91 318is Field Rat

[Dgerry]

Nice work and progress from a local!! I have most of a E36 318IS Mosselman turbo kit that should work great on that thing when you get ready.

[AWDBOB]

I started the project in late March I think. Usually I like to try and take 10-20 minutes a day to just accomplish one thing, or test fit stuff helps get things done. I've also had a couple long evenings and a good solid 8 hour day within a short period.

As for the m52, I'd love to do a bigger 6 swap, but that takes more money and time than I can commit to right now. The m42 I got should be solid, and will probably get a turbo late next year if I can swing it.

I try to do the same! I dig too deep and change paths 30 times "while I'm in there", thus leading to unfinished projects.

I agree about the M42! Looking back I should've skipped the M52 and I'd probably have a running/driving car right now

[2mAn]

Nice project!

[captain awesome]

Starting to prep the new tank while I wait on new fuel lines to get here, so I pulled the crossover tube to clean it. It was filled with trash and varnish, but nothing a little carb dip can't handle.





Since I was in a cleaning mood I spent a few minutes working over the e36 fan and upper rad mount. I also test fit the rad assembly to see what I'm missing to finish it up, just missing two expanding rivets for the upper fan mounts.



Also finishing up the coil on plug bracket/hardware I put together. Luckily I found a full scale template for holes and such, so that helped out a bunch. I've put off wiring the harness for it, so I can just get it started on the stock coil packs and dick with it once running. I spent very little on this setup. A dude on ebay messaged me after buying a handful of used coils and asked if I wanted some other spares he had for free. Yep. I'll take them all.







The m42 I'm putting in was bought locally from another 91 318is. It was originally for a now abandoned e21 project I was working on. For $400 I got the radiator, motor, trans, trans mount, and driveshaft. The previous owner already deleted the intake heater hoses, then bought all new hoses, sensors, plugs, fuel pressure regulator, icv, etc. Injectors were cleaned professionally, although I'm hoping to snag some 4 pintle Mustang style this weekend at the U Pull It since it's %50 off weekend. He basically baselined the car with the m42 in preparation for an m30. I feel like I got a good deal overall. You can see the new Febi slave cylinder and m20 starter in here somewhere.

[captain awesome]

RockAuto has a German made VDO pump for the 318is for a bit over $200. Just picked one up for my car.

I was eyeballing that one the other day as well. However, the specs on the dw200 pump are great, it's priced less than $90, plus it's an upgrade in flow for the future turbo.

[captain awesome]

Looking awesome- great save! I'm doing something quite similar, however, moving at 1/8th of your pace.

You should throw an M52 in there while you have it all apart.

I started the project in late March I think. Usually I like to try and take 10-20 minutes a day to just accomplish one thing, or test fit stuff helps get things done. I've also had a couple long evenings and a good solid 8 hour day within a short period.

As for the m52, I'd love to do a bigger 6 swap, but that takes more money and time than I can commit to right now. The m42 I got should be solid, and will probably get a turbo late next year if I can swing it.

[e30sh]

RockAuto has a German made VDO pump for the 318is for a bit over $200. Just picked one up for my car.

[AWDBOB]

Looking awesome- great save! I'm doing something quite similar, however, moving at 1/8th of your pace.

You should throw an M52 in there while you have it all apart.

[paynemw]

get in work!

[MR E30 325is]

Excellent!! Great start, and you really can't beat a bit of your time in exchange for an E30

[captain awesome]

That's kinda where I'm at now. I planned to just make a fun street car, but after trying out some autocross, I've refocused my efforts geared towards that. Unfortunately I've already done some mods that push me out of STX, so I'll end up in DSP. If all goes according to plan I should have it running and ready for the first run of next season. If it happens to be ready late this season I'll be even happier.

[captain awesome]

With the motor and trans out I figured it's a good time to get the fuel system cleaned up after sitting for 10+ years. I drained the tank of putrid old fuel and proceeded to pull the pump assembly.







Rust and varnish. More varnish than anything, and quite frankly after looking at the inside of the tank, it looks like a pain in the ass to clean. I've cleaned and lined a bunch of motorcycle tanks before, and I know how difficult it can be to get it "clean" enough to stop putting debris in a fuel filter.

After a round or two in carb dip, the pump assembly hanger cleaned up nice.







The pump cleaned up nice as well, but is locked up. I'll be ordering a Deatschwerks dw200 as a replacement. I've used Walbro before, but can't stand the noise they make. Since I'm replacing all new lines, filters, etc. it made sense to shop around for a new tank. Autozone had an online special for 25% off online orders plus free shipping on anything over $100, so for $153.29 I got my brandy new tank.

[captain awesome]

On to the rear. Subframe dropped after using the 5/8" bolt trick I read about here.





Old junk removed.





Rtabs were pulled with the AKG tool a forum member sold for a decent price. Worked great for install as well with new Lemforder ones.



Febi subframe mounts
Meyle HD shock mounts
Lemforder sway bar links
OE diff mount bushing
14.5mm rear IX sway bar
pads - rotors - rubber lines
cleaned calipers and seals
repaired brake sensor wires
studs



Back on some wheels and ready to scrub the engine bay.









Before scrubbing I ziploc bagged plugs, cut finger tips from rubber gloves to cover various hose holes etc. Sprayed everything with Simple Green to soak for a while, and then scrubbed with an old dish brush and tooth brush.



After. Not too shabby.



Almost forgot, I pulled a bunch of little parts from a local U Pull It for very little money. Front windshield(aftermarket), wiper arms, e36/m42 electric fan. The windshield was WAY easier to remove and install than I expected.

[captain awesome]

Moved on to the steering rack. I pulled a cheap e36 rack from the local yard. Cleaned it up, installed new Febi tie rods, and made a quick power steering delete with some hose I had leftover from my 633csi. Also made some rack spacers from spare scrap I had.







I pulled the steering shaft to notch the firewall. The flex joint was rough, so I made a solid mount setup.



Notched the mounting plate holes for the shaft. I believe the plate ended up getting notched at the bolt holes more than shown to drop the bracket closer to the passenger side.



And the notch on the firewall.





Time to start assembling the front suspension. I cleaned up both calipers, dust seals, lubed the guide pins, etc.
Lemforder control arms
OE rubber cabs(for now)
OE sway bar links
21mm front vert sway bar
Bilstein sports
H&R race springs
drop hats
OE strut mounts
rubber brake lines - rotors - pads - sensor
wheel studs

[sandrune]

Looks like a promising snag! Especially since you already have a complete swap ready for it. New paint and a freshened up interior and it'll be good as new! Perhaps his sputtering issues were partly due to the duck tape keeping that intake boot together haha

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