1 2 3 4 5 Next

And Finally the Engine Arrived...

    Off came the E36 oil pan and pick-up and on went the front-sumped E34 pan. With the pan off, we checked the oil pump bolts and found the oil pump gear nut was literally finger tight!!! This has become a common and well-known problem area, actually causing quite a number of failed M3 engines. Lucky we checked. Better check yours.

    More details here: we used the E36 AC compressor, mounting brackets, and belt and had the E30 hoses adapted to use the fittings for the E36 compressor. We used an E30 325i transmission crossmember, installed the narrowed 535/635 motor mounts, and installed the engine and transmission as an assembly. Next we installed the major engine harness through the firewall and made grommets to protect it, mounted the triple relay on the firewall using a modified E34 bracket, and mounted the DME control unit in its proper place. We heated the downpipes of the E36 catalytic converters and bent them slightly to get temporary clearance for the lower control arm bushing. Later, when the car was finally running, we sent it out to a muffler shop to get a slightly modified pipe section installed at that point. 

     Oh yeah, another thing---we spliced in a bunch of wires to make it all work.

1 2 3 4 5 Next