89 M30 5-speed swap ????

[eightynine535]

I will be parking the bimmer soon to use as a summer toy. and I have been thinking about doing a 5 speed swap. I have read up on some of the threads here about this and I am confident with some help I could do this.

so the main things I do not know is which manual tranny do i need for this swap and which years and models had this? ditto for the diff i will need.

thanks ahead of time.

Curtis

[TheStigg]

In my opinion, the Getrag 260/6 5-spd would be the best choice & should still be pretty easy to find. They were used on all m30 manual e34's from 1989-1993 and on a select few e32's for 1988, 1989. They were also used on 87-88 m30 e28's and on 88-89 e24's.

Your 89 auto will have a 3.91 diff. A 3.46 or 3.64 would be the better ratios for a 5-spd, but numerous people do have 3.91's in their e34 5-spds. I'm running a 3.91 in my e32 5-spd conversion and it does quite well, but 1st gear is a little short.

[zubbie]

I am thinking about the same thing. Heres what I've learned:

Any manual designed for the "big six" M30 will work and normal donors are manual E28's, E34's, E24's and E32's (rare). You can generally rule out baby six cars with M20 or M50 engines as the bell housings are different except for some transmissions with removable bellhousings.

Compatible trannys include 260/6 any M5 transmission (such as the 280)

Heres a commonly used link for a 735 manual conversion

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_41.htm

Eurodepot also sells kits for about $1900

http://www.theeurodepot.com/index.php?id=14

Hopefully the "experts" will chime in with more info

[Goathumper]

if you get a non e34 tranny, you will need a new output flange.

[zubbie]

if you get a non e34 tranny, you will need a new output flange.

Please explain? Do you mean a new diff input shaft? I know you need a different drive shaft due to the length differences

[TheStigg]

Please explain? Do you mean a new diff input shaft? I know you need a different drive shaft due to the length differences

Yes, the ZF 4hp22 auto trans is about 6" longer than the Getrag manual, so the front half of the driveshaft has to be longer, and the manual has a different type of output yoke than the auto. And also as Goathumper mentioned, the earlier Getrags had a different output yoke than the e34 Getrags.

[zubbie]

I found another link for an E28 conversion. similar process. The hardest part of this conversion stuff is finding a suitable donor car. Not many manual M30's around here.

http://www.e28planet.com/DaveKanTransGuide/index.html

[xatlas0]

OP- You read my thread, right?

[eightynine535]

OP- You read my thread, right?

nope but i will.

link? I am lazy...............:embarrasm

[Binjammin]

If you want a hand with it and have the time bring it up to CT on a weekend and we'll do it on a lift. If you feel like doing it on a lift that is.

[zubbie]

nope but i will.

link? I am lazy...............:embarrasm


http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=566757

[kalevera]

I still have a complete kit (with brand new pedals/pads/pedal box) available for sale, from my '91 535. Thought it was sold, but appears not to be...still here.

[zubbie]

I still have a complete kit (with brand new pedals/pads/pedal box) available for sale, from my '91 535. Thought it was sold, but appears not to be...still here.

Hmm... where are you located and Price? Does it include all the relavent pieces such as driveshaft, new clutch etc

[kalevera]

Hmm... where are you located and Price? Does it include all the relavent pieces such as driveshaft, new clutch etc

Cleveland/OH, $1000, kit is complete. Clutch is used, replaced in 2000, I would replace it again.

[zubbie]

Cleveland/OH, $1000, kit is complete. Clutch is used, replaced in 2000, I would replace it again.

If I was closer I'd buy it but it is way to long of a road trip to justify (from Nova Scotia). Perhaps eightnine535 will jump on it as he is much closer than me.