quick decision on engine!! help needed

[peteferg]

hi guys, my car is a 320/6 baur 1980, and i have been offered a 1990 e34 525 m20 which is rough, but a good engine.

would it be worth buying to carry out an engine swap in to the e21? would i need anything else extra, and would the 5sp box from the e34 fit the e21, as mine is a 4sp.

advise guys asap as the car is going to scrap in two days!!

pete

[e21-Mark]

Yes, engine is ideal. Really you want a 323 manual box though as you'll need the speedo drive.

[peteferg]

mm, i could just retain the 4sp for now, i thing i could also use the headlights from the e34 with a bit of fiddling, as 2 of mine are shot. bet the front seats are to wide for the e21? it could yeild a whole host of usefull bits

[nas80]

Id say no. the smallest size engine you need is a 2.5 the 2.0 has only 150hp and engine weighs lots. its not a straight forward swap so be wise before you shell out.

[nas80]

The 5 series seats won't go without lots and lots of modifying mate and they are also v.heavy . i had a good look at this myself .

u can't use the box from the 5 series unless you use an electric pulse type speedo. but even then your unmodified sump will hang very low.

[nas80]

Wtf just noticed your talking about an m20 should be fine but still going to all that trouble u may as well go 2.5 m20

[Jeroen]

Doesn't sound too bad and with a complete car you can also use the wiring loom. If you're not a total originality freak it sounds pretty good to me with added horses.. not the 143 HP of a 323i but even 170 and more torque...

[e21-Mark]

Nas he's talking about a 2.5.

[peteferg]

yea its deffo a m20 2.5 in the possible donor car Nas. just debating the issue with myself it seems like a good idea, but as jeroen says its 170 bhp, this then means:

1 - bigger brakes needed?
2 - will the 4sp box take the extra power ?
3 - replacement fuel pump (not sure if the e34 pump will suit)
4 - fair bit of wiring to do

the e34 would only cost me £150, but with all the other bits and bobs its going to push rebuild budget up even further. I might be better sticking to the 2.0ltr for now until its back on the road and look at it again in a year or so when i feel the need. I know that the 2.0ltr is smoking a little, but it has stood for 7yrs, andi think its just stem seals, which isnt a major expense (diy).

[nas80]

i swear im losing it. i forgot the e34 came with m20s as well.

I think i need a nice long holiday straight after Ramadan finishes.

in my defense the thing about the seat being a mission to fit is still true.

The brakes will be ok and so will the gearbox but noisy on motorway

Fuel pump you just need a 318i e30 pump.

Brakes hmm does the 320/6 have vented disks?!

The conversion is something u can do anytime. id concentrate on getting the car back on road

[peteferg]

ha ha, the e34 had the m20 till about '92 i think, i thought the seats might of been a nightmare issue, so thanks for that.

and the 320/6 runs solid front disks.

i think ill go with you thought there Naz and get the car on the road first, wait a bit, get bored with the 2.0 and then think about it.
the e34 come up on the off chance and my imagination ran wild!! at the moment even the mot seems a long way off, but at least i have finish welding one side of the car now, (if you ignore the rusty door!!)