Aussie 318is - now S54B32 swap

[AusScare]

I'm not 100% on weight, but a quick google says around 340lbs for an sr20 and 320lbs for an m42. So pretty similar.

[Hooffenstein HD]

I can aprrciate this swap. how heavy is the sr20 compared to m42, m20 ect?

Heavier than an M42, lighter than an M20.

SR20DE is 140KG, then add the weight of a turbo set up.

[totheredline]

I can aprrciate this swap. how heavy is the sr20 compared to m42, m20 ect?

[Hooffenstein HD]

I was going to post hateful comments about the piece of junk that is an SR20 but you're using a VVL head, so carry on. Should be a cool swap.

[AusScare]

This is a cool swap.

Car looks so clean. How many miles on the M42 and car?

Any reason you decided against boosting the M42?

Thanks. The body is in great condition, though the clutch needs replacing, diff is leaking, dash is cracked, front seat broken, etc so a few things need attention. The M42 has 230,000kms and seems to be in good condition. It'll be a good buy for someone.

I chose the SR20 purely because of parts availability. I'm buying them off my partner's dad, so no shipping and customs duties to pay, plus he's going to be making my intake and exhaust manifolds. He builds engines for a living and isn't charging me to build this one, since I'm buying $10k+ worth of parts off him.

So it's a chance for him to get rid of all these parts he's got, at the price he wants, while I get a professionally built engine.

If I were to turbo the M42, I'd have to pay a fair bit in labour to prep the engine and have manifolds fabricated and things like that.

[LoneWolf]

This is a cool swap.

Car looks so clean. How many miles on the M42 and car?

Any reason you decided against boosting the M42?

[AusScare]

eBay e30 to sr20 conversion mounts arrived today! Hopefully they fit ok.



Also the instrument lights didn't work again tonight, so something is loose back there. Will rip it apart on the weekend. Reading online it could be due to the aftermarket head unit sharing grounding wires??

[AusScare]

Looks great - pity you're dropping an agricultural SR20 into it instead of a 1Jz or 2JZ - I'm pretty certain it's un-Australian not to use a JZ :D

BTW - when you do the swap pls sell me your M42 and drivetrain :)

(Alternatively sell me your is when you decide the swap is too much hassle :D ).

Yeah a 2J would have been ideal, but the sr parts were more accessible, and less custom stuff required to make it fit.

Are you based in Brisbane? The M42 will definitely be up for sale as soon as it's out of the car!

Today's exercise:

• Replace rear parker bulb
• Fiddle with fuses - instrument cluster lights now work!
• Clean interior - found a few bits that'll need replacing

A few new pics:

[Pete_E30]

Looks great - pity you're dropping an agricultural SR20 into it instead of a 1Jz or 2JZ - I'm pretty certain it's un-Australian not to use a JZ :D

BTW - when you do the swap pls sell me your M42 and drivetrain :)

(Alternatively sell me your is when you decide the swap is too much hassle :D ).

[AusScare]

Hi all, I've spent the last few months trawling through forums and car selling sites looking for an e30 in my area that was in reasonable condition, at a reasonable price.

Today I brought home this 1990 318is, in white, coupe, with a sunroof and power steering. The paint is in great condition, there is almost no rust (tiny bit under battery and around sunroof joints), new brakes, bilstein shocks, h&r springs, 15x7 wheels I think, as well as a Turner Motorsport coilpack conversion and tune of some sort (not sure on details of that).

Just the one pic from today:



Immediate plans:

• Fix anything obvious that needs fixing, eg not all dash lights work, aircon
• Make sure the trim is up to standard - so new steering wheel is in order
• Buy remaining parts for the sr20
• Insert sr20
• ??
• Profit

Thanks for reading, please feel free to jump in with anything along the way, all opinions welcome.

Cheers,
Tim

Parts & upgrades update 26 May 2023:

Engine and drivetrain

• M42 removed
• Medium case 4.1 LSD with RacingDiffs billet dual mount diff cover
• CATuned axles
• Hillside motorsport reinforced front subframe
• Hillside motorsport reinforced rear subframe
• Hillside motorsport reinforced rear trailing arms
• SuperPro poly rear subframe bushings
• E46 purple tag steering rack with LPSR linkage

Suspension

• KW V3 Coilovers
• Ireland Engineering top camber plates
• SuperPro offset control arm bushings
• Whiteline 24mm front sway bar
• SuperPro rear 19mm sway bar bushing
• Ultra Racing front and rear strut braces

Brakes

• DBA 4000 discs
• Brembo ceramic pads
• Stainless steel lines
• Bosch iBooster brake mc/booster

Wheels & Tyres

• TRM C1 15x8 +20
  • Hankook RS-4 225/45r15
• BBS RS 071 15x8 +18 (front) 15x8.5 +12 (rear)
  • Nankang CR-S 205/50r15 (front) 225/45r15 (rear)

Interior

• Recaro SR3 on Massive seat rails
• 35% tint
• Continental head unit
• Cluster altered to 9000rpm redline

S54B32 build specs

• 118,000kms on the motor
• Karbonius airbox
• Vanos rebuilt with hardened exhaust gear
• New water pump, thermostat, seals
• Harper Fab front sump