6/83 grey market 323i.. mtech I S50 5-lug

[Cabriolet]

Why are the rear coilovers installed like that?

Glad you used that S52 crank

[kronus]

Why are the rear coilovers installed like that?

Glad you used that S52 crank

the adjusters are easier to get to like that, IMO

speaking of the S52 crank..

got my block back



taped it up and primed it



found the only can of engine enamel we had left in the shop



tossed the mains and crank in to plastigage it







all good :)


couldn't resist setting up a The Reassembler style shot for the bottom end



then I got the whole bottom end together but forgot to take a photo because it was late. womp womp.

waiting for a chain guide, then the build continues.

[Bimmerman325i]

Motor guts!

[E30 Wagen]

I like this.

[2mAn]

Are you finally using the S52 manifolds?

I need to make an appt with the BAR sometime soon

[kronus]

Are you finally using the S52 manifolds?

yup. hoping the smog guy doesn't think anything of it, but we'll see how well that will go. I have a set of cast manifolds as well, in case these are not acceptable.

Still working out what I will do for exhaust. I've got a OBD2 center section on hand that I can trade out for an OBD1, but the rest of the exhaust will need to be fabricated. I've been idly looking for a B&B muffler, since I like their sound the most.

[kronus]

Shiny orange update!

Bottom end all together.



Shiny new Mahle pistons in their shiny new homes



Applied some Hylomar sealant to the timing cover seams and water pump hole.



New HG goes on... It's a VR. Am aware of all the bad stuff that's been said about them. Could not get my hands on an elring so this will do. One has been holding up in my m50 car without trouble.



finally, head is on and torqued with new bolts.



Tomorrow, cams, vanos, and a blingy surprise.

[CubbyChowder]

Nice!

[kronus]

cam trays went in, a few days later..



cams followed. these are M52 cams reground to S52 specs, in S50 trays. Weirdly, despite everything I've heard about OBD2 cams not fitting into OBD1 trays, these do.



started putting together the vanos timing stuff..



and snap!



in retrospect, I should have gotten new ones of these anyway, so I'm glad it was weak enough to go right away during torquing and not while the engine was running. Now I have $130 of random small bolts on their way to me in the next few days before I can continue.

in the meantime, I sandblasted the magnesium valve cover and am making preparations to paint it. Annoying orange?



and the aforementioned bling: a Economotorsports oil cooler sandwich plate, lines and cooler made their way to me. This will let me run real temperature and pressure gauges as well as not worrying about temps as much.

[2mAn]

in the meantime, I sandblasted the magnesium valve cover and am making preparations to paint it. Annoying orange?



and the aforementioned bling: a Economotorsports oil cooler sandwich plate, lines and cooler made their way to me. This will let me run real temperature and pressure gauges as well as not worrying about temps as much.

Might as well since the block is that color, I dont think there is any other color that goes well with orange without it looking like a halloween car.

How much was that sexy oil cooler sandwich plate?!? I need to get me one.

Thanks for buying me more time, Im about to try one final time with the BAR before I say fig it and go fuhraze

[kronus]

I picked it up used from a friend's blown up racecar. You can get new ones from Gutenparts for 300ish IIRC.

Annoying orange it is!

[2mAn]

I picked it up used from a friend's blown up racecar. You can get new ones from Gutenparts for 300ish IIRC.

Its a pretty sexy piece, wow. It has all the upgrades Im looking to add, all in one. I was originally looking at the S54 or even the MZ3 oil filter housing to keep it OEM, but this looks better.

What oil cooler are you going to use?

[kronus]

the one that came with my plate! I think it is this one

and yeah, this is a pretty sweet solution. one downside to it is that there's no oil thermostat. I'll be monitoring temps..

[Bimmerman325i]

Does the sandwich plate have an oil thermostat, or would you be adding one in?

S54/Z3/S50Euro ones all have a thermostat on the cooler circuit that doesn't open (much) until ~180-190F. My oil cooler is totally cold to the touch below that temp.

[kronus]

your cooler is totally cold because there's no oil going through it below that temp, yes.

this one doesn't have a thermostat. If I see the oil not really getting up to temp, I can plumb in one of these