My M20 Swap

[Deutschman]

lol. Forced by a pot hole.

[mooseheadm5]

Looks great so far.

Just one note (and I'm sure you already know this) but you need to remove the metal strap from around the driveshaft coupler (guibo) after you install it.

[Deutschman]

I knew that but forgot lol. I started driving with it on, and remembered half way home. Then I herd a PING! and it was rolling across the road.

[Deutschman]

I ordered my self some Auto Meter gauges yesterday. I had automotive ants in my pants and needed something to do. Next week I will start fabing a gauge panel/pod using a spare '02 cluster I have. Can't wait.

[Deutschman]

got a few goodies in the mail today. first car parts ever to show up at the new house!

some auto meter gauges (still need a small tach.) and the speed sender that reads at the drive shaft.

the bezels are chrome even though they may look black in the picture. dam flash. i am going to paint them black anyways.

i guess i am going to need some adapters to fit the sender units. anyone know a good place to get them?

as soon as i have some time, which will hopefully be tomorrow afternoon, i will start fabing up the gauge cluster with a spare stock cluster i have.

[Deutschman]

Ok guys here goes. I got my gauge cluster fabed up today, and I am really happy with it so fare! Still need to powder coat the gauge holder/fascia black. First I need to get a small counter top oven and a air compressor. That will be next month. I also changed my mind on painting the bezels black. I think it will be way to much black if I do that.

Fascia

W/ Cowl

Gauges mocked up

Everything measured out and ready to cut

Woop there we go! Still needs some warning lights

Warning lights added

I also have ordered a lot more parts from Ireland Engineering and MSDS herders!

[Deutschman]

Got a few more parts in today.

-motor mounts (one rubber, one urethane) I talked to the guys at Ireland and they recommended this for what I am doing with the car.

-Brass clutch pivot pin (OE is plastic)

-urethane trans mounts

-12" fan kit with all the wiring and so on

-silicone hose kit (did not show up, I guess its in a different box...)

I also have MSDS headers and down pipes on the way to me.

I am also working on getting a spacer machined for between my diff and the diff cover so I can fit my small case e30 pumpkin.

Still trying to figure out what I am going to do for an exhaust. Right now I am thinking glass pack center section with a Magnaflow muffler.

As fare as parts go I still need.

-diff spacer

-clutch slave and a few other clutch parts

-fly wheel machined

-painless wiring

-tachometer

-exhaust from headers back

-silicone vacuum hose set

-fuel hose

-custom length throttle wire (maybe at the bike store?)

-SAE to Metric adapters for Auto Meter sensors

-oil filter to oil cooler hose

[potentialm20]

Using different mounts doesn't make intuitive sense to me, what was their reasoning? Also, is it the drivers or passengers side mount they suggest replacing with urethane?

[Deutschman]

i was going to go with two urethane mounts. they suggested replacing the drivers side mount with a rubber mount because of the added stress the urethane puts on the week metal mounting point. i do have extra metal welded to that mounting point. if i feel it is bad or unnecessary later on i will get a second urethane mount.

[Deutschman]

Got this in the mail today as well. Thank you bmwm42 (on r3v)!

[PappaSquatch]

Great thread! I am in the process of getting my parts together for my m20 build. Tomorrow, I"m off to pick up the "organ donor" (1989 325i) in Leavenworth, WA. ...So this is very helpful...thanks ...great job!!

[Deutschman]

When you get the e30 keep in mind that there a other parts that will fit your 2002 with no and/or miner modifications.

I have sun visors from and e30 in my 2002, and you only have to change the location of one hole. I know you can also use the front strut housings. The e30 drive shaft can also be used in the m20 swap if you are keeping the stock diff. and if the e30 you are getting has a small case lsd diff keep the lsd pumpkin because it will fit in your stock 2002 diff with a diff cover spacer.

I am sure there are probably more parts that could be moved over, but I have just not tried yet.

[Deutschman]

MSDS headers showed up yesterday! They are really nice, and all the welds look great!

On another note. I am getting no reply from Ireland Engineering about my missing coolant hoses that never showed up with the rest of the parts. The other parts also showed up at my old address even though I used my new address when I placed the order. I have tried emailing Ireland and sending a personal email to Andrew, got nothing back. Hope it works its self out.

[potentialm20]

Seams odd to me that the O2 bung will only be reading off three of the cylinders.

[Guest]

How much were those? The down pipes are for an E30, any idea if they fit? I'd assume they don't clear the steering linkage, but if they do that'd be awesome.