How much time...(m30 related)

[Mastrcruse]

Hey guys,
Well the 335 will be here tomorrow. I have a couple concerns because this is my first "swapped" car. I want to remove the motor from the e30 and replace gaskets and make it look good (like george graves did).

How long will it take to get out of the e30? Will I have to take the tranny out with it? I will be labeling everything, so I have a pretty good idea where everything is supposed to go back to. This is my first motor extraction from an e30 (I have done it with old muscle cars).

Thanks and hopefully you guys have alittle patience to give because I will probably searching and asking a lot of questions.

Also, does anyone know an m30e30 owner that lives in Ohio that might want to help me out?

Thanks
DJ

[JoeMadoo]

It just depends on how much you love your car, If you're really into it, you could get it out in a day. I would pull the engine/tranny out together. Ask away.

[Mastrcruse]

Well, I am planning on doing it this weekend, on saturday with a buddy (hopefully). I am going to label tubes and electronics throughout the week.

So first...Here is what I am thinking

First to do drain fluids: coolant, oil, transmission (am I missing any?)

Second unplug everything. Take as much as I can off the motor. Remove the radiator. Unbolt transmission and driveshaft from transmission. Unbolt motor and slide out? Am I missing anyting? I know its just a really broad list but kinda get my drift (I will pay a lot better attention to detail when the time comes).
Thanks
DJ

[euroshark]

Seriously, removing the M20 is so easy. I had removed a bunch of M30s before, but no M20s when I went to remove mine, and it happened in about 2 hours. We started after dinner one night in october (roughly 5:30pm) and got done just as the last bit of sun went down past the mountains. It's a breeze!

Getting the M30 in is the fun part. We went ahead and installed it from the bottom up, and I am 99% sure it was easier than going in from the top.

Edit: Remember the throttle cable and clutch line, and don't bother taking the tranny off of the motor to remove everything, just keep it all bolted together.

[doucy2]

DJ read all you can 1st, then when you pull and she doesn't come out, re-check everything, double and triple check before you use any force. If you really need an extra hand call me up.

EDIT: why dont you just take that m30 outa that beater and put it in the vert??

[JoeMadoo]

When you take your m20 out, leave your power steering hoses in, your coolant tank if its on the drivers side, your charcoal canister, and all your electrical thats not attached to the wiring harness.

I personally thought that dropping the m30 from the top wasn't bad as long as your engine lift lets you change the angle of the motor/trans.

[Garageaholic]

This is what I gather you need to disconnect/remove in order to get the M30 outta the engine bay

fuel lines (supply + return)
coolant lines(heater core @ firewall)
*electrical (ECU and engine harness)
brake booster vacuum hose
radiator (remove first)
unscrew motor mounts
unscrew tranny mounts
driveshaft disconnect
shift linkage
steering pump lines
alternator wires
throttle (cruise control)
clutch hose/cable
exhaust after manifold
02 sensor
Coolant tank hose(s)
Windshield wiper tank
Hood
Drain Engine oil

[ldsbeaker]

When I bought my M30, I drove the car to make sure the engine was good, and we had the engine and tranny out of the car, and into the truck in about 4 hours with a lunch break. We really didn't rush too much. (it was still warm) First time either of us had done it. Wasn't that bad at all.

As far as draining everything, we drained the coolant when we pulled the radiator, and for everything else, we just had a bunch of drip pans and cardboard.
Srsly, not a REALLY hard job.

[Mastrcruse]

Alright thanks guys. I want to learn all I can taking it out and make it easier to put it back in. I really am using this as a educational model and will try my best to learn all I can so I don't bother y'all too much. I have been reading on the M30 A LOT and know a good amount of info but I just want to do this thing right the first time (or the second time since I will put it in for the second time).

Seems like some of you think the car has the m20 still in it. It doesn't, this car is already swapped but not as nice as I would have of done it so I am going to take it out and replace some things.

Alex...the vert is a cruiser not a racer and I plan on eventually running this on the track or just getting rid of it. The car isn't really a beater at all just needs a good cut and polish. I will have photos up soon

Once again guys, I really appreciate your help!

[Funkmasta]

No way that the engine and trans will come out together...
(unless it is being dropped out the bottom).

What are the specs on the car? which motor? which trans?

[Funkmasta]

oh ya, and dont worry about "bothering" us. We all like to help, that is why we are here. The people that cause trouble don't usually hang out in the M30 forum. ;)

[euroshark]

That's true, I'd say most of the people who post in the M30 section are pretty harmless

[Garageaholic]

No way that the engine and trans will come out together...
(unless it is being dropped out the bottom).

What are the specs on the car? which motor? which trans?

hey there funky funkmeister... I took my engine/tranny out by myself through the top without any problem. Boo ya!

[george graves]

Well seeing that you are coming from a American muscle car world, you are in for a surprise I would *guess*.

Every muscle car motor I've see fits in it's engine bay with lots of room. Plucking a motor out of a car like that would be cake.

Let see, I've pull the m30 out of my car out of the top about 5 or 6 time, and dropped it out the bottem once. But I've never dropped in from the top with the tranny attached. I've seen pictures of it done, so I know it can be.

If you must pull from the top with tranny attached, invest in a motor leveler thing and plan on a about a 45-60 degree angle - its a very tight fit. Also get your jack stands up high, you'll need the room below the car to let the tranny hang down to get the angle

Do as everyone suggested above, and take everything off the front of the motor (AC, alt, PS pump, ect...) it give you a lot of more room.

Watch the reverse light wires and O2 wires, they are easy to forget and can really get ripped out of the car.

I want to remove the motor from the e30 and replace gaskets and make it look good (like george graves did).

Thanks man! Plan on a full weekend or more if you want to make a motor shine, it's a ALOT of prep work to take a greasy motor and get it ready for paint that will stick. Between cleaning products, rust removal, prep, paint ect, I must have spent $100 - I know the water bill went from something like $15 to $100 that month from all the cleaning of parts.

HTH!!

[Funkmasta]

Let see, I've pull the m30 out of my car out of the top about 5 or 6 time, and dropped it out the bottem once. But I've never dropped in from the top with the tranny attached. I've seen pictures of it done, so I know it can be.

If you must pull from the top with tranny attached, invest in a motor leveler thing and plan on a about a 45-60 degree angle - its a very tight fit. Also get your jack stands up high, you'll need the room below the car to let the tranny hang down to get the angle

Do as everyone suggested above, and take everything off the front of the motor (AC, alt, PS pump, ect...) it give you a lot of more room.

There is no possible way that the engine and trans can come out the top...
Then again, I have a stock firewall, and a G280, so, maybe that doesnt help.