E28 - the long slog
Discussion
I wasn't really canning the whole project, just the old engine choice.
Yes, this is the S50B30. Now, normally I'd advocate the Evo lump over the 3.0, but there are two reasons why I've gone for it here:
1. You have to use an M50 sump to stand a chance of it fitting in an E28. The Evo's twin pickups wouldn't work with that pan.
2. An engine came up for sale from someone I can trust - always helps when you're buying without hearing it run first.
I still need to get some more bits for it - need an alternator, AFM, ECU and VNC and a few other bits and bobs.
The intention is to fit new service parts, new clutch kit, get the TBs soda-blasted, repaint the plenum, repaint the cam cover etc etc.
And then fit it.
Yes, this is the S50B30. Now, normally I'd advocate the Evo lump over the 3.0, but there are two reasons why I've gone for it here:
1. You have to use an M50 sump to stand a chance of it fitting in an E28. The Evo's twin pickups wouldn't work with that pan.
2. An engine came up for sale from someone I can trust - always helps when you're buying without hearing it run first.
I still need to get some more bits for it - need an alternator, AFM, ECU and VNC and a few other bits and bobs.
The intention is to fit new service parts, new clutch kit, get the TBs soda-blasted, repaint the plenum, repaint the cam cover etc etc.
And then fit it.
Minor update:
Stuff has been ordered. £800 with BMW earlier for various bits and bobs (new rev counter, GrpN restrictor, half-shaft rebuild kits, breather hoses etc etc), £400 for some Throwing Stars with tyres (don't think they'll be a permanent addition, but will be handing for moving it around) and more to get.
Up next is a well-deserved holiday, starting tomorrow. I'm hoping to arrive home to a plethora of deliveries, plus I've got some seats lined up that'll need collecting when I'm back.
Also still need to order an alternator, PAS pump, rad, oil rad, expansion tank and various sundries to go with it. Aiming to order that in about a week's time, to arrive when I get back.
And then it's all systems go. I'd like to get the running gear in and working by the end of Sept, roughly, to then get to the bodyshop as soon as is practicable thereafter. And then the trimmers. And then the shakedown. And then, and then, and then.
I love projects, me.
Stuff has been ordered. £800 with BMW earlier for various bits and bobs (new rev counter, GrpN restrictor, half-shaft rebuild kits, breather hoses etc etc), £400 for some Throwing Stars with tyres (don't think they'll be a permanent addition, but will be handing for moving it around) and more to get.
Up next is a well-deserved holiday, starting tomorrow. I'm hoping to arrive home to a plethora of deliveries, plus I've got some seats lined up that'll need collecting when I'm back.
Also still need to order an alternator, PAS pump, rad, oil rad, expansion tank and various sundries to go with it. Aiming to order that in about a week's time, to arrive when I get back.
And then it's all systems go. I'd like to get the running gear in and working by the end of Sept, roughly, to then get to the bodyshop as soon as is practicable thereafter. And then the trimmers. And then the shakedown. And then, and then, and then.
I love projects, me.
Back from holiday, and what better way to stave off the post-holiday blues than to arrive home to presents?
A nice box from BMW:
All sorts in there (mostly engine bits) but the "show piece" I guess is this:
It goes up to 8k, so it'll do.
More after the weekend...
Edited for photo rotationating.
A nice box from BMW:
All sorts in there (mostly engine bits) but the "show piece" I guess is this:
It goes up to 8k, so it'll do.
More after the weekend...
Edited for photo rotationating.
Edited by Output Flange on Wednesday 14th August 08:22
What was in the box? I hear you cry.
Well, this little lot:
4x drive shaft CV joint rebuild kits, 1x diff mount, 1x tacho, a selection of hoses, a Grp.N oil restrictor (£80! £80!), a set of cam cover gaskets, a set of exhaust gaskets, an oil cap, an oil filter and all the jubilee clips, shiny nuts, seals and various bits and bobs needed to redo the inlet manifold.
Talking of which, I've given the plenum a coat of paint using Halford's Wrinkle Finish paint. No likey. Far too shiny looking, so I think that can get done properly at the same time as the cam cover.
Other stuff arrived today too. Firstly, an ECU, VNC, EWS box and chip:
I only actually need the ECU and VNC, as the ECU will be posted off tomorrow to End Tuning to have a non-EWS chip fitted, along with raising the rev limit to 8k.
Next to unwrap was this:
"This" being a pair of M3 Evo exhaust manifolds with lambda sensors. The 3.2 had the sensors in the manifolds, the 3.0 in the downpipe. Given the only standard bit of exhaust will be the manifolds, it seemed easier to use Evo ones than have lambda holes added to the custom bits - more so as the 3.0 manifolds needed the flexi repaired, and these don't appear to.
A couple of things to order tomorrow:
- the correct instrument cluster coding plug for the 8k tacho
- some alternator mounting bolts
- an alternator
- a PAS pump
- a radiator
- an oil cooler rad
- an expansion tank
- a windscreen washer reservoir
- exhaust manifold heat shield
- any of the million bits of bodywork and trim I'll need
- cuddly toy
That's it for now. Tune in soon for another exciting installment...
Well, this little lot:
4x drive shaft CV joint rebuild kits, 1x diff mount, 1x tacho, a selection of hoses, a Grp.N oil restrictor (£80! £80!), a set of cam cover gaskets, a set of exhaust gaskets, an oil cap, an oil filter and all the jubilee clips, shiny nuts, seals and various bits and bobs needed to redo the inlet manifold.
Talking of which, I've given the plenum a coat of paint using Halford's Wrinkle Finish paint. No likey. Far too shiny looking, so I think that can get done properly at the same time as the cam cover.
Other stuff arrived today too. Firstly, an ECU, VNC, EWS box and chip:
I only actually need the ECU and VNC, as the ECU will be posted off tomorrow to End Tuning to have a non-EWS chip fitted, along with raising the rev limit to 8k.
Next to unwrap was this:
"This" being a pair of M3 Evo exhaust manifolds with lambda sensors. The 3.2 had the sensors in the manifolds, the 3.0 in the downpipe. Given the only standard bit of exhaust will be the manifolds, it seemed easier to use Evo ones than have lambda holes added to the custom bits - more so as the 3.0 manifolds needed the flexi repaired, and these don't appear to.
A couple of things to order tomorrow:
- the correct instrument cluster coding plug for the 8k tacho
- some alternator mounting bolts
- an alternator
- a PAS pump
- a radiator
- an oil cooler rad
- an expansion tank
- a windscreen washer reservoir
- exhaust manifold heat shield
- any of the million bits of bodywork and trim I'll need
- cuddly toy
That's it for now. Tune in soon for another exciting installment...
These really are exciting updates, at least to us weirdos! Wonderful project, being nicely done, and this is just going to be so interesting to see completed. How will it compare to the M5 of the day?
Keep up the good work. It can't be easy to think to take pics through all of this but goddamit, they're like food to some of us.
Keep up the good work. It can't be easy to think to take pics through all of this but goddamit, they're like food to some of us.
The ECU went in the post to End Tuning yesterday. He's going to up the rev limit to 7,800rpm, remove the EWS and tweak the fuelling to get it to nearer 300bhp. Should be back with me early next week.
I spoke to the bodyshop today. My plan is to get it in for new front and rear panels, get the few bits of welding done, get the engine bay sprayed, and then on to getting the running gear in. At present they don't think they can take it in until some time in October - a bit later than I'd hoped. Not necessarily the end of the world, but I suspect my plan to get it all done by Xmas might not happen...
I've got some miles to do over the weekend to pick up more parts. Hopefully once that's done, and my rather pricey order from BMW comes in, it should all just be a game of "refitting is the opposite of removal".
More to follow over the weekend...
I spoke to the bodyshop today. My plan is to get it in for new front and rear panels, get the few bits of welding done, get the engine bay sprayed, and then on to getting the running gear in. At present they don't think they can take it in until some time in October - a bit later than I'd hoped. Not necessarily the end of the world, but I suspect my plan to get it all done by Xmas might not happen...
I've got some miles to do over the weekend to pick up more parts. Hopefully once that's done, and my rather pricey order from BMW comes in, it should all just be a game of "refitting is the opposite of removal".
More to follow over the weekend...
More? You're insatiable.
Today involved buying an engine crane to get the lump out the back of the van - it's been in there for 3 weeks.
Handy.
The intake plenum came up a bit too glossy, so will need to be redone:
The throttle bodies are showing every bit of their 17 years of filth. They'll be coming off to be soda blasted:
The postman turned up with more presents today:
Rad, water pump, thermostat, drive belt, spark plugs.
I popped in to BJV Engineering this morning to collect the Style 5s. They've come up a treat:
You'd think choosing wheels would be easy. And to be fair, it was. But then the itchy trigger finger took over again, so in addition to the Style 5s, I've just got back from collecting these:
I suspect that I won't change my mind on 17s being too big for an E28, but these will at least get the car mobile until I get some tyres for the 16s.
Of course, Throwing Stars (and these are genuine ones, from an E31) are everywhere these days - particularly dodgy non-handed replicas. So, to avoid becoming one of the crowd, eGay saw me right to these:
Which are, as you can probably see, f
ked. And they're magnesium, and magnesium is a bh to refinish. However, they come up so rarely that it's worth a look. I'm assuming that E34 centres will swap onto E31 wheels - no idea if that's true or not, so I'll do a test-fit before committing too much time, money and effort to them.
And then probably just go with the 16s instead
More tomorrow...
Today involved buying an engine crane to get the lump out the back of the van - it's been in there for 3 weeks.
Handy.
The intake plenum came up a bit too glossy, so will need to be redone:
The throttle bodies are showing every bit of their 17 years of filth. They'll be coming off to be soda blasted:
The postman turned up with more presents today:
Rad, water pump, thermostat, drive belt, spark plugs.
I popped in to BJV Engineering this morning to collect the Style 5s. They've come up a treat:
You'd think choosing wheels would be easy. And to be fair, it was. But then the itchy trigger finger took over again, so in addition to the Style 5s, I've just got back from collecting these:
I suspect that I won't change my mind on 17s being too big for an E28, but these will at least get the car mobile until I get some tyres for the 16s.
Of course, Throwing Stars (and these are genuine ones, from an E31) are everywhere these days - particularly dodgy non-handed replicas. So, to avoid becoming one of the crowd, eGay saw me right to these:
Which are, as you can probably see, f
ked. And they're magnesium, and magnesium is a bh to refinish. However, they come up so rarely that it's worth a look. I'm assuming that E34 centres will swap onto E31 wheels - no idea if that's true or not, so I'll do a test-fit before committing too much time, money and effort to them.And then probably just go with the 16s instead
More tomorrow...
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