Got the Donor Car

[Jay-Vee]

So I got very lucky last week and picked up an E30 318is wreck with a surprisingly clean and nice-sounding engine to swap into my '88 318i.

I had been expecting to get an E36 as the E30 are pretty rare over here in Aus but I guess I just got lucky as I'd only just concreted and cleaned out the driveway too.

Gonna pull the engine and part/scrap the rest and then assess how much I can re-install into my 318i myself as my mechanical experience isn't huge.
Was thinking I'd use the original transmission to retain the lighter M40 flywheel/clutch.

230,000 kms
Extractors
Chip

Should be fun 

[keflaman]

I love buying wrecked cars and stripping them. I'm not so sure the neighbors appreciate the pile of body parts stacked haphazardly behind my garage. 

[deansweet]

I could so use so many parts off that car... 

[Darky]

Great work mate!

It is now just an easy swap over.

While your there lighten the m40 flywheel a bit.

Any problems give us a yell.

Cheers Rohan

[normboudreault]

Congrats Jay-Vee - nice find!

Take lots of pics and label what you can and you'll see the M42 is a nice easy engine to pull out... Double check your flywheel as we all know about the dreaded dual mass but my M42 had a single mass flywheel.. bonus for me as I was going to swap it out... I really had no issues pulling mine out - will you have to  swap the harness too?

Please post the swap - it will be cool to see as I will be getting my rebuilt M42 sometime in August....

Cheers,
Norm

[Jay-Vee]

Thanks!

Yep gonna try to be as organized as possible, so labeling and boxing etc.
And yeah was gonna use the new harness and ECU.

In the deep end now so I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions myself as I progress!

[Darky]

Hi Jay Vee

Post some photos as you go?
Never know might come in handy for you too.

Cheers Rohan.

[Jay-Vee]

So after finding bits of time here and there to play around with my new toy, here is some my progress, including some stuff im still deciding on how to tackle...

Got it high enough on stands and so far i've disconnected:
brake booster hose
2 x fuel lines
line to charcoal canister
2 x power steering pump hose (though I dont have a socket big enough for the larger one yet, anyone know the size?)


Then for electrical stuff I've d/c:
ground wire
loom cover
C101
removed the ECU
pulled the ECU connector through the firewall - damn that rubber grommet is a b@stard to get out!

Opened up the ECU and was glad to see it did actually have a performance Chip as the guy said it would - "Pro Performance" it says. whoever they're meant to be lol.


Been fighting a battle with the exhaust header lower bolts - they seriously arent going anywhere and im starting to round the nut. Ive done: degreaser+toothbrush to clean, WD40 soak and a few whacks with the hammer, then all leave overnight and repeat - but still no luck.

I'm thinking to just cut the damn exhaust near the cat as I'll be using the stainless one from my other E30 anyway... Unless anyones got magic tips for getting these bolts off??


So still got more to go like radiator/coolant hoses, driveshaft etc etc

[Darky]

Hi Jay Vee

Never heard of pro performance chip, interesting.
As for the lower header bolts, try applying a little heat to nut with a torch. The theory behind this is hot metal expands and this will make the nut bigger and come off. Careful where you use this trick though. Exhaust is fine though!
Also mate put a couple of old wheels laying flat under car either side of you. I'm not to trusting of car stands!

Take care Rohan

[keflaman]

Been fighting a battle with the exhaust header lower bolts - they seriously arent going anywhere and im starting to round the nut. Ive done: degreaser+toothbrush to clean, WD40 soak and a few whacks with the hammer, then all leave overnight and repeat - but still no luck.

I'm thinking to just cut the damn exhaust near the cat as I'll be using the stainless one from my other E30 anyway... Unless anyones got magic tips for getting these bolts off??

I haven't tried it yet myself, but I was told to heat up the nut and then apply paraffin. Supposedly capillary action will suck the paraffin in between the nut and bolt and it will separate it. A machinist with over 40 years of experience told me about it. You can find paraffin at the grocery store in the canning department, or use a candle. 

[normboudreault]

Heating the nuts works... I used it for the first time on the M3 wishbone nuts AND the tie rod nuts - worked like a charm...didn't need any parafin but that is interesting....

Btw,
I just used a regular propane plumbing torch... plenty hot...


 

[Jay-Vee]

Thanks guys, I reckon the torch is what I'll end up doing (though tempted by the paraffin...) Bloody things...

Skipped them for now, been sorting out the wiring loom etc.

Would anyone have any tips on how to remove the coil pack bracket from the body?

[deansweet]

yep, propane torch is actually great to use because its potential maximum heat is almost perfect to heat them up.
Wear gloves because the socket and wrench absorb the heat rather quickly.

I used acetylene torch on the 323i bolts because I actually wanted to melt them off... want to see the scars on my wrists from the lava?! 

Dean

[Darky]

Would anyone have any tips on how to remove the coil pack bracket from the body?

Hi Jay Vee

Go cop or coil on plug. You can get nearly all the bits from a Wreaker very cheaply and then you just need the bracket from rob.

Nice little upgrade!

Cheers Rohan

[Jay-Vee]

Wow so its been over a year so I thought I better post an update of my sloooooooow progress.

So, in the past 12 months along with a wedding, honeymoon, landscaping, excuses, excuses, I've so far pulled:

That damn exhaust (ended up just needing soaking in WD40 a crapload of force)
All coolant/vacuum hoses
Air-con
Radiator (was in great condition!)
Steering rack - nightmare - still havent got the tie-rod ends off... dont ask...
Driveshaft - diff bolts nearly killed me... WD40 and toothbrush saved the day again
Shifter rod

Not much else left to do except to pull the engine. I'm considering getting creative and chopping off the front face either side of the A/C condenser so I can pull the engine out front-ways instead of up-and-out as I'm a bit stuck for space in this little garage lol.

Should be finished around...  2019? :p