Heart Transplant...for the e30

[ZenkiOwns]

Hey guys,

I've had my e30 parked in my driveway with a blown motor for a few months, but now I'm finally ready to do something about it.

I've found a m20+5 speed swap locally for a few hundred dollars, but I'm not sure if I really want to put another m20 in there.

I've browsed build threads here, there and everywhere for ideas...

I would really like to have something a little more dependable in there, so I'm taking suggestions.

I have considered doing an SR20 swap, as those are very easy to find and cheap in my area. I've also considered 2jz, RB series and v8 (non LS series) swaps as well. a turbo m20 is also floating around in my head.

I've seen a few SR20 swaps done in e30's and the results seem very achievable and not too extremely expensive.

I doubt I will go with the m50, m52, s50 or s52 series due to the comparison of power, reliability and "bang for your buck"

I'm ready to build this car back into something that can take the abuse of being a DD and still have a decent amount of fun as well.

It's getting close to time to retire my s4 as the daily and get this back on the street!




Ideas, criticism, videos, links, everything helpful is acceptable here.


Thanks in advance.

[lolcantturn]

People actually put M20's back into E30's? I thought they only took them out..

I doubt I will go with the m50, m52, s50 or s52 series due to the comparison of power, reliability and "bang for your buck"

if you think this you probably have never stepped a foot into the 24V forums.

anyway, best of luck.

[ZenkiOwns]

That was not meant as an insult toward the s5X or m5X crowd at all. A buddy of mine had to rebuild his s50 and spent nearly 2,500 on OEM spec parts. If I screwed up and blew up an SR I could find a longblock for around 500-750.

I'm still new to this, so don't take my ignorance as bias.

[lolcantturn]

1: he spent $2500 because it's an M3 motor
2: M motors cost so much more to buy and build up
3: Go on the 24V forums, you won't find a reliability issue thread unless it's correlated to the actual swap (i.e.: an error due to the owner's wiring or incorrect parts), it is VERY rare for these motors to fail.
4: you don't have to rebuild a 24V motor unless you don't want to...as long as they have good compression and aren't leaking oil, drive that bitch for as long as you can. Any motor costs money to rebuild.

24V swaps are WELL documented, easy, and cheap.

[Blaine0002]

it is VERY rare for these motors to fail.

ehhh, id say headgasket is a common issue.

[bmw335isturbo]

M30 fan!!

[Mercury[BKM]]

5.0 swap .. reliability, parts availability, alluminum head makes it lighter than the m20, and infinite power options



^ e30 with a 93 cobra swap

...you said no LSX swap, so this is the next best thing

(also 302 and T5 trannies can be had for almost free since they're eeeverywhere)

[lolcantturn]

Are there any well documented 5.0 swaps?

[Mr. EG]

Whoa ^^

[ill4noreason]

http://www.e30v8.com/

[lolcantturn]

What do you do with the brake booster......

[Mercury[BKM]]

ill be going manual brakes, but you can get it in there. its in the write up.

plus swap parts are cheap from the site, or just make your own with some metal and hockey pucks

[lolcantturn]

Litterally about to sell my entire M50 swap.

[Mercury[BKM]]

5.0 with aluminum head, 303 cam and intake will be 350ish raw HP for like 1,000 beans with trans etc etc

m50 can't come even close to that dollar for dollar, hell s52 doesn't even compare

no replacement for displacement and NA power

[lolcantturn]

Yup made up my mind. gotta find a cheap T5 trans and a place to get this done and a spare daily driver and my swap will be for sale soon.