The complete repair, rebuild, repaint, and v8 swap of my early model sedan

[MR 325]

Wow I can't believe the hot spots on the flywheel and pressure plate after only 5k...

[Will_NZ]

I am busy tracking down a shudder in mine, only happens under hard acceleration from a standstill. I run an auto box in mine so not the clutch. I have improved it a huge lot by making sure the first bit of the prop to the centre hanger bearing is perfectly aligned and straight from the guibo, spaced the hanger bearing a bit downwards to get this right, and also pulled the whole engine/gearbox over a small amount +/- 5mm to get the north/south alignment perfect. Not 100% but about 95% now. Bit more tweaking and hopefully it will be good.

My exhaust welding looked exactly like yours, that is why I made the front end removable so I could remove the whole unit to fix the welds..!!! The auto box is a monster size so getting the engine/box out as a unit is a mission with the front end in place. This was early in my build, engine out to sort the exhausts...

[JGood]

Today was productive. Welded on v-band flanges on the manifolds




Also got my adjustable end links and strut mount tabs installed:








Also put some new tail light gaskets and license plate lights in (old junk parts in the back, fresh parts in the front)

[JGood]

I am busy tracking down a shudder in mine, only happens under hard acceleration from a standstill. I run an auto box in mine so not the clutch. I have improved it a huge lot by making sure the first bit of the prop to the centre hanger bearing is perfectly aligned and straight from the guibo, spaced the hanger bearing a bit downwards to get this right, and also pulled the whole engine/gearbox over a small amount +/- 5mm to get the north/south alignment perfect. Not 100% but about 95% now. Bit more tweaking and hopefully it will be good.

My exhaust welding looked exactly like yours, that is why I made the front end removable so I could remove the whole unit to fix the welds..!!! The auto box is a monster size so getting the engine/box out as a unit is a mission with the front end in place. This was early in my build, engine out to sort the exhausts...

Ooooo, right hand drive. Dealing with the passenger side manifold must be fun, haha. That trans is huge, yikes! Didn't go with the 300mm.de mounts?

[Will_NZ]

No, I have fabricated mounts that bolt through the chassis directly under the OEM engine mount arms so I can remove the crossmember without affecting the engine at all. They allow an almost vertical mount which allowed me to make my clearance between sump to the steering rack ~5mm.

Funnily enough, the LHS (passenger to us) was almost a bolt-in for the standard e32 exhaust manifold, just a minor tweak to the end of it necessary. The RHS (driver's side) was a mission!!!! Had to put a flange joint into the rear 2 cylinders so I could install the manifold with the steering shaft in place.

Your welding is improving I see.. practice makes perfect! Looking good!! :D

Gave my driveshaft alignment another tweak, vibration is almost gone now.

[JGood]

No, I have fabricated mounts that bolt through the chassis directly under the OEM engine mount arms so I can remove the crossmember without affecting the engine at all. They allow an almost vertical mount which allowed me to make my clearance between sump to the steering rack ~5mm.

Funnily enough, the LHS (passenger to us) was almost a bolt-in for the standard e32 exhaust manifold, just a minor tweak to the end of it necessary. The RHS (driver's side) was a mission!!!! Had to put a flange joint into the rear 2 cylinders so I could install the manifold with the steering shaft in place.

Your welding is improving I see.. practice makes perfect! Looking good!! :D

Gave my driveshaft alignment another tweak, vibration is almost gone now.

Good deal! That sounds like it would be nice, for simple suspension work. And if you're able to remove that manifold with the engine in place and steering shaft in place, you're a step ahead of me, I can't do that.

My project for next winter is going to be modifying my e34 LHS manifold to fit this car, as the flow looks about twice that of the e53 X5 manifolds I currently have. The RHS isn't so bad, so I'd leave that one alone. But on the LHS, the two rear cylinders share a tube that I can't even fit 2 fingers through, it's ridiculous. Or I may just build my own manifolds, depending on how things go.

[Will_NZ]

Have a look at this guy's manifolds... http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?n...=asc&start=200:bow::bow::bow::bow:

[JGood]

Have a look at this guy's manifolds... http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?n...=asc&start=200:bow::bow::bow::bow:

Thanks for the link, builds like that are what give me motivation. Truly amazing work.

[JGood]

While the engine is out, I'm going over some little things that I knew needed attention. But, there are some things I didn't even know about that need attention, such as this...

The oil pan must have been resting on the steering rack. Not sure if this was from before or after I installed the urethane mounts. I'm going to put a small spacer on the mounts just to be safe.






This is $50 worth of cross-threaded AN fittings. I ordered new ones and will be very careful in the future. It kind of sucks that it happened, but if this is what is causing my oil leak and the new fittings fix it, I'll be very happy.




I also picked up an m62b44 throttle body, as it doesn't have the huge wedge on the throttle plate to block airflow.

[JGood]

Got the engine back in this weekend.







I can't get over how little clearance there is...









Made some new fan and oil cooler mounts, much more durable and better fitting then before, then got that stuff installed and wired up.





The only thing left to do is reinstall the P/S reservoir and hoses, reconnect some wiring near the DME, then add fluids. I'll do a test fire of the engine, then reassemble all of the front end parts (lights, grilles, bumper, valance). Then it's time to build the exhaust system from scratch...

[Jean]

Nice nice! If it's not too much to ask, can you take detailed shots of your removable front-end / and it's mounting points etc ? Considering it :)

[Cabriolet]

very impressive work.

[slammin.e28]

Nice nice! If it's not too much to ask, can you take detailed shots of your removable front-end / and it's mounting points etc ? Considering it :)

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...6&postcount=55

[Link]

Wow. You sir have created a piece of artwork. Keep it up. Id love to see interior shots of this.

[JGood]

Thanks guys. Jean, check the link slammin posted. If you need more info/pics, shoot me a PM.