1983 316- RESURRECTION
These next few post are ripped from another forum I'm on, so if things don't add up, that might be why.
6 months!! Is how long since I've even touched the E21. Being at uni and generally life (and my road going cars) have gotten in the way. Fortunately my 318is is behaving and I'm home for a month so I'm able to finally able to drag it out of the shed.
This is how I found it, a thick carpet of dirt and dust. Notice the paw prints...
Finished the (very poor) welding. Rear wheel arch, behind rear seat.
And the messy boot/filler cap area.
Now the welding has finally finished, I can finally progress. On the cards this month is starting my engine conversion, pulling off a 323i rear axle of one of my spares for the ARBs and rear discs, cleaning and painting the rear axle, fitting 323i front vented discs (cheers B&D :-*) and volvo 240 4-pot calipers, chisel off all the horrible sound deadening in the interior and giving it a coat of hammerite.
It's good to be back working on it!
The last few days have been E21tastic! I've finally got some time to myself and therefore I could dedicate time to my M42 318is engine swap. Main problems so far was that the engine had a few problems I knew of, and some I didn't. The timing was fubar'd making the engine sound awful when I ran it back in it's host 318is, profile gasket was knackered (a gasket very deep in the engine, requiring both sumps removing and the timing cases and plate completely), and I've found out that a coolant passage has corroded and sheered off the head...
Anyway on with the pics...
New bits and some old bits
Demonstrating why the timing is out, if the chain tensioner is not replaced often (a very common issue) the chain stretchs and wears out the cam sprockets, as can be seen below. You see the pointyness of them? Not good!
Timing parts re-fitted with the new sprockets/chain/some guides, and the cams were set with the crankshaft so it's perfectly timed.
Timing cases fitted, new gaskets everywhere, water pump fitted all parts given a good wash (but got dirty in installation >:() and pulleys fitted. Just need to double check the thermostat is the correct one...
So, the engine is ready to be dropped in the car, and I'll be attempting this in the coming days. Massive thanks to Ed (BnD) for extensive advice, hands on action and tool loan
In other news, I've felt a bit exhausted. Got this off ebay relatively cheap, and saves me making my own. It's a powerflow jobby built for a 316 (1. E21, but it's bigger than a standard exhaust so it should be fine on an IS.
Obligatory shoe picture, to demonstrate the 4" tail pipe
It's going to be loud, and the tailpipe is not to my taste. It's on my list of things to do after the car gets back on the road.
Cheers
- --ALPINA--
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No engine mounts yet, and there's a fair bit of manipulation in positioning the motor to go as well. The gearbox is mounted and the 318is prop will fit nicely, though I do have to relocate the centre bearing mounts further towards the diff. I have to agree that it looks nice!
Erm... not sure what that wire is called... I might know what one for a LHD car is called though
Erm... not sure what that wire is called... I might know what one for a LHD car is called though
- --ALPINA--
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Looks nice rob!! getting there since the last time i saw the car...exactly what i dont regards the + positive cable to the boot. get a battery box and bolt it down to fit battery in it!!. why dont you fit an M20 323 box and you get a speedo working!!!
j
j
(- (- (- ---- Project 911 on the hunt ----) -) -)
I'd rather not have the hassle of either having fun with the gear linkage, or rotating the engine. Plus it bolts up so nicely with the IS transmission parts. The battery will be sorted in due time, releived really since I thought I was going to have to cut the bodywork to fit the battery. I had a major scare this afternoon, I lifted the engine out so I could modify the front subframe (with my angle grinder ) and as the engine was clearing the front of the car the engine crane collapsed and engine fell from maximum crane height to the floor. Disaster! Luckily neither me or my mate was hurt, nor was the engine except a sheered bolt which was holding the valve cover on. I don't even know how it didn't crack the sump. Luckily it didn't hurt the car too much either. When lifting engines, be extra safe boys and girls!
- --ALPINA--
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Yes rob you are lucky that the sump aint crack, but if i was you i would check for hairline crack!!! that sheard bolt.. thats nothing, drill it out slowly and tap a new thread and your back to normal again!!
if your car is for track day which im sure it is then stick to IS gearbox, and use GPRS for monitoring the speed your doing...
Looking good, i love the idea of a twin cam 16v E21... you need throttlebodies now and standalone or piggyback and allow the AFM for max airflow .. and the track car is perfect.. anti roll bar one racing seat and 4 point harness then sorted.
j
if your car is for track day which im sure it is then stick to IS gearbox, and use GPRS for monitoring the speed your doing...
Looking good, i love the idea of a twin cam 16v E21... you need throttlebodies now and standalone or piggyback and allow the AFM for max airflow .. and the track car is perfect.. anti roll bar one racing seat and 4 point harness then sorted.
j
(- (- (- ---- Project 911 on the hunt ----) -) -)
I feel lucky! Yeah I do need to go over the sump again, but it seems ok. If it is gone, I have a 318i M40 I could rob for the sump, and the prop shaft while I'm at it since my IS one has eaten its centre bearing.
It's very much track orientated, and I may have a more permanent solution in the future, but for now I'll be rolling with a bike speedo. More accurate than the standard one, thats for sure! I'm not sure if I can justify the expense of throttles, but I would like to turbo somewhere down the line. I've considered racing seats, but I do long distances so I reckon the 318is sport seats will stay for the next while, unless my mum has a go at repairing my E21 recaros off the banana car! 4 point harness is a given, I have an eyelet mounted one sitting in the back of my road going 318is ready to be fitted. I love harnesses, but I can't wear them day in day out. Short story, I drive like an ass when wearing one!
It's very much track orientated, and I may have a more permanent solution in the future, but for now I'll be rolling with a bike speedo. More accurate than the standard one, thats for sure! I'm not sure if I can justify the expense of throttles, but I would like to turbo somewhere down the line. I've considered racing seats, but I do long distances so I reckon the 318is sport seats will stay for the next while, unless my mum has a go at repairing my E21 recaros off the banana car! 4 point harness is a given, I have an eyelet mounted one sitting in the back of my road going 318is ready to be fitted. I love harnesses, but I can't wear them day in day out. Short story, I drive like an ass when wearing one!
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LOOL, its a good job that with the engine, im also contemplating on getting a 316 in good condition but not wanting to pay top as i would like to fit the twin cam engine and go mad with it.. theres load of shit im planning as i change my mind all the time but ill see whats gonna happend, want to see the out come onyour car e.t.c....
j
j
(- (- (- ---- Project 911 on the hunt ----) -) -)
Well Jimi, you can certainly see the outcome soon!
Today I've done some less than delicate grinding. The steering rack plates get in the way of the gearbox and the back of the sump, so off they went
Next, there is a lug on the sump that needed to come off. Looks untidy but I'll sort that when I can find my dremel.
Because this engine is fuel injected, I had to fit a return line to the fuel pump. I was hoping just to stick one up between the tanks and it would be done, unfortunately this didn't work. After what seemed ages I dropped the tanks fitted the shiny return line, and to save the hassle of replacing the main line in the future as it looked grotty, I replaced that as well.
Ph33r my l33t bending skills
I'm a messy worker, but I think it's getting a bit out of hand... Note the new and improved engine crane after my one collapsed on me, on loan from the bodieandoyle collection
The 318is engine mounts I had planned on using were looking a bit tired and I was looking at polyurethane mounts but they were more cash than I'd like to spend at the minute. The guys over on E30zone revealed that rs2000 engine mounts from burton do a lovely job when racing with their heavier 6 cylinders. I've ordered a pair for only £24 delivered, when I get these next week I can finally make some mounts for the subframe and bolt the engine in for good.
Today I've done some less than delicate grinding. The steering rack plates get in the way of the gearbox and the back of the sump, so off they went
Next, there is a lug on the sump that needed to come off. Looks untidy but I'll sort that when I can find my dremel.
Because this engine is fuel injected, I had to fit a return line to the fuel pump. I was hoping just to stick one up between the tanks and it would be done, unfortunately this didn't work. After what seemed ages I dropped the tanks fitted the shiny return line, and to save the hassle of replacing the main line in the future as it looked grotty, I replaced that as well.
Ph33r my l33t bending skills
I'm a messy worker, but I think it's getting a bit out of hand... Note the new and improved engine crane after my one collapsed on me, on loan from the bodieandoyle collection
The 318is engine mounts I had planned on using were looking a bit tired and I was looking at polyurethane mounts but they were more cash than I'd like to spend at the minute. The guys over on E30zone revealed that rs2000 engine mounts from burton do a lovely job when racing with their heavier 6 cylinders. I've ordered a pair for only £24 delivered, when I get these next week I can finally make some mounts for the subframe and bolt the engine in for good.