We'll I guess its time for a "build" thread, I guess you could call it. I picked up my 1991 318is with ~110k on the clock for a very reasonable $1,500. The car was daily drivable when I bought it. I drove it for about 1 year, completely stock other than the sound system the PO had installed.
I ended up with an M52 + ZF trans from a car that I bought to part out. I originally had thoughts of doing a turbo setup on the M42, but once this engine and trans fell into my lap, I knew I was doing the swap.
So out came the M42 & trans and was sold in a couple days.
I figured at this point, it was a good time to spend some money, do it right, and refresh a lot of worn parts in the car. Here is a list of the maintenance items I did before the swap and parts needed for the swap:
Front control arms
FCA bushings
Brake pads/rotors/sensors front & rear
New parking shoes & hardware
Bilsteins front & rear (cut 1 coil from the front stock springs and installed E90 drop hats)
Sway bar end links front & rear
Sway bar bushings front
Installed steering rack from 98' 328i (PS delete plate installed)
Tie rod assemblies
Strut mounts
Rear shock mounts
Water pump
Thermostat & housing
M42 rad & new hoses
Spal high perf. 13" fan
Then it was time to address the M52. I was told by the PO that it had high mileage on it when I bought it, but it was in good shape.
In went my S50 cams that I bought for a good deal. The S50 cams drop right into the M52 trays, fortunately. I also used a Beisan systems kit and rebuilt the VANOS unit. Also swapped in a metal oil filter housing for the plastic one.
I then installed the E34 M50 oil pan and pickup, I also tacked the oil pump nut in place since I was right there:
Then I took a wire brush, some chemicals and some elbow grease to clean up the block. Then I threw a coat of paint on it:
Then it was decided that while the engine was out, I should remove some unwanted items from the bay and give it a coat of paint as well:
Before I dropped the engine in, I did some more required work for the swap like run new fuels lines in the engine bay, modify and install an E21 brake booster, installed the throttle cable, etc.
Getting prepped for the swap (the clutch that came with the donor car was in very good shape so it was re-used, I just cleaned up the flywheel with an abrasive disc). I ditched the AC bracket at this point as I don't plan to have AC in the car:
In went the engine w/ new E34 mounts and then I bolted up the trans w/ new E30 mounts and a new guibo to mate up the DS. I also installed a new OEM Z3 shifter, bushings, clips, etc. Finding a few cut wires in my OBDI harness that was given to me was a bit nerve racking, but it all worked out:
The car is now up and running and a blast to drive. The 4.10 open diff in the car has GOT to go soon though :). I am now looking for a 2.93 LSD to swap in.
Maximum PSI, (where I used to work and currently still work remotely) built the exhaust for me. I cut and welded the stock OBDII front header to work around the subframe and they built the Y-pipe into a 2.5" single with a 2.5" universal cat and a single Magnaflow muffler. I am super happy with the sound and I don't stink like exhaust fumes after driving it.
I did some aesthetic mods as well like a new IS lip and I painted the kidneys and grills black. I've got a bunch of other things I want to do.
Here is a picture of the car as it currently sits:
Here is a video clip of the exhaust (iphone 3gs video):
I will be posting more pictures when I get a chance to take some decent ones. I still need to put the wire harness cover on, the engine covers, my Sparco strut bar, and possibly an OEM M20 airbox. Then I'll take some finished engine bay shots.
Thanks for looking!
I ended up with an M52 + ZF trans from a car that I bought to part out. I originally had thoughts of doing a turbo setup on the M42, but once this engine and trans fell into my lap, I knew I was doing the swap.
So out came the M42 & trans and was sold in a couple days.
I figured at this point, it was a good time to spend some money, do it right, and refresh a lot of worn parts in the car. Here is a list of the maintenance items I did before the swap and parts needed for the swap:
Front control arms
FCA bushings
Brake pads/rotors/sensors front & rear
New parking shoes & hardware
Bilsteins front & rear (cut 1 coil from the front stock springs and installed E90 drop hats)
Sway bar end links front & rear
Sway bar bushings front
Installed steering rack from 98' 328i (PS delete plate installed)
Tie rod assemblies
Strut mounts
Rear shock mounts
Water pump
Thermostat & housing
M42 rad & new hoses
Spal high perf. 13" fan
Then it was time to address the M52. I was told by the PO that it had high mileage on it when I bought it, but it was in good shape.
In went my S50 cams that I bought for a good deal. The S50 cams drop right into the M52 trays, fortunately. I also used a Beisan systems kit and rebuilt the VANOS unit. Also swapped in a metal oil filter housing for the plastic one.
I then installed the E34 M50 oil pan and pickup, I also tacked the oil pump nut in place since I was right there:
Then I took a wire brush, some chemicals and some elbow grease to clean up the block. Then I threw a coat of paint on it:
Then it was decided that while the engine was out, I should remove some unwanted items from the bay and give it a coat of paint as well:
Before I dropped the engine in, I did some more required work for the swap like run new fuels lines in the engine bay, modify and install an E21 brake booster, installed the throttle cable, etc.
Getting prepped for the swap (the clutch that came with the donor car was in very good shape so it was re-used, I just cleaned up the flywheel with an abrasive disc). I ditched the AC bracket at this point as I don't plan to have AC in the car:
In went the engine w/ new E34 mounts and then I bolted up the trans w/ new E30 mounts and a new guibo to mate up the DS. I also installed a new OEM Z3 shifter, bushings, clips, etc. Finding a few cut wires in my OBDI harness that was given to me was a bit nerve racking, but it all worked out:
The car is now up and running and a blast to drive. The 4.10 open diff in the car has GOT to go soon though :). I am now looking for a 2.93 LSD to swap in.
Maximum PSI, (where I used to work and currently still work remotely) built the exhaust for me. I cut and welded the stock OBDII front header to work around the subframe and they built the Y-pipe into a 2.5" single with a 2.5" universal cat and a single Magnaflow muffler. I am super happy with the sound and I don't stink like exhaust fumes after driving it.
I did some aesthetic mods as well like a new IS lip and I painted the kidneys and grills black. I've got a bunch of other things I want to do.
Here is a picture of the car as it currently sits:
Here is a video clip of the exhaust (iphone 3gs video):
I will be posting more pictures when I get a chance to take some decent ones. I still need to put the wire harness cover on, the engine covers, my Sparco strut bar, and possibly an OEM M20 airbox. Then I'll take some finished engine bay shots.
Thanks for looking!
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