Engine swap question

[A_Whelan]

Hey,

Well I killed my M20 a while back when I drove home from work in a hurricane. That was back in September and I have finally managed to find another M20 (2000km away) that I am getting shipped to me shortly.

I am going to do the swap and I was wondering if there was anything else I should check or replace while I am at it. I was thinking picking up motor mounts to replace those, might paint a few things while its out and give the bay a clean. Any other big things?

Thanks.

[bernzpeed]

timing belt, water pump. if you're up to it, head gasket.

[A_Whelan]

Timing belt was replaced 5000km ago so that should be good. Might grab a water pump and look up how much work replacing the gasket would be.

The engine I am getting doesn't come with a transmission so I will have to use the one I have now. Would it be easier to haul both the old engine and transmission out, attach it to the new one and stick it all back in, or just detach the engine and swap them?

Also I was thinking about deleting the AC. Not really necessary for where I live and it needs to be recharged anyway and I don't want to pay for that. I do need my windshield wash reservoir because I use it but is there anything else I can delete?

[nrubenstein]

I would not do the head gasket unless it needs it. It's not significantly more difficult to do in the car, and it's one of those things that just tends to spiral into spending money and annoyance.
Pull the engine/transmission as a unit.

...and at the very least, inspect the timing belt and make sure that it doesn't show any signs of wear. Timing belts are really cheap, and trusting someone else to do one is iffy. (Mechanics lie too. I just picked up a 1990 325is from a friend. He *paid* for two timing belts in the last 6 years/40,000 or so miles. I'm not sure that I believe he got what he paid for based on the condition of the belt I removed, though.)

[nrubenstein]

And if you must pull the a/c, pull the compressor and plug the lines. Don't pull anything else as it'll just be annoying as hell when you re-install it.

[jlevie]

Unless you have positive proof that the timing belt was recently changed, replace it, the water pump, and thermostat. Also replace the motor and transmission mounts. I the car has a manual transmission I'd replace the clutch, pilot & throw out bearing, engine main and transmission input/output, and shifter seals while the engine and transmission are out. As stated above, pull the engine and transmission as a unit.

[A_Whelan]

Thank you for the posts.

So timing belt will be replaced as well as the water pump. Not 100% sure about leaving the AC lines in though because I really don't think I will put it back in. I live in Newfoundland Canada and a hot day in summer for us is 90 F and I don't plan on moving away for a year or two yet once I graduate university, at which time I'll buy "new" E30.

@jlevie to knock a few of those things off of the list would it be easier to just get a short shifter kit? I've been contemplating that for a while now and this might be the time to do it. In terms of motor mounts and transmission mounts, there are two engine mounts, how many transmission are there?

And what is the engine main and transmission input/output? This is my first car and I am reading bits and pieces in between school. And If you just read that and are thinking "How is he going to manage an engine swap" I have my father helping me who has swapped engines before and is pretty mechanically inclined, I just haven't learned as much yet :)

Last but not lease the clutch. I am on a university budget and the kit I found is $300 http://parts.autopartsonlinecanada.c...art=Clutch+Kit
So I'm not sure if I can afford this at the moment. If the clutch decides to up and leave in a few months is it hard to replace it? You don't have to remove the engine for this do you? Just jack the car, remove the transmission and replace it?

Appreciate the feedback.

[billy.e30.325i]

me i would delete as much as possible if you wanna have a project car.
a/c
windshield washer
battery plate.
mis. studs and fasteners.
there is more too

but hey this is me.
i like a clean lookin bay.

[jlevie]

Thank you for the posts.

So timing belt will be replaced as well as the water pump. Not 100% sure about leaving the AC lines in though because I really don't think I will put it back in. I live in Newfoundland Canada and a hot day in summer for us is 90 F and I don't plan on moving away for a year or two yet once I graduate university, at which time I'll buy "new" E30.

@jlevie to knock a few of those things off of the list would it be easier to just get a short shifter kit? I've been contemplating that for a while now and this might be the time to do it. In terms of motor mounts and transmission mounts, there are two engine mounts, how many transmission are there?

And what is the engine main and transmission input/output? This is my first car and I am reading bits and pieces in between school. And If you just read that and are thinking "How is he going to manage an engine swap" I have my father helping me who has swapped engines before and is pretty mechanically inclined, I just haven't learned as much yet :)

Last but not lease the clutch. I am on a university budget and the kit I found is $300 http://parts.autopartsonlinecanada.c...art=Clutch+Kit
So I'm not sure if I can afford this at the moment. If the clutch decides to up and leave in a few months is it hard to replace it? You don't have to remove the engine for this do you? Just jack the car, remove the transmission and replace it?

There are two motor mounts and two transmission mounts. As to a short shifter, that depends on what you get. Some short shifters are just the shift lever and others are a complete shifter and console. If you get the latter
variety it has all new bushings and parts.

The transmission has an input seal, output seal, and selector shaft seal. Those are easy to replace when the transmission isn't in the car. The output and selector shaft seal can be replaced with the transmission in the car, but doing so requires that the drive shaft and exhaust be dropped. Best to deal with those while the transmission is out. The engine main seal and transmission input seal can only be replaced while the transmission is separated from the engine.

You are correct in that only the transmission needs to be removed to change the clutch. But on a BMW that in itself is something of a major undertaking. If at all possible, install a new clutch while the engine is out.

[A_Whelan]

I will pick up new mounts, a timing belt, clutch disc and pressure plate. Don't really have the funds for the shifter stuff but I will check into some of those seals.

Going to haul the engine and transmission out as a unit and then switch the clutch and bolt everything onto the new engine.

Also going to do an AC delete, maybe lines and all because I don't think I am ever going to use that again. Then I'll take some degreaser and clean up the engine bay a bit but will leave painting and fine details for the summer because it will be ruined over the few months left to winter.

Pictures and updates to come, looking at doing the swap around the 20th - 25th

Cheers

[jlevie]

I will pick up new mounts, a timing belt, clutch disc and pressure plate. Don't really have the funds for the shifter stuff but I will check into some of those seals.

Include at least a new timing belt tensioner is parts list. Every time you change the belt you need a new tensioer. And every other belt change the waterpump and thermostat need to be changed. If you don't know the mileage on the pump, replace it and the thermostat.

[StereoInstaller1]

Now is the time to do the rack IMO

[A_Whelan]

I'll get the tensioner, water pump and thermostat. Hopefully there are no large, unexpected repairs needed after this for a while :)

Thanks again guys.

[A_Whelan]

Really appreciate the help but I just found out that the seller backed out and I am without an engine. Really bummed about this, but maybe I'll save a bit of money and do an m50 swap. Cheers and thanks for the help!