Hi All

this is my first post. i am new to BMW, i used to have Nissan. a short intro... i am a Singaporean who is working in Bangkok. I got banned for driving in this Singapore and yes, bangkok is the place to play car. Do all you want in here... show no mercy!! hahaah

ok. lets get started, i need advise for the following modification.please advise your comments.. etc

Car: 1981 E21 2 door..

1)Engine should change to?
i)nissan SR20DET I4 2.0L turbo dohc (lots avaiable $$ a bit high, easy install)
ii)toyota 1UZFE V8 4.0L dohc na (very cheap, good conditions, hard to install)
iii) others (i don't mind mix match other brands)??


2)undercarrige - how to ungrade it to hold around 400hp?
i) change the whole rear and front subframe to E34? it seems like the design and layout is the same. just that E34 subframe is wider so the bolts does not bolt in, have to custom fit
ii) others??


thanks.
Chee

Hey welcome!

Engines
1) The SR20 would be a neat install. You could proabably make good cheap power out of it aswell. Also very light.
2) I have seen the Toyota V8 put into an E21 before. Big power and fairly reliable. Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4hX3asfs8E
3) BMW s14, m50 or later M20 with l-jet injection. Even a Rotary would be cool if there are many available.

Undercarriage
You would proabably be better off just getting better shocks, springs, anti roll bars, strut braces and replacing all the bushings in the front and rear ends.
No doubt an LSD and wider rear rims would help to deliver 400hp to the road.

Thats all i can think of at the moment, and no doubt others will have more great advice to give you. Good luck with the project!

SR20DET for sure, theres been a couple of them done near were i live and all i can say is WOW as for undercarriage these e21's were all stock underneath and they were making round the 330hp mark 1 of them was a 318i and still had the drum break rear end lol

Welcome to the boards, do post pics once you have a chance. Sounds like you have some good ideas.

Welcome to the e21 section. Hope to see some pictures soon :)

thanks guys.. will keep you update and pictures..

Welcome doctorchee. How sweet would a 20B powered E21 be... :drool:
Aside from that I would suggest the SR20, as it has been mentioned before it would be lighter than the V8.

4AGTE is also a viable option. you'd need a different transmission, but I've seen starlets with these motors run like the wind.

I also would vote for the SR20 swap. It will keep the weight done which will mean less overall modifications to the car are needed. Even if the V8 is mainly aluminum, it will still probably not be AS light as the SR20. And besides, a turbo 4 would get better gas mileage than a V8. :D

Something to think about with the chassis is the rear diff. Currently it only has one 'ear' bolting it to the car. Modifying it to have a 2nd ear on the other side of the diff will help a lot. Alpina started doing this on the e21's back when they were still being produced in Germany. A lot of companies offer this modification now for the e30 and e36 cars, with e36/7 and e36/8 cars (Z3 chassis) with Forced Induction usually NEEDING this mod before they try to rip the diff out due to all the torque. ANYWAY, beyond this, you will also want to get urethane rear subframe mounts (or fill your current ones with urethane). This should address MOST of the extra power issues you would have with the chassis, the cars were pretty stout tobegin with.

Hi

thanks for all the tips guys.

i guess the options is clear...

I would opt for SR20DET.

below will be the target set up.
1) SR20DET engine
2) stock rear set up with new poly bushes
3) struct bar, anti roll, roll cage.... etc all the bars
4) 4 pot caliper front
5) 2 pot rear (please suggest how to do conversation.. still thinking)
6) LSD
7) extra mount for LSD


steps:
1) undercarriage painting with arcylic selant- used for roof water proofing (completed)
2) empty car interior (completed)
3) struct bar, anti roll, roll cage - today buying welding machine to start
4) rear bushes upgrade, rear drum conversion
5) interior sound proofing / diy custom made interior with gauges etc
6) front power steering conversion
7) new rims
8) front brakes upgrade - 4 pot
9) engine + exhuast + intercooler etc
10)new paint work
test run..

in general, i will work from rear of the car to the front. i will try to keep the down time low also..

i actually love a V8 very much. however, its true that weight is an issue and installation is a night mare. currently, i have another car E36is fitted with VH41DE its in the process.. but lots of issue....

well, work is at stage 3 only.. so options please... comments... advise.. etc welcome welcome welcome..


Cool forums.. thats a place to come if you are car lover..

Cheers

For brakes you could go the 4 pot volvo upgrade for the fronts and move your front 2 pot brakes to the back, not sure if thats possible but the Volvos definately fit on the front. Or you could get a Wilwood or Brembo etc custom made package but no doub that would be expensive.

For brakes you could go the 4 pot volvo upgrade for the fronts and move your front 2 pot brakes to the back, not sure if thats possible but the Volvos definately fit on the front. Or you could get a Wilwood or Brembo etc custom made package but no doub that would be expensive.


I thinking of nissan skyline 4pots with the rotor. thats should will be quite easy to do. even for the lugs conversion.

however, its still the rear drum and disc conversion that i can't think of how to do.. as its the first time i doing it.

thanks,

You should also remember that the biggest wheel to run on an E21 is probably 16inch. So the brakes must fit under the wheels. The Nissan Syline Brembos could be too big, but they would look mighty fine if you get them to work.

rear discs can come from a 323i if you can find them over there?(are they rare there to?) power steering also came on some 323i so there should be some out there(i have one under the house) but i personally wouldnt put it on.
i run 17's and they are fine so the skyline brakes would be good if you make them to fit. i would like to do this to.
places like e21parts.net have urethane mountings and strut bars etc and if you use the search section on this forum you will find diagrams on how to make your own bars etc.
good luck mate.

also check the frequently asked question/mods thread at top of e21 section.

hi all

some small work update...its a H design rear bar that i diy welding for the first time..

oh no.. can't manage to put in the photo... can anyone tell me how to insert photo?

thanks..

i can't even put a link to photobuckets for photo? can some one tell me how to put up photo? thanks.





rear struct bar. going to weld direct to the rear tower. will be cutting down the wall bewteen the rear pasenger seats to the rear trunk. more bar will be done in the rear trunk. woofer will be thorwn in also.. kekeke...



boot emptied really for new toys. painted with acylic sealant for both water proof, sound damping and anti rust



diy sound proof. added silicon all over the edge for anti flood during raining days.

thats all for the progress at the moment. busy with work and left with 1 sunday everyweek to do. while GF may be taking up that sunday also...

after all this trunk issue, will move on to rear subframe suspension and drum brake conversion. follow by engine etc.. still thinking of V8 jsut love it. while SR20DET seems like a clear choice....

ok all comments welcome. good or bad. just like to discuss and hear ideas.

thanks.