Ill4noreason's 87 Vert Swap Project...

[ill4noreason]

Ok so I bought this car almost a year ago with a blown motor. The car has all original paint. No major flaws. 132,000 miles factory 5spd 1987 325ic. It has been sitting and I knew I wanted to do a swap just wasn't sure which one. So 4 motor purchases later. I bought a m50 vanos. Here is the progress so far...
The night I towed it home...


Stored in garage all winter...



Pulled the blown motor...


And then it sat for about 6 months as I was busy with work...
Then about two weeks ago me and 2 guys from r3v started working on doing the swap we pulled the subframe off two cars swapped over the parts needed to fit the m50 into my vert and the next day everything was mounted up...




And that is where the project stands now. I got the car to run last night had the fuel lines mixed up lol. Now I have to add a 16 inch fan and get it wired up so I can control it and it will work automatically. Also need to get exhaust welded up from the downpipe to fit my stainless cat back...

I just bought some wheels. I'm still not sure on what bumpers I'm going with yet. Was thinking about euro's but plastics look good on an all black vert so maybe I'll post a poll.
The car has brand new H&R Race Springs, Bilstien Sport shocks, thr cab's, Short shifter kit, Stratec Tails, Hawk pads And lot's more can't wait to drive it!

[el bimmer]

Subscribed! Looking GooD

[ldsbeaker]

Sucks when life gets in the way of your obsession, huh?

I'm glad that you got it started, almost top-down cruising season...

[CabrioPunk]

Nice man. Go plastics. DBscan give a sleeper status but break up black a lot.

Nice work.

[DREWHALL]

Alright another swap car in the "area". Whered you get the Startecs? Should look good...I vote plastics.

[325ix]

Euros for sure! Then slap an mtech1 kit on it.

[ill4noreason]

Thanks guys! I got the startecs with the car! So I temporarily wired up a bmw 14 inch 2 speed pusher fan. And went for a drive... Ah it was drizzling with top down but I did not give a shit I had to drive it. It pulls pretty hard for an m50. I think it is running rough because no 02 sensor is hooked up. Bled the brakes and clutch again brakes are tight clutch not so much. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but will figure it out. I cleaned up the rear seats and all the metal behind the seats. here is the engine bay as of today.


here is a video of my first drive it was raining and my seat was not mounted so quality is shit...

[ldsbeaker]

You and me both running around with no headers for our maiden voyages today.
(drove my e28 today)
Epic win!!

[ill4noreason]

You and me both running around with no headers for our maiden voyages today.
(drove my e28 today)
Epic win!!

Sweet! Are you gonna bring it out to the meet? I am gonna get my exhaust done by Wednesday. So I should be able to make it up there. Even If I only have one seat and no bumpers. How did the e28 run?

[ldsbeaker]

It ran okay, still kind of a funny idle. I haven't driven that car in... oh almost 3 years, I think?)
I have a BMW exhaust with 10k on it, and all new hardware to mount it.
Coming to an e30 meet near you!
(Screw that, who wants to read about an e28? I need to move my ass and get the B35 swap done in the e30... clock's ticking!)

[5ickride]

Nice, im working on my vert also. Go euro bumpers for sure, not too many of those.

Good luck

[CorvallisBMW]

m50+euro bumps=win

[ill4noreason]

Got bored doing mechanical work so decided to try out some stuff I had laying around...


I don't know what brand of bar this is anyone know?

[Simon S]

Sparco bar

[Simon S]

Sweet project btw..

the bumper choice is kind of conditional:
Euros: if they were easy to find/source - euros all the f'ing way. No big whoop if they were ragged - would likely color-match them anyway.

Plastics: Probably easiest/cheapest to source - but more work to fit on rear.

DBs: all about the rear valence. Once saw a tucked DB car with a proper rear valence - it was amazing how just that rear valence updated the profile and overall look of the car.