S54 E30 M3 - Page 10

John V · 01-07-2021, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick M3

luckily, that's rectangular, so I can take an easy measurement at the front.

in other news, my shift carrier has reappeared on USPS tracking, so... fingers crossed!

Thanks, and good luck. My USPS packages from early Dec are still stuck.

Nick M3 · 01-07-2021, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

Thanks, and good luck. My USPS packages from early Dec are still stuck.

I've had pretty good luck once they make it to DC. But, you know...

I also have a whole package of KF94 masks that I would *really* like to get before our cross country drive. (We are taking a puppy to my parents. I don't feel great about going to LA right now, but I feel better about it than my parents getting on a plane. And we always get out of town for the inauguration.)

John V · 01-07-2021, 10:00 AM

Well my packages were in Maryland (district heights) and then went in transit, and are now in a DC sorting location. So, going the wrong direction.

John V · 01-07-2021, 10:05 AM

Oh and incidentally, from the back of the engine in my RX-8 to the center of the shifter 27.5" So... that's interesting.

Nick M3 · 01-07-2021, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

Oh and incidentally, from the back of the engine in my RX-8 to the center of the shifter 27.5" So... that's interesting.

S54 RX-8? That would be HILARIOUS!

Nick M3 · 01-07-2021, 10:20 AM

Also, here's the wiring information that you'd need:
https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/for...rness-mk60-abs

Obviously, E30 targeted, but gives you what you need to convert to standalone operation.

John V · 01-07-2021, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick M3

S54 RX-8? That would be HILARIOUS!

That's what I'm thinking. Great engine in one of the best chassis ever built

I wouldn't want to go standalone... But I'm not sure how integration between the BMW DME and the RX-8 works. CAN bus stuff could be interesting. Will have to explore that.

I'd really want to do this to a Series 2 RX-8, but cheap ones come up for sale much less often than S1 cars. Unlike the Duratec swap, there's a pretty big up-front investment to get this off the ground. It's not like I can go pick up an S54 and gearbox for a couple hundred bucks as a "does this even come close to working?" exercise.

Nick M3 · 01-07-2021, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

That's what I'm thinking. Great engine in one of the best chassis ever built

I wouldn't want to go standalone... But I'm not sure how integration between the BMW DME and the RX-8 works. CAN bus stuff could be interesting. Will have to explore that.

I'd really want to do this to a Series 2 RX-8, but cheap ones come up for sale much less often than S1 cars. Unlike the Duratec swap, there's a pretty big up-front investment to get this off the ground. It's not like I can go pick up an S54 and gearbox for a couple hundred bucks as a "does this even come close to working?" exercise.

Well. You can mock it up with any BMW I6 between an M50 and the S54. The S54 is a little bit bigger on the top, but mounts the same. Transmission wise, you can either ballpark it with a 5spd, or pick up a ZF 6spd for pretty cheap.

John V · 01-07-2021, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick M3

Well. You can mock it up with any BMW I6 between an M50 and the S54. The S54 is a little bit bigger on the top, but mounts the same. Transmission wise, you can either ballpark it with a 5spd, or pick up a ZF 6spd for pretty cheap.

That's good to know. The height of the motor shouldn't be an issue.

The critical dimensions, though, are: 1) the rear / top of the cylinder head as it dictates how far back the engine can be and B) The part of the engine bottom end and oil pan where it overhangs the steering rack. The M54 and S54 oil pans are pretty different.

Nick M3 · 01-07-2021, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

That's good to know. The height of the motor shouldn't be an issue.

The critical dimensions, though, are: 1) the rear / top of the cylinder head as it dictates how far back the engine can be and B) The part of the engine bottom end and oil pan where it overhangs the steering rack. The M54 and S54 oil pans are pretty different.

I think that the S54 pan is a lot more closely related to the M50 E36 pan dimensionally. Certainly, if you're on an E36, they are interchangeable.

01-07-2021, 10:20 AM	#96
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,458	Also, here's the wiring information that you'd need: https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/for...rness-mk60-abs Obviously, E30 targeted, but gives you what you need to convert to standalone operation. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

01-07-2021, 10:00 AM	#93
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	Well my packages were in Maryland (district heights) and then went in transit, and are now in a DC sorting location. So, going the wrong direction.

01-07-2021, 10:05 AM	#94
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	Oh and incidentally, from the back of the engine in my RX-8 to the center of the shifter 27.5" So... that's interesting.