Project: BMW E21

[e21Mark]

Did servo arrive OK?

[eddiethekid]

Yep, all here safe and sound, thanks very much.

I'm hoping I won't need it, as I prefer the tidiness of the setup I have at the moment.

Fingers crossed.

[e21Mark]

Hopefully. I've been looking at engine bay pics online but it's tough to see exactly how much room there is/isn't after they started fitting the m20? BMW converted to single servo from 6/77 on the six cylinder cars. At very least you may have to remount your twin set-up or maybe buy the remote kit and hide it away?

[eddiethekid]

Yup, I'm looking at the remounting of the existing servos if I need to. Using the S2 setup is my last option in all honesty.

If it doesn't get used, I'll either send it back to you, or if you prefer I'll pass it onto someone who is planning to use it, or if you prefer, sell it with the proceeds going to charity?

Either way, I'll see what's likely to fit first.

[e21Mark]

Any of those is fine. I've no use for it myself tbh. We went out of our way to delete the OE brake linkage and servo. In fact nothing of the original braking system remains apart from the pedal.

[eddiethekid]

Jamie from the E21 forum painted the engine bay for me today.

Very happy with the results, looking forward to getting it back together now.

[eddiethekid]

I've been focusing my efforts on getting the engine bay ready for this weekend, which is when the M20 will hopefully find its new home.

I wanted a fresh OEM sound deadening section, but BMW don't supply them anymore and nobody in the UK was holding any stock, so I resorted to buying some engine bay specific material and making my own.

Spent a while templating it up and cutting it out then covering it with a water resistant fleece.



Then got it fitted with velcro, so I can remove it in the future, should I need to.



Nice delivery of parts and tools arrived too:



Old subframe compared to the new one:



Fitted, with the fresh ARB:



Made a fresh brake line (old one had snapped)



and fitted:



First servo fitted:



All finished:



Few more bits and pieces to be doing over this week, then ready for dropping the engine in on Saturday.

[e21Mark]

Surprised you didn't give the servos etc a lick of paint?

[eddiethekid]

So, over the weekend much was done.

I got the servos painted up:



Then it was time to get the M20 in.

Clutch on:



Gearbox fitted and the engine going in:



After not long at all, it was in:



Now need to plumb it in, and wire it up and it'll be ready for its first start

[e21Mark]

Much better.

[benjj]

Just read this all through with a coffee and a Marlboro - great thread, good work and great to see Mark and your other forum pals helping out with bits

Makes me want to tidy up my engine bay now and go with some crackle black

[eddiethekid]

Got some wiring done today.

Some people keep the C101 plug from the E30, but I wasn't too keen on that, I much preferred the setup of having the E30 engine loom wired straight into the E21 fuesbox plug.

So, the existing C101 plug on the E30 engine loom:



E21 fusebox plug:



I followed a guide that listed what needed splicing with what, and got it done. I still need to sort a line out for the tachometer and another for the fuel pump.



I also got an E36 battery distribution box, which collects the power from the battery in the boot and distributes it accordingly to the starter motor, alternator etc.

Made a couple of 'L' brackets up and got the box in the correct place. The battery cable is a really thick gauge, and it required a hole drilling in the boot bulkhead and the loom grommet needed a small slice in it, but it's in now. The box will have the appropriate covers on when it's all done.

Looks OEM enough.

[Muskycf14]

Cracking work your doing there fella....

[macp]

Looking superb

[e21Mark]

Looking good. Be great if you can make this next month and join a few more e21?

[Chunkychucky]

Mark, what are the chances that a 323i optioned brand new with a dog-leg won't have an LSD fitted?

[e21Mark]

Chunkychucky said:

Mark, what are the chances that a 323i optioned brand new with a dog-leg won't have an LSD fitted?

I would guess unlikely, but you just can't be sure. Have you got a chassis number and I can find out and get a build sheet?

[Chunkychucky]

e21Mark said:

I would guess unlikely, but you just can't be sure. Have you got a chassis number and I can find out and get a build sheet?

Unfortunately not, saw one mentioned for sale with a dog-leg but there weren't any contact details. If you know of any 323s could you PM me?

[e21Mark]

Chunkychucky said:

e21Mark said:

I would guess unlikely, but you just can't be sure. Have you got a chassis number and I can find out and get a build sheet?

Unfortunately not, saw one mentioned for sale with a dog-leg but there weren't any contact details. If you know of any 323s could you PM me?

What ballpark re budget?

Unless you really want originality, I would go with a 316 and convert it to 323 spec yourself. Buy a 320/6 and the conversion is easier still, as you'll already have the six cylinder subframe and fuel tank sender.

[mi1ne]

Great thread, I want one. Been keeping an eye on ebay for a while now.