N52 Swap Discussion

[Bored]

That's a TON of progress. Still super interested in having an N52 swapped E30 so... impatiently watching. Anything we, the unwashed/unskilled masses, can do to make this happen?

[hubcapboy]

Based on everything I’ve seen and read and some thinking, I think the best place for the pickup (and baffle tank) is centered in the full width of the pan, which puts it just before the break to where the bottom slopes. I figured the sloped wing would help a little bit to encourage circulation and reduce sludge where it doesn’t have oil constantly dumping down from above and mixing.

[hubcapboy]

This is rough... I was trying to stop my kids from fighting over the hose while I was fitting this together and actually ended up gluing it to the TOP side of the flange the first time, so my front corner bolt clearance chamfers are backwards. BUT. This turns out to have 3.5” from the bottom of the oil pan to the bottom of the oil pump, which is plenty of room for a pickup and baffle. I doubt I’ll have time to get this into the car today, so I thought I’d post the photos on the engine when I was checking for clearance on the windage tray and you can see the shape of the pan a little better. I did hold the rear section up against the block before it was glued to the flange and it looked like there was tons of room above the steering rack and subframe.

[nando]

I think one of the ideas of having 2 extra quarts is you don't really need an oil cooler.

[hoveringuy]

I don't know how important the actual capacity is. I was concerned about it when Tyler built my pan because he removed about 3" of it. I'm down to about 5 QTS to fill, but I add a 6th to over-fill by a quart.

I track my car pretty hard. I haven't had oil pressure issues except for hard braking on a on a steep downhill section followed by a sharp right where I'll get occasional flickering oil pressure in the turn. Makes sense, I have a rear sump and the oil is being pinned to the front.

I've been concerned enough that I run Blackstone oil reports at each change. My latest one just came back and after 6 track sessions where I flogged it hard, the report was the cleanest I've ever had- 8ppm Al, 11ppm iron and 1ppm lead.

The front sump solves the braking problem, the wider sump would be more susceptible to cornering. I like it!