Nigels E21 M50 (now S50B30) project

[nige21]

Removed all the brake/clutch lines from the bay. Not totally sure how i will resolve the brake booster issue yet. Booster needs to be relocated, i plan to sit the s50 at its e36 angle as i will be using the e36 gearbox, and e34 sump, without mods this time (well maybe a wing on drivers side to mimic m3 sump).








and had it inspected by the resident M-power expert





and gave it a thorough clean before starting to strip it...

[nige21]

Swapped the e36 pickup and sump for the e34 bits...






S50 windage tray was fouling on the e34 sump, a small section on the rear had to be trimmed away.
Need to check this area more closely to make sure conrod #6 doesnt contact the sump itself!









Also scored a JBR flywheel off ebay au. Need to work out what sprung clutch and pressure plate i need to use with this, e34 m5 i think. Friction surface looks to be in good condition. Will contact JBR to see what a new plate will cost, may just fit a new one if it's cheap enough.

[Jason_323i]

I have the same fly wheel with the clutch and pressure plate I will try and get the numbers, are you going for the same sump mod's as before.

Jason

[nige21]

Cheers Jas those numbers would be good, i assume its a sprung hub clutch disc?
Plan is to keep the e34 sump essentially standard this time, sitting the engine at the original angle as i will be using the e36 m3 gearbox. Will be adding a boxed wing to the drivers side, copying the e36 m3 sump as much as possible.

I have made up your steering shaft, worked a treat, yet to see what clearance, if any, i have from the headers to the shaft. The headers are definitely going to be the hardest part of this convesrion.

[Jeroen]

Nice project, looking forward to the end result!

[rasb1]

yep looks good! It's going to be a pocked rocket
Great colour!

[nas80]

are you going to be running a aftermarket pedal box?

I know you had worries about the speed sensor - I disconnected the one on Mark's donor car and did a burnout on some grass, (its an auto) so I was selecting 2 / 3 / 4 and D and then flooring it in sport mode. speedo wasnt working but it was hitting the redline everytime.

Dont know if your thinking of any other method?

Man your car is going to be insane with this engine - please make sure to post some vids up.

[nige21]

Thanks for the comments guys
I actually havent fully grasped what the speed sensor does. Does the DME care whether it sees this signal or not?
Not running an aftermarket style pedal box, not like the escort dual cyl bias boxes anyway. I will be modding the std unit to accept a small bore split circuit cylinder, and increasing the pedal ratio. I made a start on that this week, will post some pics. Will look at adding a vh44 remote booster but only if i cant get boosterless to work for me.
Feel like im making good progress, hope to do a bit more this weekend

[e-einundzwanzig]

I think it will be a problem, but its quite easy to deal with, just look at these pictures...

this guy put a sensor on the diff, almost at the bottom of the page

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.p ... e&start=15

[Jason_323i]

I am not sure what the speed sensor does in the m52 but when my mate built a s50b30 e36 touring it never pulled hard until he took to the local specialist who sorted by wiring in the speed sensor to the ecu.

But it is an easy fix here as UK can get the stock ecu reflased to remove the ews, speed reference signal, lift the revs and power to about 300BHP for £150-£200


Jason

[nas80]

Jason who does that then ? I rang loads of places and they didn't have a clue!

[Jason_323i]

I got my chip set up used from autohut.nl

in the uk wayane at chipwizards has a very good rep

01706 651000

but from here the speed sensor seems to be a s50 issue rather than m52


Jason

[nas80]

thats what i was thinking as the car never seemed to suffer a power loss when i took the plug off the sensor and thrashed it around car park at work - im not insured to drive it on the road so i'll have to wait till my mate shows up tomorrow night and then get him to give it a blast down the motorway and ask if he notices a lack of power from when he last drove it.. Thanks for the link anyway Jason - ill be needing help with remapping for the m50 intake swap and im hoping your right about it being an s5x thing,

I was wondering Nige, surely this engine will get you to the limit of reason for the diff? are you upgrading this or are you going to risk it for a biscuit?

[Jacko]

Early M52 OBD1s don't seem to take a signal from the speed sensor to the diff thats for sure.

[Jason_323i]

the speed signal comes from the dash, not the diff

Jason