Project Datsun 280ZX - E36 M3 Evo Engine Swap
Discussion
benny.c said:
Looking good Chris. I do like E36 M3 headers 
That roll cage really is comedy
To be fair ben, i havent pictured the worst bits, parts not welded at all, the front feet were almost just clued in place, odd bits of weld on the plates but then the pipes werent really welded to them, the alloy foot plates were doing the best job of holding it in along with the excessive amount of seam sealer under them ! bloody thing has taken me 3 days with the grinder to clean up, now i have found more dodgie repair plates in the shell, not evan welded in, so that needs sorting.That roll cage really is comedy
The cage has sort of been in to see how it fits now its out for some mods. its not the perfect fit we hoped but nothing we cant sort! then its a refit before we weld in the floor plates, then it will come out again for some dash bar mods and a cockpit paint !
d4cjr said:
No it will bake / cure on 1st use it says, although by the time its 1st use will come it will have cured for a few weeks, some coatings need to be baked but this stuff says not, we will see how good it is
Thanks, i got some of the same stuff for mine and couldnt work it out as i lost the pot after painting itQuick couple of question on your bottom end mate?
When you fitted the ARPs how did you tighten them? Using a stretch gauge or just do them to 50lb/ft?
When you fitted the big end shells did you use one red and one blue shell per rod?
Just asking as I'm about to do the same on my M3 Evo.
When you fitted the ARPs how did you tighten them? Using a stretch gauge or just do them to 50lb/ft?
When you fitted the big end shells did you use one red and one blue shell per rod?
Just asking as I'm about to do the same on my M3 Evo.
les3002 said:
Quick couple of question on your bottom end mate?
When you fitted the ARPs how did you tighten them? Using a stretch gauge or just do them to 50lb/ft?
When you fitted the big end shells did you use one red and one blue shell per rod?
Just asking as I'm about to do the same on my M3 Evo.
yes just tightened them to 50lbf as we always have done in the past and had no issues. as for shells we fitted all red, the part number on the red shells also has the part number for the blue shells printed on it. all the old shells removed had the same 2 part numbers on, the same as the new ones fitted, they all fitted in nice and tight in the caps and rods and the engine spins freely now reassemblied, im not sure why there are 2 part numbers (blue and red) as the reds have both part numbers on them, BMW cant answer that either.When you fitted the ARPs how did you tighten them? Using a stretch gauge or just do them to 50lb/ft?
When you fitted the big end shells did you use one red and one blue shell per rod?
Just asking as I'm about to do the same on my M3 Evo.
Edited by d4cjr on Sunday 2nd October 20:01
The new coolant hoses have arrived from Samco, we have had to extend the pipes using samco billet alloy joiners and some extra pipe made specially at 41mm internal to match the m3 rad conections and m3 ccoolant pipes.
Not a cheap setup at £120 but one that will never need repalcing or give any issues - hopefully !
We have also ordered blue 8mm silicone hose for the rad to header tank return so it should all look very nice when finaly finished.
Cage feet going in, we have had to make 2 boxs to sit the main hoop on, the kit came with 2 L shape feet with captive nuts but no steel to box it all up with.
clutch fitted and the engine is about ready.
just the oil cooler pipes and power steering pipes to sort once the engine is back in, we will get these made at a local hydraulics place so they will be custom made to measure.
Not a cheap setup at £120 but one that will never need repalcing or give any issues - hopefully !
We have also ordered blue 8mm silicone hose for the rad to header tank return so it should all look very nice when finaly finished.
Cage feet going in, we have had to make 2 boxs to sit the main hoop on, the kit came with 2 L shape feet with captive nuts but no steel to box it all up with.
clutch fitted and the engine is about ready.
just the oil cooler pipes and power steering pipes to sort once the engine is back in, we will get these made at a local hydraulics place so they will be custom made to measure.
d4cjr said:
yes just tightened them to 50lbf as we always have done in the past and had no issues. as for shells we fitted all red, the part number on the red shells also has the part number for the blue shells printed on it. all the old shells removed had the same 2 part numbers on, the same as the new ones fitted, they all fitted in nice and tight in the caps and rods and the engine spins freely now reassemblied, im not sure why there are 2 part numbers (blue and red) as the reds have both part numbers on them, BMW cant answer that either.
Cheers for that mate. It does seem a bit odd about the part numbers. I've ordered six red shells and six blue shells for mine as that's what BMW's TIS states.Edited by d4cjr on Sunday 2nd October 20:01
See here: http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?2/38/32
les3002 said:
Cheers for that mate. It does seem a bit odd about the part numbers. I've ordered six red shells and six blue shells for mine as that's what BMW's TIS states.
See here: http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?2/38/32
the question is where do the red ones go, and where do the blue ones go, think red go in the caps, let me know what part numbers are on your blue ones when they come.See here: http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?2/38/32
thanks
d4cjr said:
the question is where do the red ones go, and where do the blue ones go, think red go in the caps, let me know what part numbers are on your blue ones when they come.
thanks
Yeah I thought that. It seems weird to spec two different bearings if it doesn't matter where they go.thanks
My bearings have arrived now, part numbers:
Blue - 1124 140 4791
Red - 1124 140 4008
There's some info here specific to the S54, suggests the blue shells go at the top: http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119...
Also TIS for the M52 also reckons blue at the top: http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/s/view.pl?1/00/32/59
Edited by les3002 on Saturday 8th October 12:09
Edited by les3002 on Saturday 8th October 17:05
Time for an Update, The cage is now in and finished, will be removed for interior painting now and pics will come later once the cars looking fit enough inside for the nice new safety devices cage.
The prop shaft if made and fitted, the datsun tunnel has recieved a center prop bearing carrier straight of an m3 but modified to fit.
The exhaust is made and has been fitted (now removed again) its looks the Nuts to be fair although we have no idea what it will sound like! hopefully very sweet, its made of stainless with a very neat collector at the front feeding a 2.5" single pipe through a center silence and then up over the rear axle and round to a rear silencer with a very understated tail pipe, the pipe size was calculated from the 2 smaller manifold outputs, the collector came with 2 identical feed inputs and then the single combined output sie of 2.5" so a perfet Choice.
The exhaust splits into 3 sections, the midle section, then the over axle part and then finally the backbox, we have made the bakbox removable incase the sound is too quiet !!! or if the car gets rear ended during a race its easy to take of and change.
The prop shaft if made and fitted, the datsun tunnel has recieved a center prop bearing carrier straight of an m3 but modified to fit.
The exhaust is made and has been fitted (now removed again) its looks the Nuts to be fair although we have no idea what it will sound like! hopefully very sweet, its made of stainless with a very neat collector at the front feeding a 2.5" single pipe through a center silence and then up over the rear axle and round to a rear silencer with a very understated tail pipe, the pipe size was calculated from the 2 smaller manifold outputs, the collector came with 2 identical feed inputs and then the single combined output sie of 2.5" so a perfet Choice.
The exhaust splits into 3 sections, the midle section, then the over axle part and then finally the backbox, we have made the bakbox removable incase the sound is too quiet !!! or if the car gets rear ended during a race its easy to take of and change.
Edited by d4cjr on Friday 21st October 18:47
benny.c said:
Isn't this old turd finished yet
LOL 
bloody neverending ! well most bits sorted now, so its the big strip back to bare shel ready for some piaint, then the rebuild, pipework and wiring, oh and most importantly brakes amd cluth to sort, pedle box has arrived, oh forgot fuel system would be a bonus too. see neverending !
The new dash bar, the datsun one was made from 2 pieces of presed steel, sort of box like but went up and down to suit the dash board, once the dash and pedle box were removed it became very flexi and the steering colum had play in it before, we thought this was the colum however it became aparent that most of the flex was in the dash bar, so its been removed and a solid 40mm tube has been welded in, with the steering colum attached back to it.
Part of the old dash bar
The new one
Part of the old dash bar
The new one
madal said:
but why the m3 engine and not a skyline motor as the skyline would been 100% Jap
Well we are BMW specilists, we have nothing to do with Jap stuff, never have and prob never will, we have built many BMW E36 race, rally and track cars and infact built a track car (BMW) for Mike and he obviously trusts and likes our work, so the BMW M3 engine really was a no brainer, we know them back to front, have plenty in stock usually, there cheap to replace if they blow and easy to find, also so reliable and powerfull. really a no brainer, if mike does blow the engine up it will be back for a very quick and easy swap, 3hrs work as its been designed to go in and out extreemly quick, the exhaust has evan been designed in a mannor that the box can be removed and prop without taking it off the car, and it wont cost big money as the old blown engine is still worth good money to me and would be taken in part x, think of it like this, where can you find a nice 330BHP straight 6 engine for £1200 fitted (part x basis)?the BMW wiring is very straight forward and plug and play unlike most manufactureres, the m3 gearbox is bullet proof, and i think mike just wants that something a bit different, it will certainly go well and turn some heads.
So next on the list, i have just 2 holes to weld over in the bulkhead, and the pedle box to mount / make brakets for, then remove that and do some prep work in side the car and in the engine bay and its then all ready for some fresh paint. Gloss black interior and Bright red engine bay has been requested.
Once painted the big rebuild will start, so the car loom, engine, box, prop and exhaust will all fly in for the last time, fit the pedle box, pipe up the brakes and clucth, sort the throtal cable, get the lights and wipers working, re fit the cage, bucket seat, pipe up the oil cooler and powersteering, fit the new fuel cell, fuel pump and fuel lines, turn the key, oh forgot it aint got one, so switch it on, fire it up and drive it away! thats the plan. Im guessing about a weeks work although it will take much longer in actual weeks as we work on it inbetween other jobs. plus mike hasnt got his new garrage finished yet for it to live in so isnt that keen on getting it back just yet!!!!!
next pics will be of the paint job so keep an eye out.
Once painted the big rebuild will start, so the car loom, engine, box, prop and exhaust will all fly in for the last time, fit the pedle box, pipe up the brakes and clucth, sort the throtal cable, get the lights and wipers working, re fit the cage, bucket seat, pipe up the oil cooler and powersteering, fit the new fuel cell, fuel pump and fuel lines, turn the key, oh forgot it aint got one, so switch it on, fire it up and drive it away! thats the plan. Im guessing about a weeks work although it will take much longer in actual weeks as we work on it inbetween other jobs. plus mike hasnt got his new garrage finished yet for it to live in so isnt that keen on getting it back just yet!!!!!
next pics will be of the paint job so keep an eye out.
Oh and yes mike after telling me you go on here every night after the wife had gone to bed and you just keep reading through the tread time and time again, are you shaw thats all your doing 
isnt it about time you posted something on here, you explain the whys and whereforths, plus your spelling is probably alot better than mine
Benny C takes the time to come on an take the P**S !
isnt it about time you posted something on here, you explain the whys and whereforths, plus your spelling is probably alot better than mine
Benny C takes the time to come on an take the P**S !
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