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LS1 / T56 DD e28 BMW Build
just a small update.....more will happen tomorrow.
Got the garaged cleaned up some and the e28 up on the lift.
Engine came out (it had half an m30 in it, head was gone)
had to make a scrap run (m30, old m10, more random camaro parts)
The GTO oil pan will get swapped on tomorrow and the LS1 will get dropped in. I did some simple measurements and it looks like with the shifter in the middle of the console opening the heads will be in front of the brake booster. I have a remote booster from a e34 540 if needed but I will start with trying to keep the stock booster.
I have decided to drop both the front and rear subframes and have everything powder coated. The first stage will be to have ALL the mechanical bits of the car refreshed.
The firewall insulation is pretty beat up (what do you expect for an 85). A new one is NLA so I need to figure out if I want to just leave it or replace with something different. Any suggestions?
On to some pictures.
The lab...
The patient
Old m30
It's new heart
It's new home
I normally take a bunch of other random pictures so as I am sitting on the couch and need to figure something out I have pictures to reference. They all get dumped here for this project. www.theguestroom.net/e28 Feel free to check them out.
Got the garaged cleaned up some and the e28 up on the lift.
Engine came out (it had half an m30 in it, head was gone)
had to make a scrap run (m30, old m10, more random camaro parts)
The GTO oil pan will get swapped on tomorrow and the LS1 will get dropped in. I did some simple measurements and it looks like with the shifter in the middle of the console opening the heads will be in front of the brake booster. I have a remote booster from a e34 540 if needed but I will start with trying to keep the stock booster.
I have decided to drop both the front and rear subframes and have everything powder coated. The first stage will be to have ALL the mechanical bits of the car refreshed.
The firewall insulation is pretty beat up (what do you expect for an 85). A new one is NLA so I need to figure out if I want to just leave it or replace with something different. Any suggestions?
On to some pictures.
The lab...
The patient
Old m30
It's new heart
It's new home
I normally take a bunch of other random pictures so as I am sitting on the couch and need to figure something out I have pictures to reference. They all get dumped here for this project. www.theguestroom.net/e28 Feel free to check them out.
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Eddie in TO
- Posts: 1007
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
id check out that brake booster before you put a big hunk of metal in front of it. i thought the check valve was going out last time i drove it, the pedal was rather hard.
only other thing i can think of th check before you drive it is to center the steering box to TDC. its close but its off and i didn't feel like realigning the car when i put it in.
good luck nice to see my old car do something other then sit there
only other thing i can think of th check before you drive it is to center the steering box to TDC. its close but its off and i didn't feel like realigning the car when i put it in.
good luck nice to see my old car do something other then sit there
Haha, the 500 is tiny. When I pull the LS1 back out I will set it in front of the 500 to show some scale. It would be a wheelie machine with the ls1. I actually bought a 67 fiat 850 spider that is going to give up its engine, trans, etc etc for the 500. The 850 is actually in better shape but I really like the 500. The 500 needs a TON of metal work. It will get done some day but it keeps getting pushed back.
535is-pa: looks like the booster was in the way, it is out now and remote 540 is in place. I am going to drop the front subframe and have everything powder coated so when the steering box goes in I'll be sure to center it all up.
On to the update
Engine is in, sitting on the sub frame and some blocks of wood. I will make the mounts tomorrow, look pretty straight forward and I already have a plan. I was hoping to keep the stock brake booster but there wasn't enough room to push the engine back far enough. I have a 540 remote booster that will work. I might look at the Porsche 944 booster and see if that would work too. Either way I have a solution so...
Steering is all clearing nicely.... The only trouble is going to be the passenger side exhaust manifold but I have a couple ideas. I can always make something if it comes down to it. Not any big deal.
On to some pictures
open wide!!
sitting in (passenger side)
sitting in (drivers side)
Like it was made to be there....I had this shift knob sitting around and it is the threaded type from a 2002...and it threaded right on. Not sure if it will be there at the end or not.
Trans/shifter in tunnel
clears suspension/steering
underside in front - I might lower it one board, unless it starts to hit the suspension. Things are pretty close back there
535is-pa: looks like the booster was in the way, it is out now and remote 540 is in place. I am going to drop the front subframe and have everything powder coated so when the steering box goes in I'll be sure to center it all up.
On to the update
Engine is in, sitting on the sub frame and some blocks of wood. I will make the mounts tomorrow, look pretty straight forward and I already have a plan. I was hoping to keep the stock brake booster but there wasn't enough room to push the engine back far enough. I have a 540 remote booster that will work. I might look at the Porsche 944 booster and see if that would work too. Either way I have a solution so...
Steering is all clearing nicely.... The only trouble is going to be the passenger side exhaust manifold but I have a couple ideas. I can always make something if it comes down to it. Not any big deal.
On to some pictures
open wide!!
sitting in (passenger side)
sitting in (drivers side)
Like it was made to be there....I had this shift knob sitting around and it is the threaded type from a 2002...and it threaded right on. Not sure if it will be there at the end or not.
Trans/shifter in tunnel
clears suspension/steering
underside in front - I might lower it one board, unless it starts to hit the suspension. Things are pretty close back there
Maybe someone can help explain what a couple of these wires are for. Maybe 535is-pa becasue it was once his car. Just trying to find if I need them or not.
1) Is this coil wiring? What is what?
2) AC wiring? or something else
3) Is this the coolant level sensor check panel connection?
4) This looks like a horn but it is under the battery? And there are two more horns up in the grille area. Is it another horn?
5) foglight or blinker? It was unhooked but I think it goes where the second picture is.
6) 12v to AC compressor right?
1) Is this coil wiring? What is what?
2) AC wiring? or something else
3) Is this the coolant level sensor check panel connection?
4) This looks like a horn but it is under the battery? And there are two more horns up in the grille area. Is it another horn?
5) foglight or blinker? It was unhooked but I think it goes where the second picture is.
6) 12v to AC compressor right?
ok
pic 1 = goes to the 2 switches on the radiator.
pic 2 = air conditioning
pic 3 is the low coolant sensor on the expansion tank.
the horn in the battery tray? i think thats a stockish alarm. aaron said he herd it flip out once, i never herd it.
last one is a foglight, the turn signals are spliced, deleting the connector i think...
edit: very last pic i dont remember what it went to.
an god sitting is bad for cars.....
pic 1 = goes to the 2 switches on the radiator.
pic 2 = air conditioning
pic 3 is the low coolant sensor on the expansion tank.
the horn in the battery tray? i think thats a stockish alarm. aaron said he herd it flip out once, i never herd it.
last one is a foglight, the turn signals are spliced, deleting the connector i think...
edit: very last pic i dont remember what it went to.
an god sitting is bad for cars.....
Last edited by 535is-pa on Dec 21, 2011 12:41 AM, edited 1 time in total.
if that obc alarm worked im sure i would have made it go off at some point. but i think if yo set a code on the obc and try to start the car itll go off, the obc info is in the manual, and there should be a print out with the complicated obc info in the paperwork.jakeb wrote:excellent, thanks.
In pic 2 are those for the pressure sensors?
I am planning to let the GM PCM control the AC and just need to send a 12v signal to the PCM when I want AC. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the e28 ac wiring?
How does the OBC alarm work? What makes it go off?
a 1985 etm manual should halp you greatly, i cant think of anything i might have screwed up on the last motor swap:
http://wedophones.com/Manuals/BMW/1985% ... Manual.pdf
and for pic 2, i cant remember, i had them stuck in the frame rail, but the included AC compressor is the 528e compresor not an m30 one so the wiring is correct, id pull that out and mock it up to figure it out. it'll bolt right back into the lines with the wiring intact. i never played with any of the AC stuff in the center console inside the car.
engine mounts are made, pics will come later. Letting them cool off and then I will try to get the trans mount done before I have to clean up and go to bowling at 6.
I was able to get a 2002 booster to fit and am going to look at getting a porsche 944 one as it has a bit more volume. I might even try the 528 booster again but flip it over so the vacuum port is on the other side (not behind the engine)
thanks for the nice words....its pretty fun so far
I was able to get a 2002 booster to fit and am going to look at getting a porsche 944 one as it has a bit more volume. I might even try the 528 booster again but flip it over so the vacuum port is on the other side (not behind the engine)
thanks for the nice words....its pretty fun so far
It doesn't look like a very big update from the pictures but the motor mounts are done. I was hoping to finish the trans mount too but that didn't happen.
I did put in a 2002 brake booster and it clears everything but I am not sure if the master cylinder is going to end up clearing the exhaust manifold or not. I actually think the stock e28 booster would go back in now and miss everything. I have a couple options for brakes now so I am not too worried...either a vacuum booster, or remote booster. If the MC is close I might just move the booster over a little bit.
On to some pictures
Plate bolted to the block and another bolted to the mount
drivers side
passenger side
cardboard template...will this hold it?
transfer to metal in the bandsaw
a little bit of trimming here and there and weld....BOOM!
I am going to have the mounts powder coated. Should I go with something simple like...black or should I go bright and show them off. Help me choose the color.
in place - drivers, exhaust will either snake out in between the block and steering box or out the front between the mount and the alternator
passenger side
sitting on mounts
under - I wish it could be a little lower but the trans is just a tiny bit above the support bar that goes from side to side. Also the steering track rod is about 1/2" away from the bottom of the oil pan. But this way the oil pan is up above the subframe. I can install the under body plastics someday...if i buy them.
shifter centered in console
2002 booster with e28 master cylinder
Hoping to find time tomorrow to do the trans mount and measure for the drive shaft. My wife is off work starting tomorrow so we will see what can get done in the garage.
I did put in a 2002 brake booster and it clears everything but I am not sure if the master cylinder is going to end up clearing the exhaust manifold or not. I actually think the stock e28 booster would go back in now and miss everything. I have a couple options for brakes now so I am not too worried...either a vacuum booster, or remote booster. If the MC is close I might just move the booster over a little bit.
On to some pictures
Plate bolted to the block and another bolted to the mount
drivers side
passenger side
cardboard template...will this hold it?
transfer to metal in the bandsaw
a little bit of trimming here and there and weld....BOOM!
I am going to have the mounts powder coated. Should I go with something simple like...black or should I go bright and show them off. Help me choose the color.
in place - drivers, exhaust will either snake out in between the block and steering box or out the front between the mount and the alternator
passenger side
sitting on mounts
under - I wish it could be a little lower but the trans is just a tiny bit above the support bar that goes from side to side. Also the steering track rod is about 1/2" away from the bottom of the oil pan. But this way the oil pan is up above the subframe. I can install the under body plastics someday...if i buy them.
shifter centered in console
2002 booster with e28 master cylinder
Hoping to find time tomorrow to do the trans mount and measure for the drive shaft. My wife is off work starting tomorrow so we will see what can get done in the garage.
Mods if this should be in the tech forum please move it if you could
Another small update....
I didn't get a TON done today but made some headway and the engine is now 100% mounted and its weight is supported by the car.
I was also busy making the parts needed for m42 mounts. I sure do love my band saw.
Trans mount was a bit tricky because each side of the body is at a little different angle and height. It is only tacked right now. It will get fulled welded when the engine comes back out. I will also trim a lot of the extra angle off it and add some gussets between the angle and the flat bar. I might see about drawing it in cad and have a piece piece cut and bent.
I will need to "clearance" the tunnel in a couple spots
This is the skip shift solenoid, it will get removed
Sitting down on all 4, no weight on the lift
peaking out...
A few more general pictures of the engine...man I am happy how it looks in there
I got a set of vette manifolds to try. The driver side manifold on the drivers side will not fit for sure. The outlet is directly on top of the steering box. But....the passenger side on the drivers side does fit and the pipe can go out between the motor mount and alternator. With some heat shielding. It is still pretty tight but juuust might work. I have a couple other ideas to try. I might try a 02 camaro passenger side on the drivers side and also might check on an escalade drivers side on the drivers side. There is one brand new at the local advance auto for only $80. Worth looking at.
Brake master cylinder clears...close but clears. That is still the 2002 booster...going to try the stock one again and if that doesn't work I will run a porsche 944 booster.
I tracked down an e31 rear diff cover and going to see if I can mount that up so the diff is supported from both sides.
Drive shaft length is figured out so I can order that. Really all that is left to fab and figure out is the exhaust, coolant lines,`electric (fan(s)), AC stuff, wiring (which is all pretty easy and documented already)
Soon everything will come out and the suspension will all come down to get powder coated, etc etc. The t56 needs some work to the reverse gear syncro. Then it can all go back together.
So far so good!!
Another small update....
I didn't get a TON done today but made some headway and the engine is now 100% mounted and its weight is supported by the car.
I was also busy making the parts needed for m42 mounts. I sure do love my band saw.
Trans mount was a bit tricky because each side of the body is at a little different angle and height. It is only tacked right now. It will get fulled welded when the engine comes back out. I will also trim a lot of the extra angle off it and add some gussets between the angle and the flat bar. I might see about drawing it in cad and have a piece piece cut and bent.
I will need to "clearance" the tunnel in a couple spots
This is the skip shift solenoid, it will get removed
Sitting down on all 4, no weight on the lift
peaking out...
A few more general pictures of the engine...man I am happy how it looks in there
I got a set of vette manifolds to try. The driver side manifold on the drivers side will not fit for sure. The outlet is directly on top of the steering box. But....the passenger side on the drivers side does fit and the pipe can go out between the motor mount and alternator. With some heat shielding. It is still pretty tight but juuust might work. I have a couple other ideas to try. I might try a 02 camaro passenger side on the drivers side and also might check on an escalade drivers side on the drivers side. There is one brand new at the local advance auto for only $80. Worth looking at.
Brake master cylinder clears...close but clears. That is still the 2002 booster...going to try the stock one again and if that doesn't work I will run a porsche 944 booster.
I tracked down an e31 rear diff cover and going to see if I can mount that up so the diff is supported from both sides.
Drive shaft length is figured out so I can order that. Really all that is left to fab and figure out is the exhaust, coolant lines,`electric (fan(s)), AC stuff, wiring (which is all pretty easy and documented already)
Soon everything will come out and the suspension will all come down to get powder coated, etc etc. The t56 needs some work to the reverse gear syncro. Then it can all go back together.
So far so good!!
Some work done today (morning was spent making m42 mounts for people).
I picked up a set of CTS-V manifolds yesterday to test....they didn't fit. The c6 vette manifolds fit but are REALLY close to the frame rail. I also have to run the passenger side on the drivers side and then would have to loop the pipe back around the motor mount. So....I have a set of 98-99 camaro manifolds on the way that are stamped steel that I can cut up and fit how I need. I am hoping they are here by the end of the week....we'll see tho.
On to the pictures and update...
Bought a new "toy/tool" yesterday
Dropped the gas tank...it wasn't leaking but it wasn't far off. 26 years is pretty good on a tank I would say.
Dropped the rear subframe and all the front suspension. Still debating what I am going to do for suspension. A lot of the parts are already new which is excellent! New bilstein sports, etc.
Either stick with the springs that are on it...eibachs in the back, cut 535 in the front or go with an adjustable coilover setup.
It is getting rear subframe adjusters from Ireland.
I am really happy with how little rust I am finding. The worst of it is in the front corners where the jacking points are. There are some spots that need to be cut out and new stuff welded in. I am thinking I will clean it up as much as I can without getting too deep into it and then take care of it the right way this spring/summer.
A couple pictures showing how solid it is. Any small spots of rust will get cleaned up and painted with some POR type paint.
The diff mount has seen better days...I doubt these get changed very often.
The rear subframe assembly is pretty much all apart. The plan for the next couple days is to get everything taken apart and ready to go to the powder coater. I am hoping to have the exhaust manifolds by the end of the week so I can get that figured out. Then the engine can come out and I can clean up the engine bay while I wait for parts and the parts to get coated. The goal is to have it running by early February.
I picked up a set of CTS-V manifolds yesterday to test....they didn't fit. The c6 vette manifolds fit but are REALLY close to the frame rail. I also have to run the passenger side on the drivers side and then would have to loop the pipe back around the motor mount. So....I have a set of 98-99 camaro manifolds on the way that are stamped steel that I can cut up and fit how I need. I am hoping they are here by the end of the week....we'll see tho.
On to the pictures and update...
Bought a new "toy/tool" yesterday
Dropped the gas tank...it wasn't leaking but it wasn't far off. 26 years is pretty good on a tank I would say.
Dropped the rear subframe and all the front suspension. Still debating what I am going to do for suspension. A lot of the parts are already new which is excellent! New bilstein sports, etc.
Either stick with the springs that are on it...eibachs in the back, cut 535 in the front or go with an adjustable coilover setup.
It is getting rear subframe adjusters from Ireland.
I am really happy with how little rust I am finding. The worst of it is in the front corners where the jacking points are. There are some spots that need to be cut out and new stuff welded in. I am thinking I will clean it up as much as I can without getting too deep into it and then take care of it the right way this spring/summer.
A couple pictures showing how solid it is. Any small spots of rust will get cleaned up and painted with some POR type paint.
The diff mount has seen better days...I doubt these get changed very often.
The rear subframe assembly is pretty much all apart. The plan for the next couple days is to get everything taken apart and ready to go to the powder coater. I am hoping to have the exhaust manifolds by the end of the week so I can get that figured out. Then the engine can come out and I can clean up the engine bay while I wait for parts and the parts to get coated. The goal is to have it running by early February.
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Nebraska_e28
- Beamter
- Posts: 9073
- Joined: Apr 13, 2006 11:18 PM
- Location: Council Bluffs, IA
- Contact:
thanks guys!! It was pretty far away from me too but I had it shipped....it was too good of a deal and just what I wanted to pass up.
Not all that much more progress. I got some 98 camaro exhaust manifolds that will work out with a little bit of adjustment. There was some rust around the passenger rear subframe mount so I cleaned that up and welded in some new metal.
e34 540 brakes are all pulled apart and dropped off at the powder coater. A bunch of other small things have gotten done....struts all taken apart, etc etc. I have some more things to take apart and then it can all go to the powder coater and I can order a BUNCH of stuff before it all can start going back together.
The list is pretty long but it will/should be done near the end of jan or middle of feb.
Not all that much more progress. I got some 98 camaro exhaust manifolds that will work out with a little bit of adjustment. There was some rust around the passenger rear subframe mount so I cleaned that up and welded in some new metal.
e34 540 brakes are all pulled apart and dropped off at the powder coater. A bunch of other small things have gotten done....struts all taken apart, etc etc. I have some more things to take apart and then it can all go to the powder coater and I can order a BUNCH of stuff before it all can start going back together.
The list is pretty long but it will/should be done near the end of jan or middle of feb.
jakeb wrote: There was some rust around the passenger rear subframe mount so I cleaned that up and welded in some new metal.
really? god sitting is bad for cars, i see the surface rust here and there in the pics youve posted, car cancer moves quick..... thank god it didnt sit there for another year. when i put the subframe bushings in the car the bushing points where perfect, but there was that little hole on the wheel well next to it. i did that in 2009 sometime.
Back to work so not as much can get done....but here is a small update.
Struts are all broken down, reinforced the sway bar connection.
Rear trailing arms are all broke down waiting to go to the powder coater. Ireland subframe adjusters are on the way
The pressed steel 98 fbody manifolds got here and the passenger side is a PERFECT fit. I may still add an extension and a vband connector rather than the HUGE GM flange.
I cut the drivers side manifold up and added a 2.25" bend/downpipe to get down past the steering box. There will be a vband at the bottom where it can tie into the rest of the exhaust. It was a bit tricky to make it so I can get the manifold in and out with the engine in the car but it is working out.
Here are a couple pictures of the exhaust manifolds.
Passenger side
Drivers side....
only the flange cut off, dumps pretty much directly into the steering box. not going to work...
A bit more "trimmed" and things are fitting better
Where it will exit
Then I will tie the other pipes in..
The drivers side isn't optimal but it will work. Not too many options on the drivers side. The heat shield will go back over the drivers side manifold to give a little heat protection to the master cylinder....as it is close.
The engine will come back out this weekend. I can finish welding the transmission mount. Make the engine and trans mounts look a little nicer before they go off to be powder coated. Front subframe is going to get reinforced where the steering box mounts (common braking point) then it will go to the coater. About to put in a big order with blunt....
A bunch of wiring to start on...clean up the engine bay. Figure out if I should stick with the stock e28 AC condenser or get something updated...
Coming along tho
Struts are all broken down, reinforced the sway bar connection.
Rear trailing arms are all broke down waiting to go to the powder coater. Ireland subframe adjusters are on the way
The pressed steel 98 fbody manifolds got here and the passenger side is a PERFECT fit. I may still add an extension and a vband connector rather than the HUGE GM flange.
I cut the drivers side manifold up and added a 2.25" bend/downpipe to get down past the steering box. There will be a vband at the bottom where it can tie into the rest of the exhaust. It was a bit tricky to make it so I can get the manifold in and out with the engine in the car but it is working out.
Here are a couple pictures of the exhaust manifolds.
Passenger side
Drivers side....
only the flange cut off, dumps pretty much directly into the steering box. not going to work...
A bit more "trimmed" and things are fitting better
Where it will exit
Then I will tie the other pipes in..
The drivers side isn't optimal but it will work. Not too many options on the drivers side. The heat shield will go back over the drivers side manifold to give a little heat protection to the master cylinder....as it is close.
The engine will come back out this weekend. I can finish welding the transmission mount. Make the engine and trans mounts look a little nicer before they go off to be powder coated. Front subframe is going to get reinforced where the steering box mounts (common braking point) then it will go to the coater. About to put in a big order with blunt....
A bunch of wiring to start on...clean up the engine bay. Figure out if I should stick with the stock e28 AC condenser or get something updated...
Coming along tho