8hp45

[hoveringuy]

I've gone down the 8HP45 rabbit hole and purchased one...

One of the nice things about having the N52 is that the swap should be mechanically trivial; anything from an N55 or N20 engine is a direct fit. I purchased a 40,000 mile box that came from an F30 328i (N20 engine) for $350.

I'm not sure exactly where I'm going with this, but I'll probably integrate it electronically using a CAN TCU controller and then have either paddle shifters or a sequential shifter (or both?). The weight appears to be about 45lbs more than my GS6-17 or 25 more than a GS6-37.

This won't be the first E30 application, that's been done a bunch already so I know it will fit.

Timeline is that I'll finish my last track events in September and then put the car on jacks, should have it driving again by the end of the year. Next year will be evaluation on the track!

[hoveringuy]

Reserved for eventual TLDR summary.

[DesertBMW]

I am sure it is too wide on the bottom to fit E30 tunnel.

[TobyB]

Oh, ha- 'me too!' But I want to put it in the E39 wagon, behind an N52, and then play with tuning the transmission
controller so that it doesn't behave like the current GM slushbox that's in there now (and that I find so hateful)

So I'm in- there was one in a 528 at the Lake Stevens yard, and given that the engine was pretty well locked up,
I figure it's at least good enough to do development work on. (that car kicked my butt. I'm getting old.)
It's not a very big transmission- if it hits an E30 tunnel, it won't be by much.

What I'm trying to figure out- WHICH currently available controller gives you the most control over the transmission?
There's CANECU, MaxxECU, and the original... Turbolamik?

this is very much a 'back burner' project here, so I'll just shut up now and follow along...

t

[hoveringuy]

I am sure it is too wide on the bottom to fit E30 tunnel.

The top of the transmission isn't that big, it's the very bottom that's wide. I've seen plenty of examples of E30's with these now, so I know it will fit. I think the fat bottom part ends-up being a little below the tunnel (but still above the exhaust and the frame rails....)

So, updates...

first, I assembled my spray pup-tent, bought 5lbs of #10 glass bead media and went to town. Sealed every orifice carefully.

I cut-off/ground-off a few of the bigger tabs on top that are only used for production handling and were more likely to interfere with the top of the tunnel.





much-more better!




mocked-up some mounting plates and ordered this one in stainless. May not have perfect geometry but I need something to just get it mounted so I can see how far I'm off.




Best I can tell, the centerline will be about where the red line is. My current cross bar won't work anymore.



So I ordered P/N 24711129346 from an '84 318is which spans the two slots on the left side and then one on the right. I like this design because it clears the exhaust on the right side much better (and I don't want one of the mounting nuts UNDER the exhaust...)

This may also not be perfect but at least I'll have some geometry to start with.