Ok so I assume that because I can swap m20's from e30's into my car, then its possible to swap an m50 using the same guidlines the e30 guys do. Now here is where the questions start.

1. What trans, do I just pick up an e36 manual trans and hope for the best?
2. Can I try it out on my 4 speed :)?
3. I hear I should use M30 engine mounts from an e34, then someone told me I should use m30 engine mounts from a e12.
3. Is there anything I am missing?
4. I figure I rig the pinouts on the harness that would normally go to ignition, and some other internal stuff to my internal stuff. I assume gauges like speed, and tach wont work until I start to do some rigging, or look into doing abit of a dash exchange :) I am ok with that I have even considered putting in an aftermarket gauge setup for this swap.

Any tips and help I do apreciate.

Thanks,
Josh

p.s. Anyone in the midwest want to make an offer on my running m20 2.3 out of the 323?

Ok so I assume that because I can swap m20's from e30's into my car, then its possible to swap an m50 using the same guidlines the e30 guys do. Now here is where the questions start.

1. What trans, do I just pick up an e36 manual trans and hope for the best?
2. Can I try it out on my 4 speed :)?
3. I hear I should use M30 engine mounts from an e34, then someone told me I should use m30 engine mounts from a e12.
3. Is there anything I am missing?
4. I figure I rig the pinouts on the harness that would normally go to ignition, and some other internal stuff to my internal stuff. I assume gauges like speed, and tach wont work until I start to do some rigging, or look into doing abit of a dash exchange :) I am ok with that I have even considered putting in an aftermarket gauge setup for this swap.

Any tips and help I do apreciate.

Thanks,
Josh

p.s. Anyone in the midwest want to make an offer on my running m20 2.3 out of the 323?

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/jjgbmw323/yellow323c.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/jjgbmw323/snow_cool.gif
1&2) Stock 323i will bolt at a strange angle to the M50 engine.
But the tranny for the engine you are wanting to use may work.
3) No idea what mounts to use
4)Complete wiring harness, intake manifold, and computer, fuel system out of donor car.

5) Tuck the raditor in the front vallance.
6) Stock 323i front subframe should work fine..

Anything else. Headers on the new engine? It can be done, and I am sure you will do a good job, post the details here.

I also have a donor 2.3 engine out of my 323i. They are good to build a coffee table on, not sure if they are worth much.

ask madhatter about conversions he seems to do swaps all the time. and he has had a m30 in his e21 before which should help. 99% shure he knows about fitting m50's into e21's bacuse we were talking about what engine i am going to put in mine and the m50 came up. hope it helps. why not go the m20 eta stroker option? but i guess it's easyier becuse you have the engine alredy:D but what would i know i'm a noob:stickoutt

I dont want a eta m20 stroker. The engine has very little appeal other than better engine managment and the options you can run. If I want that I would just go for megasquirt on the m20 I already have. I want digital ignition for future turbo options, double valve springs, and a MAF :)

Josh

alright, go to the e30 forum board and have a looksee around (better yet do a search) as this is a popular swap for the e30 guys......

now why did i say that? here's why....

we can directly bolt in an eta motor into a 323 using some of the 323 goodies.....so that being said see what the e30 guys have done to make the m50 fit in their rides when it comes to motor mounts and arms.....i know they have to use a different (certain one) oil pan and oil pump to get it to clear the subframe and whatnot.....but if they can swap out the motor mount arms and make it work, then guess what you can too. if m50 will accept e30 arms and bolt in that means that m50 will accept e21 323 arms and bolt right in......

however i see you are a four speed, i didn't think the 323's came with a four speed......are you really a 320? cause if you are you are up against more work than you might think........

however i see you are a four speed, i didn't think the 323's came with a four speed......are you really a 320? cause if you are you are up against more work than you might think........

Pre-1980 323i had a 4 speed.

Al

Pre-1980 323i had a 4 speed.

Al

Yes, I know Al.

Hey DJ professor what oil pan from what year car are you refering too?

As for the wiring what you are saying is wire the donor motor to its own native fuse box, then find a way to give this power?

And still retain the e21 fuse box, hmm thats interesting.

later,
J

Yes it needs the oilpan from a e34 525 touring, which is the car I took this engine out of :)

So I am set. Now I believe I need m30 mounts to get it to fit, but luckily I have a machine shop at my disposal so I may just machine up some aluminum mounts.

Josh

Yes it needs the oilpan from a e34 525 touring, which is the car I took this engine out of :)

So I am set. Now I believe I need m30 mounts to get it to fit, but luckily I have a machine shop at my disposal so I may just machine up some aluminum mounts.

Josh

Can you make an extra set for me, I have something in mind and can pay u for them. Thanks
J

Yes, I know Al.

Hey DJ professor what oil pan from what year car are you refering too?

As for the wiring what you are saying is wire the donor motor to its own native fuse box, then find a way to give this power?

And still retain the e21 fuse box, hmm thats interesting.

later,
J

josh knows the oil pan i am talking bout ;)

and for the wiring, yes that's exactly what i am talking about doing. as a matter of fact that's what i am doing on my little swapola.....it's quick and easy. for my next swap i will be wasting the time and taking all the e21 wiring and wiring it up to the e30 fuse block so i just have the one block in there. but for this down and dirty swap i am doing it the easy way.

and josh why do you need m30 arms? you are putting in the m50......what do the e30 guys use to bolt up the m50 in their rides?:devillook

and thanks for the info on the 323 trans's, i was not aware of that

-Any (not just touring) e34 525i oilpan is need for e30 m50 to work. Not sure if needed for e21 tho ;)

josh knows the oil pan i am talking bout ;)

and for the wiring, yes that's exactly what i am talking about doing. as a matter of fact that's what i am doing on my little swapola.....it's quick and easy. for my next swap i will be wasting the time and taking all the e21 wiring and wiring it up to the e30 fuse block so i just have the one block in there. but for this down and dirty swap i am doing it the easy way.

and josh why do you need m30 arms? you are putting in the m50......what do the e30 guys use to bolt up the m50 in their rides?:devillook

and thanks for the info on the 323 trans's, i was not aware of that

I am going to merely pinout the starter, tach signal, temp, oil pressure(aftermarket gauge/stock). Oil Temp(aftermarket). On the m50 there is but one big rotating plug to inout off of. I can cut that big usefull plug off and splice to wires, but instead I think I will buy the female counterpart to that plug either off of a junkyard car or something else and use it to splice what little I need to attatch to my stock wiring harness. It really is only temp sensing stuff for dash use, everythin else is self contained on the engine :)

As for the motor mounts, I believe the e30 guys use m30 engine mounts to make the spacing proper. I can duplicate the m30 engine mounts by simply putting the engine in, leveling it using the trans brace, and then measuring the gap, machine the aluminum mounts, and put some urethane and delrin in there for light dampening.

http://www.e30m50.com/E30/m50resources.htm
http://www.theeurodepot.com/e30m50.html

Thats teh 411 I am going off of.

THanks for the help I will keep you updated, anyone have an e36 trans in the midwest?
Josh

I am going to merely pinout the starter, tach signal, temp, oil pressure(aftermarket gauge/stock). Oil Temp(aftermarket). On the m50 there is but one big rotating plug to inout off of. I can cut that big usefull plug off and splice to wires, but instead I think I will buy the female counterpart to that plug either off of a junkyard car or something else and use it to splice what little I need to attatch to my stock wiring harness. It really is only temp sensing stuff for dash use, everythin else is self contained on the engine :)

As for the motor mounts, I believe the e30 guys use m30 engine mounts to make the spacing proper. I can duplicate the m30 engine mounts by simply putting the engine in, leveling it using the trans brace, and then measuring the gap, machine the aluminum mounts, and put some urethane and delrin in there for light dampening.

http://www.e30m50.com/E30/m50resources.htm
http://www.theeurodepot.com/e30m50.html

Thats teh 411 I am going off of.

THanks for the help I will keep you updated, anyone have an e36 trans in the midwest?
Josh


Josh sounds good. Make sure you let us know - or see the diagram for how the wiring works as this is the key to this swap.

Also, the e21 323i tranny will bolt up - albiet at a strange angle to you new engine. I am not sure how to connect the spedo sensor to the dash with the new tranny.

Can you make a second set of motor mounts?
thanks
J

if i read this correctly it appears you will have to drill out new holes on your subframe and that's pretty much it....

but it appears to me you will either need to run the stock 323 tranny for the driveshaft to work.....otherwise you will have to mod a bit to make the e36 trans and driveshaft work......as the e30 driveline is not a bolt and go operation for our rides, reguardless if you are 323 or not

If I use my stock tranny can I still use my clutch/flywheel?
4 speed 190hp :)
Josh

If I use my stock tranny can I still use my clutch/flywheel?
4 speed 190hp :)
Josh

yes you can......

if you want to use the e36 trans you will have a couple of different options for when it comes to driveshafts......neither of which are bolt and go sorry to say. if you want more detail just let me know :buttrock

yes you can......

if you want to use the e36 trans you will have a couple of different options for when it comes to driveshafts......neither of which are bolt and go sorry to say. if you want more detail just let me know :buttrock

I figured what I would do with the driveshaft issues is make an adaptor out of aluminum that would make up for any size/bolt pattern difference.

So Actually what your telling me is I can unobolt the engine from trans motor mounts exhaust and really yank my engine out and simply put on my flywheel to that new engine and slide that in? I know all the wiring, throttle cable, and all that nonsense still exists but really its a simple swap.

:)
josh

Yes. As that guy who transplanted into the yellow 323i already told me, it will bolt up but at a funny angle. So you may need the e36 trans.

Unless you like the angle. I dont like it at all. See the thread on the m54 engine conversion...he mated it to his existing 323i dogleg tranny.

yes you can......

if you want to use the e36 trans you will have a couple of different options for when it comes to driveshafts......neither of which are bolt and go sorry to say. if you want more detail just let me know :buttrock


So DJ what to help a bro out and tell us what the deal is with the e36 tranny and mating the driveshafts to this. Do you need the e36 drive shaft as well.

Later,
J

ok if you cats read the link about using the e30 driveshaft for this swap in the e30's......turns out from the read that you can use the e30 driveshaft on the e36 trans when doing the swap in the e30.....so that being said, to get an e30 driveshaft with an e36 trans to work in our little rides you have two courses of action.....1) cut/modifiy your current driveshaft to make it work. this is fairly straight forward but will cost some coin as you will have to have the driveshaft rebalanced when it is all over and done with....or you can.......... 2) do what i am going to do. get a lovely e30 driveline out of an 84' (i believe that's the year) e30 that allows a bit of adjustment in length.....slap that sucker in there and simply cut and relocate your center support bearing mounts. my muffler shop is going to hook me up on that for like $50 bucks. a heck of a lot less than doing work on the driveshaft itself. not to mention if i bust the driveshaft or the u-joints i can simply go get another driveshaft and slap it in there.

ok if you cats read the link about using the e30 driveshaft for this swap in the e30's......turns out from the read that you can use the e30 driveshaft on the e36 trans when doing the swap in the e30.....so that being said, to get an e30 driveshaft with an e36 trans to work in our little rides you have two courses of action.....1) cut/modifiy your current driveshaft to make it work. this is fairly straight forward but will cost some coin as you will have to have the driveshaft rebalanced when it is all over and done with....or you can.......... 2) do what i am going to do. get a lovely e30 driveline out of an 84' (i believe that's the year) e30 that allows a bit of adjustment in length.....slap that sucker in there and simply cut and relocate your center support bearing mounts. my muffler shop is going to hook me up on that for like $50 bucks. a heck of a lot less than doing work on the driveshaft itself. not to mention if i bust the driveshaft or the u-joints i can simply go get another driveshaft and slap it in there.


Ok so for now I am going to go ahead and use my 4 speed, are these driveshafts to long or to short. If they are to short extensions can be in order if they are to long, cutting welding and balancing is fairly easy with a machine shop.

Josh

no, your 323 driveline (transmission and driveshaft) should be a bolt and go operation.

you should consider using the e36 tranny and locating an e30 driveshaft and simply move your center support bearing mounts. personally if i was putting down that much power i would rather do it with a tranny designed for it, just my $.02

no, your 323 driveline (transmission and driveshaft) should be a bolt and go operation.

you should consider using the e36 tranny and locating an e30 driveshaft and simply move your center support bearing mounts. personally if i was putting down that much power i would rather do it with a tranny designed for it, just my $.02

Ya I will, eventually. I just want to get it in there and get her working and I will upgrade stuff slowly. I figure I will upgrade the drivetrain when the trans/drivetrain explodes.
Josh

no sense wasting the 323 lovelies........i recommend running down the e36 trans and a good e30 driveshaft....


sell the 323 stuffage........someone on here doing a m20 swap could be interested in it

I cant imagine getting more than $500 for the engine/trans. This sound about right?

Josh

that's more than fair......your 323 trans and driveshaft are the ace in the hole for someone looking to swap in any m20 motor into our rides. the subframes and motor mount arms are around for fairly cheap. but it's the tranny and driveshaft that make it a bolt and go opp.