Slightly ot: Project e30 has begun

[E34 530]

Well I have converted my friend karl to the dark side (from Nissan) and convinced him to buy an e30, the only problem is that it had a piston knock. Time for a stroker. Picked up this eta engine from Jon K. and will be using the block, rods, etc. for the stroker. He will also be purchasing another i engine and then removal of the existing i engine from the car will begin. While the engine is out of the car he plans to totally repaint the car, probably along the lines of cinnabar or another bright red. This is my first engine I've ever built and I'm confident everything will turn out sweet. Also a good learning experience because I eventually plan on swapping out my 3.0 for a 4.0 next summer and even have some e30 plans of my own.

[winfred]

ok

[E34 530]

The eta engine:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0351.jpg

Tranny off:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0359.jpg

Itake manifold and valve cover off:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0355.jpg

On the engine stand, head removed:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_05050355.jpg

[E34 530]

Oh noes, broken timing beltz!!!!11
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_05050356.jpg

The cross hatching (or w/e it's called) in the cylinder walls was surprisingly good looking.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_05050358.jpg


Oil pan and pump removal: (Sorry I look like a slob lol)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_05050366.jpg

Removing the pistons:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_05050379.jpg

[E34 530]

Crank looks decent:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_05050368.jpg

Water pump completely trashed. Look at all the sediment build-up.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_05050383.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_05050384.jpg

[E34 530]

Picture of the car with piston knock for $350 (5 speed)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0365.jpg

Well, that's about it for now, waiting for a few specialty tools like the fan clutch tool, crank lock, etc

Any tips or comments are def. welcome...
Not too bad for an 18 year old first time engine builder ;)

[Michael999]

looking good, keep us updated :D

[Fetch]

Sweet, looks fun

[txp135]

I want one

[Rigmaster]

Just curious, what kind of stroker do you plan to build by combining a 325e/325i engines? You'll need custom pistons to make any kind of decent compression.

MUCH easier to just start with an 88-only 325 or 528e engine, then convert it over to "i" specs with a 325i cam, valve springs, ecu, intake, etc and then you have a 2.7l "i" stroker without any custom or exotic parts.

BTW, you don't need any specialty tools to do the fan clutch- just an el-cheapo 32mm wrench- grind the face of it to be a little thinner than as delivered, and that will work better than any specialty tool you can buy. I've also heard that you can find decent 32mm thin wrenches at most bike shops- they're used on the steering head or something like that. You can also get by without the crank lock tool if you want to.

Anyway, looks like a good project, that $350 car looks clean- especially for that price..... :)


Bret

[Macv]

I wish mine had the plastic bumpers..... grrr.

Looks like a lot of fun.

[E34 530]

Bret, he was planning to use the e block, rods, crank, (maybe 524td crank if he can find one) 88 super eta pistons, i head, not sure what cam yet. But I've been looking into it more and starting to think the super eat pistons won't do ****. Do you suggest custom pistons or are the super eta's fine?

[Jon K]

Cool andrew. The bearing surfaces on the crank look good.

[winfred]

it depends on what you are going to do with it, the compression will be be pretty boost friendly but not too low for decent power off boost, max power with out a turbo/blower more compression would be better, unless you are going for serious power a steel crank would be overkill, if you have a super E motor you already have a I head, you just need the double valve springs and a I or aftermarket cam


Bret, he was planning to use the e block, rods, crank, (maybe 524td crank if he can find one) 88 super eta pistons, i head, not sure what cam yet. But I've been looking into it more and starting to think the super eat pistons won't do ****. Do you suggest custom pistons or are the super eta's fine?

[Rigmaster]

Bret, he was planning to use the e block, rods, crank, (maybe 524td crank if he can find one) 88 super eta pistons, i head, not sure what cam yet. But I've been looking into it more and starting to think the super eat pistons won't do ****. Do you suggest custom pistons or are the super eta's fine?



Super eta pistons are fine for a good solid engine- should be about the same compression ratio as a stock 325i. Like Winfred said, if you have a super eta engine (or parts engine)- then you already have the same head as used in the "i" motor- just need the valve springs and cam. I personally would go with the super eta pistons over custom IF they are in decent shape- custom pistons will probably run you $7-800 per set of 6, maybe more.

If you do the "budget stroker" using mostly super eta parts, then it should be a good strong runner, with good longevity. Don't look for huge power increases, but should be a bit stronger than a 2.5l "i".


Bret

[Denton]

I swear, EVERYONE has a friggin' E30 now! Even I do ! :D

Looks good! P.S.- I love Bronzit, it's a very classy color that has to be carefully modded.

[E34 530]

I swear, EVERYONE has a friggin' E30 now! Even I do ! :D

Looks good! P.S.- I love Bronzit, it's a very classy color that has to be carefully modded.

Bronzit will probably be gone by December for cinnebar or Viper red. I don't have an e30, but maybe this summer. Beastly m10 though :p

[ILoveMPower]

While the engine is out of the car he plans to totally repaint the car, probably along the lines of cinnabar or another bright red.

Hennarot please!

[E34 530]

Hennarot please!

Probably going with hennarot or viper red. Should be putting the pistons in the block today along with the head.

[Turbo Ready]

Don't know why I am not seeing your pics of the car.
Lots of people used the stock super eta pistons, crank and "i" head with no problems. I have a few friends who shaved the head for a 10.0:1 CR and all the engines held up fairly good. I am now doing one for a customer which we will turbo charge.

An example of such is one of my buddies vert shown in pic.

E30's are still very popular, I really like them allot. I have one and I am doing a HUGE project on, though very demanding, expensive and nerve rattling, I would not give it up, it's my dream build.

[markus]

wh not just do an M50 swap? its a lot more worthwhile.

[E34 530]

major updates to come, this car is gonna be sooo sick. ;)

[winfred]

doesn't have that much more ass then a m20, so spend the money that you would of buying a m50 and the **** to hop it up on the m20 and have 90% of the power from a engine that fits the car properly for less money


wh not just do an M50 swap? its a lot more worthwhile.

[markus]

the only way you can get serous power out of an M20 is turbo it. everything else is a waste of time.

[E34 530]

the only way you can get serous power out of an M20 is turbo it. everything else is a waste of time.

lol ok.

[E34 530]

Alright I most definitely have to update this thread.

Since last spring, we bought another m20 engine just for the head and a few parts from a wrecked e30 convertible. Since then, that engine is completely dissasembled. Fast forward to the middle of the summer. We removed the engine, transmission, exhaust, etc. from the car over the course of a weekend. Over the summer we also bored out the block and got it ready to assemble it. He has also bought; headers, is lip, Borbet type A rims, and so much more that I can't even remember. Well here are some updated pic's. Oh and engine bay is being painted as I speak.

Pulling the engine (God that day sucked, it was near 100 degrees in a black parking lot with no shade)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0422.jpg

Doin a little research :p

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0424.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0425.jpg

[E34 530]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0426.jpg

Almost out!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0427.jpg

Removing the transmission and exhaust:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0428.jpg

[E34 530]

Now these pic's are for clhorton, who recently made a thread about rebuilding an m20 engine...

Here's the block, freshly bored .5 over with an e28 525td crank with new journals and bolts:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0429.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0433.jpg

Crank scraper!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0438.jpg

[E34 530]

The newly refursbished head, with absolutely everything new except oil sprayer bar, includes double valve springs, oversized intake and exhaust valves, and a shrick 284 cam. Pic's don;t do this thing justice, it looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0440.jpg

Now here is where we are currently, the pistons (.5 mm overbore) were just put in. All clearances, amount of crank play, etc. are in spec with plaster gauges, etc. The head was also recently put on, but I don;t have any pic's of it. So here are the most recent pic's with pistons, oil pump and a whole bunch of other **** on:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0444-1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0445.jpg

[E34 530]

oh and a picture of the rims he bought, can't find a pic of them on an e30 though.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/MINI_TYPE_A_s.jpg

Updates will follow, can't wait till this things done!

[E34 530]

Oh and here's my e30, which I have since bought and sold since the last time I posted here frequently lol

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/P9010206.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/P9010194.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/2007_07150137.jpg

[Denton]

Wow.

Love the Type As!

[M20Turbo]

the only way you can get serous power out of an M20 is turbo it. everything else is a waste of time.

Agree, forced induction is the best bang for the buck......

[E34 530]

Agree, forced induction is the best bang for the buck......

true, but why not throw in some extra ponies with the stroker ;)

[Macv]

Those wheels on an e30 would scare me. They'll make it look beastly.

[Macv]

http://reifenhalle-rheinbach.de/bilder/BMW_E30_Cabrio.JPG

[Jon K]

Andrew is he turboing it?

[E34 530]

http://reifenhalle-rheinbach.de/bilder/BMW_E30_Cabrio.JPG

Yeah, they have some nice dish in the rears.

[E34 530]

Andrew is he turboing it?

Not initally but probably within 6 months to a year. Gotta buy that megasquirt.

[E34 530]

http://reifenhalle-rheinbach.de/bilder/BMW_E30_Cabrio.JPG

Don't like those centercaps though.

[E34 530]

We fresh ;), just a few last items and she'll be ready to go, now if the dumbass painter would get off his ass and paint the engine bay :rolleyes

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0460.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0461.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/ripcurl530/PICT0462.jpg

[Macv]

Looks sweet! How much has this whole project set you back? My e30 is dying for a rebuild. But I don't want to spend a ton in an 500 dollar car

[M20Turbo]

true, but why not throw in some extra ponies with the stroker ;)

absolutely... you do both!