Another 1991 318i M42 lives on

[autox320]

Daily Driver had 380,000 miles on it. No compression on more than one cylinder in 2011. Stored until a couple months ago. Had the Motor apart since 2011. Machined for a stock build. Used Maxsil 2nd oversize pistons, stock cams. Just want to make it a reliable daily again.

Refreshed fuel lines starting with the tank. Suspension is e30M springs over bilstein sports with trimmed bumpstops. New lemforder arms, eyeball mounts, 5series engine mounts, e21 trans mounts, all new 10.9/12.9 fasteners for subframes and or engine. AKG rear street bushing kit, RTAB's delrin w/ 1/2" grade 8 hardware (had to reem holes and make nice fit)

It runs nicely, but as I posted in another thread should of used permatex on the lower timing case to the block. Gasket leaks at the seam. Should never use double gaskets, just one or none. I'll be taking off the head and redoing this after a bit more break in.

[autox320]

couple more

[keflaman]

Welcome! I like the gray covers.

My garage is messier than yours.

[bmwman91]

Nice work. The M42 is sort of a fun engine work on, at least when the work is elective rather than required!

Are you planning to track the car? Poly & Delrin in the rear makes for a heck of a stiff and noisy ride on the street (unless your tax $$$ is used more efficiently and your roads are really nice). I ran poly for years thinking that it was so much better than stock rubber, mostly because the car's stock rubber was shredded when I got it. When I did a suspension overhaul with stock rubber, I swear it handled better on the street since it was able to absorb bumps properly, and it was definitely quieter!

[autox320]

Nice work. The M42 is sort of a fun engine work on, at least when the work is elective rather than required!

Are you planning to track the car? Poly & Delrin in the rear makes for a heck of a stiff and noisy ride on the street (unless your tax $$$ is used more efficiently and your roads are really nice). I ran poly for years thinking that it was so much better than stock rubber, mostly because the car's stock rubber was shredded when I got it. When I did a suspension overhaul with stock rubber, I swear it handled better on the street since it was able to absorb bumps properly, and it was definitely quieter!

No this is a daily driver. We don't like stock rubber or stock shocks in our cars. AKG street poly is quiet for the subframe. The other car has the race bushings. Two other cars from that have both solid aluminum bushings cause they do see track time. The newer AKG delrin trail arm bushes have grease grooves. They are quieter than earlier versions. Honestly I can't even hear them at all compared to my two other cars that have the earlier versions. Another plus side is the aftermarket bushes are pushed together by hand so easily serviceable in the future if ever needed.

We live in the mountains where the roads easily demand more car control. The wife is use to a HR sprung and poly E30 daily. She won't accept less  

[autox320]

Well it's a late Saturday start, but almost tackled the lower inner timing case gasket. So the motor is fresh and this doesn't take much when each bolt was recently turned   Still just time consuming, another headgasket, another set of headbolts, and profile gasket for insurance. More permatex 99MA, and 518 sealers. I'm sure everyone has their methods but thought I'd share how to time the cams without ANY special tools....NONE.

I checked this with a degree wheel on the engine stand and measured perpendicular to the top of the head. It's 15mm to a straight edge, so adjust till have 15mm on each cam block then can verify by placing a straight edge across both cam blocks it should be perfect flat. Done. Wish my S14 was that simple sometimes.

The only gaskets on this motor are valve cover, head gasket, and lower inner timing case gasket. The rest is all permatex 51813. Could of used it on the lower timing cover but the last one went 380,000mi I figured that's pretty good. 

[autox320]

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[autox320]

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[autox320]

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[autox320]

Will finish up covers tomorrow. It's beer time Gents. Later.

[benz-tech]

I dig your way of setting cam timing. I did the same thing. Then some e36 kid with the real tool, started working with me and talking smack about how there's no way I got it right. Yup, tool slid right in.

The tool is much faster though when I had to change a few things, I'll give him that.

[autox320]

Thanks man. Yeah I don't have much use for a set of cam blocks. Unless doing a dual vanos motor, which I've yet to work on . Buttoned up today and headed for the second drive out for testing.

I'm used to improvising and then dial with degree wheel. But the straight back cam blocks makes it a sure way to do quickly and accurate without the fuss of a wheel.

Here's an improvised lock on an S14 until degree'd by wheel later.

[autox320]

Put a few miles on it and leak free. Letting sit overnight to check out again. Touch up the alignment to verify everything is good; I use strings DIY setup.  Maybe some new treads and register for the road again. Needs a tag etc probably setup to run this spring and take some daily beatings off the other cars.

Will keep an eye on oil, coolant, and filters a few more early oil changes. Just fun neat cars. It's seriously a mini E30 M3 when these cars have full suspension and lightweight M20 flywheel setup.

Probably be awhile before I post again. These little cars are rare today, keep the forum alive.

[autox320]

Geez didn't even post a few final pics how it all turned out.

[DesktopDave]

You do great work! Thanks for posting, it was a treat to watch the motor come back together.