Author Topic: e36 4.45 lsd auto want 5sp man for DD (Read 5119 times)

duffbeerracing · « **on:** February 22, 2010, 10:34:43 PM »

1st post - greetings

New to BMW world, although I have admired from afar for years. I'm not a tuner, racer or motorhead although I once rebuild an swapped out a 70s Capri eng back in the day.

I use my 318ic as a daily driver - 40 miles mix of highway, hardcore urban, east coast pot holes, jams etc.

I love 5 spds - I only got this auto as it was near mint and 55,000 miles - garage kept.

I like my lsd and we get some snow - but I am wondering how highway rpms will be with a 5 spd w OD .83. Will bigger wheels help too? I read that a 4.27 w OD came in at 3000 at 68mph - thats ok by me. I understand there are some minor mods to put the e30 getrag 240 into e36.

Thx :cool:

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2010, 10:41:56 AM »

Welcome! Nice to have you aboard. I was an admirer for years too, now I'm an addict.

The short answer for me was that it depends on how much you like to hear the motor. I don't, so I downgraded my e30/m42 to a 3.27. Your e36 'vert is much heavier though...I'd recommend doing the tranny first & only then consider replacing your current LSD diff. Found this fun link for you.

Did you verify the ratio? You might have the very desirable 4.45 in there...sell it off to fund the rest of the swap to a drag or drift junkie...

I have also used smaller diameter tires to perk up underpowered cars.

Not to be Mr. Obvious, but I'd buy an entire e36/m42 parts car for the swap (or hit up a member with a parts car for the whole swap)...after adding up the flywheel, transmission/mounts/linkage, drive shaft, diff, pedal cluster, clutch master, etc as separate bits would cost nearly as much. Having a few trim bits for spares would be good too. IDK if the e36 electronics need to be edited for a transmission swap...e30s are much simpler beasts...

dvmotorsports · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2010, 11:20:59 AM »

Do want 4.45!

deekay · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2010, 12:13:57 PM »

e36s start off with more tire in the first place... i don't think you'll need to make changes there.

i used cartest to make a "speed in gear" graph, but for some reason i can't screencap it for you and i can't be bothered to figure out why.

assuming stock e36 tire size, e30 transmission, 4.45 final drive, and stock redline:

1st: 28mph
2nd: 51mph
3rd: 79mph
4th: 105mph
5th: 130mph

that's redline in each gear, approximated.

80mph in fifth will have you just a touch over 4000rpm.

those numbers seem a bit tall to me, but that's probably just because i'm used to e30 tire sizes. anyway download cartest, check my work, and go for it if you want, but it looks like a good setup to me.

duffbeerracing · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2010, 01:19:19 PM »

Thanks!!! I asked around at another site, where 318s don't get much love and got some info but nothing this definitive.

I double checked my window sales decal and it listed the limited slip differential as one of the options that the buyer bought. Also heated seats. Being that it is automatic and 1995 I conclude that it is a 4.45 or 4.44.

I get 3,000 rpms at 70 and 4,000 rmps at 90. So the stats you guys posted make sense. Interestingly I can not seem to discern much difference in noise or vibration between 2800 and 4200 - also it seems very happy and actually smoother when accelerating in that rpm band. No manual

so hard to play with the rpms.

Parts car is a good idea - but my wife may discover my new addiction :eek:

DesktopDave · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2010, 01:35:30 PM »

Quote from: duffbeerracing;88185

Parts car is a good idea - but my wife may discover my new addiction :eek:

Mine found out a while back.

deekay · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2010, 12:52:24 AM »

Quote from: duffbeerracing;88185

Thanks!!! I asked around at another site, where 318s don't get much love and got some info but nothing this definitive.

I double checked my window sales decal and it listed the limited slip differential as one of the options that the buyer bought. Also heated seats. Being that it is automatic and 1995 I conclude that it is a 4.45 or 4.44.

I get 3,000 rpms at 70 and 4,000 rmps at 90. So the stats you guys posted make sense. Interestingly I can not seem to discern much difference in noise or vibration between 2800 and 4200 - also it seems very happy and actually smoother when accelerating in that rpm band. No manual so hard to play with the rpms.

Parts car is a good idea - but my wife may discover my new addiction :eek:

you're welcome. my friends say i'm crazy but i've been thinking about doing something not-too-dissimilar... e36 tranny to go with my 4.10 final drive. basically current 4th gear would be the new 5th. long freeway trips would no longer be viable but honestly with my exhaust they're already annoying, and it'd be -so- satisfying to flog around town.

JulianS · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2011, 04:23:04 PM »

I ran my e30 318iS Mtech II with a 4.44 lsd from an e28 and an e36 gearbox. Top speed was 112mph with 7200rpm redline:) it was awesome to drive but got a bit tired when driving to one of norways racetracks 2.5hrs away from home:)

romkasponka · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2011, 03:44:12 AM »

Quote from: JulianS;100830

I ran my e30 318iS Mtech II with a 4.44 lsd from an e28 and an e36 gearbox. Top speed was 112mph with 7200rpm redline:) it was awesome to drive but got a bit tired when driving to one of norways racetracks 2.5hrs away from home:)

Because off that I'm thinking about 6 speed gearbox with my 4,45 double plate medium size LSD