Not your typical DOHC swap

[for3ver]

So I am getting bored with my current daily driver and I decided to do a swap. I wanted to do an m42 swap because its light, gets good gas mileage, and isn't your typical swap. I am currently in the research stages to figure out what are the basic parts that are needed to get the swap done. Here are some pictures of the car and the engine.







So far I have the Engine, ECU, transmission, drive shaft, and radiator.

So my plans are to do it in two stages. Stage one is to just do the swap with all the stock parts so I know I got everything working right. Stage two is to pull it out and do some of the m42 mods like a shaved m20 flywheel, COP, mark D chip, injectors, upgrade the timing (maybe single row chain), and the mess under the intake. I also plan on shaving and repainting the bay during stage 2 while the engine is out.

What I still need is an m42 stock exhaust, cluster, and diff. I also need the body side of the connector coming from the fuse box that goes to the engine harness. Also does anyone know if the m20 trans brace are the same as the m42?

[grippymonkey]

Good stuff man! I love the revs on my M42, and the gas mileage on these cars can be really good. I am running a 4.10 lsd, but I am hoping to either find a 4.27 lsd or swap the gears into a 4.10 from a 4.27. That will liven the car up a bit especially once I get a few more things going on it too.

Keep us posted!

[Vtec?lol]

Good stuff man! I love the revs on my M42, and the gas mileage on these cars can be really good. I am running a 4.10 lsd, but I am hoping to either find a 4.27 lsd or swap the gears into a 4.10 from a 4.27. That will liven the car up a bit especially once I get a few more things going on it too.

Keep us posted!

lol You can't go anywhere as it is in a 4.10, you will run out of gear at like 80ish mph (maybe not) with a 4.27 and a g240. That would render the car useless imo.

[for3ver]

So I got my engine out today and I just realized I have a sheet metal shift carrier. Is my late model aluminum shifter carrier going to bolt right up?

[F34R]

lol You can't go anywhere as it is in a 4.10, you will run out of gear at like 80ish mph (maybe not) with a 4.27 and a g240. That would render the car useless imo.

Agreed

[JTapper]

So I got my engine out today and I just realized I have a sheet metal shift carrier. Is my late model aluminum shifter carrier going to bolt right up?

If your trans has the mounting ears, yes.

If not, you can make a bracket. I made a bracket.

[nrubenstein]

lol You can't go anywhere as it is in a 4.10, you will run out of gear at like 80ish mph (maybe not) with a 4.27 and a g240. That would render the car useless imo.

122mph @ 7K on a ZF320 with a 4.10. The G240 is overdrive, so it'd do just fine.

[grippymonkey]

lol You can't go anywhere as it is in a 4.10, you will run out of gear at like 80ish mph (maybe not) with a 4.27 and a g240. That would render the car useless imo.

how so? there's a few M42's that come with 4.27's... like the 91 318i vert my gf's sister drives... it doesn't top out at 80mph. It is just a little more noticeable on takeoff.

thanks for trying to give me bad info though

I think it's something like a 4% difference in gearing. That's like going down a sidewall size.

[Reap3r]

lol You can't go anywhere as it is in a 4.10, you will run out of gear at like 80ish mph (maybe not) with a 4.27 and a g240. That would render the car useless imo.

My M42 has been above 200kmph(120mph) with the 4.10 & G240 in it at 7000rpm....


OT: You'll love the M42, they're great engines & really rev happy. I couldn't let mine go to do a 24v swap & decided to turbo it instead :)

[TimKninja]

The sheet metal shifter blows. Find an aluminum one. And the 240 to match it.

[MikeDE]

I like this thread.

I did the same thing to my Touring and I love it. The M42 is a fun little motor, great city & hwy economy, and I still have the 4.10. I am about to order a Chip and do an electric puller fan. After that I might go 3.91, an extra 250-300rpm on the hwy will go a long way. Check out my build thread for info if ya like.

Good luck...

[mikeedler]

so wait,??????? you pulled an M20 to stick a wheezer motor with less hp into your car?????

wtf? BTW, I have an M42 car too, and have no love for it, my M20 makes me soooo happy compared to it.
enjoy I guess.

[MikeDE]

wtf? BTW, I have an M42 car too, and have no love for it, my M20 makes me soooo happy compared to it.
enjoy I guess.

I lol'd.

[for3ver]

so wait,??????? you pulled an M20 to stick a wheezer motor with less hp into your car?????

wtf? BTW, I have an M42 car too, and have no love for it, my M20 makes me soooo happy compared to it.
enjoy I guess.

Actually the m42 has more hp, it revs higher than 4,500, and is also lighter.

[davem]

I have a m20b25 car and have driven an m42 car. Performance is similar and imo m42 > m20b27. Ultimately it depends on which one is in better shape and less tired, and of course, personal preference. Cool swap OP.