Some DEFINITIVE pics of M42 vs M20 FW conversion options

[thedguy]

Ohne Lader,
post them on a photobucket account or imgurl and use use the insert image tag.

[ohne lader]

Thx, so the pictures:

[ohne lader]

Ohne Lader,
post them on a photobucket account or imgurl and use use the insert image tag.

Thanks, here are the pics:
As you can see, the dimensions of the M20 starter are the same as the M400-42-44 starter, so plug-and-play.

[ohne lader]

Oops...Sorry for the way too big pics:S

[fumstoo]

you point was that there are other ways that work as well, if you know what they are. I can only speak to the two or three setups I mention in the original post

or that you're just trying to confuse people

Something about my setup is eating trannys.. Im thinking of swapping back to g240 but idk how much boost that will be good for. or swapping my m42fw with an m20fw and keeping the pp and clutch disk. any advice would be fantastic

[benz-tech]

I just completed this swap and have a few points to add.
My parts list first off:
PnP M20 17 lb flywheel and short bolts $20
Late M20 starter. $20
Nearly-new Sachs M20 clutch Assy $30 shipped (thank you R3v)
Surface/balance/lighten. Around $200. Ended up around 12.5 lbs. I'd guess 11 would be perfect. There is NO loss in drive ability with 12.5. My wife could drive it and never stall, with the a/c on!
Euro 323i T/O bearing $63 on Bav auto.
Otherwise it was a straight bolt in, no shim used. The 6 cyl starter spins way faster too.

A few myths dispelled. The ring gears will not directly swap without machining as they are different internal diameters. and since the starter falls out when the trans is out, installing an M20 version seems to be the easiest route. The shim behind the flywheel isn't needed as long as it's been lightened.

[Warsteiner]

Benz-tech,

I have done the M20 to M42 swap. When I used the stock 325i TOB it worked fine. You have to use the '87-'90 year model TOB. I know everyone is using the 323 one but the 325 works as well. The M42 ring gear does fit. You have to mill down the outside ring area after you remove the M20 ring gear. Mine ended up being 12lbs. just like the E30M3 LWF.

I may have another M20/M42 set up in the parts bin. I'll have to look.

Cheers,
~Ralph

[benz-tech]

When I got my 325i TOB it was the same height as my stock M42 bearing. I know the slave has a good range of what it will operate in since it pushed the piston in quite a bit when I installed it but I just figured that since I really didn't want to run a shim that I needed the longer setup.  I'll edit my post, though.

[jerseytim]

i ran a weld along the clutch arm both places where it meets the tob and that worked fine