Project: Spielereien. AKA "The dumpster fire"

[delamaize]

Update, Scored a Getreg 420g out of a 2000 540i, I go pick it up on monday. Still need a Flywheel, clutch and 404 ECU at this point, and of course all the garagistic goodies to bolt it in. Pictures on monday.

Also, side note, anyone bought the book that MACALENT put out on the swap? been debating if I want to buy it or not.

[MonkeyMadness]

Wow what a score!


Jerk....





:popcorn:

[artoo93]

I'm right there in the Long Term Project club!!! Been working on mine for almost 2.5 years!!! Blew up the M20 in November of 2012 if that tells you anything!

[CorvallisBMW]

sweet, sub'd!

[slammin.e28]

Long term project you say....

....I am the long term project master.

[delamaize]

Holy crap, I'm going full potato.....


Updates will be in this thread from now on.....

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?p=4354355

[mr.vang]

I wouldn't waste money on headers and an aftermarket air filter. A good chip, stock 325i exhaust system and a 3.25lsd will make an eta a fun car. Better yet if you have extra bling to spare, get an uuc short shifter, clutch stop, poly motor mount and e21 tranny mount. With this setup it made a huge difference in my 325is.

[delamaize]

Another update, been just doing little things here and there. I took the rubber pads out of the rear suspension, and got the .5" more drop that I wanted, it seems to be even front to back. I also did some cosmetic stuff inside and out. I bought a new front lip off craigslist, and today I was able to track down the hardware to mount it, made a huge difference. Also, I picked up a rear spoiler and some other random interior parts I was missing.





Also, after a long and hard though out process, I am going to go with a M30B33 or b35 swap eventually, for now I am going to do a little to wake the M20B27seta up a little. I already ditched the airbox, and went with an open element filter bolted to the barndoor with an adapter, it has made a little difference. I am also looking at doing some headers, and full exhaust. thinking I may also do larger injectors, and might chip it, or take it to be dyno'd and mild tune done.

After dropping it the other day, it became painfully obvious I need a camber kit front and back, so I am planning on installing one on the rear when I got to replace all the bushing and rubber in the rear. which will probably be my next big project.

[delamaize]

Installed some springs today, Bought some H&R E36 M3 springs off of a E30 vert from a fellow r3ver PuffKevinFizzle. I used the E90 drop hats on the front, rears are just the stock perches with the H&R springs. A nice surprise, it has fixed rate Bilstines all the way around, they just need to be cleaned up. pretty happy with the front, little lower in the back would be nice, I'm hoping that it will settle a little more over the next few days.

[delamaize]

Another small update, mostly cosmetic stuff. I picked up some Smileys, which I rebuilt the adjusters on, and got them installed, and made some adapters for the wiring, I am not a fan of cutting the original harness, the city lights are powered by using the old side front marker lights. Everything works, and it looks sweet. Although the right smiley has a leak and I got moisture in it. I'm not worrying about it for now, I plan on pulling them completely apart in the near future, and "black" them out. The car is originally Cirrusblau Metallic, my plan is to paint the inside of the smileys, and cross hairs for the highs this color, given the car will be repainted back to the original color eventually. It's one of those little details, that most will not notice, but I'll know it there.

Also in my quest to un-Americanize this beast, I've got a euro-spec front bumper for it (I got the missing trim piece now),



and like I mentioned before, I got a euro clock for the inside. In addition, the drivers seat outside bolster has been broke and loose since I got the car. I pulled the drivers seat.



and re-welded a broken bolster frame,



then welded it some more, because I am a fat ass, and I don't want it to break again.



Then reinstalled a screw that attaches the back to the base. Then I oiled everything up and freed up some formally frozen seat functions. It's nice to have a fully functioning seat now.

Been doing a little more research on the suspension and drivetrain also, I think I have settled on H&R Super Sport springs, E90 drop hats, and bilstins, along with replacing all the rubber bushings with new, solid rubber ones. I want a little stiffer ride that the stock bushings, but not quite "because race car." In addition, I think I'm going to go with the convertible sway bars front and back. from what I have been reading they, are a little stiffer than stock coupe ones, but not quite "race car." I'm ok with the brakes for now, althouth cross drilled and slotted rotors, and better pads are in the future.

As for the drive train, I decided against the M50nvB25 I had found earlier in a 5 series, it had low compression across the board, tranny had a whine in 1st and 2nd, and to add insult to injury, the oil pan was cracked. so I backed out.

I'm still thinking swap, but I'm going Full retard. I'm shooting for about 250hp to the ground, so I figure I need to make around 275 at the flywheel. I'm still kinda undecided on the motor, I am going back and forth between the S52 (if I can find one that isn't going to kill my bank account), or a M54. I wont go into motor details, because I am still undecided, But I will explain why I am going Full Retard.........

ITB......Individual Throttle Bodies. I have seen a few different M20s, M/S5Xs, and M54s with ITBs, they sounds awesome, and it seems like you get a pretty significant gain in flow and power over stock setup. So......Yeah.....

[delamaize]

Long time no update. Seta+Eta fuel system is in the car, and running well now, I have a hesitation between 2k and 3k, but it's driving. Some pictures of the install are attached.

Today, I installed new lower front suspension arms. I needed both inner and outer ball joints on both sides of the front. so rather than fighting with pressing old ones out and putting new ones in, I just replaced the whole arms. I also replaced the bushings in my lollipops. Eventually, I am going to go with the treehouse ones. but for now, new oem ones make a difference.

also, on the motor front, I have lined up a 1991 525i to use as a donor car for a M50 swap. it's got a M50nv, and a ZF trans, Not sure which one though, Fairly low miles, around 150k. I'm going to drive the donor car before pulling the trigger, but I think this is where I am going M50.....

[delamaize]

Major update:
SETA with ETA fuel system in the car and running. Car is driving now. More details later.....

[jalopi]

No, not really. It's just that, for instance, when I was building my 302 the front main bearing was kinda worn, but the others looked OK. Didn't care since I was gonna buy bearings... bearings are also very cheap for american v8's, not sure about m20s. In any case, I'd replace the bearings just because - I mean, it's easy and reasonably cheap, right?

Also, it's one of those things I'd end up kicking myself for if the engine started knocking a few months after getting it running. I hate pulling engines.

[delamaize]

Uuhh.... I'd pull the caps on all the rods/mains and at least make sure all of them look good... I mean, minus well do simple (while removed) stuff like that while it's out of the car.

good point, I'm still kinda new to the M20, I know quite a bit about the M42, just learning the M20. will check them all, is their any particular bearing that wears more than the others, or any big look out things?

[jalopi]

Uuhh.... I'd pull the caps on all the rods/mains and at least make sure all of them look good... I mean, minus well do simple (while removed) stuff like that while it's out of the car.