E46 M54 Built Technique Tuning Turbo Engine Swap thread

So yesterday I pulled out my engine. Thanks again to those who helped, without Ricky, Rafi and Tyler; I would still be figuring out how to put the engine down.

So this is kinda preemptive thread title, but if it weren't for the build motor, none of this work would be taking place.

I'm trying to make this 56k friendly by linking the pics... as always with me, go to e46nonm.com for further info and occasionally more pics, updates, etc. Though much of that information will be posted here too.

Originally Posted by bluejeansonfire@e46nonm.com

Last night, Tyler and Rafi came over and we dropped the front suspension and engine. Thanks guys, I couldn’t have done it without you two and Ricky’s help the night before.

The engine is out, after two real days of work. It isn’t very far removed from the car, but disconnected, sitting, er… sideways under it on a wooden dolly.

I know the new engine is coming soon, but not immediately, I need to take a number of parts that I will be reusing from this engine to my machine shop. I can’t wait for the new motor, it should be something special.

This is something I actually planned and to everyone’s surprise it went relatively flawlessly. I broke one stud on the exhaust manifold. This is normal, turbo manifold see very high temperature spikes. It wont be tough to fix. In contrast to most of the work done in the glorious garage of nonM, Tyler has a damaged right wrist, so he can only do light help and take pics. So this was documented more thoroughly than nearly anything else ever done with this car.

After the engine was safely on the wooden dolly, we called it a night.

Nice Any details on the new engine???

Originally Posted by bluejeansonfire

So yesterday I pulled out my engine. Thanks again to those who helped, without Ricky, Rafi and Tyler; I would still be figuring out how to put the engine down.

Finally!!!!

This is going to be awesome.

BTW, why didn't you unbolt the bumper supports and pull the whole front clip off. You can leave the rad/headlights/ducting in place on the clip, and just pull the engine/tranny straight out.

Easy for me to say from the comfort of my armchair huh?

Yaaaaaaaay.

Originally Posted by B33MER

Nice Any details on the new engine???

JB Racing is the machine shop doing all the prep on this motor before assembly. 84.5mm bore, 8.5:1 compression weisco pistons, eagle rods, supertech +1mm valves, exhaust side inconel, JB racing valvesprings and retainers, JB racing twin disc organic 7.25in clutch+flywheel, vac oil filter housing. The current cam setup is going to be 248/256, as that is what I have, I may experiment with different intake cams later. The turbo that will go on the engine, I'm not certain... I need to discus this further.

Originally Posted by pei330ci

Finally!!!!

This is going to be awesome.

BTW, why didn't you unbolt the bumper supports and pull the whole front clip off. You can leave the rad/headlights/ducting in place on the clip, and just pull the engine/tranny straight out.

Easy for me to say from the comfort of my armchair huh?

In the comfort of your armchair, I picture you holding a Charles Dickens novel with a pipe and heff robe, lecturing the universe on e46 chassis dynamics and the intricacies of the m54 and nitrous.

I'm terrified of messing up the AC stuff. There's that canister that sits in the front, I didn't want the condenser to put any strain in the lines. Ultimately, I didn't want to really move the condenser.

Your method is probably faster, perhaps even easier, but my garage also suffers from size constriction, and I'm not sure that I could pull engine and transmission to clear the front subframe before hitting the back of the garage.

Due to these concerns, I felt it best to lay the engine down on its side, on a wooden dolly following front subframe/suspension/steering rack/power steering removal. I don't like undoing those lines.

I just hope I get it all back together the way it is supposed to be

Use little zip lock baggies for all the fasteners/clips. Label them and tape them to the part they were used to fasten. If you do this, everything should go back together just fine. The more time you take to label and organize on disassembly, the faster everything will go back together.

Originally Posted by pei330ci

Use little zip lock baggies for all the fasteners/clips. Label them and tape them to the part they were used to fasten. If you do this, everything should go back together just fine. The more time you take to label and organize on disassembly, the faster everything will go back together.

that's really good advice

I took this approach to the wiring harness when i did it. I need to do that for this as well. So far I've been practicing putting every piece of hardware back on its old threads, just so things stay relatively in place. I run the risk of loosely tightened stuff falling apart and getting lost. I also practice dropping things and never finding them. This is a really tricky situation to overcome.. where did it go? I dunno. This has also happened to all of my tools. Thus, i have redundant sets of most things, I know i have three t50s in the garage, yet i can't find any of them. My toolbox is empty, everything is just everywhere. Organization is low on the priority list, I realize how detrimental that can eventually be, I plan on organizing my garage thoroughly before installing the new engine, and cat littering the floor much further.

still would have been easier to pull it out without the front end on. Then just slideee it back in

Julio is going to have a list of hardware he needs, and its going to be over $100 at the local dealer, that is my prediction .

I'm still surprised that the dolly idea worked as well as it did.

And....GT3582 HTA, 55 lb injectors....do it

Originally Posted by bimmer07

still would have been easier to pull it out without the front end on. Then just slideee it back in

It really wasn't hard at all to drop it. The hardest part of the entire event once the subframe was out, was to remove the turbo/manifold. With the subframe in place and the front clip removed, we would have fought a lot of demons getting that turbo off (one bolt the clearance is nearly impossible). As a non-supporter of this method, I actually see where we saved a ton of time taking it out this way. Mind you, this was 4 hours work, not working hard at all, in a garage where you can find nothing.



Oh, and advice, when dropping the subframe, remember the steering linkage

Originally Posted by BimmerDude18

It really wasn't hard at all to drop it. The hardest part of the entire event once the subframe was out, was to remove the turbo/manifold. With the subframe in place and the front clip removed, we would have fought a lot of demons getting that turbo off (one bolt the clearance is nearly impossible). As a non-supporter of this method, I actually see where we saved a ton of time taking it out this way. Mind you, this was 4 hours work, not working hard at all, in a garage where you can find nothing.



Oh, and advice, when dropping the subframe, remember the steering linkage

ya. It also depends on what kind of tool and resources you have. For one motor i had a full lift and everything. For one we had a jack and jackstands but we pulled the front end and slid everything out real quick trans and all

Originally Posted by bimmer07

ya. It also depends on what kind of tool and resources you have. For one motor i had a full lift and everything. For one we had a jack and jackstands but we pulled the front end and slid everything out real quick trans and all

There isn't room to get the trans to clear, was the point we were trying to make, the car is in a two car garage so we couldn't fit engine and tranny forward.

Just bring it up to my shop....I'm sure we can fit another E46 in there...or 2.

Originally Posted by pei330ci

Just bring it up to my shop....I'm sure we can fit another E46 in there...or 2.

Julio get a trailer, I'll steal a truck from my Dad....roadtrip...

Originally Posted by BimmerDude18

Julio get a trailer, I'll steal a truck from my Dad....roadtrip...

bistch, i gots a truck, i rented a uhaul car trailer

Originally Posted by pei330ci

Just bring it up to my shop....I'm sure we can fit another E46 in there...or 2.

my service vehicle is nothing flattering, but i got the engine in the bed, car on trailer
on my way!!!

Your truck won't make it to PEI, you'll die somewhere in GA

i pulled a motor and trans straight out in a garage into the driveway got lucky it didnt start rollling away

Turbo manifold was a bihatch.
Can't wait to see the new engine go innnn

subscribed. . .though i know i'll be dropping in on the install at some point.

Originally Posted by frankieb96

subscribed. . .though i know i'll be dropping in on the install at some point.

You think you could sneak the turbo in the shop out for some fun