Hey nerds, been a while. Figured I should start another build page for my next project. I snagged an 86 325(e) with a blown motor and since I had a spare I motor sitting around to just swap that in. All this took place over a few visit to my brother’s (where my cars are currently living) to get ready for some time on Deal’s Gap and the Brodeo. Here’s some pics and commentary: 
Tear downs and engine builds with stubby bottles 
In the drawn out transformation from e to i 
Oh hey, this shoulda been damn it all if I’m not about to start over. Yankin’ the blown eta. No saving the bottom end for another 2.7i. The timing belt snapped and valves were lost, walls and pistons chewed to shit. Got a great deal on ‘er though! 
The stable as we left it from this trip (from left to right): My brother’s 89 s52 swap, my 86 eta to i, my brother’s 91 325ic, the OG Swanny 327i. 
Came back through on another visit with my trust copilots 
Some more old man beer 
Heading into town with my brother we catch a flat in his X5. Came back with the 327 and laughed as the wheel barely fit in. 
Didn’t get anything done on my cars this trip but helped manual swap his vert. “Never again without a lift” was the oft repeated phrase. 
Tried to clay bar the hood and see if the clear was a total loss. It came back a little and might be salvageable with a proper cut and buff. 
Driving back down to FL and couldn’t pass up the opportunity. 
Jump ahead a bit and here we are in the Smokies. First of the Brodeo gang to arrive. 
Cold weather hammock set up. Worked remarkably well considering it was a surprise cold snap. 
Brr 
She did well as a basically stock/refreshed 325i. The eta rear end was very disorienting. Can keep it in 2nd up to 70 so finding power bands was interesting. Also ran into a little issue with power cut out. Think we traced it to a clogged cat. Fuel delivery was the initial guess but was ruled out. My next trip up will be to drop that and work on some audio. Stock radio will NOT clear CODE so looking to find another stock receiver to upgrade with bluetooth or just do a whole modern deck/amp/sub set up since I still have an unused lukebox. Thought I had way more progress photos and skipped over some details but I’m sure to add more between this and my original build.
Tear downs and engine builds with stubby bottles In the drawn out transformation from e to i Oh hey, this shoulda been damn it all if I’m not about to start over. Yankin’ the blown eta. No saving the bottom end for another 2.7i. The timing belt snapped and valves were lost, walls and pistons chewed to shit. Got a great deal on ‘er though! The stable as we left it from this trip (from left to right): My brother’s 89 s52 swap, my 86 eta to i, my brother’s 91 325ic, the OG Swanny 327i. Came back through on another visit with my trust copilots Some more old man beer Heading into town with my brother we catch a flat in his X5. Came back with the 327 and laughed as the wheel barely fit in. Didn’t get anything done on my cars this trip but helped manual swap his vert. “Never again without a lift” was the oft repeated phrase. Tried to clay bar the hood and see if the clear was a total loss. It came back a little and might be salvageable with a proper cut and buff. Driving back down to FL and couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Jump ahead a bit and here we are in the Smokies. First of the Brodeo gang to arrive. Cold weather hammock set up. Worked remarkably well considering it was a surprise cold snap. Brr She did well as a basically stock/refreshed 325i. The eta rear end was very disorienting. Can keep it in 2nd up to 70 so finding power bands was interesting. Also ran into a little issue with power cut out. Think we traced it to a clogged cat. Fuel delivery was the initial guess but was ruled out. My next trip up will be to drop that and work on some audio. Stock radio will NOT clear CODE so looking to find another stock receiver to upgrade with bluetooth or just do a whole modern deck/amp/sub set up since I still have an unused lukebox. Thought I had way more progress photos and skipped over some details but I’m sure to add more between this and my original build.
Rear deck lid with Infinity Kappa 50.11 components. 
And a close up 
Car wasn’t equipped with the sail tweeters (new tweeters are much larger anyway) but made due with the blanks and the included mounting hardware. I’m planning on sketching out and 3d printing replacements that slide in to replace the tabs that are prone to failure. 
Lukebox with the yet to be gussied up wiring. That lil amp does the job well as its 4x80rms + 1x350rms all 2ohm and is in a quaint 8.25”x10.25”x2.75” package 
Had my trusty helper and quality inspector, Kona, on duty throughout the install. 
Additional friend was made; this poor guy laying next to the car one afternoon where it was in the 90s outside. Managed to get him cooled down and fed, then he was off like nothing happened. 
Ol’ husky is ridding shotgun on the dash for now. 
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