Aussie 318is - now S54B32 swap

[AusScare]

progress looking good man! I finally got my setup running and driving just working through some tune and drivetrain bugs. I had even less clearance with my strut bar and m42 I actually had to grind the little ribs on the intake manifold off. Look at how much clearance there is now with the sr20.

That looks awesome - any pics of the exhaust mani? Is that the stock brake booster/mc and did you have to move it or anything, or just change the res to a metal one?

[chrisbmx68]

There are way to many pictures of the build on my flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/511702...57648591537758

It's a Porsche 944 booster but that's because I had an M50 swapped before this. I think it would just barely fit with the stock one. The diamond plate is just a heat shield I'm experimenting with since it gets really warm I'm the area near the downpipe. The manifold is crappy and from eBay cx racing for a Datsun 510 swap but it put the turbo and wastegate exactly where I needed it.

[AusScare]

There are way to many pictures of the build on my flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/511702...57648591537758

It's a Porsche 944 booster but that's because I had an M50 swapped before this. I think it would just barely fit with the stock one. The diamond plate is just a heat shield I'm experimenting with since it gets really warm I'm the area near the downpipe. The manifold is crappy and from eBay cx racing for a Datsun 510 swap but it put the turbo and wastegate exactly where I needed it.

Thanks, and sorry I realised I asked you about the booster a while ago. What sort of power are you putting down, what're your plans for traction?

[chrisbmx68]

No worries I forgot haha, uh the tune isn't quite right yet but its probably around 300-350 ish at the moment im running 15 psi currently and I don't think I want to go much higher than 18 since I'm on stock head gasket and rods (who knows if it will even hold up at this level)

I don't really have plans for traction I have a set of nice wheels that have 205x45x16's and they are staying that way for fitment purposes but I also have some 15" kosei k1s that I might get proper sticky tires for. I did do a dual ear diff hanger upgrade from an e36 to keep wheel hop down and that seems to be working well.

[AusScare]

Latest updates are:

• Date set for swapping the engine over as Christmas holidays
• Installed a 24mm front sway bar
• Changed the oil/filter on the M42
• Adjusted the handbrake to be mostly set at 5 clicks and fully by 7 clicks

Quick pic working on the car over the weekend:

[AusScare]

Minor update - picked up some 'quick release' bonnet pins from a guy on the local Facebook group.

They work by replacing the pins in the hinge that connects the bonnet to the body.



First step is to pop the bonnet and drill out the stock pin:



Then slot the new pin in, it's a tight fit so I know there's not going to be any movement there:



This means that to take off the bonnet, I just slot out these pins, disconnect the ground cable, washer hose and bonnet strut without having to deal with re-aligning the bonnet each time. With the impending engine swap this will probably come in handy. Cheap and effective mod.

[badwella]

That's friggin' awesome. Do you have a link to where we can get the bonnet pins? I would love a set.

[CorvallisBMW]

Good idea if you're going to be removing the hood/bonnet frequently. Lining that thing up is a pain.

[rzerob]

That's friggin' awesome. Do you have a link to where we can get the bonnet pins? I would love a set.

Ditto.

[AusScare]

E32 brake master cylinder came in the mail. Here it is mocked up with the Clio booster:



Should there be a gasket or something between the MC and booster?

Other parts pending purchase:

- Front M3 offset bushings
- Front control arms
- Outer tie rods
- Stainless brake lines

Then I'll have all the brake parts, bushings and new rear axles installed.

[chrisbmx68]

No gasket needed between the MC and the booster.

Looking good man, two more random suggestions get the small billet style m3 offset bushings they will give you more down pipe/exhaust clearance.


Also I dont know what you are doing for the DS but I found this billet flange that works with std 1310 u joints. So I just ordered a custom length nissan s13 1 piece ds and put this flange on it to retain the stock diff.

http://jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_BMW_heavy-driveshaft-flange.html

[AusScare]

Thanks for the info, that looks like a pretty solid piece of kit. Originally I was just going to get a custom DS made from the SR and BMW halves, but this could be better quality/price.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[chrisbmx68]

It was around $380usd for the ds from http://shaftmasters.com/ David from there was very helpful with the process. Shipping would probably kill you though :( the ds is around 56 inches end to end.

[AusScare]

Work on the engine has finally begun. Head is getting a port and polish, as well as a few bits widened as part of the VE conversion from fwd na to rwd turbo.

Progress pics:




Next week the block is off to the machine shop to get the sleeves installed and just a general clean up.

[AusScare]

What's the point in having an e30 if you don't drive it right? While collecting parts I've managed to drive the e30 almost every week, including some more windy/hilly roads like today.

The clutch has been on its way out since I bought it, so I just have to downshift early up hills and not strain the motor in the low revs, otherwise the clutch rattles and it's not a great noise to hear when you're in the middle of nowhere!

Off the highway heading to the mountain:



Top of the mountain:



Parked for lunch:







Bit of food to keep me going:



Finally going to order a crank this week I think, so will post up when that arrives.