My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

[nic65]

[Atle_323i]

Waiting for help to install the engine.

So then I finally did the battery move to rear.

[Atle_323i]

And finally engine is in. Tooks some time, but it all went very good.





Putting the car up over 85cm to make the engine sneak under. Using motorcycle jack to rise the car.






Car needs 10 more cm up


And now we´re up, just need to slide the engine under.




Putting the engine up, and car down....


Almost there...


Just need to bolt in the crossmember and we´re in..


And engine is in

[Atle_323i]

Working in engine bay, wiring, headers etc

Test fitting the headers, I notice that cylinger 5 i close to brake line..




Put some exhaust bandage to avoid heat getting to breakline.








Checking for space behind the intake box. The new pluss cable and minus cable is way bigger than original, so I have to check if there is enough space to bolt on the bracket for the intake box.




Steering is back in. I should have fitted it before the engine came in, it would be alot easier, but managed to get it in...


I have an issue with the gearbox crossmember. The bracket that is welded in the floor, hasn´t got the lenght which is needed for 5 speed. On newer model the bracket is going further back so that you can slide the bolts furhter back, on my car I´m missing about 5cm. So I have to do some modifications to make the crossmember fit.

[Wilmo]

Nice exhaust headers! However, personally I don’t really like the distance to the brakeline and the exposure to the coolant hose. Though not OEM, maybe try an extra or other heat shield? Really like the progress, good luck with the last bits and pieces!

[Atle_323i]

Nice exhaust headers! However, personally I don’t really like the distance to the brakeline and the exposure to the coolant hose. Though not OEM, maybe try an extra or other heat shield? Really like the progress, good luck with the last bits and pieces!

I can see your concern regarding distance to the brakeline, but I hope the bandage should keep it «cool», or else I’ll put some more over the brakeline itself, then it should be ok. The coolant hose has more distance than you can see on the picture. And there is also heat shield over the headers that should protect it well enough.

[Atle_323i]

Working on, I want the car back on the road, season is soon half gone, but still there is alot of things to sort out.

Been working on replacing the joint, but there is no place for the locking clip to slide into a groove, so I wonder how to sort this out
So I did the front almost complete, just missing the front bumper and turn lights. Wide angle photos of the front, makes it look abit weird, but I like single headlamps
Been working on a extension for the crossmember on the gearbox.

The airfilter box is in, had to use Play Doh to make a template for where to fit the bracket for the airfilter box.

[Atle_323i]

Minor update:

Gearbox is finally bolted in with the crossmember.







Left and right turnlight is in, brand new, non original.

[uwbuurman]

Very nice!!

[Jeroen]

Nice progress indeed, getting close now!

[Atle_323i]

Probably the last update before I go offline on vacation..

Things is going in the right direction, but it takes time.
I fitted an old propshaft, which I made out of 2 pieces, since I couldn´t mount the joint myself, and I need to send it to a specialist to balance and fit the joint, but I will do it this winter.

Fitted the rear coilover, fixed the rear light which wasn´t working, due to broken wire somewhere, so I just wired a new one from the dash to rear.
Tested the 2 stage electrical fan, works fine.
My front struts are finished welded. So I thought this would be a quick installation, but I was very wrong. Why you wonder...
Well my front struts are for some reason smaller inside than it should be, so when I fitted the damper, and it got past the thread sleeve and into the old strut tube, it made the threads on damper go bad, and it got stuck. I managed to get the damper out, but the threads in the sleeve is damaged. Lucky for me my friend always find a solution, so he made a thread tap which we have been using to fix the threads, this wears out, so he made a 2nd one, which is now also starting to wear out, so we have to make a 3rd one, then it should be all good after that. This is time consuming. But hopefully it will be over soon.
In between fixing threads I also looked at the brake sensor light which I can´t make go off, I fitted both the sensors to make a loop, but I suspect there is a broken wire somewhere, so I just took out the bulb in the dash, and stopped the project. Those sensors is not a must to have.
I also installed the recaro seats again....









Fanspeed check
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB















https://photos.app.goo.gl/12YWZjndiCeB7o1N6



2nd Thread tap...




One strut finished, just need to adjust it on the car to find the correct height.

[uwbuurman]

Very very cool!!

[Jeroen]

Always some setbacks, but nice progress overall!

[Atle_323i]

OK, it´s vacation time. I managed to do a test fit on the rear exhaust mufflers, they need to be cut and welded to fit the prototype cut out

Still I haven´t managed to repair the threads on front left strut, I will give it a try with a thread tap from Ebay.
Else I´m 2 click from ordering a new coilover set from BC, as I´m getting tired of this MTS, I´m starting to regret buying this set. Had the manual been more detailed, I wouldn´t been in trouble with the threads.

Hubs on front is clean and ready for grease and installing, but I need to get both struts ready.

I got a question regarding tail lights, how many lights is suppose to be on when daylight is on? On my wires for the rear lights, 2 of the rear is on, the one next to blinker, and the one in the middle. Brake light is the one next to reverse light.

Is it suppose to be 2 lights on daylight? Or just single light? The wiring is for preface, but I think the tail lights are facelift.

[uwbuurman]

Only difference between type 1 and 2 taillights, apart from the layout is that the type 1 tails have no fog light. But both have the indicator, rear light an brake light.