Strict budget, slow restoration. *Now with moar budget*

[N2MYE30]

I really like this thread.

[PaladinReed]

true wrencher. its admirable

[Faviolosky]

i like where this is going. moar :hitler::hitler:moar

[Lof8]

You're not going to do the swap on the side of the road? weak! jk man, I like your style. Good luck with your swap.

[rbartongrimley]

IMC hookup, nice.

Looking forward to seeing the swap progress!

Haha, the first thing I noticed on that picture was the IMC delivery tags on the box too. I do enjoy doing business with that company quite a bit.


Wh33lhop, I do not know if you remember meeting me at a SBEC meet at Sears, but I was the guy that was into E30's too. I am currently about to start doing my swap in Carpinteria (s50 into 1990 325is). We should combine our minds and talk about these projects!

[Wh33lhop]

Thanks guys. IMC is the shit. Definitely pays to know mechanics.

i like where this is going. moar :hitler::hitler:moar

It's about 40-50 miles from me so I can only go up there on weekends. Patience young padawan.

You're not going to do the swap on the side of the road? weak! jk man, I like your style. Good luck with your swap.

:p You know what, I ALMOST did. At the last minute someone suggested I try and rent out some space which triggered some uncertainty. Someone who I just met offered to lend out some space (I know I'll return to find everything gone, right? :p) guy is really cool. So I took it, didn't have much else of a choice. Thanks for the wishes.

Haha, the first thing I noticed on that picture was the IMC delivery tags on the box too. I do enjoy doing business with that company quite a bit.


Wh33lhop, I do not know if you remember meeting me at a SBEC meet at Sears, but I was the guy that was into E30's too. I am currently about to start doing my swap in Carpinteria (s50 into 1990 325is). We should combine our minds and talk about these projects!

Fo sho. That was a long time ago, I really only remember meeting Rory and Hammond, and vaguely at that. But I am down to dabble in some DOHC E30s, don't have much time during the week and don't have a mode of transportation (using the Casino bus to get to Santa Ynez where the car's at, they look at me funny but don't say anything) but we can work it out. I'll PM you my number.

[threlevenguy]

youre doing it wrong. engine goes in the front of the car. haha, good luck with the swap!!

[ob_318is]

I really like this thread.

I like this thread too, the only one I have actually read...and enjoyed pics. The only thing that is mind-boggling is the "strict budget"... until that was a donor M50... and smiley's.

[Wh33lhop]

I like this thread too, the only one I have actually read...and enjoyed pics. The only thing that is mind-boggling is the "strict budget"... until that was a donor M50... and smiley's.

Actually, the sway bars were almost as much as the M50, I'd consider them the most "spendy" part of the project (were my bday present to myself though).

Just think of it this way, started out on a very strict budget, but I got a payed internship over the summer, maybe sold my body a few times on the way. :p Glad you enjoyed the pics.

[2002maniac]

awesome project! I was hoping to see a curbside motor swap though :)

[nizrulesall]

this is a badass thread, gj i like your sense of humor wheelhop

[ThaiRacer]

Wow I like your motivation and dedication to your car. By far one of the best threads I have read.

[M42Stephen]

This is great, you are a true gearhead! Two thumbs way up!

[Wh33lhop]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it :)

Weekend update:

Got a good deal done this weekend.

How I found her when I returned:



I started disconnecting the few things that were left

Got sick of the heater core lines so I just cut them


Look at that, it's got an oil cooler. Goodbye oil cooler (doesn't look like there are fittings on the M50 for this?)



Finally! Just using the front bracket since I couldn't get to the rear hoist point. I wouldn't do this normally but others on r3v have had decent results.


Removed the clutch slave while it was more accessible (fuck doing that while it's in the car)


You can spot the bracket starting to bend, I figure most who've done it this way might not have pulled the long block/IM and tranny all using one bracket.


I kept it going anyway, my entire weekend would be wasted if I didn't (have no other hooks besides the one already on the cherry picker)
Success! I had to drop the chassis by a good 4 inches to clear the body.


Separated the G260 courtesy of my hack saw.. seized top bolt no me gusta


Hey, bitch clip! Fuck you!


Used MR 325's "hack saw" method of CAB removal


Used a bench vice and motor oil (I know I know) to press in the new M3 bushings. This one didn't really have the orientation quite right but I matched the other one pretty well, so at least it's symmetric.


Out comes the M50... First time I'd seen its pretty valve cover since I bought it


Up...


And away!


Bell housing assy was a pain to remove


Two of the three bolts that stripped on me, I wound up just hammering a 13mm socket onto them


The flywheel that's going to say goodbye to a few lbs of padding


And the clutch... what do you think? It's been fine, hasn't been replaced in awhile but has been pretty grabby. Then again I'm not sure how much material is normal, but there's not all that much left.



I'm going to do the pilot and throwout bearing anyway, think I should just get the full clutch kit? Looks like it's got some life left... but how much I don't know.

Anyway my camera ran out of batteries, I took a few pictures with the phone but they didn't turn out.

Few other things I did
Remove steering rack
Reinstall one control arm (although still wrestling to get the lollipop to thread, didn't get it "all the way on" the control arm)
Drain M50 oil and start installing accessories.

I haven't gotten the obligatory "in the engine bay" pic because I've done all of this on my own. I'll try and get one, as it is after all obligatory.

Now to get the flywheel lightened, order a part here and there and deal with engineering classes during the week. Hard knock life. :p

[MR 325]

Nice progress! I could use that oil cooler setup for my 325eS!