Big ///M Motor...small car

[cramer]

With all the talk over the years about the motor going into Derek's E30, I figured he started an installment plan long before the kid came along :p

[James Crivellone]

Small Friday update.

I don't have any real help tonight to hold motor and measure mounts, so I worked on the ECU/Electronics box instead.

I took the stock E34 M5 ECU box and chopped a portion of it off to clear the E30 strut towers, after that was done I cut a half moon into the cover and will build a gasket that presses up against the strut tower when bolted into place.

I still need to build the bottom section which will go under the aluminum ECU frame, but the hood clears, it looks badass, and its the stock location for the ECU on the E34, so all the cables are the correct length and the rubber gaskets all match up :)

[Holland]

I like that idea, totally looks stock.

[James Crivellone]

I like that idea, totally looks stock.

And that my friend is the ENTIRE genre of this build.

Now to get a shrinking machine to make the E34 intake smaller =/

[GDA]

And that my friend is the ENTIRE genre of this build.

Now to get a shrinking machine to make the E34 intake smaller =/

Good luck with that one ^ ... its HUGE!!!

Its just as big as the intake plenum but runs vertical instead!!

Awesome build btw. You are going to truly enjoy the S38. I know I sure do.

[Jand3rson]

Looking good, James.

[Jean]

James - I tried to the do the same thing, picked up an e34 ecu/dme box and tried to fit it in the battery tray and it wouldn't fit w/o much cutting etc. It will look clean though, that's for sure !

[gregslow318i]

James - I tried to the do the same thing, picked up an e34 ecu/dme box and tried to fit it in the battery tray and it wouldn't fit w/o much cutting etc. It will look clean though, that's for sure !

yeah I had the same problem and finally broke down and extended the harness 16in...all 80some wires...

[James Crivellone]

Got part of the driver side mount done today, John got it all welded up and it looks pretty damn good, just need to build the other half of it (to box the arm in), trim it, and we will be good for one side. The passenger side will be interesting due to header clearance.

It appears the subframe will need a small spacer, figuring that out once the motor is in place..





Got the thermostat housing installed, barely clears but will work fine with a custom radiator



Thermostat housing from the front.

[Edev]

This is going to be so F'ing badass. It's going to frustrate me when its finished because it's the perfect E30.

[J3M93]

shmexy

[Jand3rson]

Nice welds on that engine mount!

James, what kind of plans do you have cosmetically for stuff? Just going to leave everything basic black and as-is?

[James Crivellone]

Nice welds on that engine mount!

James, what kind of plans do you have cosmetically for stuff? Just going to leave everything basic black and as-is?

Motor will be cleaned, but most of it will remain black.

Black, White, Chrome, Houndstooth is about all this car will be.

[hi its me alec]

Black, White, Chrome, Houndstooth is about all this car will be.

excellent

and man.. i can't believe how monstrous that thermostat housing is.

[Jand3rson]

Motor will be cleaned, but most of it will remain black.

Black, White, Chrome, Houndstooth is about all this car will be.

I'm bringing 3 cans of Grabber Green hi-temp engine enamel and we're going to spray bomb that shit while you're passed out after the party...