E21 BMW Engine Swaps

[itsnotagsr]

My first car was an E21 318i.

SR20 would be good as it has been done in a few e30s already. Engine bay is relatively wide, but not very long.

[Captiva Fan]

Originally posted by psssi98
Forg - Any info on how hard the diff swap is?

No, sorry; he does his own fabrication though, and considering that he works with stainless in applications that have to look good, his stuff does look very professional (read "it appears to the novice that he knows very much what he's doing"). So in that case, it might not be all that easy. Having said that, it's IRS, so all the stuff at the wheels is mounted separately to the diff itself (and I remember he was making up the bracketing to hold the diff to the body), so it may not be that big a task.

BTW, he hasn't fiddled with panels in the engine-bay AFAIK, and it doesn't look really tight either (ie. there're no front mounts outside the front bumper, or anything like that).

*edit* As luck would have it, the guy I'm talking about just called to ask about the BOV I've used on the Volvo. I quickly asked, and he said that there was a ton of room, except that he'd mounted it back as far as he possibly could, and had to massage the firewall by 5mm or so in one spot as a result; different mounts would change that. The Supra diff, however, would apparently be quite difficult in a road-car, because you'd have to remove bits of the floor etc to get it to fit in the right place.

[piss98]

Awesome work Forg - thanks!!

I have read there are a few BMW diffs that can be swapped around without too much fuss so that may be the way to go!!

[closer]

diff

id be very interested in know how the diff conversion goes. gonna need one with 250kw under the hood

shan

[dsm2002]

As far as diff conversion go, an long nose Nissan r200 may be an option. I've seen one being converted into a 2002 and major changes are not required.

[Spammy]

My first car was an E21 318i.

....I always thought that the 318 started with the E30 and the E21 4 cyl was a 320 that was the old 2002 donk ( I could be wrong)

I have also seen a E21 with a 5L Windsor in it.

[bahaimus]

Cam, brake conversions on E21's, in fact most early beemers are $$$$. Chances are you'd be better off looking at something custom.

Check these out
http://www.e30-2.de/fotost/f00015/f00015.htm
http://members.v3space.com/tino335/f...065/f00065.htm

There aren't any other stronger BMW diffs that are a straight or simple swap into an E21.

[Nick]

Cam: Engine is out of the car so any measurements you want I can make, let me know.

[piss98]

Thanks Clayton - the Porsche upgrade looks awesome...probably not in the budget though! I was thinking maybe Volvo calipers on aftermarket discs. The diff is a hard one though!

Nick - thanks - I am looking at a few other options so once I decide my definite path I will let you know.

I have narrowed down now to -

BMW with a 1J
Turbo Micra
CA18DET Datto 1200 (depending on availability)
260Z with a Q45/1UZ/1J

[itsnotagsr]

Originally posted by spamgirl
....I always thought that the 318 started with the E30 and the E21 4 cyl was a 320 that was the old 2002 donk ( I could be wrong)

I have also seen a E21 with a 5L Windsor in it.

There was a carby E21 318, but mine was definitely fuel injected. There was a series one and series two E21. Difference is pretty obvious. S1 has chrome mirrors etc (old looking), s2 had plastic mirrors and looked more like the E30 (ie a bit newer).

There used to be a e21 forum based in the US to which I subscribed. Very helpful guys.

A lot had converted their 323s to running 2.7L strokers.

[jizmstr0]

there is a fella on toymods who has a 1jz 323i. Not sure exactly what model though. I was looking into this same conversion a little while ago. I asked him about his and he said it was not the cheapest conversion. But i am pretty sure you could do it for 11k. And yes my vote is for the 1jz 323i over the other 3 although the 260z would be pretty good also.

[itsnotagsr]

SR20 would probably be better:
-More parts floating round.
- better weight up front therefore affecting handling less
- more room in the engine bay for bigger turbo etc etc
- probably easier to get through engineering

Not sure how easily the twin turbo set up would clear in the engine bay....

[YRU51K]

This ad is in the Sydney Trading Post this week

BMW 320 Coupe, 308 stroker, auto, quick shift, gauges, 2K black, VS Simmons, engineered, too much to list, unreg, $7200 negotiable PENRITH 0402-11 6868

Already engineered the hard work is done.

[Spammy]

Its from Penrith so you know it has never been thrashed

[closer]

Originally posted by spamgirl
Its from Penrith so you know it has never been thrashed

unlike the women
oh i kill me

no offence to any penrith girls out there