe that moves the steering rack forward to avoid this would create significant issues with steering)

[moatilliatta]

Any chance a Subframe that will fit a rear sump stock s52/s54/m54/n52 oil pan.

Less need for skid plate, Have front mounted sway bar for header clearance. 1 part fits 4 motors. Steering rack mounting from opposite side.

I think Bayside is building them this way now.

[hubcapboy]

Placeholder first post here and solicitation for anyone's ideas as I break this out. Ideally at some point in the near future this first post will have a link to a zip file of flat pieces that can be ordered to build (or have someone build) and oil pan with a front sump for an n52 to drop into an e30. We have at least two running n52's in this configuration at the moment. Here's a short list of what I intend to include that I'll edit until I get the files ready:

-Thick flange to avoid warping during assembly: this flange will be the same thickness as the automatic transmission aluminum pan

-Geometry that puts the bottom of the sump at the same or higher elevation than the standard m20 pan (no reduced clearance like m5x e34 pan swaps). Standard m20 skidplates will fit (and of course m5x skidplates)

-Adequate clearance for the steering rack using z4 mounts (existing files on the forum here prior to 12/22/22 are VERY tight against the rack when using Z4 mounts)

-Optional weld-in baffle

-Markings to cut the e30 oil level sender

-Markings for a dipstick tube

-Markings for a drain bung

-Markings for the PCV drain

-Better rear clearance at the crank journal (We've had to bevel this)

-Better clearance for bolting? (we had to do some ball peening to get bolts in)

Bug me here with your ideas, I'll either roll them in or not depending on my mood