E21 project

[Hermes]

I agree. The seats are fantastic!

Thanks! I've only seen one other set of Recaro Herringbone and it was a much lighter grey than mine. I only paid $500 for the interior so I think I got a good deal :)

It consisted of front seats with adapters and rails, matching rear bench, door cards, and full untorn carpet. If I remember correctly, the 1981 320is it came out of had under 100k original miles, two owner, and the last owner having it since 1986.

[2mAn]

3.0, hot cams, high compression, ITB's, undecided as to which engine management I will be using yet. I will also need a new trans, custom driveshaft, E28 rear end. Lots of stuff to source before I get to the swap.

M54 internals?

Sounds like you're dreaming big. Dont let me get in your way, Id love to see what you can cook up.

[Hermes]

M54 internals?

Sounds like you're dreaming big. Dont let me get in your way, Id love to see what you can cook up.

M54 crank, the rest will be custom by a friend that mostly builds race M10s. This is basically the motor he built for his personal E34 touring. Already proven...

[Hermes]

it's been a while since I updated this

seatbelt light delete (euro filler plate)




got some non-vent windows from a friend's 320/6 track car which now has lexan



front suspension refurb





323i calipers and vented rotors



ss





02 upper mount with long studs



alignment



reinstalled the 320 badge because water was getting in the trunk, need to get my 320is trunk painted to match so I can install it

[Hermes]

E21 project

and now for engine build pics...



ready for the machine shop





pulled the long tubes out of storage, need to weld an O2 bung in





M20 throttle body and adapter plate





M10 on right









11.5:1





287 intake, 281 exhaust





goodbye K-Jet





MAF





LH-Jetronic 2.2





30#





need to clean this mess up





primer





paint





early cover





2.0





sprocket swapped to single row













NK single belt crank pulley













0.2 lbs savings from stock E21 pulley

























NOS chains, new tensioner and slide rail, rebuilt oil pump





















in case you got distracted by the background...





Ireland dual valve springs, Ireland HD rockers





'74 casting





intake





exhaust









needs a wash





will finish putting the engine together/install it this weekend. need to set the timing on the cam gear and repin the harness to work with the Volvo fuel injection

[SkiFree]

Who is this? Ben?

[Hermes]

Who is this? Ben?

This is JP. Ben's car is under the cover behind my E21

[IzzY_325is]

Super sweet car and build.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Awesome build up. Thanks for posting the detailed pics. Giving me some motivation for my own E21 project!

[2mAn]

I LOVE the M10 build. Is this just to keep you busy while the frankenmotor is being built. BTW feel free to use the same term I call mine.... the aluminum monster :) yours is definitely crazier than mine.

[Hermes]

Super sweet car and build.

Thanks!

Awesome build up. Thanks for posting the detailed pics. Giving me some motivation for my own E21 project!

No problem, glad to help motivate you on your E21

I LOVE the M10 build. Is this just to keep you busy while the frankenmotor is being built. BTW feel free to use the same term I call mine.... the aluminum monster :) yours is definitely crazier than mine.

Thanks! This was a response to getting fed up with my never rebuilt 178k engine. It has been a pain to smog every two years, had maybe 50whp on a good day, and leaked ridiculously from all the dried out seals. My thoughts are when I eventually get around to buying a Z3 and getting everything built I can always put this M10 in an 02. I've been remodeling my house so finding a good donor has been extremely low on the priority list.

[Hermes]

few more last things... head actually on/timing set. Need to pull a tii distributor out of the pile and check it out/install. Will physically install the engine tomorrow and deal with fine tuning later.









you might notice that my stock downpipe/cat has been removed, headers sitting out for test fitting




I finally mounted my bumper correctly



ready for the new engine

[QuiqueUy]

great build ! i do have an e21 too , where u bought the koni suspension? i would like to buy too but i can't find for my 320/6


thank you!

[Hermes]

E21 project

great build ! i do have an e21 too , where u bought the koni suspension? i would like to buy too but i can't find for my 320/6





thank you!

Nice! I wouldn't mind having a 320/6 just because of the carbs.

Koni's... front are available new as long as your 320/6 doesn't have the 323i large struts; those are NLA for decades now. Four cyl stuff is kinda available... fronts are easy to find, rear are NLA but there are a few shops that have them, you just need to call around until you find a set. That's basically what I did

[Hermes]

E21 project

Ok, so we got to the point of 'ready'


Finally properly installed my front euro bumper



hanging out with another shark



deleted the O2 light reset box



cut out my battery tray



Flywheel/clutch/pressure plate installed





Engine in





Test fit... need to modify the headers. There is no way they will work if the 2.25" tube sits right under the trans drain plug



Temporary (stock) exhaust setup. 002 tii distributor



80A alternator, new voltage regulator, new poly bushings, NOS tensioner bracket