Ryan's Hennarot 318is (s54, slicktop conversion, MT2)

[rjmcdermott81]

Car started running terribly last month. It dogged under 3k and then sprung to life when it went into the higher RPM range. Classic Vanos symptoms. I never touched it when I did the original swap so it was definitely due.

First I did the valve adjustment. I was told the engine was low mileage and it seemed to be in great shape. Only three valves needed a slight adjustment.



I followed this with the Besian seals rebuild and also their rebuilt solenoid. Overall the process was very straightforward and their instructions were super easy to follow. The only mistake I made was damaging one of the seals on install so it set me back a week while I waited for the replacement


It RIPS now!

I think my next project might be the exhaust. I'd really like to quiet it down. Maybe add an x-pipe or something to reduce the rasp.

[rjmcdermott81]

I keep seeing this e30 roll by on the street. Turns out he/she works at the Mazda dealership here so I pulled in and took a pic. Maybe I'll run into he/she at some point.

[2mAn]

Car has been great so far. Without any major issues on the swap.

The Rx7 is built and operational. I'm doing some fine tuning to get it reliable.

Dude!... update your thread! haha

[rjmcdermott81]

How has the car been? How many miles have you put on the swap???

and any RXSLA updates?

Car has been great so far. Without any major issues on the swap.

The Rx7 is built and operational. I'm doing some fine tuning to get it reliable.

[2mAn]

How has the car been? How many miles have you put on the swap???

and any RXSLA updates?

[rjmcdermott81]

Well my climate fan started to only work on 4...which is better than not working but is annoying. I tried to get Black Forest Werkshop in Austin to replace the resistor but they wouldn't even quote it....



So, I dove in to replace the resistor and it turned into a "while you're in there" sort of thing. I've always wanted to extend the e46 wiring harness because it was so short it barely went through the firewall and I had the ECU just hanging there by the wires. I extended all the wires 13 inches. So many wires...







Success! Hours and hours of work just so I could mount the ecu... In summary, if you are just starting this swap, pay the extra money for the z4 harness.

[rjmcdermott81]

Out for a rip with the boys in the rain. Fixed a couple things on the drive. Tightened up the rear view mirror so there isn't anymore wobble and tightened one of the windshield wipers.

[rjmcdermott81]

Back in service! Still have noise?

Noise is gone so it was either the bearings or the axles. All good now.

[moatilliatta]

Back in service! Still have noise?

[zwill23]

Excited for the subframe drop

[rjmcdermott81]

Giving the e30 some love this week. I've had a noise in the back right that has become more pronounced over time, plus the axle boots have been cracked. I took on the task of changing the rear wheel bearings and the axles out. Oh boy this was a pita that I took my time on and plugged away over the course of the week.

Car up and getting it apart


First hub out after serious banging with a slidehammer. I ached all over after doing this


Driver's side hub was an absolute beast. I beat on it off and on for 2 days with the slide hammer and tried to pound it out from the backside and even had my buddy give it a go with no luck. I've always heard applying heat helps but I never took it seriously. Now I will always use it, I heated the hub up for 1 minute with a propane torch and then it came out with 5 whacks


When this one came out part of the bearing was still attached. I read about people spending hours with a dremel but I managed to use a cutting wheel on the angle grinder to take material off and then I knocked it off with a screwdriver and hammer


Next step, I pulled out the bearings using a bearing puller from Harbor Freight. When I first used it I didn't lubricate the threads and it worked but it was so hard going that it broke my ratchet. I use a 4 foot steel pipe for leverage so it's not a surprise.


k, now pressing the bearing in




Tools used from Harbor Freight:
Bearing press - Pro-tip, lubricate the heck out of the threads. I actually stripped the first one I got removing the bearings but Harbor Freight rocks and they just swapped it out for me for free


Big sockets for the axle nuts


And back in the driveway

[rjmcdermott81]

Diamond in the rough between two lovely chariots! Lots of cool noises in this pic

You win for sexiest engine bay. Jealous of your turbos.

[eternal24k]

Out for a drive with Kid8 and zwill23 : LS, turrrrbooo m20, and s54. Lot's of fun.

would love to see a video comparo of these 3

[zwill23]

Diamond in the rough between two lovely chariots! Lots of cool noises in this pic

[e30m3s54turbo]

Great project..
When you went to Germany. German always referred their country as the Father land not mother land.