newbie m20 questions...

[KFunk]

a local guy is parting out an '89 325i 4-dr, with 150k miles. Motor runs good, but blown auto tranny. I can prolly take the motor and such for free.

I was thinkin about pickin up the motor, hiding it somewhere, and re-building it on the side. Then eventually swapping it in. Finding a place to store it isn't going to be fun though....

So, how much modification does it require? My M10 is running fine, but needs rings, and has a lot of miles. If I get M20 ready to go, how much downtime between pulling out the one and putting the other in?

Will I need to find a new tranny somewhere too? any idea on their usual availability?

Thanks, gotta decide quick before this car heads for the junkyard.

[Guest Anonymous]

it's about a year for me. but im changing alot more things than the just the engine. the transmission is the hardest thing to find from what I hear. I was lucky and found one pretty quick though. If you can just find a 323 manual bellhousing, you can swap that onto a 320i 5/4spd or try to mate the 320 directly somehow. ive never tried and ive heard that the only difference is 2 holes/pins. w/150k on it, it might be best to get it in and running for a while, then pull it for the rebuild later. personally, after installing/removing the engine during 'mock-up' a 'few' times, pulling it out is a 20 minute job @ most. If you are using the motronic controls, I believe you could get it done in a month (maybe less) once you have all the parts.. (but in my experience, you never have 'all the parts':) my problem is, i keep wanting to do more and more.. I believe Davin's car had a pretty quick turnaround and the install came out top-notch.

[evanc]

I say get it. Especially if it's free and you have somewhere to put it. Make sure to get the exhaust manifold, ecu, over flow tank, etc...

I think that if you have access to a shop or some place that has all the tools and a lift you could probably do it pretty quick. BUT, if you want a 5 speed from a 323 or need to build a tranny (getrag 245 with 323 front bellhousing) that could add some time.

I had everything and transfered it from Instructor Bills car to mine and it took two weekends to get everything off and three and half weekends to get it in and running.

I had everything. Without all the parts who knows...

Just my 02 cents though.

[DavinSF]

My car was down that long, but a lot of it was 'while I'm in there' stuff. I stripped and painted the engine bay, freshened up a whole bunch of things, installed motorcycle batteries under my back seat, ran out of money multiple times, hit unexpected and time-consuming roadblocks (like finding a part to delete the oil cooler and trying to get the custom shift platform to stay out of the way of the driveshaft). And that was with me paying A-1 Imports to do most of it.

All the while I was driving a borrowed '86 Toyota pickup. It felt like an eternity to me.

Evan's is about as quick a swap as I've heard, but again he had all of the parts from a working car right in front of him along with some invaluable help from Bill who did the swap himself.

Bottom line is budget what you think it will take in time and money, then triple it. Typical old car stuff.

[KFunk]

hmmm, sadly I may have to pass on this one.... although it 'd be a lot of fun.

One problem is the 2002 is my only car, and I don't really want to waste time on another beater, and pay registration/insurance on it, and take up another parking space on my street.

I also have just a tiny apt. and nowhere to store it until I get to it. If a friend pops up and offers to hide it in their basement somewhere a while, then I may grab it an stash it away. But even then, I wouldn't be able to resist spending time tearing it apart.

The reason I'd want to rebuild it, is I'd kinda like to have the cool feeling of building my entire car from the pistons up to the cosmetic stuff. I already love knowing that I've taken most the car apart and put it back together myself properly. But I've still never rebuilt a whole car engine myself (although I have rebuilt other engines....). Just kinda want to go top-notch from the ground up.

But... I have too many other worries and things I need to focus on, and have been spending too much time with the car as it is....

Thank ya much for the tips, and I may consider it.