Your Average 885 swap build thread (pic heavy)

[Johnny Redline]

So this is the start of my 885 head swap, thank you for your readings. I got me an 85 325e that I found for i think 700 bucks up in wisconsin. I live in atlanta, ga. It was a FUUUUUUUN drive in my 99 dakota hauling that thing back.


Wheels i got with it


Two days after getting it home. i was scootin around behind a middle school and blew a cv axle boot. Like completely demolished it.





This is the newer axle from an 86 that is whats in it now

So once i got home and the motivation to fix instead of part it out. I got the axle arm out, but the spindle? its self was stuck inside the wheel hub.
So i had to hammer that out and just decided to replace it with another trailing arm that I had from a 88.

I got a little distracted cause the matco dude made an offer i just couldn't pass up


Then i go to do breaks. The bolt holding the rotor on is completely frozen in. my impact screwdriver completely stripped it. Then i go to cut a cross in it and start bangin at it with a chisel and basically laughs and gets even more screwed up.
So i replace the other side with the other 88 trailing arm.
Before all that i had to replace the intake manifold because it was leaking. Did that...........boom works amazing.

Then my ignition gets stuck and fries my Starter
No pics of that one cause that i just really fast and Frustrated.




But just recently in the Ga portion of the forums a gent was giving away i motor so i was like Light Bulb stroker swap

and so it begins...........
The motor


All Components so now i got a couple extras

Now the motor and trans disconnected cause i got bored at work

the motor again with out the head

the head in all its glory


Sweet awsome intake manifold and it's fatty ports and injectors. (which will get chem dipped soon)

T-belt was good so might reuse it


Got some pics of the new windshield


also got chrome weather stripping which is pretty friggin sweet


Thanks for reading and yea more updates to come

[Sigsaucer647]

Noice, sounds like me with the drive for the cheap car, except you went further

And dont reuse the tbelt. If it snaps after your "stroker build" you will kill yourself

[strad]

re-using a t belt is a HUGE no-no. Dunno about other manufacturers/engines, but on an M20, don't do it. A t belt is less than $20, much less costly than that head you're building.

[NY Bimmers]

Just completed this about a month ago.....nice upgrade but you really need to boost it to put smiles on your face....

[trackjunkie21]

Good work, never reuse belts or any other stuff like that.

[Pennyw1se]

What if the belt only has like 5K on it?

[ganzibye]

wow.thats some serious work...

[strad]

What if the belt only has like 5K on it?

The rule is that it is only to be tensioned once. I believe (I think Bentley says it actually) that it can be re tensioned (taken off and put back on in other words) if it has 8 miles or less on it.

Otherwise through it out. Consider it an added $20 to whatever job you're doing that requires you to remove and reinstall the belt.

[Johnny Redline]

So i just got a new windshield for the beast will post pics later tonight of the new see through

[acolella76]

so are you using the old motor and custom pistons, crank, etc. or are you just slapping the 885 head on the e block?

[Pwagon717]

lol, that was my engine that you got for free. I thought it was a headgasket problem, but it was gas problem with that engine

[VacMan]

I head on an E block will make less power than just rebuilding the I motor and throwing it in unless you get supereta or aftermarket pistons. Don't forget you'll also need a 325i computer to get the additional power out of it.

FYI the E and I heads are the same other than the cam, oil journals and valve springs. You're doing a ton of other work for no reason, IMO.

[acolella76]

I head on an E block will make less power than just rebuilding the I motor and throwing it in unless you get supereta or aftermarket pistons. Don't forget you'll also need a 325i computer to get the additional power out of it.

FYI the E and I heads are the same other than the cam, oil journals and valve springs. You're doing a ton of other work for no reason, IMO.

The E has smaller valves and intake ports, does it not?

[VacMan]

The E has smaller valves and intake ports, does it not?

You're correct. I started thinking about our superETA build and was thinking of our 885 head. It still makes much more sense to freshen a 2.5 than to do all the work associated with swapping an I head onto a normal 2.7 block.

[mako224]

88 SETA is a direct head and intake swap. Change Gas press reg, ecu, and your riding ... mini stroking 327. Head bolts right on with no other mechanical mods necessary.

Switced the head on my SETA and major differance ... top the head switch out with a 3.25 differential and you have a very quick ride.

If anyone is looking for a mini stroker .... have an extra one. Head rebuilt 10k miles ago. Engine is out of car and ready for install.

[VacMan]

88 SETA is a direct head and intake swap. Change Gas press reg, ecu, and your riding ... mini stroking 327. Head bolts right on with no other mechanical mods necessary.

Switced the head on my SETA and major differance ... top the head switch out with a 3.25 differential and you have a very quick ride.

If anyone is looking for a mini stroker .... have an extra one. Head rebuilt 10k miles ago. Engine is out of car and ready for install.

See my signature. We have a built 2.7i in our autoX car which was originally a supereta...running a 3.73 though. 3.25 is a better diff for an s5x swap than the ~20hp increase over a 325i.

[mako224]

See my signature. We have a built 2.7i in our autoX car which was originally a supereta...running a 3.73 though. 3.25 is a better diff for an s5x swap than the ~20hp increase over a 325i.

Went with the 3.25 diff .... mine is a daily driver and often make 3 hour interstate trips. Was looking for a better in town acceleration along with maintaining 26 highway mpg. The 3.25 diff was a good balance.

[Johnny Redline]

I have a 3.72 lsd rear end that is gonna stay on the car. I have some schrick i think the 272 cams on the way and a potato turbo from a buddies car that i'm gonna stick on there. I have the head sent out to dover machin shop over off 285 to get port, polished, slightly decked and a three angle valve job just to mix it up a little bit. I'm not lookin for too much power....which i know i'm not gonna get. But just lookin to make more of a fun little DD to scoot around town.

Pwagon717 i thank you and cosmo for the donation and something to do . i'm sure you guys will see it scootin around town a good little bit.