jibbajabbas E30 M3 S38

[fronton]

You are doing it right! I didn't do the oval section of exhaust and its the lowest part of my car so I'll be having that part redone :(

I also shortened the heater core tubes and chased them with hose so that the intake clears but it is still very snug there.

I'm surprised you only had to take 16mm out of your shift linkage. I assume since you have a later model driveshaft that you didn't have to shorten it, just adjust with the big nut?

[jibbajabba]

It actually was more then 16mm, I forgot that I chopped it prior to that measurement! I have the later driveshaft which I did shorten. With it fully compressed it was still to long, but not by much. I wanted to make sure it was short enough to get the M5 guibo out with ease.

[fronton]

I see. I had to take 3.75" out of my linkage and driveshaft!

[First E30 M3]

Josh,

Absolute quality and clean work, as it should be !

Just a thought: I have noticed you placed the 02 sensor in my opinion further than the factory E34 M5. The factory E34 M5 is located inbetween the 'X' pipe or in your case 'Y' pipe.

I am attaching you a pic on the original e34 m5 'X' pipe

Note, the 02 Sensor is Facing against the exhaust gas flow.

I believe it will be more accurate and pass smog easier and as well performance wise. Not that were you put it on your current position will not work but not as efficient as it should. Not big deal to re-located it before the tune.

[First E30 M3]

I found another pic I made few months ago. Top is 3.8 factory cat, underneath the 'X' is out of 3.6

[jibbajabba]

Not much of an update but a little progress.

A common issue with engine swaps is the clearance for the heater core hoses and the intake manifold. I shortened the heater core tubes and used the coolant lines from a random BMW that had what turned out to be the perfect bends in them. They tuck nicely against the firewall padding leaving plenty of clearance. I also put in a new firewall grommet.



I replaced the brake booster vacuum lines with new ones. I originally ordered just bulk hose but instantly realized you need the preformed ones from BMW as the bends are just to tight to use bulk hose. I put everything together with new hose clamps and every day I would look at it and get mad at how ugly all those clamps are so I ordered the Oetiker clamps and tool. Any excuse to buy another tool I guess.





Next was the oil cooler. I'm using the slightly larger E28 M5 oil cooler. When mounted it sits at an angle so I modified the flanges a little to it's a bit more level. Then with a hack saw I cut off the original fittings so I could weld on some AN fittings instead. If It ever needs to be serviced, it's much easier to source them. I had good expericances in the past with the Aeroquip Push-Loc hose so I used that again. Sure makes things easy and tidy. I still have to put a sheath over the hoses and make a mount where they pass under the radiator support to prevent abrasion.

Original fitting:


Original fitting removed. I just put my air compressor in the other end to blow out any shavings as I was cutting it.


New -10 AN bung welded in.


Quick coat of high temp black paint and it looks almost original again.



TMS sells a -10 AN oil cooler fitting for the E36/E46 which looked like it would fit the E34 M5 oil filter housing. Ordered it up and sure shit, fits perfectly. So that and a couple of 90 degree fittings made an easy job of that side.





180 degree fitting for the passenger side.


And a straight fitting for the driver side.




Then I welded in the 4" stainless flex pipe with interlocking liner (ask Anri about using a weave liner!) and put in a new heat shield for the exhaust since the sticky back shit I had in it wasn't to sticky.




I am currently starting to wire in the Vipec V88. I swear, its always something...you think you ordered everything and you get held back by the smallest things. I'm currently waiting on some sockets for the Vipec connectors and some relay kits from Apex Speed Technology, once those arrive I can finally start that.

Big kudos to Apex Speed Technology and Pegasus Auto Racing. Probably the two best companies I ever ordered parts from.

[fronton]

NICE! I like your oil cooling setup. Mine works fine but had to TIG weld the s38 bars to the s14's hose ends. $70 for that fitting seems a little steep but someday I'll probably follow your footsteps there. I also can't keep my sticky back heat shielding to stick... I'll probably put the stock shield back in as well but matching my s38 accommodating firewall there is a feat.

[jibbajabba]

NICE! I like your oil cooling setup. Mine works fine but had to TIG weld the s38 bars to the s14's hose ends. $70 for that fitting seems a little steep but someday I'll probably follow your footsteps there. I also can't keep my sticky back heat shielding to stick... I'll probably put the stock shield back in as well but matching my s38 accommodating firewall there is a feat.

I was thinking of welding some straight push loc fittings on the end of the stock S38 pipes from the oil canister but I needed the lines to go down the other way.

[jibbajabba]

Just a thought: I have noticed you placed the 02 sensor in my opinion further than the factory E34 M5. The factory E34 M5 is located inbetween the 'X' pipe or in your case 'Y' pipe.

I am attaching you a pic on the original e34 m5 'X' pipe

Note, the 02 Sensor is Facing against the exhaust gas flow.

I believe it will be more accurate and pass smog easier and as well performance wise. Not that were you put it on your current position will not work but not as efficient as it should. Not big deal to re-located it before the tune.

Anri,

Hmm, this is something I will research a little. The VE is different, which may make the stock location irrelevant, not sure.

I looked at it for awhile before locating the bungs where I did. I know you don't want them to close as too much heat can shorten the life of the sensor, but I don't know exactly how to determine the "sweet spot" if there is one. I put them in what I felt was the best path of flow, but who knows!

-Josh

[fronton]

Any updates here? It looks like you are ditching the air pump, is this so?

[jibbajabba]

Yup..no air pump.

Here is where I'm at...

Interior:
Currently installing new leather covers front and rear. I bought the stuff from GAHH, arrived 4 days later! Very impressed with it so far and the smell of new leather made it all worth it. I ran out of hog ties though, so I only have the back seat and one front seat done so far. Everything else is done on the inside. Although I'm debating on dyeing the rear parcel shelf black instead of the grey it is now. Not sure.

Engine:
Yesterday I finished routing all of the wires for the harness and have it all layed out awaiting to be be shrinked wrap. Today I ordered a Deutsch bulk head connector, some formed heat shrink boots and more heat shrink. Once that arrives, I can finish this harness. Building an injection harness from scracth is a bit time consuimg! I kept saying I should just use the flying lead harness that came with the Vipec, but I ended up depinning the connectors and running all new MS22759/16 wire instead. I also ran some shielded wire for a pair of knock sensors incase I pull the trigger on that.

Other then wrapping the harness, all I need to do is tap the intake manifold for the I.A.T and figure out the expansion tank placement/hose routing. I just can't come up with something that makes me happy. Probably going to end up with a fab'd aluminum tank where the original one was and make a stainless hardline to go around to the driver side of the block....unless I'm able to tap it into the manifold above the exhaust? I have to check that e28 thermostat to see if it's a shared lined or not.

AFTER that...add fluids and tune this pig. Finally.

I'll post some pictures once I complete something, lol.

Want to do's:

-Have my stock hood louvered on the passenger side ala 1950's style
-Redo the first section of the exhaust at some point
-Custom wheels so I can fit bigger tires. Pretty sure the 235/40/17's aren't going to last long!
-Stereo install. I love my music.
-Electric power steering pump



I'll post more pictures as I actually complete some of these tasks.

[fronton]

Sounds like you are making good progress. The custom cooling system was the second biggest hurdle of mine and I'm still not 100% happy but it works great. Ended up with 325i tank on driver arch since the e28 m5 thermostat and pipework almost require it to be on the driver side unless you run lines all over the place.

[1988 M3 S54 *TURBO*]

Sweet car. It nice see a s38 m3 in Cali.

[Jayzc529]

Any updates?

[fronton]

Did you decide on a tip setup yet? There is not a single 3" in, dual out muffler with close enough spacing to exit the apron cutout so I might have to switch to single out like you. I am not a fan of Y tips.