** Acme [Akagi] bought a pink estate car - E30 325i project log! **
- Thread starter Akagi
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Soldato
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@Acme. Engine upgrades depend on several things, including budget and desire to retain originality. The m52 swap will cost between 1000 and 1500 depending on how much you plan to do yourself. To keep the m20 and go for more power either means stroker or, if budget will allow, turbo.
The turbo route is costly but you can make 500 brake if you want/need with an old 12 valver.
Throw into the mix an "S" swap and the power/budget is roughly at midpoint ie £4-5k for around 340bhp.
The turbo route is costly but you can make 500 brake if you want/need with an old 12 valver.
Throw into the mix an "S" swap and the power/budget is roughly at midpoint ie £4-5k for around 340bhp.
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I want to keep the M20 for originality, and any bits I take off will be kept. But I do like the idea of turning it into a stroker. Whether or not this is sensible on a 200K mile engine is debatable though, so perhaps a full re-build would be in order.
I don't want to make big power. Another 30 - 50WHP would be nice.
Like I say though, these are all long term pipe dreams for now. None of this is going to happen this year.
I don't want to make big power. Another 30 - 50WHP would be nice.
Like I say though, these are all long term pipe dreams for now. None of this is going to happen this year.
Soldato
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A rebuilt stroker sounds perfect for you.I want to keep the M20 for originality, and any bits I take off will be kept. But I do like the idea of turning it into a stroker. Whether or not this is sensible on a 200K mile engine is debatable though, so perhaps a full re-build would be in order.
I don't want to make big power. Another 30 - 50WHP would be nice.
Like I say though, these are all long term pipe dreams for now. None of this is going to happen this year.
Maybe some more subtle upgrades would enrich your experience. Z3 shift/purple tag etc.
The additional turn lock to lock can be a bit of a pain at times, particularly in tight places, but the rack has apparently been recently refurbished and I can detect no play in it, so I think I'll keep it, at least for now.
The Z3 shifter is a definite possibility. Only a few weeks ago I was at a breakers yard helping my mate retrieve one from a blue Z3 to put in his 318i Touring. He says it is great.
The Z3 shifter is a definite possibility. Only a few weeks ago I was at a breakers yard helping my mate retrieve one from a blue Z3 to put in his 318i Touring. He says it is great.
No idea. It has disks front and rear and ABS, and it isn't that heavy-a-car really. I haven't had to fully lean on the brakes so I'm not sure quite how good/bad they are, but I suspect that I could probably get away with it.
That said, if I do end up going to the sort of expense required to re-build the engine as a 2.8 stroker, I'm sure something can be done with them anyway, even if its just good aftermarket disks, pads, lines, and fluid, in standard sizes.
Really though, this is all so far off that its not worth discussing yet. So so much to do first!
That said, if I do end up going to the sort of expense required to re-build the engine as a 2.8 stroker, I'm sure something can be done with them anyway, even if its just good aftermarket disks, pads, lines, and fluid, in standard sizes.
Really though, this is all so far off that its not worth discussing yet. So so much to do first!
Soldato
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It'll cost around 300 to do properly but it is a nice improvement.I'll put it on the possible to-do list.
M3 offset bushes are v. cheap and add a little more sharpness to the front. The chances are the rubbers fitted aren't in great condition anyway so swapping is far from an extravagance.
A big bore throttle body is a nice little upgrade too
Buy this. Seriously.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-...248634?hash=item33c92923ba:g:J34AAOSwOgdYrcDd
Just ignore the title. Pretentious git.
If I hadn't already found an E30, I would have been arranging a viewing of it. To be honest I'm quite tempted to replace the MX5 with it haha.
Buy this. Seriously.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-...248634?hash=item33c92923ba:g:J34AAOSwOgdYrcDd
Just ignore the title. Pretentious git.
If I hadn't already found an E30, I would have been arranging a viewing of it. To be honest I'm quite tempted to replace the MX5 with it haha.
190's are very cool. I saw what I think was a 190e 2.5 Cosworth at the petrol station a few days ago. It was being driven by what appeqared to be a pensioner. Now that guy had style in his old age
Right, plugs changed, leads cleaned, head end bung things changed, new gasket, valve clearances on four valves done, and the source of my lumpy cold idle found... The intake pipe was almost hanging off the intake manifold... I somehow didn't notice before! 
It runs much better now... Perhaps not surprisingly... 
The bungs in the firewall end of the block were so hard and shrunken that they actually moved around in the recess'. Its no wonder it was gushing oil.
I've Jizered the engine block to clean the oil residue off so I can monitor it. In the process, I discovered that my PAS fluid resevoir is leaking, so I need one of those too it seems. They're cheap.
I also noticed that my bonnet is going rotten from the inside out.
It runs much better now...
Perhaps not surprisingly... The bungs in the firewall end of the block were so hard and shrunken that they actually moved around in the recess'. Its no wonder it was gushing oil.
I've Jizered the engine block to clean the oil residue off so I can monitor it. In the process, I discovered that my PAS fluid resevoir is leaking, so I need one of those too it seems. They're cheap.
I also noticed that my bonnet is going rotten from the inside out.
Mine is in bits in the garage, I've a bit of patching on the drivers side floor to do as well as waterpump/timing belt etc to change, nothing massive but I've somehow ended up expanding the scope to include ripping the whole thing apart and putting back together again, oh well!
Thanks, rust is going to be the biggest PITA but it will look even better once that and the paintwork is dealt with, fingers crossed!
It is lively in the wet, and lively in the dry, sometimes when I don't want it to be, sometimes when I do.
What is yours? Will be great once its done!
Doesn't it feel good to put effort in to a car which isn't crap? Good on you mate, really enjoying following your progress. Keep it up
It does! But despite doing seemingly a fair bit already, I've barely scratched the surface!
And thanks.
Continuing with the theme, I tried to adjust the headlight level today. Turning the adjustment thing on the back of the headlight does nothing... Went for a drive to Newhaven, grabbed a bite to eat, took a few snaps. Unfortunately as I forgot my tripod, most were rubbish.
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