Project Overly Ambitious

[jpod999]

installed my front subframe today. I used the included Garagistic subframe spacer hardware but they were too long:



I ended up using two stock bolts for the front mounting holes and the extended Garagistic bolts with stacked washers for the rear two mounting holes. You can see the gap in the above picture.

[jpod999]

It's finally back down on the ground!!!



Here's the full suspension rebuild list:
Rear:
-Diff mounting point reinforcements from Garagistic
-Rear swaybar reinforcements from Garagistic
-80a subframe bushings from Garagistic
-80a rear trailing arm bushings from Garagistic
-80a diff bushing from Garagistic
-S2.93 with new output shaft and cover seals
-MasterPro axles
-New FAG wheel bearings on both sides
-New rotors
-rebuilt calipers (probably should have painted these but meh)
-new Textar brake pads and sensor
-braided stainless brake lines from Ireland Engineering

Front:
-Motor mount tab crack repair
-Garagistic motor mount tab weld-in reinforcements
-Steering rack mount modification (direct E46 rack bolt in, no spacers)
-Garagistic sway bar weld-in reinforcements
-Garagistic subframe spacers
-Offset Garagistic poly CABs rotated down ala MonkeyMadness
-New FEBI control arms
-New Karlyle sway bar endlinks
-Rack Doctor rebuilt E46 330i steering rack with E36 tie rods
-Rebuilt calipers
-New Textar brake pads and sensor
-New rotors
-braided stainless brake lines from Ireland Engineering

Phew! I just finished moving to a new house, one with a garage large enough to house the car. I'm excited to be able to work on it in my own home finally!

Next up, 6spd tranny mount extensions will be welded on. Next weekend I hope to be able to do my first test fit. The intention is to be able to mount the motor and tranny in the car, then load it up on a flat bed and bring the car to my new house.

[jpod999]

I got the toe to a much more acceptable, "I'll roll somewhat straight now", state today. Small steps, small steps.

[jpod999]

Saturday afternoon was a HOT day, so naturally that's when my dad, roommate Kevin, and I decided to shoehorn the engine and transmission into my car. It took us about an hour and a half from start to finish to get them bolted into the chassis. I tried at first to do it with the tranny crossmember bolted on, but quickly pulled it off to gain clearance.

I beat in the firewall a little bit, but didn't go overly crazy, with the motor in place there is a good inch or inch and a half clearance to the coolant crossover pipe using the mounting holes closest to the firewall (Garagistic mounts).







My drivers side engine mount isn't lining up as you can see in the photo above. I think I remember in reading 36brua's thread that he had this same issue and modified the mount. Has anyone else run into this issue?

[wspellmann]

Subframe spacers... so you didn't notch the oil pan?

[jpod999]

Subframe spacers... so you didn't notch the oil pan?

No, I haven't gone down that road yet. Eventually I would like to but I already bit off a lot more than I can chew on this project so that will have to wait.

[Pootis]

I feel like that's the way these V8 build are. You devise a plan in your head and it seems easy and you can get it done quick.....2 years later and the car finally sees the pavement

[jpod999]

I feel like that's the way these V8 build are. You devise a plan in your head and it seems easy and you can get it done quick.....2 years later and the car finally sees the pavement

Haha yup, it really is quite a lot of work!

[36brua]

What eng mounts are you using ?
I used the condor mounts that have a through bolt from each end, so the threads are offset. They may need to be 'clocked' /rotated to sit flush.

[jpod999]

What eng mounts are you using ?
I used the condor mounts that have a through bolt from each end, so the threads are offset. They may need to be 'clocked' /rotated to sit flush.

Garagistic mounts, the bolt goes right through the center of the mount on this one I think. When I pull it back out I'll look more closely.

I got the dash out today with the help of a friend and my wife, progress!!

[efficient]

Nice progress. Keep up the good work

[ArtFoodBMW]

I had the same problems with subframe spacer bolts being too long and my engine mounts don't line up properly either. I contacted garagistic about the subframe bolts and never got a response from them. Not sure what to do about the engine mounts at this point.

On another topic, do you have a plan for the throttle cable? Like what cable are you planning to use?

[jpod999]

I had the same problems with subframe spacer bolts being too long and my engine mounts don't line up properly either. I contacted garagistic about the subframe bolts and never got a response from them. Not sure what to do about the engine mounts at this point.

Doesn't really make sense right? I have yet to contact Garagistic but I too am expecting it to be tough to get a response. If I do, I'll update here!

On another topic, do you have a plan for the throttle cable? Like what cable are you planning to use?

It's been months since I planned this out and it looks like I didn't write anything down for this on my spreadsheet I have going, but I think I was planning on running an E34 or E39 throttle cable. What is your plan?

[Zacm829]

E34 throttle cable works well, that's what we went with on our m62 swap.

[ArtFoodBMW]

Doesn't really make sense right? I have yet to contact Garagistic but I too am expecting it to be tough to get a response. If I do, I'll update here!

It's been months since I planned this out and it looks like I didn't write anything down for this on my spreadsheet I have going, but I think I was planning on running an E34 or E39 throttle cable. What is your plan?

Please do update!

E34 throttle cable works well, that's what we went with on our m62 swap.

I was planning to use the m20 cable (prior to doing any research) so I'll probably use an e32/e34/e39 cable from the junkyard, assuming there is one in the yard.

Ill probably use the garagistic billet bushing things too (Can't see how they could screw those parts up...)