SoCal General Chat

[IRON-E]

I have a Brand New mishimoto radiator (late model size) and expansion tank for sale.

Pm me if you’re interested.

Interesting, I have never been a fan of those aluminum rads. Almost everyone who I have met that has them or has used them, ends up with leaking issues, but I can't say they are bad for sure.
I opted to stick with the OE radiator for my 24 valve swap, no issues to report after 4 years. I have nothing but blue coolant in there, so I can tell right away if I'm leaking. ;D

[2mAn]

Yea there are good aluminum radiators but you wont find them on ebay... stick with the OEM radiator

[Chilezen]

Actually forget the radiator. I might have made a terrible decision and bought a nearly-complete (totaled) Z3. 1998 2.8 M52 & manual trans! For $400, I may have been duped, or scored a lucky deal.

If anyone needs parts from a Z3, PM me

[2mAn]

Actually forget the radiator. I might have made a terrible decision and bought a nearly-complete (totaled) Z3. 1998 2.8 M52 & manual trans! For $400, I may have been duped, or scored a lucky deal.

If anyone needs parts from a Z3, PM me

oooo Aluminum M52!... Hope its what you think it is!

Could always build it with the S52 internals on the Aluminum Block ...

[Chilezen]

God damnit, the block is iron. I didn't think to check because I thought all Z's would be aluminum.

[2mAn]

Dont worry, you can still get your money back out of it

[Jokester]

Stop playing around and buy my m54 :)

[reelizmpro]

God damnit, the block is iron. I didn't think to check because I thought all Z's would be aluminum.

IIRC, it's the M52TU's that came with aluminum blocks in Z3's.

[majdomo]

The stocks head unit alone is worth $150 or so. You’ll be fine.


Ezekiel 25:17

[Chilezen]

IIRC, it's the M52TU's that came with aluminum blocks in Z3's.

I went by Wikipedia's word which reads that all US-spec M52's were iron except for those in Z3's. I suspect the original engine was removed and replaced with this block.

I threw together a list of ideas, just cuz:


A) Remove the iron 2.8 from the Z, then part out useful bits & scrap the body. Don't rebuild the 2.8. Swap in the 2.8 into my car soon, once I accumulate the remaining parts.
B) Same as A, but rebuild the 2.8 into a 3.0 or 3.2 with the bigger crank and pistons, which would take longer.
C) Sell the motor from the Z along with the part-out. Keep looking for an aluminum block like I wanted originally. And then review A and B again.
D) Find all the missing parts to rebuild the Z into a normal car again, and then into a drift missile, after first finding a place to store the car long-term. (This was a friend's suggestion, who is an amateur drifter)

E) Stop wasting my time and energy on this pile of shit and sell it as a whole/send it to the yard.


Simon recommended I see if the car runs before deciding the next move, whether it's worth keeping. The previous owner says it did; ran fine.
I turned over the motor by hand, no problem. But it's missing a number of things: the ECU, O2 sensors, and fuel lines. It came with a manual trans, but the thing was plopped on the passenger seat upon delivery. I would have to get a flywheel/flexplate and mount the trans, just to mount the starter to start it. The car's also missing a driveshaft and clutch. Hopefully the EWS doesn't interfere with startup. And it needs a battery.

^This is why option E sounds wonderful, followed by C.
Hmmmmmmmmm

A stock head unit can be that much? Damn; this has a Kenwood head unit. In the trunk is a Harman Kardon amp or something.

[yert315]

You sound annoyed at your $400 purchase.

[2mAn]

You sound annoyed at your $400 purchase.

I think its a compounding problem of the S52 purchase that went sour and also that he had hopes it was an aluminum block but ending up with the Iron-Block.

BTW Kevin, How do you know for sure that its an Iron Block?

[Chilezen]

Annoyed only because I have until Friday to get the car out of the shop I'm storing it in.

The block doesn't have the webbing that alu blocks have. And it's magnetic.

[KKassem]

Sup dudes

Anyone got early model taillights they have no use for? Totally fine with cracked lenses if it means they're way cheaper haha

[E30SPDFRK]

Annoyed only because I have until Friday to get the car out of the shop I'm storing it in.

The block doesn't have the webbing that alu blocks have. And it's magnetic.

I know a guy that was also trying to buy that car for the aluminum engine. Seems he didn't miss much.