BMW M42 engine swap?

[cadence]

Has anyone looked into using a bmw M42 4 cylinder engine?

I am buying a parts car for body and interior panels for my 91 318is and it has a working, complete, m42 with getrag 240/5sp transmission. I know that the opel getrag will bolt in using parts from OGTS. i was wondering how different the mouting points and/or output shaft are for the bmw getrag 240. Its front sump so i will have to start measuring to see if the motor will even fit. but i thought i would put this out there first.

it makes 140hp/130ftlbs torque crank for that amount of power with a modern direct fire ignition and fuel injection for basically free. i think it would be a better candidate than dumping loads of money in the stock motor for comparable power.

[RallyBob]

I would think it would be a very tight fit. It's angled over as installed in a BMW, and as well it's quite a bit wider with the manifolds and twin cam head.

If you straightened up the block so it was upright, you'd have a few more issues...it would end up being significantly taller, the manifolds would have to be modified/reconfigured, and the oil pan and pickup would also have to be modified to avoid oil starvation.

I've built a few headers for these engines and they're not easy to work on!

[jtb]

Ha! This is a coincidence. My brother just sent me an ad from a guy in our little town who is selling an M42 engine and trans, and my brother was thinking about swapping it into the GT. On the plus side, M42s are light, and the intake and exhaust are on the same sides as the opel, but I haven't even seen it yet so I can't say whether it would fit or not. I think RallyBob raises some valid points, but any swap is going to have its challenges! The question is are you ready for this much of a challenge!?

Good luck if you decide to proceed!

jtb

[BMWonly]

Originally Posted by jtb On the plus side, M42s are light, and the intake and exhaust are on the same sides as the opel, but I haven't even seen it yet so I can't say whether it would fit or not. jtb

The M42 (like most BMW engines) is a crossflow motor, with the exhaust manifold on the same side as the Opel's, but the intake is on the other side.

It is a pretty tall motor, even in a 3 series the engine had to be tilted. The intake runners sit very high. It would be an excellent motor for a GT, though, if you can make it fit.

Dieter

[jtb]

Originally Posted by BMWonly The M42 (like most BMW engines) is a crossflow motor, with the exhaust manifold on the same side as the Opel's, but the intake is on the other side.

Whoops! You're right, of course. I've never actually had an opel engine, that's my excuse.

[baz]

i had the 2800 six pot in my GT for a while so i dont see why the 4 would be a hard swop

gear box is the hard part to get in

[cadence]

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC01262.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC01263.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC01264.jpg


here is what it looks like. These aren't my pictures just a representation

I will be measuring tomorrow i have the manta and the 318is parked right next to each other out at my dads house.
the big plus for me and this swap is that i will have a running and driving 318is to crib off of while doing this swap

[ManBearPig]

Originally Posted by cadence http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC01262.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC01263.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC01264.jpg here is what it looks like. These aren't my pictures just a representation I will be measuring tomorrow i have the manta and the 318is parked right next to each other out at my dads house. the big plus for me and this swap is that i will have a running and driving 318is to crib off of while doing this swap

did you ever get to measure?

[cadence]

Originally Posted by ManBearPig did you ever get to measure?

finally got the car so i am able to measure it.

its kinda hard to get spot on measurements with it in the car but this is what i came up with

from highest point on motor to the bottom of the oil pan it is
28.5"

from one motor mount location to the other it is
25.5"

from the back of the engine to the edge of the front pulley it is
22.5"

these are rounded to the nearest half.

here are some pictures of the engine bays. i tried to match the height and location on each.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/DSCF0080.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/DSCF0079.jpg





I was able to get the bmw for free because it was about to get towed by the city. it has quite a bit of body damage and the front suspension is shot in every way but it runs good. other than the strut towers the engine bay size is very similar.

I also got a set of bmw ellipsoid headlights i am going to try to retro fit.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...n/IMG_0465.jpg

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by cadence Has anyone looked into using a bmw M42 4 cylinder engine? I am buying a parts car for body and interior panels for my 91 318is and it has a working, complete, m42 with getrag 240/5sp transmission. I know that the opel getrag will bolt in using parts from OGTS. i was wondering how different the mouting points and/or output shaft are for the bmw getrag 240. Its front sump so i will have to start measuring to see if the motor will even fit. but i thought i would put this out there first. it makes 140hp/130ftlbs torque crank for that amount of power with a modern direct fire ignition and fuel injection for basically free. i think it would be a better candidate than dumping loads of money in the stock motor for comparable power.

Not being Johnny Raincloud here but the oil pan will be a major issue. The sump will be right over the steering rack and crossbar on a Manta /Ascona.

[cadence]

Originally Posted by blancojp Not being Johnny Raincloud here but the oil pan will be a major issue. The sump will be right over the steering rack and crossbar on a Manta /Ascona.

E36 m42 Oil pans are rear sump if i had problems i was going to swap out with one of those.
i also have a slim civic radiator to give more space in front of the motor. and will be using an electric fan.

[cadence]

Well, started pulling the engine on the bmw. The wiring is very simple. All the engine wiring, ecu, alternator, and starter is in one harness with a single plug to connect the power grounds and ignition switch to.

Here is a crappy cell picture of the progress.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...6/SSPX0087.jpg

[cadence]

motor is out

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...7990150022.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...7990167173.jpg