ToolsnTrack
Posted a lot
Homebrew Raconteur
Posts: 4,128
Club RR Member Number: 134
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The wheelbase of a 4 door will make it a lot more tail stable than a similar 2 door, which would be quite snappy when running big power. There were no differences in wheelbase between the 2 and 4-door models.   Ah, i might be confusing them with another car. Apologies. Rust observations still stand though! |
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Sept 6, 2013 10:52:45 GMT
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I happen to have an E30 shell without an engine, and a complete E32 5.0 V12 sitting there without an MOT that look mightily tempting to mate together. I did a bit of research and it looks like it goes in, no idea how much work, even found a 5.0 V12 twin turbo conversion online:  |
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Sept 6, 2013 13:04:52 GMT
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I just got back to the internet and you've overwhelmed me with info! Loads of stuff to think about for now. And typically, I was just driving down the A19 in the van and got burned off by a 4 door E30. I'd like to start with something that looks LIKE THISI'm definitely after an anonymous looking sleeper but I wouldn't mind if I ended up with something that looks like this; What a monster! |
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Sept 6, 2013 17:01:08 GMT
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A Z3 2.8 might be an interesting donor. Most of its parts are an upgrade for a E30 (quicker rack, bigger brakes & 5 lug, tunable engine to 220-230hp) and an 'easy' fit. The Z3 was build in the USA so they didn't come with the Nikasil cylinder liners which causes trouble in the later E36. But a charged 4-pot is a attractive idea, too Or a bad ass sounding V8... Time for inspiration!       |
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 Click picture for more |
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Sept 6, 2013 22:51:20 GMT
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I happen to have an E30 shell without an engine, and a complete E32 5.0 V12 sitting there without an MOT that look mightily tempting to mate together. I did a bit of research and it looks like it goes in, no idea how much work The boot mounted radiator may give you an idea of work involved to fit the v12 in an e30. A v8 is hard enough.  |
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Last Edit: Sept 6, 2013 22:52:18 GMT by carat 3.6
1988 Mercedes w124 superturbo diesel 508hp
1996 Mercedes s124 e300 diesel wagon
1990 BMW E30 V8 M60 powered!
1999 BMW E46 323ci project car
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Also the 4 litre V8 is all ally so its probably lighter than a 6. Its quite small once you get all the unnecessary curse word off it too! And it sounds better - just! Steve The 4 litre V8 is a cast iron block. It is not lighter than any of the 6 cylinder engines. The alloy 4.4 is also not lighter than the 6 cylinders (except possibly the M30). It is not in any way shape or form small once all the necessary ancillaries are attached to it. |
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I used to tread E30 waters years ago, and I think from memory the 6 pots will, as mentioned, have beefier brakes and struts as standard than a 4 banger, but a word of caution... those cheap 6 pots are in my experience always faaaaar rustier than the 4 pots. Must be systemic of the life and owners they have had, but worth considering. 325 sports came with LSD's too, and many breakers donated these to lesser models. Worth keeping an eye out for if you want to retain a standard rear axle. I had a 8v e30 4 door much like the one you are thinking about. The wheelbase of a 4 door will make it a lot more tail stable than a similar 2 door, which would be quite snappy when running big power. Sounds like a good project, but I always have a twitch to go back to an E30, and even 4 door chrome bumper models seem to be fetching big moneys these days. Some 4-cylinders had the bigger struts and brakes as well. Engine size was not the only determining factor; body style also had an influence on the specification. The cars all rust as much as each other but of all of them, the most prone is the 325i Sport, due to the muck retaining capabilities of the plastic bodykit. The Sport LSD will be unsuitable for a high powered engine. Although parts of one may be useful coupled with a more appropriate CWP, as the necessary LSD units are quite difficult to locate. |
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A Z3 2.8 might be an interesting donor. Most of its parts are an upgrade for a E30 (quicker rack, bigger brakes & 5 lug, tunable engine to 220-230hp) and an 'easy' fit. The Z3 was build in the USA so they didn't come with the Nikasil cylinder liners which causes trouble in the later E36. Z3 suspension is not the correct ones to do an E30 5-stud conversion, and it's high price (even for a breaker) compared to an ordinary 328 E36, with the only extra benefit being the steering rack, it isn't really worth the extra outlay. |
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Personally, I'd love to see a 318is with some weight removed and a turbo added, I think it'd make a brilliant toy. If memory serves me correctly the M42 engine found in the e36 318is (maybe e30 to, not sure) can run a Supercharger quite happily from it's own ECU. 220bhp in a light car with a good chasis could be quite fun. The M42 was in the E30 as well, albeit with different ancillaries and manifolds. |
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Sorry to ask questions about a car which is such a well known staple of the retro scene, but I'm not too familiar with BMW's in general. E30's have been on my hit list for nearly 10 years and curiosity is starting to get the better of me. I don't want a standard one though. I require many, many torques. I want it to be quicker than my Cosworth Capri but hopefully not handle so terrifyingly. I want it to look standard though. I'm thinking an early model, chrome bumpers, in a nice goldy beige colour. Maybe even a 'grandads taxi' sign in the rear window. Lots of those around! The cheapest ones to buy seem to be early model automatics which is fine if I'm planning to set about it with some extra cylinders. That's where my questions start. If you want to build a quick road car (I.e. occasional track use, not stripped out racer) does it matter which model you start with? Is there any differences to the shells? Is there a right or wrong model to start with? I'm also torn on engine choice. There's a few lads from Teesside who get to the drift days running V8's and there's the Gamma V8 from a few years ago. They sound utterly, pant wettingly amazing and are no doubt super quick. But when I think E30 I think light and agile and does the big V8 not ruin this a bit? Better to go with 4 or 6 cylinders and keep the weight down? Any tips or links regarding sorted E30's are very welcome. Sorry to ramble, but please give me some tasty info to supply tomorrows daydream material. A turbo engine may not give you the torque desired, but an M50 Turbo as previously suggested is a very good start. Make sure to use the steel block M50 and not the alloy M52 if you intend to turbo. M50 can be stroked with M52 2.8 parts. For Torque the M30 swap is the easier option. As mentioned previous, parts are hard to get now, as it's a bit old tech and they've all been killed off. Probably the most reliable engine BMW ever made though, and yes it can actually take 400bhp with a turbo. V8 swap is massively expensive, but you'll never ask for more torque again. But I do mean massively expensive, and lots of custom fab involved. It is fantastic though. In all instances, previously converted cars pop up from time to time for between £2.5 - 5k. There is no requirement however to stick to BMW parts except for simplicity. You can buy fitting kits from America to fit GM LS V8 engines, and you buy those crate. A bit of a dark horse conversion at the minute is the SR20 or RB26 Nissan engines, given the ease of locating tuning parts. No torque though! (compared to a V8 anyway) Also 1/2JZ Toyota engines, another popular mod in the states, I think again mounts etc can be bought off the shelf. |
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Sept 7, 2013 23:34:39 GMT
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Also the 4 litre V8 is all ally so its probably lighter than a 6. Its quite small once you get all the unnecessary curse word off it too! And it sounds better - just! Steve The 4 litre V8 is a cast iron block. It is not lighter than any of the 6 cylinder engines. The alloy 4.4 is also not lighter than the 6 cylinders (except possibly the M30). It is not in any way shape or form small once all the necessary ancillaries are attached to it. The 4 litre is an alloy block, it weighs near as makes no difference the same as the m20 6cyl found in the e30 once the unused parts are removed. The 4.4 is slightly lighter than the 4 litre |
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1988 Mercedes w124 superturbo diesel 508hp
1996 Mercedes s124 e300 diesel wagon
1990 BMW E30 V8 M60 powered!
1999 BMW E46 323ci project car
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