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  4. 1978 e21 m20 turbo swap, AKA What did I get myself into

1978 e21 m20 turbo swap, AKA What did I get myself into

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  • B
    B
    bfinley
    wrote on last edited by
    #42

    Currently waiting for the rest of my shopmates to show up then head to Dubuque to buy a Hobart handler 140.

    I had an epiphany last night as I was about to buy the outrageously expensive floor pans. I'm going to build them myself. Sheet steel and tubing is cheap. And I've got the time might as well save the money for things that are harder to do on my own.

    My parents are in town today so I have to wait till Sunday to spent some time in the shop getting up the last of the black tar paper, unbolting the exhaust, making cardboard patterns of the needed steel plates...

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    • B
      B
      bfinley
      wrote on last edited by
      #43

      Ramze46 said:

      I'll join u for the show with the e28 and I'll even give a helping hand!

      I'll take you up on that!

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      • B
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        bfinley
        wrote on last edited by
        #44

        Decided to get the Handler 190 since we have 220 power in the shop.

        Had to get it set up and run some beads on a piece of scrap laying around

        FAB80C17-F097-4C03-AA30-C3897944E4A4.jpg

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        • jc43089J
          jc43089J
          jc43089
          wrote on last edited by
          #45

          Awesome!  Key to flux core welding is the distance/stickout from the gun to the workpiece.  Too much or too little will not weld well, get it right and it works awesome.  Just experiment with different settings and stickout lengths.  If it is like mine there are some rough guidelines on the inside of the wire spool door for voltage/wire speed/stickout.

          2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
          3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
          '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

          '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

          '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
          '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
          '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

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          • B
            B
            bfinley
            wrote on last edited by
            #46

            John, that's good to know ! We're planning to get a gas tank on it pronto, but I also intend to use the flux core wire while I can.

            Everyone at the shop is planning projects to brush up rusty welding skills before actually attacking our cars. I'll be fabbing up bases for the seats that came out of the e21 to have shop furniture.

            My parents came to visit and hauled a bunch of stuff down for me including a new heat gun which made scraping the floors super easy!

            7EE5AE39-6757-4A09-BF71-6CC3221D80AB.jpg

            I'll have to up load more pictures from my camera later.

            In the mean time inspirational e21's with fender flares

            A3C60503-E96A-4028-AFC0-A4655C088295.png

            28CDA60D-9E50-4009-9BF0-204D372C8781.png

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            • B
              B
              bfinley
              wrote on last edited by
              #47

              Well I decided to spend the weekend pulling the motor, and help do head gaskets on one car and install coilovers on another... Busy busy.

              After two days of shop shenanigans and working in a shop barely above freezing All that did get accomplished, and I discovered that the previous owner welded the bumper to the fenders and the buried the joint under a quarter inch of bondo... Not amused

              ebebe3a3.jpg

              A2A33141-9A8C-4D2C-A461-C5259126F26F.jpg

              F26DDB8F-8766-4076-B344-747A0ABD9A0C.jpg

              C91C87BB-9969-44A7-BD4A-DFCB7240D034.jpg

              959BF146-4525-4A51-B142-415C8459D0DE.jpg

              9D890F4C-461C-4B25-84EE-37DD1CDC4FA4.jpg

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              • jc43089J
                jc43089J
                jc43089
                wrote on last edited by
                #48

                bfinley said:

                Well I decided to spend the weekend pulling the motor, and help do head gaskets on one car and install coilovers on another... Busy busy.

                After two days of shop shenanigans and working in a shop barely above freezing All that did get accomplished, and I discovered that the previous owner welded the bumper to the fenders and the buried the joint under a quarter inch of bondo... Not amused

                Weight savings, no bolts needed.

                Looking good!  I am off tues-thurs this week so I will try to make a template of the e30 wheel arch. 

                Is that Miata owned by a guy named Chris?

                2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
                3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
                '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

                '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

                '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
                '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
                '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

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                • B
                  B
                  B C
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #49

                  I dont think so, that doesn't look like Chris' boyfriend, but you know how Miata guys get around.

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                  • B
                    B
                    bfinley
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #50

                    John at least they could have done a better job with the welds ! that template would be awesome so I can move on those kamotors flares.

                    Snap, truth about miata guys. This one belongs to a local tuner, Matt schreck. It's affectionately named the unicorn and is going to get giant googly eyes and rainbow decals

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • RamRod E28R
                      RamRod E28R
                      RamRod E28
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #51

                      bfinley said:

                      John at least they could have done a better job with the welds ! that template would be awesome so I can move on those kamotors flares.Snap, truth about miata guys. This one belongs to a local tuner, Matt schreck. It's affectionately named the unicorn and is going to get giant googly eyes and rainbow decals

                      That is hilarious!

                      1984 BMW 528e - SETA and manual swapped! M50 to come!!!

                      1988 BMW 528e - Need parts?

                      1991 Chevy C1500 (mighty 350 with TBI and Wisconsin weight reduction package)

                      1996 Mazda Miata (SOLD!!!)

                      1996 BMW 325i (Donor car)

                      1998 Chevrolet Corvette (BEAST)

                      2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee (BROKEN)

                      3bc80c27-0937-43e3-9e7f-00404a337ec1zps

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                      • B
                        B
                        bfinley
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #52

                        Transmission is out, driveshaft, glass, and dash are next.

                        Did some exploratory wire brush grinding in the trunk which revealed fiberglass covering welded patch panels... And am now covered in fiberglass slivers ...

                        2ygusyqy.jpg

                        I'm glad I don't have to do all the patches, but I'm pretty sure a blind monkey can weld better than this

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                        • B
                          B
                          bfinley
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #53

                          I forgot the pink fiberglass insulation I found wired and melted to the top of the trans. I'll find a picture of that very custom mod...

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                          0
                          • jc43089J
                            jc43089J
                            jc43089
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #54

                            Might as well use fiberglass everywhere right?

                            2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
                            3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
                            '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

                            '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

                            '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
                            '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
                            '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            1
                            • B
                              B
                              bfinley
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #55

                              7y3e6uma.jpg

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                              • R
                                R
                                Rowleym
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #56

                                Gotta love PO nightmares.

                                96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg96.jpg

                                sk8 or die

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                                1
                                • B
                                  B
                                  bfinley
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #57

                                  Anyone know if the 4 speed linkage is drastically different than the 5 speed ?

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                                  0
                                  • jc43089J
                                    jc43089J
                                    jc43089
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #58

                                    From that pic it looks like selector rod is very long.  I would think it is very similar though, what is the date on your g260?  Early ones have a steel plate carrier like the one on your 4spd, late ones have an aluminum shift carrier.  And some in the middle have provisions for both.  The date should be inside the bellhousing I think.

                                    2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
                                    3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
                                    '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

                                    '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

                                    '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
                                    '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
                                    '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • B
                                      B
                                      bfinley
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #59

                                      That's why I'm thinking I could chop mine down to size but it's probably easier to pull one out of an e30 ...

                                      I'll check for a date on the trans tonight

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • jc43089J
                                        jc43089J
                                        jc43089
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #60

                                        That carrier looks quite different than the early 260 one.  Went back to your pic and it has the spot above the shift link on the back for the aluminum carrier, see if the holes below that on the back are tapped or not, hard to see in the pic but it looks like it has the spots for the eta sensors on the drivers side of the bellhousing.

                                        2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
                                        3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
                                        '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

                                        '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

                                        '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
                                        '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
                                        '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • RamRod E28R
                                          RamRod E28R
                                          RamRod E28
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #61

                                          If the holes are there it'll b a direct bolt on plug n play senario for the eta ur getting off me

                                          1984 BMW 528e - SETA and manual swapped! M50 to come!!!

                                          1988 BMW 528e - Need parts?

                                          1991 Chevy C1500 (mighty 350 with TBI and Wisconsin weight reduction package)

                                          1996 Mazda Miata (SOLD!!!)

                                          1996 BMW 325i (Donor car)

                                          1998 Chevrolet Corvette (BEAST)

                                          2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee (BROKEN)

                                          3bc80c27-0937-43e3-9e7f-00404a337ec1zps

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0

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