sfk

Hey there. Car: '86 318 e30. Engine: M10 Trans: ZF HP22 3 speed I replaced the engine in this car. Engine is running fine but very little power is being transmitted to gearbox. I didn't mess with the trans at all apart from draining and replacing the trans fluid. The trans was working fine before I removed it from the car. I replaced the fluid with trans fluid specifically recommended for use in older european cars (bmw, merc, audi etc). I can't recall brand of fluid but still have the container in shed so can give you that info if you need it. Anyway. The engine that was used for the replacement was from a manual transmission car, so part of the job involved taking the flywheel off the new engine, and swapping the flywheel and torque converter on from the old engine. Once the torque converter was off, some trans fluid leaked out while it was sitting on the floor. Not a lot. The torque converter was still very heavy which I assume indicates that it was still full of fluid. The torque converter went on the new engine fine. It has a splined shaft that wasn't keyed or anything. I made the mistake of tightening it up before trying to attach the transmission. Since I had not aligned it propperly the transmission would not go on at all. I loosened up the torque converter bolts, THEN fitted the trans, then tightened it all up. Once the car was back together I filled up the trans with new fluid. Specs stated 2L but dipstick was still showing nothing. I added another 1/2L which put the level over full. Oops. I went for a test drive at this stage but even though there was plenty of revs from the engine, there was very little power at the rear wheels. Like, barely enough to get up a gentle slope. I went on thinking that a bit of driving would work all the fluids round to where they needed to be. The power did improve a little but nowhere normal. I have looked in the service manual for the car but there are no special instructions regarding the torque converter removal or assembly. I thought maybe the unit needed to be charged with fluid before installation. So my question is: did I do something wrong? Will over filling the trans fluid result in lost power? Did I install the torque converter wrong? Did I use the wrong transmission fluid? Have I dislodged some gunk that has bogged things up?

well I'm thinking along the lines of a 12a non-turbo right now. because I have a turbo car already and I'd like to use cheaper 95 octane and because I want a carb under the hood. It just looks better. As for the pics, i can get some on the weekend but really, not much to look at right now. it does have the original bottlecap alloys though, which are kinda cool. And an original emergency tool kit. bonus! the spoiler has gone rotten throughout so I tossed it. needs those holes filled coz rain is getting in. that's fine I can fix the holes before its repainted. I have another e30 which is going through engine replacement surgery. not an upgrade. just replacement. the original had a bad bearing shell on one of the big-ends. so the engine is out and replaced with another one. m10. 1.8l. bit shabby, but I'm told it runs. Noticed some axial play in teh crankshaft front to back which seems excessive. probably accounts for the low oil pressure lamp which comes on at idle when the engine is warm. This engine was from a manual gearbox car, so possibly the clutch pressure plate going in and out has caused the wear?? anyway. didn't want to get into pulling the replacement engine apart to get to the bottom of the oil pressure problem. most likey the bearings are a little warn on this one too. the original engine is in parts all over my workshop. the crank is pretty rooted on one of the big ends. nasty rough surface. I guess it could be ground down... cheaper to replace. But ultimately better to replace with another newer engine. So the silver one just needs its brains plugged back in, and some oily new blood in the the trans and engine, plus some minor parts connected back up then (knock wood) she'll spring back to life. The blue one is complete and running but failed WOF on some rust in the front right guard, tyres on the rear. pretty minor. that's the one I'm contemplating putting the ROTARY in. that or just fix it to WOF and sell... not sure.

heya. I'm 33. I live in Auckland (north-west Kumeu area). I have recently bought a 86 318i pre-facelift e30 coupe. Pretty standard throughout. Cracked dashboard (I hear that's normal). Peeling clearcoat on roof and boot (is that normal?) Anyway. It has the M10 single cam engine and an automatic gearbox. I hate autos. My regular car is 5 speed turbo. So already I'm thinking about an engine and gearbox transplant. The car feels nice to drive. Stable. Responds well to steering. Engine is a bit puss. Auto box is horrid. And the power is missing. I started looking around at BMW engines suitable for transplant but they all look too complicated and heavy. Even to go with something like a m20b25 requires suspension upgrades etc. So my current thinking is a 13bt turbo rotary and gearbox swap-in. Argggh! The purists are probably getting angry now. I'm not too fussed with the use of all geniune BMW parts and engines. I really bought the e30 because I love the shape. And I'm going rotary because I root for the underdog. I know its not a new idea. I'm not too woried about originality. Just looking for an affordable and straightforward project. So next question is: anyone on this board done it before? coz I wanna pick your brains. I suppose I need to post pics of the car, but it really ain't much to look at right now.