Aussie late model coupe build

[AUS30]

Finally starting my build. Bought a late model slick top coupe with an M40 auto early last year and have been slowly gathering parts for a M20B25/G260 conversion. I know lots of people will say I should just go with the M50 option, the fact that the M20 swap is pretty much plug and play and relatively cheap I'm going this route. Not long after the E30 I purchased an '90 E34 as the donor. Few photos attached after yesterdays activities [emoji2].













Boot full of parts....



So far also purchased
- Z3 steering steering rack
- Z3 1.9 shifter
- 3.73 diff....open [emoji17]
- 17" BBS RS reps

More to come


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[AUS30]

Aussie late model coupe build

More progress today, pretty much stripped motor to go out to the machine shop.



















PO may have had a little bit of an oil leak....he was confused as to why the clutch was slipping when he had it replaced "not too long ago" íwaffles½í¸³







Few pics of the rest of the driveway....







Dads engine bay













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[AUS30]

Also got my clutch, pressure plate and release bearing today.




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[econti]

What state are you in?
And is that a E28 M5? Man

[AUS30]

Hi, I'm in Victoria. No it's an E34, completely original too.


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[AUS30]

Removed the M40/4HP22 from the E30 today. Ended up getting rid of it for $400....better than sending it to the tip (junkyard for you American folk 😀). Feels good to finally have it out...

M20 is currently at the machine shop getting honed, cleaned and measured up. Hopefully it will be sorted mid next week so I can start to reassemble the motor.









Good riddance ✌🏽







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[AUS30]

Slow progress today, cleaned up the engine bay and...attempted...to install my Z3 steering rack.



Unfortunately ran into an issue with the coupling as it's construction is not as I thought it would be, it doesn't look like all the ones I've seen where a spacer can be cut down in order to change the length.

I've got this one.


Thought I had this type


I think I'm going to have to go the Barina/Corsa "mod". Also need to figure out what I'm going to do about the lines for the rack. Any ideas welcome.


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[econti]

A guy on the E30 aus facebook page does Barina linkages to suit, can't remember a price but they're top quality.
RE the lines I just bent the E30 ones to fit my E46 rack with an oxy torch and lots of time

[AUS30]

Aussie late model coupe build

Haven't got too much done lately. Fitted the rack at least. Ended up using the standard coupling with the rack, just moved the rack forward into the other/front hole in the subframe, fits great [emoji106]. Spoke with a few people who've said that's the way they've been running it for quite some time, so that's good enough for me.

Sourced some 51mm struts for the front so I'm going to drop those in.

Had new bushings arrive for the shift carrier too which I'm quite happy about. Ended up sourcing the aluminium shift carrier from a guy in Melbourne for a good price too [emoji3]






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[AUS30]

Heard back from the engine shop doing the machining on my motor and all seems to be going well. I have opted to ceramic coat the pistons as they said they do it to a lot of their motors.

I've done quite a bit of research on the process and it seems to be quite worthwhile. Increased strength, reduced wear, better dissipation of heat and a 60% decrease in friction all sound like a good thing to me.

Not sure if anyone has had this done but I'd be keen to hear if they have.

Didn't have a chance to do too much lately but will hopefully be able to get some stuff done this weekend.


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[AUS30]

Started assembling the block today. Ended up cleaning and torquing down the crank as well as mounting the pistons back on the rods.

Piston skirts have been ceramic coated.





Block cleaned up with bearing caps.





Next weeks fun....fresh 885 head with new guides 😍




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[AUS30]

Been a while since the last update. Been busy assembling the block and head, slow but progress is still progress.











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[AUS30]

Aussie late model coupe build

Head is finally bolted down with most of the front put together, getting closer....




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[AUS30]

Aussie late model coupe build

Motor's still moving forward, few more pics. Had the intake manifold and rocker cover powder coated too, pretty happy with the results.








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[E30 Wagen]

I've never seen these m20 manifolds before. Are they a RHD only thing?