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In October I finished up a few bits like running mthe battery cable from the boot. I used the e36 cable for this and yes like everybody on here says its a bit hard to bend it where you want it.
I also ran a cable for the fuel pump, Im using a 318is pump that I bought new but didnt come with the level sender but luckily managed to find a used one on ebay.
So pump wiried up battery cable in it was getting close to putting the engine in. I thought Iid do the berake and fuel lines before the engine as it would be easier to route them round the engine bay while its empty. I ordered a pre made set from "classiccargeek" on ebay and I must say it was great. Everything came flared with fittings and at the correct lengths. It came labelled with a diagram so was pretty easy to fit. I got braided flexis on black and fitted these too but dont seem to have photos
Lastly got the fuel pipes fitted and connected to the pump. These were quite hard to bend nicely but again patience is key here

Into November and its engine time




And fitted along with the radiator and gearbox

so first up oil cooler mounted and hoses connected. sits nicely in front of the rad, hoses were a bit of a faf and I had to cut a bit out of the front panel as they were getting squashed with the valence fitted



Next onto the cooling system. cant beleive i didnt notice previously but the mounts for the header tank on the strut tower had been cut off before I owned the car!! so a simple bracket and a stud on the brake master cylinder arm sorted this,
I had kept the m20b25 waterpump so this meant I had to use the metal pipe across the front of the engine with reducers to connect everything. It works but not entirely happy with this set up so will change at a later date

Onto wiring.... I managed to get hold of a loom adapter (can see it in previous pic)which made this very simple as i didnt need to use the engine harness plug or solder it to the b25 harness

All that was needed was connect the fuel pump live into the ecu loom, extend the coil wires connect the earths.
I used the e36 power distribution box for live wires.


Filled her with oil and put some petrol in and bang first turn of the key it fired up


The ecu has now been mounted and all wiring tidied uo and loom taped although no pics again
Air flow meter mounted with custom bracket

Over Christmas and start of January I started on the exhuast and a couple of other bits.

done a bit on the rear got the bbs spoiler fitted although this needs more work to get it fitting nicely. it has lifted in the middle where its taped and its slightly too low on the drivers side. it was hard to get the measurements for the holes as the spoiler has studs set into so I couldnt really lay it on the boot. I ended up elongating the holes masively and have possibly ruined this boot lid

Anyway I moved on and fitted the front and rear bumpers and the grills, its looking like a car again

the exhaust I bought from munich icons was for a LHD so fabrication needed. I couldnt get the downpipes to work around the steering colum due to the increased diameter so i cut them and welded on part of the original 320/6 pipes. It came out pretted well and all mounted up lovely with no leaks.

Very cool steps

so that brings me to this week (08/01/24)

I used a 316 throttle cable I had and made a mount to connect it to the b25 which seems to work
Had the engine running up to temperature and the exhaust sounds lovely. I bought the radiator second hand a couple of years ago and unfortunately it leaks so this will be replaced at some point with a new one.
Idle is a tiny bit lumpy but im pretty sure that this is due to the chip in the ecu. it has a "wild" chip and after some research it says that it has to learn its base settings so the car will need a 10 minute drive for this apparently

got the brake system filled and bled and the clutch flexi and hard lined fitted and all bled through.
So today (14/01) I was sitting here thinking that there is no reason why the car shouldn't move under its own power since 2006.
I dug out a box to sit and got it of the axel stands and hooray it moves!! A great feeling going up and down my drive. Its getting close now.
Ive got it booked in for the headlining to be done in a couple of weeks and then I can put the glass in and interior

Wow! How cool! Free airco and optimal under bonnet temperatures

Thanks for all the updates buddy, and amazing progress! Some ups and downs and some stuff to be fixed, but no showstoppers. Let springtime come!

Yes nothing that can’t be sorted! Works has been slow so that is slowing progress a bit but it’s getting close can’t wait for that first drive and of course show season

What is everyone doing regarding insurance? Declare the engine swap??

Is it possible to take a photo of the installation of the radiator?

My radiator is very close to the delco hood.

Which cooling do you use visco or electric fan?

I use the electric fan.

I’m using the viscous fan.

The rad is not in now as it leaked but when my new one arrives and I install it I’ll take a pic for you.

Gino, there is a picture of the engine bay with rad if you scroll up if that’s any help to you?

I've seen this one too.

Yesterday I saw that I can no longer go backwards.
I use the electric fan and can no longer move with the radiator.

I have more confidence in the electric fan than the visco.
I turn on an electric fan with an extra sensor at a low temperature.

With a low and high speed for cooling.

Update,

Start of February I had the new black headliner made and fitted. The guy done an awesome job so now I could move onto glass and interior