Project Datsun 280ZX - E36 M3 Evo Engine Swap
Discussion
OK, so hers’s an interesting one 
This isn’t my car, it belongs to Mike who I co-own Project E36 with. He recently purchased a Datsun 280ZX to use for a bit of track fun. The idea was to tidy it up a little and add some decent suspension, brakes etc. It's already been modified for the track but some of the mods are rather rough to say the least. Overall it's a good looking solid car though.
We took the car down to Chris at CR M-tech who was going to do a few things on it and got talking about engines. Before we knew it, Mike agreed that an E36 3.2 Evo lump would fit in there quite nicely
Chris has done some nice stuff for us on Project E36 so Mike knew that the Datsun 280ZXM3 would be in good hands.
This is a summary of the conversion work that Chris has identified (for starters!). We did joke that it’ll be much less work just to stick some Datsun badges on an M3, but Chris likes a challenge.
3.2 evo engine.
New set of big end bearings, ARP rod bolts, oil & filter.
Lightweight chromo steel flywheel and paddle racing clutch.
5 speed manual M3 box.
Custom made prop.
Full stainless custom made exhaust from headers back.
Custom made engine mounts, probably using existing Z cradle but extending it back to use existing M3 alloy mounts.
M3 wiring harness with M3 gauge cluster.
Engine will need remapping not just for more BHP but to remove a little bit of software that limits revs. Increase engine idle to 900rpm to smooth it out, put top red line at 8k.
Big greedy intake.
M3 oil cooler and rad packs.
Sort out fuel lines, maybe need bigger fuel pump.
Adapt throttle linkage to fit M3 engine/
Adapt power steering
Work has already got underway and the good news so far seems to be that the Evo engine sits in the Datsun engine bay nice and “fits like a glove” (Chris’s words).
To be continued............
This isn’t my car, it belongs to Mike who I co-own Project E36 with. He recently purchased a Datsun 280ZX to use for a bit of track fun. The idea was to tidy it up a little and add some decent suspension, brakes etc. It's already been modified for the track but some of the mods are rather rough to say the least. Overall it's a good looking solid car though.We took the car down to Chris at CR M-tech who was going to do a few things on it and got talking about engines. Before we knew it, Mike agreed that an E36 3.2 Evo lump would fit in there quite nicely
Chris has done some nice stuff for us on Project E36 so Mike knew that the Datsun 280ZXM3 would be in good hands.This is a summary of the conversion work that Chris has identified (for starters!). We did joke that it’ll be much less work just to stick some Datsun badges on an M3, but Chris likes a challenge.
3.2 evo engine.
New set of big end bearings, ARP rod bolts, oil & filter.
Lightweight chromo steel flywheel and paddle racing clutch.
5 speed manual M3 box.
Custom made prop.
Full stainless custom made exhaust from headers back.
Custom made engine mounts, probably using existing Z cradle but extending it back to use existing M3 alloy mounts.
M3 wiring harness with M3 gauge cluster.
Engine will need remapping not just for more BHP but to remove a little bit of software that limits revs. Increase engine idle to 900rpm to smooth it out, put top red line at 8k.
Big greedy intake.
M3 oil cooler and rad packs.
Sort out fuel lines, maybe need bigger fuel pump.
Adapt throttle linkage to fit M3 engine/
Adapt power steering
Work has already got underway and the good news so far seems to be that the Evo engine sits in the Datsun engine bay nice and “fits like a glove” (Chris’s words).
To be continued............
Edited by benny.c on Wednesday 3rd August 15:12
benny.c said:
3.2 evo engine.
New set of big end bearings, ARP rod bolts, oil & filter.
Lightweight chromo steel flywheel and paddle racing clutch.
5 speed manual M3 box.
Custom made prop.
Full stainless custom made exhaust from headers back.
Custom made engine mounts, probably using existing Z cradle but extending it back to use existing M3 alloy mounts.
M3 wiring harness with M3 gauge cluster.
Engine will need remapping not just for more BHP but to remove a little bit of software that limits revs. Increase engine idle to 900rpm to smooth it out, put top red line at 8k.
Big greedy intake.
M3 oil cooler and rad packs.
Sort out fuel lines, maybe need bigger fuel pump.
Adapt throttle linkage to fit M3 engine/
Adapt power steering
A few alterations to the above list are as follows !New set of big end bearings, ARP rod bolts, oil & filter.
Lightweight chromo steel flywheel and paddle racing clutch.
5 speed manual M3 box.
Custom made prop.
Full stainless custom made exhaust from headers back.
Custom made engine mounts, probably using existing Z cradle but extending it back to use existing M3 alloy mounts.
M3 wiring harness with M3 gauge cluster.
Engine will need remapping not just for more BHP but to remove a little bit of software that limits revs. Increase engine idle to 900rpm to smooth it out, put top red line at 8k.
Big greedy intake.
M3 oil cooler and rad packs.
Sort out fuel lines, maybe need bigger fuel pump.
Adapt throttle linkage to fit M3 engine/
Adapt power steering
Edited by benny.c on Wednesday 3rd August 15:12
we will have to chassis mount the engine and fabricate a gearbox cradle, existing m3 or datsun ones are both close but not quite right.
notice - removal of clutch cylinder, throtal linkage and brake servo and cylinders. also we have removed all brake lines, the idea now is to fit a race pedle box with the cylinders inside the cockpit, this thus frees up loads of space and has allowed us to position the engine actually further back and lower than 280Z one! so will be better for handeling.
so she will have all new brake and clutch lines and a new throtal cable.
The datsun wiring is weird to say the least so we have decided to rip it out and bin the lot! fit a complete M3 car loom, but reduced down to a bare min, have a push button start, m3 speedo cluster and posibly e36 stalks !
wipers ,may be tricky, mixing old with new, only time will tell ??
once engine is mounted it will be removed, then the engine bay will get a full hit of paint before the big build up starts.
Chris CR M-Tech
benny.c said:
You told me you didn't have time to do a build thread but you obviously do you lazy fekker
IF you look Ben, it was gone 10pm last night when i put that post on, had been working non stop till then! loldone very little on it today, just cleaned the workshop, bloody Datsun crap everwhere !
MORE PARTS NEEDED
after removing the fuel tank and pump along with 20m of different bore garden hose and washing machine pipes ! i have found that the fuel pump is from a 1970's Austin Ellegro !!!! LOL LOL LOL well thats what the bosch part number relates to on the interweb! The pump is only 3bar and m3 3.2 need good 5bar pump, so it looks like its just going to have the complete works, new fuel tank (has been delivered by Mike himselfe) new fuel line, fuel pump and fuel filter, more expense ! but needs doing badly,
I will post up some pics soon of the progress and new parts being fitted.
after removing the fuel tank and pump along with 20m of different bore garden hose and washing machine pipes ! i have found that the fuel pump is from a 1970's Austin Ellegro !!!! LOL LOL LOL well thats what the bosch part number relates to on the interweb! The pump is only 3bar and m3 3.2 need good 5bar pump, so it looks like its just going to have the complete works, new fuel tank (has been delivered by Mike himselfe) new fuel line, fuel pump and fuel filter, more expense ! but needs doing badly,
I will post up some pics soon of the progress and new parts being fitted.
Just spoken to the engine mount makers and there coming out monday to measure up, then they will go back and fabricate up some custom made mounts, probably chassis mounts for the engine and a custom box mount, so the project will be full steam ahead then, nothing stoping the job, so fingres crossed for monday !
crimbo said:
This is going to be awesome.
Chris droped an m3 lsd into my 328is top bloke, its just what I wanted and drifts great!
Cheers Mate, glad your happy with the 328, I Love my 328 track car, you just need to transplant it all ointo a lightweight coupe shell now and then it will really fly mate.Chris droped an m3 lsd into my 328is top bloke, its just what I wanted and drifts great!
I think this Datsun may need an uprated rear end too ! dont know how long the diff will last with 335BHP up it! should be very quick mind and lots of fun, although is going to be a lot of work, Its something I love doing and im up for a challenge of 10 !
Some people might say, what a waist of an M3 engine !!! lol
Well udate time, Engine mount lads came out on Mon and measured the job up, they are lasser cutting some plates and then returning towards the end of next week to fix them to the engine / shasis, and do the box mount too.
Other than that not alot has happened apart from making the entire car loom up out of an E36 M3 loom, it stated life as a complete interior car loom and weighed 18Kg now its 2.7Kg ! and operates the lights, wipers, engine and instruments and will have push button start. The loom has been bench tested and all the lights do what there told too, next we fitted it to one of our other projects, an M3 evo race car and we fired its engine up and all works well.
So pretty pleased with that, next is to make up the switch panel for the ignition, push start and light, wiper and fan switches, this will be a small seperate panel amd loom that will plug into the main loom via plugs and sockets so it can be removed easily if required.
Well udate time, Engine mount lads came out on Mon and measured the job up, they are lasser cutting some plates and then returning towards the end of next week to fix them to the engine / shasis, and do the box mount too.
Other than that not alot has happened apart from making the entire car loom up out of an E36 M3 loom, it stated life as a complete interior car loom and weighed 18Kg now its 2.7Kg ! and operates the lights, wipers, engine and instruments and will have push button start. The loom has been bench tested and all the lights do what there told too, next we fitted it to one of our other projects, an M3 evo race car and we fired its engine up and all works well.
So pretty pleased with that, next is to make up the switch panel for the ignition, push start and light, wiper and fan switches, this will be a small seperate panel amd loom that will plug into the main loom via plugs and sockets so it can be removed easily if required.
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