E30 volvo 5 cylinder swap project

[grezzo_corse]

Hi everyone!
i'm Lollo from italy and i'm actually swapping a volvo t5 into my e30, (sorry about my english)
i'm making this thread since some people asked me about the build and explainig every time it's a pain in the ass just kiddind but explaining it in english is a problem for an italian ahah,
so the car is an e30 ex 318i, and the engine is a b5234t3 with 325tds e36 gaerbox

i'm not a mechanic (hope one day) but when i want to do a thing i find the way to do it! i build everything execpt for the gerabox adapter.
in these days i'll upload all the parts needed and the process (i can't guarantee it's correct but it runs)
and also i'll upload a small serie on youtube
I hope to do something appreciable!

[grezzo_corse]

ok, first thing needed is the adapter plate, mine is from kl-racing

this one is for m20/m51/m57 bmw engine, so i bought an e36 325td gearbox. they also sell a shaft kit, is beacuse the bmw gearbox shaft isn't long enough to reach the engine
You need also a bmw 240mm clutch disk.
here you can see the shaft from the kit (i made my onw)

to install the gearbox is important to sand the inner part of the gearbox or it will touch the flywheel teeth! also is obligatory to weld a spacer (10mm, i made mine adjustable) between the clutch fork and the clutch bearing!

[Panici]

Neat! I'm following along to see your progress.

Also, the pictures in your first post don't show up for me?

What part of Italy are you from?

[MrBurgundy]

I think someone recently swapped in a similar setup here on R3v

[grezzo_corse]

Neat! I'm following along to see your progress.

Also, the pictures in your first post don't show up for me?

What part of Italy are you from?

photo fixed! north italy, near Milan

[grezzo_corse]

I think someone recently swapped in a similar setup here on R3v

yup, but i'm using a different and cheaper adapter plate with different parts

[grezzo_corse]

after installing the gearbox i've removed the oil pan, the original is too high and touches the subframe.
i've also lowered the subframe 20mm and moved in front the sway bar

(i'll install tie rods on the control arm and on the steering rods to recalibrate the suspension geometry) to gain enough space for a custom oil pan, before that ì've placed the engine as near as i can to the firewall always to gain space for the oil pan.
as i've seen is possible to install the engine without making this spacer, or just 10mm. I still preferred to lower it
these are the brackets i've made


in this weeks i'm actually building another oil pan during the spare time, next step will be that!

[econti]

This could be very cool, good luck

[iXBeater]

You're not a mechanic but you can fabricate? I'm not a welder, but that looks like pretty good work!

What's the story on the color of the engine bay?

[Panici]

You're not a mechanic but you can fabricate? I'm not a welder, but that looks like pretty good work!

Agreed looks like great work for a hobbyist!

[hasa]

Oilpan is probably the most difficult part of this project. Typically they cut and weld 6cyl whiteblock oilpans to make conversions like this. I love this project, and north Italy too.

[grezzo_corse]

You're not a mechanic but you can fabricate? I'm not a welder, but that looks like pretty good work!

What's the story on the color of the engine bay?

yup ahah i love fabricating things! thanks!
for the color of the engine bay this is a test, i'm thinking to change it for a grey or orange

[grezzo_corse]

this is the progress for my oil pan v2 (that's the second i'm making)
the first one was leaking and is curved (my mistake while welding)
this one is different because i'm not relocating the oil filter, hoping is not too low from ground
is made out of anticordal sheet