320i Restoration project

[maxxman]

Hello everyone! New guy in town starting on new project car. Got a 1982 320i restoring for my son. Been sitting 6 or 7 years. I have motor out to rebuild or replace. Anybody had any luck sticking a late model engine in older vehicle? I would definitely like to upgrade the injection system and horsepower. Thanks, Phil

[denyo77]

there should be few problems fitting an M20B25 engine from a 325i e30, which produces 170hp at pretty much the same mileage than the engine you have. Btw your car is an e21 and your engine is either the 2.0 liter M10 4-cyl engine or the 2.0 liter M20 engine with 120hp and 6 cyls

[german-speed-demon]

Welcome. You can put just about anything you would like to in your e21. M20 would be the easiest, but i have seen guys drop ls6's in there.

Have any photos for us? Or at least take a lot of pictures during the resto please

[maxxman]

Originally Posted by denyo77

there should be few problems fitting an M20B25 engine from a 325i e30, which produces 170hp at pretty much the same mileage than the engine you have. Btw your car is an e21 and your engine is either the 2.0 liter M10 4-cyl engine or the 2.0 liter M20 engine with 120hp and 6 cyls

Mine is M10 4-cyl. What if I want to keep it a 4 cyl? Is there a way to change the fuel injection to late model for better driveability and HP?

[german-speed-demon]

you could always try to track down an M42 out of a later model 318. That would require rewiring as well, but its about the only way i know of to get a FI 4 cylinder of BMW manufacture.

[denyo77]

yeah I'd take the M42 from the e30 318is putting out 136 hp

@Dave: what do you mean with "the only way i know of to get a FI 4 cylinder of BMW manufacture"? The M10B18 and M40 4-pots were also fuel injected?

[maxxman]

Sorry for confusion. My "82" E21 is mechanical fuel injection, but I heard you could convert top end and injection system to electronic. I just don't know what series and year models would work the best. Anybody know?


@Dave: what do you mean with "the only way i know of to get a FI 4 cylinder of BMW manufacture"? The M10B18 and M40 4-pots were also fuel injected? [/QUOTE]

[maxxman]

anyone know what year models I can get electronic fuel injection to fit my "82" 320i 4 cyl that doesn't require extensive rewiring to my current wiring harness? A friend of mine said there were a couple of years a stand alone engine computer managment system was used that may fit my 4 cyl. Thanks!