Transforming a 2002 into a E36- The build

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looking up at the old M10 engine and subframe

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have decided to remove the M10 and 2002 factory front subframe and replace it with the M44 and subframe from the E36

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I felt like I killed the car as I pulled out the M10 engine knowing it probably would ever be going back in.

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It seems a pitty, but this engine powered this car for nearly 4 decades I doubt if the M44 will do that

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And so this is what I have been left to work with for the install of the E36 front end

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The E36 front struts I have were non serviceable units so these would have to be changed or upgraded. Since I already had installed koni shocks in the 2002 struts I decided to keep these and modify the E36 strut so the koni's will fit.

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Firstly I cut the 2002 strut at the base and then cut the E36 20mm from the top of the strut tube and removed the shock

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Next was to machine off the old spring mounts

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The plan here is to insert the 2002 tube inside the E36 strut. The bottom of the 2002 strut has be enlarged and then machined to be a tight fit inside the E36 tube. The top of the 2002 tube will then be welded to the E36 tube and then only the tread for shock retaining nut will be left sticking out the top.

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I have a heap of springs left over from when I was rallying. These are some 250lb springs that I will try first, but I'm leaning more to maybe 350lb.

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The assembled shock. The adjustable platform (the threaded part) is only tacked on at this point I will make it more permanent once the car has some weight in it and then a ride height can be determined

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New front cross member mounts

I cut 20mm off the old cross member mounts and then tacked on the new

plates which when finished will become the new mounts. The E36 front sub frame mounts are 100mm wider than the 2002 mounting points.

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more pictures

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More photos of the front subframe mounts and the rear control arm mounts

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Is it going to fit? I had to take to the tunnel with a hammer- not the best way.

The engine's not going to fit on the cross member like it did in the E36. The 2002 engine bay is to small, so it looks like the engine is going to be 55 mm further forward. Which means the sump or the cross member, or maybe both is going to have to be modified. I think I will move away from this problem and come back to it later in the week.

For now I will work on finishing up the front cross member and control arm mounts. I will also have to install the sway bar mounts.