VIN #336 Craigslist Find. S38 Swapped Euro E30

[Eric]

VIN #336 Craigslist Find. S38 Swapped Euro E30

Good news!

Buy the pipes and I'll weld up your exhaust.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tschultz]

I bet you are excited about this one!

I'm glad the valve adjust tool was put to good use!

[downforce22]

The car has been sitting in the shop for a while. I was busy preparing for my brother's wedding, picking up a 318is track car, travelling to San Fran for a cross country race, and to top it all off, my company laid me off last month.

Needless to say there has been some minor progress. I dropped off the m30 skid plate and the head has been assembled. When I was there last week, headbolts hadn't been ordered so the head was just sitting waiting for those to come in.

I received this picture yesterday and the head is now on the car! I have cleaned my garage to try to fit 3 cars in it so when it comes back it can stay inside while I figure out the titling procedure.



I still need an exhaust for the car and am debating about swapping the oem taillights back in.

[aegul44]

5 spokes on e30

[downforce22]

I am wondering about the s38b38 cam gears. I have done some research but it sounds like the cam gears only change the lobe separation angle (LSA) a few degrees. Apparently the cams are the same, as shown on realoem, so it isn't really worth messing with. These cams are different than the s38b35 and would have some benefit on an e24 or e28. Has anybody heard or experimented otherwise?

[kronus]

intervalves is good enough, my S38 has a few of their valves. let me know if you have any S38 top end assembly questions!

[downforce22]

The new head is in. It came from Germany. Supposedly there are only 7 heads left in Germany (according to my source). After inspection from the machine shop, none of the valves were within acceptable tolerances to be reused.

Its pretty crazy when you realize the cylinder head splits in two pieces and the cam tray is split from the actual cylinder head. The good news is my cam tray is still usable.





Here is an s14 cam tray for reference.



And another of an s38 with it all bolted together.



I am finding out why people are so afraid of engine work on these engines. A head from BMW lists north of $5000 from BMW. I also asked if I could get a B38 head but it sounded like they verify the vehicle vin etc before selling one to you, let alone in the US where the B38 was never officially sold.

BTW intake valves from BMW are $85 each. They are the same as the s14, and s38 engines from the e28s, and s24s including M635csi sold in europe. And exhaust valves are $165 each and fitting the same engines. B38 valves are different (larger and filled with a different metal). I found new valves at fcpeuro.com for a great deal at less than $30 each. Brand are intervalves and I read good things about them online. Here is their site. Anyway, here are two shots of the actual head with new valve train.

https://www.intervalves-technologies.com

Supposedly engine work will commence next week!! :devil:

[FreedomM3]

The black one is bad!!!!!!

[downforce22]

Small update today.

I sourced a replacement head for the car. The local machine shop said all of the valves were out of spec and thus unusable. So I had to source new valves for the head. With the rebuild I now will have peace of mind for the top half of the engine. Turns out you can't source a b38 head with a VIN number and they are more expensive plus require a core according to RealOEM.

I also snagged my favorite spoiler for the e30. Its the same one that was on Jason's old car, the 3 piece Kamei. It should even out the black Jimmy Hill spoiler on the front of the car. Really would love to find some kamei/zender wind splits. I may need to lower the rear, its really jacked up as I look at it now. Also will need an exhaust welded up as the e30 exhaust just isnt going to cut it on that s38.

I'll also swap out the fogs for the correct clear early fogs i have in a box and paint the Jimmy Hill flat black. Also wish I would have gotten the BBS side skirts that were for sale locally about a year ago. I'm not use to the non iX e30 side profile with no skirts

[Nesset]

I envy your find!

One day...

[Peterkaczynski]

I love this car great read and super cool find

[Eric]

Good to know alpina! But if tom runs just the b38 head and doesn't convert everything above the head to b38 spec, is there an advantage?

Are you saying the camshafts are the same part between b36 & b38?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Alpina]

Didn't paul Burke say he can fix the head? From an outsiders perspective that is the best choice.

Trying to make a b38 head fit in a b36 is about as logical as me wanting to stuff an s62 in the M3 because the S50 spun some rod bearings...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

the B38 head is a DIRECT fit,,, same cams,, same fitment everything,,

benefits.... 50mm runners,,, 6 coils,, and some more

power gain,=== should be more,,

as i have quite good experience with the B38,, i would say ANYDAY a B38 vs B36

but,, is it worth it vs cost

[FreedomM3]

I love Colorado. Now I love this thread! I shall come see your progress sometime November when I go to Breck this year!

I love the salmon and the hell of a deal! Good job!

[animal]

spent hours reading this. love it.

keep it up! def looking forward to seeing updates.