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Thread: Australian, E36 - XR6T barra swap

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Gosford
    Posts
    6
    My Cars
    E36

    Australian, E36 - XR6T barra swap

    Just because LS1 have been done 300 times

    E36 1997 (cooked 318) swapping XR6T barra at leas this is what I am aiming for.

    Got the E36 and just because I had the XR6 "N/A" sitting around I thought is would be worth trying this before I commit to by a wreck XR6T.

    <blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/N5tJd"><a href="//imgur.com/N5tJd"></a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

    it is a BA series barra so it have the front sump so this will not fit the E36 cross member so options here would be a custom sump or trying a FG sump (rear sump) the could possibly work.

    so currently just test fitted without the sump so it need to go 2" higher and aprrox 2" left once the ABS or intake plenum is modified.


    By the way this will be a long term project as I only can spare a few hours at odd weekends.

    http://imgur.com/a/12sgf

    http://imgur.com/a/HRyTp

    http://imgur.com/a/LEbPK

    http://imgur.com/a/RW0cc

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Sitting on the cross member without a sump so it will need to go up 2"
    [IMG][/IMG]


    Still needs to go 1" or 2" to the left
    [IMG][/IMG]

    once I make some room this side
    http://imgur.com/a/kPE48

    http://imgur.com/a/uJPrc

    http://imgur.com/a/D1zXJ

    http://imgur.com/a/5kDei

    http://imgur.com/a/fei0o

    http://imgur.com/a/MgCZL

    318 wiring harness still on the way so we have room to go up here
    http://imgur.com/a/phE5T

    http://imgur.com/a/v6wjX
    Last edited by LG36; 01-27-2017 at 06:26 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    New Zealand, Wellington
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    2000 E46 4 DOOR
    Hey man,
    Awesome work! I'm looking at doing the unholy also and fitting a Barra 190 to my E46 sedan soon, just trying to troubleshoot in advance, seeing as no one has done it before I'm having to find people with e36 that have done it. With your steering rack, how have you managed to fit hot manifold and exhaust?
    Last edited by XR46; 01-18-2018 at 10:28 PM. Reason: Spelling error

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Brisbane, QLD, Australia
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1996 BMW 323i
    Did you ever get any further with this?

    I see the steering shaft clearance there. i did a 5.0 (EFI Windsor) into a RHD E36, and used a LHD Steering shaft, replacing the flexible coupling with the E38 Uni Joint. that increased the clearances around the steering shaft there.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    1,101
    My Cars
    09/90 E34 525i (M50)
    I didn't think this was possible when I thought about it in 2017, but recently came across a Sydney shop called kurtles kustoms that said they were doing it. I think they did do it if I go by their facebook page and stuff I've read on forums.
    If anyone knows for sure then tell me if it's possible in an E34.
    I've got a garage with the E34 and a falcon ute sitting in it and the landlord wants the barra ute gone. My old m50b25 needs a huge major rebuild and I was thinking of a nissan RB swap. I've previously thought a barra swap wasn't possible and just gave up on it, but this could spur me on to have something to do in life -currently just too depressed as nothing is going right.

    The falcon was my old business vehicle that cost me 15k, then fell apart around the barra (interior, shockwave blue paint peeling, cat converter blocking and toasting trans, unlicenced etc - it's currently my 'shed' as it's a ute with canopy).
    To be honest I was mainly keeping the falcon ute until the time I could get a temp driving permit to go pick up a BMW or RB engine and trans for the E34

    If I have to get rid of it I'd only get $300 which is a shame - can't part it out myself because the landlord just wants it gone. Shame because it's a healthy engine with only 165k kms on it. I know the BA n/a isn't the best but it could be a starting point to upgrade to a FG turbo later if it fits in a E34.

    Otherwise the ute goes to scrap metal for little money and I have to start again with no idea what engine or even how to go pick and engine, trans and diff up without a ute or towbar if it's so far away the hardware rental utes won't cover the driving distance
    Last edited by fo3; 04-26-2019 at 10:17 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    84
    My Cars
    1992 E36 320i
    As the guy that runs 'kurtles kustoms' yes we did 'do it' and by it i mean the hard part, which is making the mounts/altering the sump. This was a job for a customer, and hence I cant share ALL the details of what we did.

    To get the engine to fit i cut down an FG sump as much as i could (reduced the capacity by about 1-2l) and spaced the subframe down about 17mm.

    From there it was just making mounts - which is probably easy once you've altered the sump.

    For the record i DO NOT recommend this swap. Barras are an incredibly heavy engine, moving the engines COG further forward and further up than any stock E36 engine. Furthermore, altering the suspension geometry is also less than ideal. In a taller car such as a 5 series, this swap may be more practical. Or if you wanted to slant the engine as BMW did (for good reason).

    Happy to answer any questions regarding mounts/placement though.
    Yes I can buy it. But I can probably build it cheaper. And better.

    ​-E36 calypsorot track rat.
    -KW Coilers
    -ZF 5 speed with M5 puck clutch
    -M52B28 w Euro S50 Headers, Euro S50 ITB's, S52 cams, EMU standalone.
    -3 clutch LSD
    -330i brakes front and rear

    -E36 Violetrot V8 daily (still being built)
    -M60B40 V8
    -G420 6 speed
    -Brembo fronts/porsche rear brakes
    -BC coilers
    -3 clutch LSD
    -Vaders.



  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    F22 M240i
    Hi Mate,

    I've been following this for a while now.

    I currently own an E39 530i. I considered the Barra swap initially when i bought the car as a new toy for myself.

    Immediately I came across similar issues just by looking at spacing and dimensions of the Barra and engine bay itself.

    Did you ever consider a dry-sump set up to eliminate the oil pan to reduce overall size of the Barra? I've considered this, in addition to an OEM+ look power bulge bonnet.

    I know going this route would be a considerable additional cost ~3-5K, however, i think its worthwhile if possible to go this path as to keep it in line with the i6 Set up bmw is renowned for. Not to mention if you keep it Auto, you still get a nice ZF tranny to pair.

    I look forward to your advice.

    Will

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    11
    My Cars
    528i
    I have an e39 and an FG barra as well that I’ll be throwing in it. I have most of the motor stuff to build it and I’m just taking care of the regular e39 issues these cars have. The motor will go in around this time next year I suspect.

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