Author Topic: Metal In Oilpan... (Read 5031 times)

DZick · « **on:** September 10, 2007, 04:07:24 PM »

Well guys last Tuesday my timing chain went out on me, and today i took off the lower oil pan and looked in it. There were 3-4 smaller pieces of metal and one large piece of metal in the pan along with 1 bolt...

Anyway anyone have any ideas on what it could be from? guessing a timing chain guide? anything else i should look at?

Thanks,
Dan

sheepdog · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2007, 05:03:57 PM »

Get a picture.
Odds are the metal, if steel is part of the guide rails. Pretty common to break.

If it is aluminum it could be a guide rail, but more likely part of the timing chain housing. If your chain snapped or messed up, either is likely.

Rails are expensive to replace all of them, the timing housing is expensive and a hassle, it involves the Profile Gasket.

If you plan to do it yourself, start ripping it apart.Write down everything you remove that needs to be replaced, other wise you will likely not get something ordered and need it later (hint, lower gasket set does NOT include the upper timing cover gaskets or water pump).

If you do replace the timing chain housing, there some other info on the site here, but basically there are 2 methods. One is remove the head and do it, this is the safest way, but a bit more difficult, it is safer too. The second is from the bottom, meaning having to drop the upper pan, meaning lifting the engine a bit and scraping it while it is lifted or you can remove the entire engine. Bmwman91 and myself went from the bottom and have had no problems. This is more difficult also because of having to install the profile gasket in a strange way, again, there is good info here on how to do it.

At any rate, pull the radiator and have at it. The work is not difficult really, just a hassle, and a lot of parts.

Either method you chose you will need another person to assist and you will need a crank bolt puller, check the specialty tool loaner thread or you can fab one up. Actually, since you are in St. Louis (WOW another 318IS in the STL area HOLY SHIT!), I can drop mine off if you want. It is just a bed rail cut up but I have one for the water pump pulley and one for the crank. You also will need a torque wrench.

DZick · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2007, 07:09:02 PM »

Thanks man, i have already started pulling stuff off. and ill get a picture in an hour or so. it actually feels like it is aluminum... not sure tho. ill try and stick it to the fridge lol

My timing chain didn't snap, so im hoping it didn't mess a lot of stuff up, and i wanted to redo the profile gasket anyway.

anyway i am sure ill be sending you more messages as i go along. and hopefully some of the local e30 guys will give me a hand.

anyway thanks again!

DZick · « **Reply #3 on:** September 11, 2007, 05:06:47 PM »

Well guys.... i got every bolt off the upper oil pan except the 11mm bolt connecting it to the tranny... after working at it for an hour and a half or so i stripped it.

Anyone have any ideas on what to do? i could put everything back and go at it from the top, but that should be a pain in the ass.

So what are my options?

- find a way to get the bolt off
- Go From the top
- trash this piece of shit engine and get an s50/2 lol

sheepdog · « **Reply #4 on:** September 11, 2007, 05:42:10 PM »

Could drill the bolt out.
Once you get the pan off you can get the bolt out rather easily.

Mine almost stripped as well. BMW used a 12 point head, but removed half of them. I swear I thought they were going to break on me.

If you can do it, get an engine crane and pull the engine trans combo, it will make this whole thing a breeze.

As for swaps, I would avoid that particular swap, it adds a lot of weight to the front end. If I did a swap today for something other than original, there is only 2 engines I would use. One is the Metric Mechanic M42, such a badass engine, or I would swap in a GM Ecotech. The Ecotech is relatively light, cheap, VERY well document on power, and cheap to mod.

That engine is EASY to get in St. Louis with all of these Pontiacs around. Another option is the GM V6's but those would not be as good.

DZick · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2007, 09:08:57 AM »

Well i got the bolt off...

Now i cannot get the oilpan off... it just wiggles up and down..... is there anything else holding the oil pan on. I looked in the service manual and it looks like i got everything.

Do you have to pull the oilpan off evenly?

Thanks in advance.

Dan

sheepdog · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2007, 10:13:59 AM »

Sounds like you missed a bolt.

Or you have not lifted the engine. Without lifting it hits the crossmember.

I do not remember how many connect the pan to the trans, but it is more than one. I think there is 2, one per side, remember the engine leans so one is high on one side, and low on the other.

DZick · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2007, 10:25:16 AM »

SO Far i have taken off 2 12mm star bolts and 3 10mm Star bolts.

It looks like there is another 12mm star bolt, but
1. i cannot reach it
2. doesnt look to have anything to do with the oilpan.

This is a pain in my ass! lol

Since my engine is so greasy i cannot tell where the pan and block meet. i can kind of find it, but after the steering rack, i cannot see anything.

Thanks Sheepdog.

One other thing, go to CMGPerformance.com

We are starting a local e30 club we have about 5 so far. it is based out of St. Charles and i need another m42 guy on there!

DZick · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2007, 10:27:18 AM »

Also when are you free? i can meet up with you to get that crank bolt puller whenever.

sheepdog · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2007, 01:42:52 PM »

Why is an e30 club not using an e30 for the logo?
No offense but that site seems a mess. No direction at all.
The about page says a car site for 80's sports cars, but uses an e36 for the header? It also seems pretty dead.

Anyhow, I sent you a PM over at Bimmerforums about it. If you guys want to do an e30 club, lets do it right. Could put a club forum right on here if nothing else but a new site would be better.

I gotta round up the tools, but I should be in north county (Hazelwood) sometime early this week if you want to meet up then. It will probably be in the afternoon, otherwise I can just meet you someplace.

DZick · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2007, 03:12:42 PM »

Actually we were sitting around on friday night and we decided to turn the forums from just a random club specifically to an e30 club.

I actually live in St. Ann, and whenever your in town you can give me a call and i can meet up with you.

314-800-5373

Also i didn't get any PM on bimmerforums, so try and send it to me on here.

sheepdog · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2007, 03:44:40 PM »

Quote from: DZick;34259

Actually we were sitting around on friday night and we decided to turn the forums from just a random club specifically to an e30 club.

I actually live in St. Ann, and whenever your in town you can give me a call and i can meet up with you.

314-800-5373

Also i didn't get any PM on bimmerforums, so try and send it to me on here.

Actually it looks like another member of the group I was talking to over there (trry96).

Basically just saying you want to do this and do it right I can easily set another forum and site on my server.

I will give you a call when i know what day I am going out there. I am still waiting on the customer.

cecotto · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2007, 03:46:57 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;34257

Why is an e30 club not using an e30 for the logo?
No offense but that site seems a mess. No direction at all.
The about page says a car site for 80's sports cars, but uses an e36 for the header? It also seems pretty dead.

Anyhow, I sent you a PM over at Bimmerforums about it. If you guys want to do an e30 club, lets do it right. Could put a club forum right on here if nothing else but a new site would be better.

I gotta round up the tools, but I should be in north county (Hazelwood) sometime early this week if you want to meet up then. It will probably be in the afternoon, otherwise I can just meet you someplace.

I might be misreading this post...

But aren't this site centered around the M42 engine, and not a specific serie ??

The M42 was installed in these models:
* E30
* E36

Which to me means that i welcome owners of these cars, + any one who has interest in the M42 engine. Or has something intelligent to say about any subject that might be discussed on either model.

Why box the site on a well defined subject and scare people away ?

Edit : Reading a couple of extra posts in this thread i realize that you're not talking about this site..

DZick · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2007, 03:47:38 PM »

thats cool, ill talk to the guys about it, we already have 5-6 local guys that all hang out.

and the admin has his own free server if i heard him right he gets it through work.

any way keep me updated you can text or call me any time when you are in town.

-Dan

DZick · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2007, 03:48:17 PM »

Quote from: cecotto;34261

I might be misreading this post...

But aren't this site centered around the M42 engine, and not a specific serie ??

The M42 was installed in these models:
* E30
* E36

Which to me means that i welcome owners of these cars, + any one who has interest in the M42 engine. Or has something intelligent to say about any subject that might be discussed on either model.

Why box the site on a well defined subject and scare people away ?

Sorry we were talking about another website.