huge question for a new bmw person

[beatup86]

e36 tranny is off of a 328 btw

[beatup86]

here is a random question, is there anyway to mate the e36 5speed to the m20? cause then I could cover half of the "swap" when I do the head??

[beatup86]

forgot to say that it is currently an auto ;(

[Ether-D]

There's tons of reading out there. Go into the 24 valve swap section and read for three weeks. Take the free car and the trans and motor.

Get a used head and timing belt for the m20. Drive it like that for a while, while you gather the swap parts.

And welcome to e30.

[Gary Horneck]

Free. Haul it all home!

[beatup86]

I suppose that's what I was thinking I was mainly wondering other people opinion on what else id need or so on. sorry im obnoxiously new to the bmw world, I went from Honda, to two ae86's, wrx and now all I have is my R6, so this whole world is new and slightly confusing

[Frankus12]

im no expert, but to me it seems like you would have to be crazy to turn that down. people certainly put that engine in e30s, idk much about it myself tho. but regardless of what you decide, i doubt youll ever have a chance to pick up a whole e30+engine and tranny for free again! you could even get a cheap head for the engine in there, throw it on, sell that engine, and throw the m52 in once you do the rings or whatever is burning the oil.

[beatup86]

hi there, well im about to get an 87 325is for free, it needs a new head/rebuilt head. the current owner is a bmw mechanic just never had the time to get to it. he also said he would throw in an m52 engine and tranny for free if I wanted them (the m52 he said is burning oil, and the tranny is a 5-speed). ive been reading that its more than possible to swap both the engine and tranny in the car, with added parts. I don't fully understand everything tho. the whole obd1-2 thing mainly. I guess the reason for this post is to get some opinions about this whole transaction for you guys (the experts), and to get any advice on things ill need (more parts, harnesses....etc) also where to get the proper ecu for the car, cause the engine doesn't come with a harness or the ecu.

thanks for any input that you guys have