Overlord475: 1988 SETA 2.7i Build Thread (Turbo Prep)

[Overlord475]

OVERLORD475 BUILD THREAD

Picked up my 7th E30 a couple of weeks ago.
I had restored several throughout college to help pay for a semester here and there and actually did pretty well.
It paid for 1/4 of my school any way!!!!

Now that I'm out of school I picked up one more.

Wanted an 88 SETA specifically to do a 2.7i swap and then Turbo. (8.5:1 CR perfection)
I'll be keeping this one for myself........

FULL PICTURE ALBUM LOCATED HERE: https://www.flickr.com/gp/64009513@N04/mc27m0

State when Purchased:
Auto-tragic
HIDs
IE Shorty Headers + Magnaflow fart can
Mark D 2.7L Chip
19lb Injectors (Mustang)
Aeromotive Adj FPR
Brembo Drilled and Slotted Rotors
SS Brake Lines
Bilstein Sport Shocks
Eibach Prokit springs
Solid Offset CABs
Plastic Rear Bumper
Borbet Type C's 15x7
318is Vynal Sport Seats (Front PerlBeige and Rear Black)
1988 2.7L Super ETA Motor w/ 6k Tach as proof

Build Plans:
Stage 1 -
Replace Magniflow Fart Can (DONE : 8/16/13)
5spd swap (DONE : 9/21/13)
3.46 LSD (DONE : 9/21/13)
Recover Front Seats (perf black) (DONE : 11/15/13)
Super Eta 2.7i (e to i swap) (DONE: 4/5/14)
SSSquid 2.7i SETA 17.5# 89 Oct. Chip (DONE: 4/5/14)
16x8 4x100 ET20 RC Reps (DONE: 6/30/14)
Rebuild Suspension (DONE : 4/24/15)
Rebuild Brakes (DONE : 4/24/15)
BaseLink 10" Sub (DONE : 7/2/15)

Stage 2 -
Re-paint (DONE : 11/10/15)

Stage 3 -
KAmotors Turbo Kit (3/4 Bar)
Wasted Spark
Sim-Sequential Injection
GE Coilovers

When I picked it up:



As of 2/21/14:



..

As of 4/5/14:



As of 11/10/15 (Fresh Paint)

[Wschnitz]

Let me know how Euro bumps on an 88 go over, I wanted to do this but I was told it doesn't work on late models.

[Overlord475]

Let me know how Euro bumps on an 88 go over, I wanted to do this but I was told it doesn't work on late models.

Will do, might run into the same conculsion once I start digging further into it myself. If not I like a well polished 88 bumper set up.

Looks more old school then plastics, which I like...

[Overlord475]

Small update.

5-spd swap complete with Z3 short shift kit from blunttech, 3.46 LSD, Stage 2 Grip Force Clutch Kit

[Overlord475]

Coming soon.... 2.7i stroker with welded coolant passages, ARP Studs, Goetze HG, and SSSquid 2.7i 17.5# 89Oct. chip.

[TheTacoMan]

Miller stinks if you plan to go boost, N/a it works well.

[Overlord475]

Small Update.... 2.7i swap to follow end of next month

SSSquid Chip Installed : 2.7i / SETA / Stage 1 / 89 Oct / M50 17.5# Injectors -->

[squidmaster]

:up: looking good!

[Overlord475]

Started cleaning up the head. At the shop now being checked, cleaned, and the coolant passages being welded:

[Overlord475]

Fixed a few rust spots and repainted. POR 15 is the stuff!

Also repainted the black strip around the bottom:

[Overlord475]

Just performed a leak down test, and all looks good.

Here are the results (cylinders in firing order):

1 - 13% (Rings)
5 - 10%
3 - 5%
6 - 13% (Rings)
2 - 10%
4 - 15% (Rings)

Leak percentage should be preferably between 10% and 15% or lower. But, technically it is acceptable to have leakage all the way to 40%, but.... questionable.
It is best if each cylinder is within 5 to 8% of each other.

It should be noted that the above test was performed on a "cold" engine.

If the engine is allowed to heat up prior to the test (preferred, I just don't like burning myself) then all the metal expands (rings specifically) and creates for better sealing. The leak percentages will be even small with a heated motor.

Most of the cylinders barely made it into the green "Low" section. Good sign!

A leak down should be performed prior to any major upper end (head) work to determine the general health of the engine. It would be dumb to put a new head on without rebuilding the block if the rings were bad.

Used the HF leak down gauge set:

[Overlord475]

2.7i Swap Info:

885 Head (Prof. Clean/Checked/Welded Coolant Passages/New Valve Guides/3 Angle Valve Job)
ARP Head Studs
173 ECU w/ SSSquid 2.7i Stage 1 Chip
Gates Race Timing Belt (BLUE!)
m50 17.5# Rebuilt Injectors (by MEPEH)
HiPerformance Silicon Vacuum Hose Kit
Silicon Coolant Hose Kit
M20B25 Intake Man., AFM, 7k Cluster, etc
Misc. Required Parts (PelicanParts)

Update (3/1/14):

Head back from cleaning and disassemble. Looks awesome!
Now out for Coolant Passage Welding



There's a bit of grease on the surface from an old HG that was laying on top of it for welding reference:

[squidmaster]

Looks squeaky! I know you're probably excited

[Overlord475]

It has begun!

Teardown day 1:

[Overlord475]

New wheels on the way:

16" x 8" / 4x100 / 20 ET / CB 73.1

Picked up a set of these from Black Forest to take care of the 73.1 to 57.1 CB issue:

http://store.blackforestindustries.com/alceriexdi73.html

And these are the tires I'll wrapping them in:

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/tires/continental/product/submitProductSize.do?pc=26160&tmn=ExtremeContact+DWS&typ=Passenger%2FPerformance