lowformat

i need help from you guys , i lost my turbo II on a crash so all i have are the componets of it and i still dont have enoug money to get another car to put the engine , so my friend gave to me a 1981 BMW 320 with no engine , i was wondering is getting my 13bT engine on that car would be a nice idea and low budget project,

any ideas ? how to `s ? advise ?

thank for your help

rxtasy3

iTrader: (2)

"Nice idea", could be
"Low budget" project, I doubt it will be anywhere NEAR low budget.

gradedcheese

The E21 320i uses ZF rack and pinion steering rather than a steering box. I dont know if that affects your plans much but just FYI.

lowformat

what has to do the ZF rack and pinion how the engine fits on the bay ?

gradedcheese

Well an earlier BMW has a steering box (also made by ZF FWIW) which is the same steering setup that early 12A rotaries like my RX-2 use. And the steering box on the RX-2 looks like it's in a similar position as the BMW's (well that kind of figures). However the rack and pinion steering is shaped very differently since it's ntohing like a steering box. I guess I am just suggesting you make some measurements and see if that affects the rotary swap.

Other than that the BMW M10 motor uses a crossflow head so the exhaust was on the correct side for a rotary but the intake was not (not that it matters). E21's have a pretty big transmission tunnel so your gearbox should probably fit though fine. They had proper hinged pedals instead of the 2002's floor mounts so that would be a plus.

It's probably pretty doable.

lowformat

i would be cheking that about the steering box , also i would like to ask if it recomended to pass the differential from my fc to the e21 or i can use the stock diff of the 320

lowformat

^bump

xclusiv7

a friend of mines, did that a long time ago..his came out pretty well... the only problem was he always broke the bmw rear end..

gradedcheese

that's weird, the E21's have a pretty heavy-duty rear end (although it is a live rear end, not solid axel). Then again a stock 320i made very little power.

You could try a rear end from an E21 320i "sport" (no badge differences but the sport had an LSD, Recaro seats, little front airdam, 5-speed) which might stack up better in the long run.

lowformat

Hey xclusiv7 , ask your friend if a rear end from a Fc can be imported to the 320

rotabimmer77

I am about to do this same thing to my 77 320 i.