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  4. the one and only e30 s52 engine swap

the one and only e30 s52 engine swap

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Members BMWs
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  • KaiserRollsK
    KaiserRollsK
    KaiserRolls
    wrote on last edited by
    #76

    Damn you joe

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • m42b32M
      m42b32M
      m42b32
      wrote on last edited by
      #77

      KaiserRolls said:

      Damn you joe

      ❤

      1991 318is, 1991 318i, 2022 Bronco

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • AsparagusMikeA
        AsparagusMikeA
        AsparagusMike
        wrote on last edited by
        #78

        m42b32 said:

        The 96+ M3 rack will be an upgrade over the stock unit, but it's not much different than the standard e36 rack so a price premium isn't worth it. The actual ratio is the same, but its travel is limited due to the M3's geometry (Hence 3.2 vs 3.4 turns lock to lock, same ratio just less travel). 

        Well, the guy only wants 50 bucks for the 98 m3 rack so I thought that was a pretty good deal for a e36 rack. I knew the e36 non-m and m racks were pretty much the same ratio, its just what the guy had sitting in his garage. If this deal ends up falling through then I'll look into the z3 rack. To be honest, I actually thought z3 racks went for 250-300 bucks, so under 200 bucks for a z3 rack is big news to me. Or maybe its just all that r3vlimited brain washing me into thinking that every part is worth double its value.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • GunMetalGreyG
          GunMetalGreyG
          GunMetalGrey
          wrote on last edited by
          #79

          Upgrading racks, 10/10 worth it. 
          Makes the car a joy to drive.

          ...

          1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • m42b32M
            m42b32M
            m42b32
            wrote on last edited by
            #80

            AsparagusMike said:

            Well, the guy only wants 50 bucks for the 98 m3 rack so I thought that was a pretty good deal for a e36 rack. I knew the e36 non-m and m racks were pretty much the same ratio, its just what the guy had sitting in his garage. If this deal ends up falling through then I'll look into the z3 rack. To be honest, I actually thought z3 racks went for 250-300 bucks, so under 200 bucks for a z3 rack is big news to me. Or maybe its just all that r3vlimited brain washing me into thinking that every part is worth double its value.

            They typically go for 250-300 when people know what they are, aka r3vlimited/bimmerforums/etc. Junkyards and people parting out cars who don't know anything about BMW's will list them on ebay without doing much research and just slap a generic price on them, you just have to watch ebay and you can get a good deal. Make sure you get pictures of the rack/part numbers before you buy obviously, they can be swapped with normal e36 racks if the previous owner was being cheap. 

            $50 seems like a decent deal for a good condition e36 rack, and once the work is done with the swap it would be easy to upgrade down the road too since they are a direct swap.

            1991 318is, 1991 318i, 2022 Bronco

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • HipMFH
              HipMFH
              HipMF
              wrote on last edited by
              #81

              HipMF said:

              BTW, if you want to get rid of that dusty old M42, I know a guy...

              1 Reply Last reply
              3
              • B
                B
                B C
                wrote on last edited by
                #82

                I have read that the M rack is progressive rate (slower on center for better high speed stability) but that could be hogwash

                My Z3 rack feels “normal” just how my warmed over M52 will probably feel “normal”

                Like what the car should have come with in the first place

                1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • m42b32M
                  m42b32M
                  m42b32
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #83

                  Snap said:

                  I have read that the M rack is progressive rate (slower on center for better high speed stability) but that could be hogwash

                  You're right! My understanding is that the only linear rate racks are the non-m Z3 and the e46 ZHP

                  1991 318is, 1991 318i, 2022 Bronco

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • AsparagusMikeA
                    AsparagusMikeA
                    AsparagusMike
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #84

                    GunMetalGrey said:

                    Upgrading racks, 10/10 worth it. 
                    Makes the car a joy to drive. 

                    Hey! When you gonna help with my vanos?

                    HipMF said:

                    BTW, if you want to get rid of that dusty old M42, I know a guy... 

                    Let me know, I have no plans of keeping it.

                    Snap said:

                    I have read that the M rack is progressive rate (slower on center for better high speed stability) but that could be hogwash

                    Yes all e36 racks, m and non-m are progressive rate except the 95 M3 rack which is even slower in the center of the rack and has less overall travel than the regular E36 rack, aka...shit.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • GunMetalGreyG
                      GunMetalGreyG
                      GunMetalGrey
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #85

                      AsparagusMike said:

                      Hey! When you gonna help with my vanos?

                      Whenever, haven't figured out where the soft jaws and socket ended up...

                      ...

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • B
                        B
                        B C
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #86

                        I have a socket i can send if you cant find yours

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • AsparagusMikeA
                          AsparagusMikeA
                          AsparagusMike
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #87

                          Got very little done Thursday because, life. Friday though......very productive indeed.

                          20171214233738.jpg

                          I think I spent half of Friday just getting the rear end out. Words can not describe how relieved I was when this thing finally broke free from the car.

                          20171215145640.jpg

                          20171215221557.jpg

                          20171215221545.jpg\

                          Still working on disassembly of the trailing arms.

                          I should add that when the rear sub frame did finally come free with some gentle shaking, the subframe bushings ended up staying connected to the car instead of coming out. Simple enough...removed the rear seat, pulled out the long studs and knocked the bushings right off. Right side popped out just fine, as for the left. 😠

                          20171215234804.jpg

                          snapped off flush with the hole. Still figuring out how I will go about removing this.

                          Transitioning over to the gas tank...

                          Out of the 6 bolts, 5 came out fairly well. As for the sixth one...fml

                          20171215234839.jpg

                          The nut completely rounded so I can no longer fit a socket on it. As of right now I am still stumped on removing the gas tank until I get this last nut out. Also contemplating on possibly ordering a new aftermarket tank as this one is in rough shape with multiple dents as usual.

                          I kind of make a mess when I'm ripping and tarring...

                          20171215221353.jpg

                          In between this fuss I was able to remove a few more things from the engine bay including the pretty much the rest of the A/C lines and condenser as well as some interior stuff.

                          20171214233809.jpg

                          20171214233801.jpg

                          20171215221417.jpg

                          Carpet is in rough shape. Recommendations for carpet restoration is always welcome.

                          20171215221430.jpg

                          Got a call from my machinist. Flywheel and cylinder head are done! went and picked them up that night. Very pleased with how both turned out overall.

                          20171215223910.jpg

                          20171215222904.jpg

                          20171215221835.jpg

                          Cylinder head received a valve job, decked, and magnafluxed. Sense I will be running a m20 single mass flywheel, I had him remove a 1/8 of an inch on the back side to clear the e34 oil pan.

                          Head gasket also arrived as well as a few things from bimmerworld...

                          20171215222752.jpg

                          20171215222740.jpg

                          Saturday I took a break from the car and its problems and started tinkering on the motor some more.

                          20171216214252.jpg

                          20171216221128.jpg

                          20171216215853.jpg

                          20171217000006.jpg

                          Still gotta get the cams torqued down so gonna work on that tonight. Hopefully I won't snap any of the threads out of the bearing cap stud holes when torquing them down, but we will see.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • B
                            B
                            B C
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #88

                            Wow, this is pretty much a full restoration in one swoop!

                            May your cam bearing cap threads stay intact [emoji1374]

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • B
                              B
                              Boris3
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #89

                              For the stuck piece of the subframe sleeve you can try threading in a big lag bolt and see if that gives you enough bite and leverage to remove it, unlikely but still worth a try. If that doesn't work it's time for a small hole bit or a large drill bit and just hone out the aluminum. Wear eye protection, the small pieces fly around.

                              1990 325i racecar (ITS, former Spec E30); 2004 330i ZHP

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • B
                                B
                                B C
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #90

                                I had to tap the hole and thread a bolt into mine. Worked well

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • KaiserRollsK
                                  KaiserRollsK
                                  KaiserRolls
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #91

                                  ARP head studs and stock HG thickness? Or did I not see it correctly

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • AsparagusMikeA
                                    AsparagusMikeA
                                    AsparagusMike
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #92

                                    KaiserRolls said:

                                    ARP head studs and stock HG thickness? Or did I not see it correctly

                                    That is correct.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    1
                                    • AsparagusMikeA
                                      AsparagusMikeA
                                      AsparagusMike
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #93

                                      Boris3 said:

                                      For the stuck piece of the subframe sleeve you can try threading in a big lag bolt and see if that gives you enough bite and leverage to remove it, unlikely but still worth a try. If that doesn't work it's time for a small hole bit or a large drill bit and just hone out the aluminum. Wear eye protection, the small pieces fly around.

                                      I'll give that a try. Might even put a little heat on it as well.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • YoungCRY
                                        YoungCRY
                                        YoungCR
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #94

                                        Ended cleaning out the subframe bushing leftovers with a Dremel when that happened to me.

                                        Chris Young
                                        BMWCCA #458972
                                        1986 528e/5  | 1994 530i/5 | 1995 540i/6 | 2013 X5 35d | 1998 C1500 Suburban | 1995 K2500 Suburban

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • suspencefulS
                                          suspencefulS
                                          suspenceful
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #95

                                          AsparagusMike said:

                                          20171216215853.jpg

                                          Fuck - you got me.

                                          🎬 YouTube channel (60K+ subs): youtube.com/jakespence135
                                          📷 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/jakespence
                                          🏁 Shop BMW merchandise: bimmerstreet.com

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