M30 Swap confirmation questions.

[quickervicar]

As far as I know, any off the shelf m30 headers will require some creativity to fit.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=3864786&postcount=20

[E30Brad]

I was thinking of just cutting the E34 M30 manifold flanges and welding the E30 M20 'three holes' on, so I could use my stock exhaust (down-pipe back), but I don't know if they'll still line up individually with everything bolted up.

I'm gonna have to make an M20 down-pipe template and see what it will look like on the M30's bolted to the head.

[quickervicar]

Welding cast iron is easy. Successfully welding it is not.

[yert315]

I was thinking of just cutting the E34 M30 manifold flanges and welding the E30 M20 'three holes' on, so I could use my stock exhaust (down-pipe back), but I don't know if they'll still line up individually with everything bolted up.

I'm gonna have to make an M20 down-pipe template and see what it will look like on the M30's bolted to the head.

Just use the b35 manifolds and downpipes. It should slip over, if not get really close, to the factory m20 exhaust just before the cat. That'll be the easiest/cheapest route to go.

[E30Brad]

Just use the b35 manifolds and downpipes. It should slip over, if not get really close, to the factory m20 exhaust just before the cat. That'll be the easiest/cheapest route to go.

That's what I'm going to try to do. I hope the down-pipes fit in the engine bay. (firewall)
Thanks again.

[lukeADE335i]

The manifolds / down pipes fit fine - they do on my RHD (which has way less room than your LHD :) ) They basically fit like they were meant to be there.

[E30Brad]

Getting a lot done on the swap and wanted to ask what you guys did with a couple of things.

I bought the mounts from 'good and tight' and they're fine, except where the driver side one mounts there is the -intake manifold bracket that goes to the block- on the new (3rd) hole being used for the new mount. And because of the new motor bracket being there, it doesn't what to line up an bolt both down to the block. The extra thickness of the new motor mount under the intake bracket is what's causing the problem. It's sorta angled like this > \_

What did you other fellas do in this situation?

Also did you guys just get rid of the E30 oil cooler?

[nick526]

I slotted the hole on the support bracket with a rat tail file until the bolt lined up. Lots of people just leave the bracket off.

No oil cooler on my swap.

[E30Brad]

Thanks, seems easy enough, Probably why I didn't think of that.

[jesse_e30]

Sorry about the Newb question on this swap but, what is the different engine positions I keep reading?

[LagunaSecaBlue]

For mount information read this and this.

[E30Brad]

Getting to the late stages of my M30 swap and I was wondering why the E28 driveshaft I bought today is longer than my E30 shaft? Shouldn't it be shorter?

[yert315]

Why did you buy an e28 shaft?
The e28 is a larger/longer car, thus the longer drive shaft. Find a "big guibo" e30 driveshaft. You might also be able to swap the output flange on the trans for the smaller guibo and use a regular e30 shaft.
Although position 3 still might require shortening a shaft no matter which route you go with.

[E30Brad]

Sounds right, but I asked several times and you guys all said E28 shaft. Didn't make sense but thats what I've been told. I'll just return the E28 shaft and find an Early model E30 shaft and buy a new big guibo. Sucks to have wasted my time and energy.

And for the record, it took me like 3 solid minutes to successfully spell guibo on this site. Fuck, there went another 3. Gumbo!?!?

[Ginger_e30]

I have some questions about the m30 swap too. Someone please help me!!!!!!!