Though it'd be nice to keep a little diary. Ever since selling my S13 a while back I've been wanting some decent rwd fun. So on a tight budget I'm going for a V8 E30. Everything is really going to be as cheap as possible, except the engine conversion I expect. I am a late in life returning student! OK so here's the story so far.. 1st off, bought a 318is e30, bit rough around the edges, but its got bigger and better arb's, suspension struts etc. {} Did the usual strip out of the inners and exciting sound deadening removal {} {} Next up...gangster/pikey spec paintjob. Matt black has been done quite a bit, so opted for matt brown, epic! {} {} {} {} {} {} {} Got offered some 'Magnum' buckets for super cheap, not really a massive fan of them, but they are grp backed so are light and side mounted. Couldnt refuse really. {} They're not fitted yet, need to get some side mounts, waiting for ebay to provide!
Started hunting about to sort out some rusty bits.. {} {} I realise of course that a sensible person would have sorted this before the paint went on, however the downside to painting outside is that your really governed by the weather, thus I had to do as much as I could before the rain set it. Also pulled out the sunroof, and removed all the gubbins to plate up, again a cheap and chearful job.. {} {} {} {}
The trouble with the damn V8 swap in these cars is the manual boxes. In the end the only way I could find one at a tidy price was to buy a whole car {} Its a 530, which is still a V8 but not the 4.0 that I intend on using. However at least I have a 3.0 which has the same dimensions so I cant start mocking up stuff and making mounts and manifolds. Brought it all the way home from B'ham way only to give it a bootfull less than a quarter of a mile away from my house and nailed the CV...whoops {} Well thats about it for now, picking up the prop I'll be needing tomorrow, and getting rid of the E34 shell as the engine is out, well I dropped the subframe, so getting my friendly local scrap man to lift the shell off the subframe, again super pikey spec!
So had the shell lifted off the engine and subframe today, leaving me with the bits I need. Although as soon as I saw the car shoot off on the back of the lorry I remembered a few bits I wanted, mainly brake bits Never mind {} Looking at the engine and box out Ive realised that she's a big old boy {} {}
Cheers lads Heres a little sound clip/video, everytime I feel down and need picking up I have a little listen starletturbo :: lol.flv video by puntoturbo - Photobucket
Sound could be like: YouTube - BMW E30 V8 Cabrio - Fahrt im Wald I did that swap too, if you need any infos there is a big source site in germany...
Found loads of German sites and info on the swap, not straight forward at all, but hey ho its all good fun. What I am after is a template for engine mounts, as I cant possibly warrant the money that 300mm want for what looks very easy to knock up myself! FAO Mode, I notice you have written in your sig something about a Sierra with an M30B30, guessing you mean the Beemer lump?
Keep trucking mate, I missed one for £150 with tax and mot before I managed to pick that ugly beast up! Gutted the rain is back today, hoping to pull the 1.8 lump out of the e30.
