Steering Rack Swap / Major Maintenance

[DanMan68]

So I am planning on swapping in a e36 rack into my car, but I also have a bunch of stuff I want to tackle "while im in there" ;) .

The suspension was fairly well sorted out by the PO of the car so Im not going to touch much there, but I do want to get new/upgraded shifter bushings ect, hopefully fix my weird cooling issue by replacing the water pump, t-stat, new coolant ect, and basically refresh everything I can with out actually trying to rebuild the motor. I also have a klunking noise coming from the rear of the car, so I am going to investigate that as well, hopefully its just the diff bushing gone bad.

Anyway, my question is this. Considering the work I want to do would it be advisable to remove the whole engine and tranny? Considering that the steering rack swap, shifter bushings, and water pump / timing belt are all things that seem like they would be easier to take care of with the engine out of the car, would the combined pain of all these things out weigh the pain of removing the motor? Or am I crazy? This is the first time doing any of this stuff, so I really dont know.

[ck_taft325is]

I wouldn't remove the engine/trans for that. I swapped racks my first time with next to no help on jack stands. Wasn't too much of a pain under the car. I suggest making sure everything fits correctly and to follow the steering rack swap DIY from here on the forums. Taco's and all.

If you've got an m20, follow the Bentley Manual procedure for doing all that. "While you're in there" I'd hit the T-belt also. Be sure to snag some BMW Blue Coolant. I know, I know... they sell Coolant/Anti-freeze for "all makes and models" at the local Schmucks, but go with the BMW specific coolant from either the stealership or Pelican Parts, etc...

If you're running an m42, I'd tackle that mess under the intake. Specially if you're having coolant disappear or vacuum issues. Delete the throttle bottle heater plate while you're in there. Be sure to replace the main engine coolant pipe that's stuffed fairly deep under the intake. M42club.com has an amazing write up I followed and couldn't be happier!

Hope that helps.

[DanMan68]

I have an m20 and yeah, I was also going to do the T-belt.

I still think that am going to remove the engine and trans though. The trans output and selector seals seem to be leaking, so I want to replace them as well as the trans mounts and all the shifter bushings. I might as well slap a complete gasket kit on the block, clean everything up, remove the non functional A/C, crinkle paint the valve cover and manifold, ect. This would be in adition to swaping the steering rack, and replacing the t-stat, fan clutch, water pump, and t-belt.

I also have been trying to diagnose the source of an annoying clunk that happens when I accelerate/let out the clutch. It seems to be coming from the rear of the car, and I checked underneath the other day, but everything seemed fine. The gubio looked good, the diff bushing had some small cracks in it, but other wise was fine, the diveshaft didnt have any play I could detect, and neither did the axels.

I guess I will replace the center support bearing and the diff bushing and see if that fixes it? Or am I barking up the wrong tree? What else could cause the klunk and felt slack while im driving, but everything feeling tight under the car?

[Naplm00]

I just did all this same work, swapped PS, oilpan gasket, Tbelt


it is all easily doable in the car with the trans still in there.


undo the motor mounts and list the motor up by the lifting eye. this will make swapping the oilpan gasket and Ps rack easier. Yuo can remove the radiator and the front grills to make the Tbelt a breeze


The clunking is most likely the exhaust or the CSB.

[DanMan68]

What about the shifter bushings and seals? Is it possible to do those while the trans is still in the car? Can you take out the trans but not the engine?

[Naplm00]

You can do the shifter bushings and the rear seals of the tranny with the engine n the car.

Exhaust must be out as well as the driveshaft