Non running 96 318 ti

[bazar01]

If the head and gaskets are messed up, I don't think the block survived. Worst is the block needs to be decked.
may have found a replacement engine. If the deal goes thru, I should have it in two weeks.

[bazar01]

Found a $600 engine + other cooling parts with new clutch disc and PP at 92k miles. $300 to ship. Still better than messing with the old engine with no guarantee it will run right. I have no time to fool with the 6-cylinder swap so back to stock M44 engine.

[b.u.ti-ful]

Sounds like you are on your way to having a nice car - good luck.

[bazar01]

Thanks.

I hope the engine arrives as advertised. We'll see what the cold compression test numbers are.

[bazar01]

The supposedly 92k mile engine shipped out yesterday. I should see it sometime towards the end of the week, door to door delivery on a lift gate truck. yay.

[familytruckster]

good progress!

[bazar01]

Got a call from the trucking co. The engine is here to be delivered this PM.
We'll see how it looks on the pallet. I am planning to remove the starter on the car and put it on the engine so I can test for compression before I put it in the car. The engine comes with all accesories except the starter. How does that sound? Logical?
Just don't want to do all the work and came to find out it is shot.

[bazar01]

Look what's in my driveway.
Looks like I won't be able to do a compression test until it's mated to the bell housing.
Looks like a clean engine. No oil spills on the valve cover nor oil leaks in the bottom.

[bazar01]

I will be done with the Porsche 944 S2 this weekend and hope to work on the 318ti next weekend. I am just a weekend warrior, so the bimmer has to wait.

Is the timing chain known to fail on these cars? Or is it just a severely warped head that explains the zero compression?

I will update next weekend.

[tiFreak]

never heard of a timing chain going bad, sometimes the tensioner loosens up but the chain hasn't ever broken that I know of

[familytruckster]

The heads warp pretty bad, there is a good bit of valve overlap also. I tried to do a compression test on my used replacement motor I got and I can't get anything out of it-by turning it over by hand. Also turns over really easily-even with plugs in.

The manual says you are supposed to check hot at over 200rpm... tough to do on a used motor that is on a pallet.

[bazar01]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

never heard of a timing chain going bad, sometimes the tensioner loosens up but the chain hasn't ever broken that I know of

It must be a warped head then.

The car is now on the lift.
Which is easier to pull engine out, to drop from the bottom or pull from the top?

[familytruckster]

was pretty easy to yank it out the top...

If you haven't downloaded the bentley manual, google it and get one. Sure made it easy to do.

[bazar01]

Took the intake off and got all the bell housing bolts out.
I am ready to yank it out from the top.
Now the challenge will be to put the whole engine with the intake on.
I am planning to pull the tranny and just mate it to the engine prior to install, then install both at the same time.

I also discovered the 318 ti drive shaft has a second rubber damper between the rubber flex joint and the drive shaft. It has started to deteriorate.

[bazar01]

Got both the engine and the tranny out of the car. I plan to mate the tranny and the new engine so I can do a cold compression test on all the cylinders.
I took the tranny out together with the drive shaft because the flexible joint bolts are a bitch to break loose.

A few pics.