fix my e30! $$??!?

[carnivalkid]

hi there, sad story here....

my bmw (1986 325e) has been sitting for a while as a half finished project.
and im looking for someone within the e30 community to commission to finish it up.

this is how it went, car drove great... eventually the clutch started to go and it had an oil leak from the front and rear main seal, and head gasket. when it got bad enough I parked it, purchased a 325i longblock and went to work.

I was in the process of rebuilding the 325i longblock I purchased out of seattle when I got to the crank bearings.
they were TOASTED.

So I accepted my loss and did some refreshing on the 2.7 block. put the 2.5 head on that. put it all together, timed it up on the engine stand. it turned fine.
then put the flywheel on, clutch, transmission and dropped it in the car.

I put it all together and went to start it and realized the motor wasn't rotating for ANYTHING. at all.
pulled the starter, pulled the crank pulley, disconnected the drive shaft and put the transmission in neutral, still nothing.

I would like someone to get this motor spinning, bonus if you feel comfortable getting it running for me.
i'm fairly handy mechanically but i am OVERWHELMED with work, and plus my garage is a mess I wouldn't even know where to start looking for tools.

if this is something that interests you, let me know on this thread. or feel free to txt me with questions.

503 290 6390

maybe come by and we can discuss how much I need to pay you to get this car back on the road.

and YES I understand this isn't something that can be solved with a case of beer and 50$, your time and knowledge is valuable.

[carnivalkid]

[e30austin]

What flywheel did you use? Did you make sure to put the shim on that goes between the front of the flywheel and the head of the flywheel/crank bolts?

I had a similar issue once where I forgot to put the shim in and the bolts were hitting the back of the crank...

[bmwm42]

you put a 2.5 m20 head on the eta block? id be down to help

[Wschnitz]

You need different pistons if its a normal eta block, they need valve reliefs, you sure it spun fine?

[spiDmang]

You need different pistons if its a normal eta block, they need valve reliefs, you sure it spun fine?

No you don't. You can run eta pistons with a b25 head no problem.

It sounds to me like a flywheel issue...something is jamming it up. I'd check the starter, flywheel bolts and spacer like Austin referred to.

Easy way to test the starter is to remove it and see if you get movement. If not, move onto the next thing.

Good luck!

[carnivalkid]

starters already pulled, i don't remember if i had a flywheel shim. that would very well be it!
and yes, after timing it it spun fine. i always give it a dozen or so rotations and re-check timing.
the private mechanic shop on my street is SUPPOSED to take it in today to give it some wrench time. but they have been saying that for weeks now.

[carnivalkid]

...cant...stop.... looking at old spice guy.
Isaiah Mustafa go to hell

[carnivalkid]

sorry to TTT this, but we solved the mystery. i sweet talked the shop a couple houses down to lift it up and take a look, we pulled the transmission and there were 2 throwout bearings in there, one new one i put in, and one very beat up one in the back covered in grease.
now the car is back in my driveway, drivetrain all bolted in, e36 shift linkage and i hope to button it up this weekend and get it back on the road.

thanks for the suggestions!

[golde30]

2 throwout bearings??? LoL

I feel your pain, I put a clutch disc on backwards loong time ago and had to cut the transmission off to get it all apart.