2011-2012 Project: Get an S54 running in an E30 using a stock MSS54 DME

[dude8383]

Wait wut? Scrapping the s54 project?

[FredJ]

The car is as done as its getting fellas.



Time for a new project. E36 with a LS6 is coming shortly. I will start a thread.

[airkhin]

im looking forward to more pics of progress..

[harv]

This is taking almost as long as my 2002!

John

[FredJ]

New info coming soon guys. Car will be done by 2015, I promise.

[FredJ]

Finally some more good info itt.

[nando]

also search for the BMW TIS article on rebuilding a diff. it's pretty much step by step factory instructions.

[FredK]

I just did a "replace bearings" deal, which isn't the same as "building a diff" which would require a little more care in the setup--where you'd set the contact patch between the ring and pinion by way of setting the fore-aft with the shim, and the side-to-side with shim stock.

The most complete information resource is on the Ohio Bimmers forum in this thread (you must have an account to access it): http://ohiobimmers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3624

winfred had a writeup on an OBX Torsen install, and that thread has some pictures of the diff internals that is helpful to rebuilding a diff. He didn't replace the pinion bearing, though.

[craiggroves91]

It's not that bad, but you'll need a hydraulic press and some bearing/bushing drivers (such as Harbor Freight 95853, which is what I used), and a bearing puller.

You'll also probably want a in-lb torque wrench to set the nose bearing preload, unless you want to just do it by feel. I didn't want to risk having to pull the nose bearing again, so I just bought a $35 beam-type Park TW-1 torque wrench.

It probably took a couple hours to do the whole job.

Hm I think I have access to those things.

I found a shop who would do it for ~$200 which isn't really that bad.
It's just a loud pinion bearing, like yours.

Is there any good write ups on it?

[FredK]

Is it hard to do the bearings on a diff?
I was going to pay to have it done, but it doesn't look too bad?

It's not that bad, but you'll need a hydraulic press and some bearing/bushing drivers (such as Harbor Freight 95853, which is what I used), and a bearing puller.

You'll also probably want a in-lb torque wrench to set the nose bearing preload, unless you want to just do it by feel. I didn't want to risk having to pull the nose bearing again, so I just bought a $35 beam-type Park TW-1 torque wrench.

It probably took a couple hours to do the whole job.

[craiggroves91]

Drivetrain
I bought a S3.25 from BenM with a noisy pinion bearing on the cheap. I opened it up and everything was pretty clean, except the torque wasn't set correctly on the pinion gear. The washer got crushed down but somehow the bearings ate themselves up. So, I'm rebuilding it.



The friction plates looked OK, so I'm just going to reuse them for the time being. This is my first diff rebuild so I'd rather not dump $250 into machining, an extra dog plate and 3 new friction discs.

Hopefully this section has a few more pictures, but PiercedGuy had a pretty good rundown on what's necessary to swap an LSD in. The pinion setup is just a few more steps, but like an idiot I didn't take any pictures of that.

Today I set the pinion drag torque. I used a Park TW-1 torque wrench to get to 16 in-lb with the front seal in place. It's the cheapest 0-60 in-lb torque wrench out there, probably, at around $35. I used an E36 fan clutch tool as a counter holder and a long breaker bar to crush the sleeve down.

4/30/11
I installed the diff after installing the LSD pumpkin. Just need to put new dustcover plates on the output shafts and install the halfshafts.

3/11/12
I installed a low mileage E36 328i manual driveshaft with a new Lemfoerder E36 M3 flex disc. This required using different flex disc bolts. They were PN 26112283795, and are 4mm longer than the 328i bolts.

Is it hard to do the bearings on a diff?
I was going to pay to have it done, but it doesn't look too bad?

[FredK]

I think I'd have to get a Mazdaspeed3 first, get bored of doing front wheel burnouts and plowing through autocross courses, then move onto a Tacoma and a Miata, while dreaming of a STI BR-Z, an LS3 powered E30, and a six pack of cheesecake frosted red velvet cupcakes. :razz:

[nando]

*crickets chirping*

hehe. finally! so, how many months until you drive it, decide you're bored, and then sell it for a miata? :p

[FredK]

Werd. I started the engine today. I mostly need to hook up the exhaust, clean up the wiring, and bleed the brakes. The end is in sight!

I'm still updating the original posts, though they're kind of boring without any pictures. Haha.

[Farbin Kaiber]