» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM Yesterday 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 318,275 Views | | | | | | 12-19-2011, 02:23 AM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Bay, Northern California Posts: 251 | transmission drive shaft differential question the donor car is a '96 automatic and I have someone lined up to buy car for the interior after I pull the parts that I need... I understand that I can use the stock ti parts for now but a lot of people have been opted to swap out the differential from e30's my local pick and pull has 3 e30 328's if I decide to go this route what has to be done to mount e30 differential on to our e36ti assuming I go the e30 differential route what are the corresponding transmission and drive shalf combination I will need or would it be more cost effective to go to a drive shaft shop and have them machine a drive shaft to mate up with parts I have readily available | | | 12-19-2011, 02:42 AM | #2 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | This topic has been covered extensively in the appropriate subforums, however I'll go ahead and help you out. For starters, there's no such thing as a 328(2.8L) e30. I think you're confusing it with 325. Second, when swapping in a medium case e30 diff, no changes to the driveshaft need to be made. There's little if any difference lengthwise between the 318ti's small case diff and the 6cyl e30's medium case diff. Any difference in length can be compensated by the 318ti's telescoping driveshaft. E30 medium case diffs have a 4 bolt input flange which mates right up to the 318ti's driveshaft. The concerning difference between the two diffs is in the width. Medium case diffs are wider than the stock small case diff, thus requiring shorter halfshafts(axles). E30 halfshafts are the perfect length, the splines mate up to our hubs and the output flanges should have matching bolt patterns if the diff and halfshafts are both from a 6cyl e30. Is your car a manual or automatic? Are you going to use the donor car's automatic transmission? | | | 12-19-2011, 02:46 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Bay, Northern California Posts: 251 | my car is a manual and the donor is an automatic...I am either going to stick with my stock manual or find a better manual transmission | | | 12-19-2011, 03:02 AM | #4 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | The stock getrag manual transmission is perfectly fine for engine swaps. Obviously, you will need to install a manual flywheel and clutch onto the donor engine. If you're doing a 6cyl swap, you'll want to upgrade to the appropriate flywheel/clutch setup. If you're swapping in another M42/M44, your current setup will work, but I always advise people to install a new clutch while the transmission is off. The flywheel should also be carefully inspected for wear and replaced if necessary. You could purchase an aftermarket lightweight flywheel for less than an OEM dual mass flywheel. Using your manual Getrag transmission, will allow you to use your stock driveshaft. The only time people need to change their driveshaft is when they switch to a ZF transmission or from auto to manual. The ZF transmission is about 1.5-2" longer than the getrag and the transmission output flange uses a larger bolt pattern and flex disc than the ti's driveshaft. When people install ZF trannies on the ti, they usually use a manual e36 328 or M3 front driveshaft section with the stock 318ti rear driveshaft section. The two sections mate together via a telescoping splined section. It's recommended if you mix and match sections ie, M3 front 318ti rear, that you take both sections to a machine shop or driveline shop and have them balanced as a pair. Sometimes you get lucky and won't get vibration, but if you do notice any vibration at all, you should remove it immediately and have it balanced. You should also use a new center support bearing. | | | 12-19-2011, 03:14 AM | #5 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Another thing I forgot to mention about the e30 medium case diff, while the e30 halshafts are the correct length and the splines mate up to our hubs, the ABS tone rings are larger than the 318ti's ABS tone rings. The ABS tone rings are "toothed" rings on the hub end of the halfshaft. The ABS sensor mounts right above these rings and generates a pulse which is collected by the ABS controller to determine if that particular wheel is spinning/slipping. It is very important to remove your rear ABS sensors from the trailing arms PRIOR to installing the e30 halfshafts. The larger tone rings will damage the ABS sensors if you force them into the hubs before removing the ABS sensors. Once the halfshafts are installed, you should reinstall your ABS sensors, however, you'll need to shim them so they don't rub on the tone rings. A pair of stainless washers with 5/8" openings purchased from your local hardware store will work as shims just fine. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |
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