E21, Project Swap

[DJProfessor]

IT'S IN IT'S IN IT'S IN!!!!!!!!!!!......well sort of........i managed to be able to retain the stock motor mount arms on the E30 motor and get the one side to line up with the stock hole and use the stock E21 mount........but hinsight that was a big mistake. the motor sits to far forward using that mounting point.......so i am pulling the motor again and re-attching the transmission and reinstalling. i have taken the stock E30 mounts and cut off the bottom studs and alignment tabs so i can place the entire set up in there and bolt up the trans.......then i plan on redrilling the front subframe for new holes for the front motor mounts. this appears to be a solution to my problem, hopefully. i have a friend that is a machinest (sp) and he is making me a dummy front mount, actually just a spacer with a hole, so that i can remove the one motor mount (at a time) and mark exactly where i need to drill...........oh and on a side note, don't do this swap if you don't want to trim up your car a bit to get it to fit. i had to take off a section of sheet metal on the front where the radiator goes to get her in there (and this was without the trans attached).......but from the looks of it, it is just an additional piece that was added later. so i think that perhaps the 323's didn't have this piece that i am removing...........also other problems uncovered are the fact the radiator, the stock E30 one, will not fit without some trimming to the chassis.....i think i can just use the stock E21 one with a cooler thermostat, water wetter, and cooler fan switches and perhaps another couple of tricks to keep the temps in check. i will try this before chopping some of the chassis to allow the stock E30 radiator to fit.

it turns out that my camera was lying to me and i don't have any pictures left......but my friend that is making up my spacer/alignment piece is a BMW head as well and has a digital camera, i will have him take some pics of the processes thus far when he stops by here in the next couple of days.

[DJProfessor]

Originally posted by 86325LSD@Apr 29 2005, 03:30 AM
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after looking at this pic of the E30 motor in the E21 i can see they trimed the same piece i had to........what i want to know is what radiator is that? it doesn't have a filler cap (as my E21 radiator does) and has a line for the coolant tank (that i want to run)....... used

[offabroadway]

Looks like a stock 325 rad. They don't have filler caps; all the coolant is added via the expansion tank.

[DJProfessor]

off, you are wrong there brother........i have a stock one out of the 86' and that's not it.......that one is thinner than the stock ones i have seen (the one in an 85,86, and 87).....not to mention the top is different among other things.......if that is a stock radiator, it isn't out of an E30..........but i would love to know what it is out of, or is rather.......cause it is exactly what i need.

alright more update......pulled the motor again last night, reconnected the transmission and reinstalled.....oh and on a side note i highly recommend having one of those attachments on the hoist that allow you to piviot the motor as i had to keep repositioning my chain to finally allow me to install the motor and trans all as one unit......so after that fun all are in.......but all is not well.......the rear mount is the same size yes, but i over looked the slots for the studs. the rear mount off the E21 trans was slotted much more than the E30 one........so i was going to drill it out more to allow me to fit up the rear mount, but alas my drill batteries were dead so ended last night's fun.....i am going to drill out the mount assembly this evening and fit the rear mount and start making my provisions for front mount installation.......problems on the horizon are fitment of the driveshaft and the shifter assembly.......but i will cross that bridge when i come to it. for right now i want the motor and trans bolted down, as those are my biggest issues to tackle.

[offabroadway]

Damn. I wonder if mine's a stock rad then. *ponders*

[DJProfessor]

yeah if you look at the width it is narrower than a stock E30 rad.....the e30 rad i have will not fit in there like that one will........and the top expansion tank is way different than what i have and what i have in my 87 and what i have pretty much seen in the E30 line. i do wonder if perhaps that is a 323 rad........any 323 guys out there to help shed some light on this little issue? used

[DJProfessor]

last night was a good night.....modified the rear trans mount and she fit right up in there no problem...........this allowed me to get my motor lined up in front and now i what i have to do to mount her down is clear. i will have to have a spacer made for the passenger's side. even with the stock E30 mount on there it doesn't touch the subframe. i currently used a brick as a spacer which seems to be the correct spacing. not hitting the subframe with the oil pan or any of those worries. looks like i am in the clear there. for the driver's side i just need to drill out a new hole (and alignment tab) for the E30 motor mount. my fabrication guy will be swinging by on Saturday (hopefully) to have a look see at what exactly i need made up. i will have him make me two, that way if i ever do this crazy shit again i can him quickly make me up another one as i will have a template. right now it looks like no welding or heavy modifiying of the subframe was/is necessary for this type of swap. i am at a stand still until then, but this gives me time to tackle the problem of drive shaft and shifter linkage, of which i will play with on Thursday as tonight i am taking a break from it and enjoying the sight of the motor in there, for now at least.

[DJProfessor]

today was another good day......my fab guy came over and took measurements for my motor mount spacer i need for the driver's side.......

i do however need to run to sears and get a 30mm socket to swap the tranny rears so i can use the E21 driveshaft, as it looks like it will fit

so hopefully in the middle of next week she will be fully bolted down and driveline hooked up and i can cry a partial victory........then the motor will be coming back out of the car for a new oil pan (see begining of story) timing belt, water pump, and lightened flywheel........then back in she goes to be wired and fired..........cooling......ahh well i will deal with that after i get her running, that ought to light a fire under my arse to get that taken care of faster

[offabroadway]

I think there's irony here... "cooling...", and the fact that it will light a fire under your ass. If you don't get it all dealt with before you start driving, it just might. Sounds like its going great for you, though. Take it easy!

[DJProfessor]

well i want to test fire her for sure.........and if she fires up and runs good then that will motivate me all the more to figure out my radiator issue all the sooner so i can go show up some VW kids.......

[german-speed-demon]

Originally posted by DJProfessor@Jun 7 2005, 03:15 PM
i do wonder if perhaps that is a 323 rad........any 323 guys out there to help shed some light on this little issue? used

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*looks at radiator*

Methinks you are correct, mi amigo. Just looked at the rad in my 323, and the resemblance is defintely there. B)

[DJProfessor]

Originally posted by german-speed-demon+Jun 14 2005, 08:42 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(german-speed-demon @ Jun 14 2005, 08:42 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-DJProfessor@Jun 7 2005, 03:15 PM
i do wonder if perhaps that is a 323 rad........any 323 guys out there to help shed some light on this little issue? used

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*looks at radiator*

Methinks you are correct, mi amigo. Just looked at the rad in my 323, and the resemblance is defintely there. B)

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ahh skeet............could you be so kind as to take a measurement from the side to side? that is my only real fitment issue.

[german-speed-demon]

Originally posted by DJProfessor+Jun 14 2005, 10:09 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DJProfessor @ Jun 14 2005, 10:09 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>

*looks at radiator*

Methinks you are correct, mi amigo. Just looked at the rad in my 323, and the resemblance is defintely there. B)

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ahh skeet............could you be so kind as to take a measurement from the side to side? that is my only real fitment issue.

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*catching breath*

19 inches long, about 19 tall as well

[DJProfessor]

beautiful.........thank you sir.....measuring this evening when i get home

also talked to my fab guy......he is in the begining stages of making my mount

[german-speed-demon]

de nada

she'll be a screamer. Are you donig a paint job too, or leaving her sleeper-style?