Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?

Author Topic: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?  (Read 25879 times)

benz-tech

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #15 on: January 28, 2014, 12:38:28 AM »
Putting a 2.93 to 1 rear end with a Getrag 250 would give you better highway speeds, and better MPG ...


I'm hoping my g250 and a 2.93 rear end will make mine more lively in between shifts. I know it's tall but I love around 2600rpm @60mph on the freeway. Overall taller first gear might be interesting with a LTW flywheel. We'll see how it goes.
My current 3.64 and a .8 OD 5th gear will be about the same as a 2.9 and 1.0 5th. But 1,2 and 3rd will all be closer together. The tighter gear spacing will be welcomed. Ideally if like to find a 3.25 ish but they are a bit hard to come by. Back on topic: 6 speed would be the best of both worlds.
Pi is apparently the multiplier for your engine swap budget as well.

wazzu70

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #16 on: January 28, 2014, 10:45:14 AM »
If you want a really stout manual transmission go find a 1982 e28 528e they had Getrag 265 manual transmissions with the removable bell housings made for the early ETA M20B27 engines.  They would fit any M20 based engines like M4x, and M5x.  You could also find a Getrag Dogleg 5 speed manual that had removable bell housings in the early E24 635csi, or first couple of years of the E30 M20B23 sport models.  I think they also came in the E12/E28 M535i cars, and E21 323i sport models.

M20 and M50/M42 based engines have different bellhousing bolt patterns. The bolts to the block are the same, the rest are not. An M20 trans can work, but judt dont be shocked when only half the bolt holes line up :) Good news is the few bolts that line up carry a majority of the load!!

Yep, my car is just a HPDE/track fun car!
-Nick
91 E30 M42 with VEMS

Beeker1972

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #17 on: January 28, 2014, 09:11:27 PM »
Do you have an E30 or E36? 


Putting a 2.93 to 1 rear end with a Getrag 250 would give you better highway speeds, and better MPG ...


I'm hoping my g250 and a 2.93 rear end will make mine more lively in between shifts. I know it's tall but I love around 2600rpm @60mph on the freeway. Overall taller first gear might be interesting with a LTW flywheel. We'll see how it goes.
My current 3.64 and a .8 OD 5th gear will be about the same as a 2.9 and 1.0 5th. But 1,2 and 3rd will all be closer together. The tighter gear spacing will be welcomed. Ideally if like to find a 3.25 ish but they are a bit hard to come by. Back on topic: 6 speed would be the best of both worlds.

Beeker1972

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #18 on: January 28, 2014, 09:37:03 PM »
You would have to find a Getrag 245/11 OO BJ from an E30 323i Sport, or E21 323i Sport.   A dogleg Getrag 245/11 OO BJ has similar gear ratios to the  Getrag 250, and ZF 320/310.  Found a link off Google.

http://www.bmwe21.net/?page_id=124

The only reason I would put a Getrag 265 in an E30 is putting a high hp/torque engine in it.  Like a m21, M51, M102, M106, S52 turbo, M6x, or M7x.  North American spec 1982 528e with manual transmissions had Getrag 265 with a removable M20 bell housing.

It would be interesting to see a M60 powered E30 4 door still sporting 14 inch bottle caps ...


If I really would smash a €1000 on a gearbox it would be on a E30 M3 dogleg. But then again I would lack the 6th gear  :D, but that would be compensated with the sport feeling of the dogleg box.
You say that this dogleg box would fit? what bell house is required to fit a dogleg to a M42?

romkasponka

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #19 on: January 29, 2014, 03:26:49 AM »
Why do think Getrag 265 hold high torque? As I understand nominal max torque for the gearbox is 265Nm? It would be much better to fit gearbox from diesel engine or v8 in this case. In Lithuania lots of people fitting BMW 3,0 diesel gearboxes (GS6-53DZ ) to 2JZ engines because of torque that these gearboxes can take and it is 530Nm and 6 speed gearbox....
E30 318is M42
E36 318is M44

Beeker1972

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #20 on: January 29, 2014, 08:10:08 PM »
Living in USA the strongest manual transmissions you can get is the Getrag 265 out of M30 based BMWs.  It would be nice to find BMW Diesel Manual Transmissions here in the USA.  People could always use Tremec T56 transmissions to put in BMWs, but the fab work could get expensive.


Why do think Getrag 265 hold high torque? As I understand nominal max torque for the gearbox is 265Nm? It would be much better to fit gearbox from diesel engine or v8 in this case. In Lithuania lots of people fitting BMW 3,0 diesel gearboxes (GS6-53DZ ) to 2JZ engines because of torque that these gearboxes can take and it is 530Nm and 6 speed gearbox....

wazzu70

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #21 on: February 03, 2014, 11:02:20 AM »
If Getrag 265 is rated for 265 Nm of torque thats not very much. The ZF320 from the later E36 is rated at 320 Nm of torque and is proven to hold much much more.
-Nick
91 E30 M42 with VEMS

Beeker1972

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #22 on: February 05, 2014, 08:59:14 PM »
I'm doing some research it looks the Getrag model numbers don't represent Nm of torque

They're just numbers ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getrag

I know that the Getrag 265 5 speed overdrive transmissions have always been a really stout transmission.  I have put them in 450 to 500 SAE HP M30 based BMWs have them last for a long time under heavy abuse.

If Getrag 265 is rated for 265 Nm of torque thats not very much. The ZF320 from the later E36 is rated at 320 Nm of torque and is proven to hold much much more.

alndks

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Απ: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #23 on: February 13, 2014, 01:59:48 PM »
I have gearbox from 3 series e90 320i 6speed with m42 flywheel dualmass and 3.45 diff from e36 compact. I have it two years now and the result is very good. I travel 160km at 4000rpm in 6th gear and the other gears are almost the same ratio as the e36 5speed gearbox

Beeker1972

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #24 on: February 15, 2014, 11:11:24 AM »
I was thinking of putting a 2.95 to 1, or 3.25 to 1 LSD in the back of my E30 M42 with a ZF GS6-37BZ 6 speed to if there would be any MPG improvement ... It could turn into a gutless wonder, but it would be ready for a OBD1 retro fitted M54B30, or a 2/2.1 liter S/C or turbo M42.  At this point it's all a dream until I have some expendable income.

romkasponka

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Re: Απ: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #25 on: February 16, 2014, 01:06:42 PM »
I have gearbox from 3 series e90 320i 6speed with m42 flywheel dualmass and 3.45 diff from e36 compact. I have it two years now and the result is very good. I travel 160km at 4000rpm in 6th gear and the other gears are almost the same ratio as the e36 5speed gearbox

Is it direct swap or you should do something more?
E30 318is M42
E36 318is M44

ryanjv

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Re: Απ: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #26 on: February 17, 2014, 02:48:03 PM »
I have gearbox from 3 series e90 320i 6speed with m42 flywheel dualmass and 3.45 diff from e36 compact. I have it two years now and the result is very good. I travel 160km at 4000rpm in 6th gear and the other gears are almost the same ratio as the e36 5speed gearbox

Is it direct swap or you should do something more?

yeah details would be nice.  I wonder if my dad would notice one less gear in his car >.>

naikaFR

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #27 on: June 16, 2014, 03:26:47 PM »
Anyone with more info on swapping a 6speed gearbox in an m42?

I can get a 6speed from a diesel 4banger, i see that it may work with a dual mass m42 flywheel but i'd rather keep a lightweight version.
If someone has more info :)
Thanks

IlovM42

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #28 on: June 16, 2014, 03:40:20 PM »
also interested into the 320i E90 6 speed gearbox for an M42.
as for Diesel gearbox, they have really bad ratios for petrol engine  :-\

romkasponka

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Re: Possible to fit a manual 6-speed transmission to an M42..?
« Reply #29 on: June 17, 2014, 04:21:07 PM »
as for Diesel gearbox, they have really bad ratios for petrol engine  :-\

Are you sure? Have you checked BMW ratios? ;)
E30 318is M42
E36 318is M44