The Journey of Linda and Friends - the M20b31 Lives

[paynemw]

the only thing you need to do on a M20b25 when thinking budget... oil pan baffle. Keep everything else stock and just send it. Even the airbox. Sell the original M20b25 to SPECE30 dudes....they'll snag it in a heartbeat.

[AWDBOB]

the only thing you need to do on a M20b25 when thinking budget... oil pan baffle. Keep everything else stock and just send it. Even the airbox. Sell the original M20b25 to SPECE30 dudes....they'll snag it in a heartbeat.

Yes sir! This motor is in great shape, too- it's only got 140K on it. I'm also picking up the trans from Matt (from the same car). It was a DOT replacement with only ~80K on it and it's much more fresh than the early trans I got with my manual swap.

As I sell off my 24v stuff I'll pick up a couple things to increase the fun factor a bit, but that's it. I'll probably do long tubes, a 272 cam (already bought a 284/272 but it for certain causes PTV contact), a BBTB, a chip, a lightened flywheel, some sticky tires, and enjoy the hell out of it. Plan is to snag the IE baffle + windage tray as well to help keep oil in the pan for when feeling/getting "sendy", as my coastal friends would say.

I need to sell a few more parts, but this thing project should start rolling soon!

[mjweimer]

As I sell off my 24v stuff I'll pick up a couple things to increase the fun factor a bit, but that's it. I'll probably do long tubes, a 272 cam (already bought a 284/272 but it for certain causes PTV contact), a BBTB, a chip, a lightened flywheel, some sticky tires, and enjoy the hell out of it. Plan is to snag the IE baffle + windage tray as well to help keep oil in the pan for when feeling/getting "sendy", as my coastal friends would say.

That sounds like a good plan and should make for a really fun package. A lightly breathed on engine should be dead reliable and easy to live with for cruising around on drives, to events, etc.



MJ

[AWDBOB]

That sounds like a good plan and should make for a really fun package. A lightly breathed on engine should be dead reliable and easy to live with for cruising around on drives, to events, etc.
MJ

I agree 100%, and that is what I'm going for. I purchased a 284/272 Schrick, but after much research found that I can't run it with stock pistons due to PTV issues. The effort it takes to deepen the reliefs properly isn't something I'm interested in doing, so I'm now on the hunt for a Schrick 272. I don't trust the regrinds, and the 'billet' ones are unproven, no cam cards, etc.

[2mAn]

Are you driving any of the E30s you own right now?

[AWDBOB]

Are you driving any of the E30s you own right now?

2mAn, I am the worst car guy.

I have 7 E30s currently and am driving 0 of them. However, 4 of them are "technically" parts cars (the 3 iXs and an e), leaving the M3, my iS, and my '88 lach iX as my nice ones. M3 needs a HG still, iS I changed plans 300 times, and the iX is "good to go", needing a few minor things before I list it up for sale.

I have had twelve E30s total now and have "driven" one (yes, that's ONE), which was a rough, rusty Zinno iX (my first E30) for maybe 5K miles. I have also technically put a few hundred miles on my Lach iX back in PA.

Four years, 1600 posts, thousands of dollars, and no driving (the whole point of a fun project car, right?).

I built an Evo into a 500whp track monster and sold it after driving it 1000 miles.

I built two foxbodys (one supercharged weekend cruiser and one autoX N/A car) and sold both after driving less than 1000 miles.

I had a 500whp '03 Cobra that I sold before I put 1000 miles on it.

Donno why, it just happens that way. Someday I'll finish something and road trip it like I've always wanted to do.

[mjweimer]

2mAn, I am the worst car guy.

I have 7 E30s currently and am driving 0 of them. However, 4 of them are "technically" parts cars (the 3 iXs and an e), leaving the M3, my iS, and my '88 lach iX as my nice ones. M3 needs a HG still, iS I changed plans 300 times, and the iX is "good to go", needing a few minor things before I list it up for sale.

I have had twelve E30s total now and have "driven" one (yes, that's ONE), which was a rough, rusty Zinno iX (my first E30) for maybe 5K miles. I have also technically put a few hundred miles on my Lach iX back in PA.

Four years, 1600 posts, thousands of dollars, and no driving (the whole point of a fun project car, right?).

I built an Evo into a 500whp track monster and sold it after driving it 1000 miles.

I built two foxbodys (one supercharged weekend cruiser and one autoX N/A car) and sold both after driving less than 1000 miles.

I had a 500whp '03 Cobra that I sold before I put 1000 miles on it.

Donno why, it just happens that way. Someday I'll finish something and road trip it like I've always wanted to do.

All real car guys have stories like this and then one day it magically happens. You are on the right path. My E36 M3 sat for years in pieces and my E46 touring had a sad life outside in the weather - being driven some but otherwise needing lots of love - before things worked out and now they are in a state where all is good....hop in and go wherever. Not my E30 of course as it is currently nothing more than a static display of grief but we won't go there.


Our warm climate friends also don't understand that insidious ionic compound NaCl that tends to be all over the roads around here this time of year eating cars from below. Unfortunately my fun cars are stuck in the garage for a while.


MJ

[e30austin]

2mAn, I am the worst car guy.

I have 7 E30s currently and am driving 0 of them. However, 4 of them are "technically" parts cars (the 3 iXs and an e), leaving the M3, my iS, and my '88 lach iX as my nice ones. M3 needs a HG still, iS I changed plans 300 times, and the iX is "good to go", needing a few minor things before I list it up for sale.

I have had twelve E30s total now and have "driven" one (yes, that's ONE), which was a rough, rusty Zinno iX (my first E30) for maybe 5K miles. I have also technically put a few hundred miles on my Lach iX back in PA.

Four years, 1600 posts, thousands of dollars, and no driving (the whole point of a fun project car, right?).

I built an Evo into a 500whp track monster and sold it after driving it 1000 miles.

I built two foxbodys (one supercharged weekend cruiser and one autoX N/A car) and sold both after driving less than 1000 miles.

I had a 500whp '03 Cobra that I sold before I put 1000 miles on it.

Donno why, it just happens that way. Someday I'll finish something and road trip it like I've always wanted to do.

Sounds like a familiar story

[rturbo 930]

AWDBOB, you make me feel better about all my terrible, rusted, non-running, stalled project cars.

PS, maybe get screened for ADD.

[AWDBOB]

All real car guys have stories like this and then one day it magically happens. You are on the right path. My E36 M3 sat for years in pieces and my E46 touring had a sad life outside in the weather - being driven some but otherwise needing lots of love - before things worked out and now they are in a state where all is good....hop in and go wherever. Not my E30 of course as it is currently nothing more than a static display of grief but we won't go there.
Our warm climate friends also don't understand that insidious ionic compound NaCl that tends to be all over the roads around here this time of year eating cars from below. Unfortunately my fun cars are stuck in the garage for a while.
MJ

Absolutely- I think it is all a part of the process. I am excited to get something done enough to enjoy it and not go overboard to where I can't. Imperfect paint, minimal (relative) investment, ready for whatever. I must say, I am quite excited to see your static display of grief do burnouts and attend track days!

Sounds like a familiar story

It's a curse man. Build exactly how you want it -----> sell -------> repeat

Your collection seems to be greater in both caliber and number, so I can only imagine how you feel!

AWDBOB, you make me feel better about all my terrible, rusted, non-running, stalled project cars.

PS, maybe get screened for ADD.

There are so many different facets to how we enjoy cars, and I've always enjoyed learning a platform and maximizing potential for a chosen setup. Once I get to that point I'm usually too stressed to drive them so I sell them while they're still minty.

The big change now is, I'm in a different part of the country now without a group of car buddies to wrench with or a buddy building a similar car to bounce ideas off of down the road, so without that motive behind what I want the car to be, I wake up every day and research a different setup that I think would be fun to build (and then realize I can't afford it). I keep coming back to a 302 since I like rustangs, but I don't need to give that idea any more thought than I already have or else your poor souls will have to read two years worth of me collecting SBF parts ending in a part out thread and no burnouts. (edit, that already happened but didn't make it but a few weeks https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=316923)

I certainly have ADD, I just don't like the drugs so I'll probably build and sell 'till the day I die :p

[Staszek]

Absolutely- I think it is all a part of the process. I am excited to get something done enough to enjoy it and not go overboard to where I can't. Imperfect paint, minimal (relative) investment, ready for whatever. I must say, I am quite excited to see your static display of grief do burnouts and attend track days!



It's a curse man. Build exactly how you want it -----> sell -------> repeat

Your collection seems to be greater in both caliber and number, so I can only imagine how you feel!



There are so many different facets to how we enjoy cars, and I've always enjoyed learning a platform and maximizing potential for a chosen setup. Once I get to that point I'm usually too stressed to drive them so I sell them while they're still minty.

The big change now is, I'm in a different part of the country now without a group of car buddies to wrench with or a buddy building a similar car to bounce ideas off of down the road, so without that motive behind what I want the car to be, I wake up every day and research a different setup that I think would be fun to build (and then realize I can't afford it). I keep coming back to a 302 since I like rustangs, but I don't need to give that idea any more thought than I already have or else your poor souls will have to read two years worth of me collecting SBF parts ending in a part out thread and no burnouts. (edit, that already happened but didn't make it but a few weeks https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=316923)

I certainly have ADD, I just don't like the drugs so I'll probably build and sell 'till the day I die :p

I am doing everything I can to stop myself from buying another project before I finish this car. I really want a track car, or an E9. My E30 project became a lot larger then I thought as well, it was going to be a simple S52 swap, clean it up etc and now its way more then I expected.

Good luck!!

[AWDBOB]

I am doing everything I can to stop myself from buying another project before I finish this car. I really want a track car, or an E9. My E30 project became a lot larger then I thought as well, it was going to be a simple S52 swap, clean it up etc and now its way more then I expected.

Good luck!!

Thanks man! I 100% know that feeling, on both fronts. Every project turns into an extreme build (re-read the original post of this thread for example haha). It's just as easy to let a project go overboard as it is to transfer attention to a different project when a current project gets stale (until project #2 goes overboard as well).

I'm so excited to finally drive this car that my motivation is on full blast, ready to finish this engine/trans swap. I'm just waiting on the 1000 things I have for sale to sell so I can buy the rest of the parts I need.

IE Longtubes
eBay catback
Custom Midsection
HG Kit
Head Bolts
Oil Pan Baffle
Windage Tray - purchased
M50 Injectors
HD Rubber Mounts (engine/trans) - purchased
IE Front 20mm Swaybar Spacer
Spal Pusher Fan
Regular Sized DSSR - purchased
Febi Rockers
Billet 272 (Bimmerheads) - purchased
RHD 7lb Flywheel
Riot Racing BBTB


I also need warmth to paint the bay.

[AWDBOB]

Not too bad for backyard bob in an afternoon with some paintscratch love. I'm going to do this again at a later date, but this is exactly what I need for the time being.

[Staszek]

Not too bad for backyard bob in an afternoon with some paintscratch love. I'm going to do this again at a later date, but this is exactly what I need for the time being.

Looking good!

[wworm]

Looks great man! Stoked you're moving forward on this!!