M52 Conversion: Real World Costs

[Jason_323i]

No problem with that I have a vertical s14 drysump setup just costs money and you also need to sort the gear box linkage. The other issue is the exhuast manifold is on the RHD pedal side.

[e21-Mark]

It's the exhaust manifold that obstructs the steering column and any alternative servo / master cylinder combo mounted on the bulkhead or offside inner wing.

I think there are suitable dry sump kits available though but my budget doesn't stretch that far.

[nas80]

you dont NEED to use a special steering link to gain clearence. you just turn the original one upside down by swapping the splined end of the UJs around.. not an issue.

The thing is eddie has a pre facelift. - he doesnt have the facelift brake system which takes up half the engine bay.. and if that is the case then he can use the e36 box then find an e12 diff? its all horses for courses, where you save a couple of hundred you end up spending elsewhere so you cant escape the expense lol.

Nas

[TopCat]

does the Nissan RB flow the other way around - thereby having the exhaust manifold on LHS (looking forward)? I wonder?

[nas80]

i think it might - i know the sr20det does

[Eddie.]

The thing is eddie has a pre facelift. - he doesnt have the facelift brake system which takes up half the engine bay.. and if that is the case then he can use the e36 box then find an e12 diff? its all horses for courses, where you save a couple of hundred you end up spending elsewhere so you cant escape the expense lol.

Nas

What are the advantages of the M52 box vs the M20 box?

The speedo for the M52 comes from the diff, and the M20 lump uses a gearbox speedo? Or have I got that mixed up?

[e21-Mark]

Pre facelift has twin servo system (same as the 02) so might have it's own clearance / routing issues.

[rob0r]

My M50 engine conversion costs off the top of my head:

Engine £0 (after I broke a E34 525i, no cost - as a bonus it has the right sump needed)
Fan £40
Exhaust £200
Steering linkage £60
E36 328i radiator £25
Engine bits £80 (water pump, thermo, thermo housing, filters)
Sump and pickup £250 (can be done cheaper, ask Nas)
Flywheel, clutch, front subframe, engine mounts, gearbox etc etc all came from the converted 323i - no cost

So £650-800 all in. I did most of it myself and didn't buy a few things the other chaps did. The E36 328i sits perfectly well behind the front panel with custom mounts, it is close to the engine but an E30 M30 conversion is even closer to the radiator. I actually used an old standard E21 323i clutch behind the M50 and it coped reasonably well. I'll just be swapping it out for a decent make standard E30 325i clutch, I expect for 99% of the time it will be fine for any 24v conversion.

[Jacko]

It all depends on how far you want to go its it, you can do it on the cheap and it will work but you'll be ashamed to lift the bonnet or you can spend your time on it and do it right first time around. If you're anything like most petrol heads you WILL get carried away and it WIlL take longer than expected and you WILL find horrors on the way and this WILL add cost to your build. Do it over winter in a heated garage ready for summer, give yourself as much time as possible. I don't know of any E21 engine bay that if original doesn't need painting (minimum) or repairs on the chassis legs etc so once you're into rust repair and paint the price keeps rising.

I'm a serious attention to detail freak so maybe it's just me that can't cut corners.

[Eddie.]

No I agree, I wouldn't want to cut a load of corners, just to save a few hundred quid.

[raseeda green]

This is an ideal upgrade its fast cheap to run on fuel and the ride is excellent, I found myself asking the same questions, when I had my 316 auto, which I wanted to convert but in the end went for the 323 manual, as it was more equipped to the conversion. But like they say if you cut a cost here then it will occur there...but all the same I did it in the end and It has been well worth it, I'm glad to say that Nas did mine as he's done it before, he'll know what to look out for. I'm sure he,ll be glad to advise you. I haven't upgraded the brakes yet but then I don't drive it ridiculous. So you can do it on budget and slowly upgrade.

[djahac]

Where can i find alu radiator to fit in front like other swaps on that forum?