M30 swap for my Olive Drab Vert!

[RagtopE30]

^ thanks Nick and Jim.

Jim I am still waiting for you to come up and help me on this thing.

[jim325]

You gonna be around next weekend? Pretty sure I don't have to work. I'll come up n marvel at the goodness.

[RagtopE30]

Yeah next weekend I will be there from sun up to sun down. I am hoping to be able to fire her up by the end of next Sunday.

[RagtopE30]

I want opinions here. So please give me some feed back.

Here is my dilemma,
I have really enjoyed painting the engine bay and I plan on continuing with the exact same color for the exterior, trunk, and door jambs. My dilemma is that I had planned on finishing the car with a satin clear to continue the theme of subdued military coloring, plus it looks cool in satin, BUT the gloss looks so good! My iPotato pictures do not do the engine bay justice at all. So do I paint the exterior to match the engine bay in gloss finish or finish it with the same color and continue with the satin clear coat finish?

Please consider these before replying:
* I know satin is higher maintenance and that is not an issue
* I will be painting the exterior and have access to a professional booth
* The exterior paint is a little down the road, turbo and MS are first.
* My hardtop has been stripped and is being painted in high gloss black

Let me know.

[RagtopE30]

Got the front end back together and the saddest thought came to mind, No one can see my hard work! Oh well that was the idea from the jump.

Valence on without any touching or rubbing.



I then cut out another hole for more airflow potential to the intercooler. And mounted the grills and kidneys.



Now that it is done you can really see how well this all fit. Here is a shot of the bottom of the intercooler peeking out from under the valance. It will be invisible once the lip is reinstalled.



And finally it looks like a car again. Like nothing ever happened!

[CorvallisBMW]

Wow, can't believe it fits! (that's what she said)

[N2MYE30]

Bravo! I cant wait to see it.

[Bearmw]

For som reason I'm still leaning toward the satin. I liked it when I first saw it and still do...with black rims.

[RagtopE30]

Thanks Bearmw. First internet response on color. I also prefer the satin the more I think about it, more character.

[Good & Tight]

Coming along nicely Matt. Looks like you lowered the engine a little.
Oh and I like the satin finish.

[RagtopE30]

Thanks Otis. No the engine is still to high I just have the compressor housing off for clean up and paint. I now have an intake for mock up and I will have measurements tomorrow for custom solid mounts. Then it will be lower!

[Bearmw]

If you lower it will you have to shim the CSB too?

[RagtopE30]

I shouldn't because the rear subframe and diff are already offset by 12mm so the CSB was the lowest point on the drive line. If I lower the engine by +/- 22mm or almost an inch then the straight line will be re-established.

[RagtopE30]

Got a few parts on order today including a new Tial 44mm wastegate. My new ATE slave cylinder and master cylinder for the clutch will be in tomorrow morning. And I had a conversation with WhoDWho about a little thing called MegaSquirt! Tomorrow I will make more progress and post accordingly. I am getting really close!

[RagtopE30]

Got my slave cylinder in and bled. Oh, and I got the engine positioned perfectly with the assistance of a loner intake manifold. The hood closes with plenty of clearance for both the intake and turbo. I didn't really have to lower the engine but only rotated it. The engine sits at 28 degrees which is right where it needs to be +/-. Apparently it was sitting closer to 18-20 degrees before which is completely wrong and was the reason that the turbo was to high. So with the help of some custom aluminum mounts everything will be perfect.

STOOPID iPotato pictures




Like nothing even happened.