Help a brother out! Who can do an engine swap? Mechanic? Garage?

Wingking · 04-17-2008, 04:12 PM

Hello all,

Can anyone suggest a garage, or mechanic that would be able to perform a straight engine swap..looking to toss my tired high mileage M20b27 ETA engine, with a fresher M20b25 engine.

Work is no longer allowing me to perform this project myself, and i'm not willing to let go of the car just yet.

Initially I was trying to line up the engine that "Striker" from TurboReady had available...essentially i'm looking for something of that caliber...(budget stroker.)

Car is a 1985 325e.

Looking for full swap, (new tranny will be provided)

will also entertain a M30 swap if know-how is available.

I have a budget in mind which is workeable.
thanks

DANE · 04-17-2008, 04:55 PM

bimmersport one of the sponsors

punnzzells · 04-17-2008, 05:18 PM

RMP - Rocco or Engineered Automotive - Dave

everlast · 04-18-2008, 02:05 AM

Can Striker not do the swap for you? He's a very competent guy with a wrench, just busy.

Wingking · 04-18-2008, 03:26 AM

oh theres no doubt he can-
I just don't want to 'step on any toes' for lack of better words...
I understand he's got his own projects and priorites on the go-

still am super interested in the 327 swap he's got going on tho..hmmm

chromius · 04-18-2008, 08:48 AM

If you're not in a huge rush there is a guy in Manotick that could probably do it. He's always super busy though, so it might take him some time. His labor rates are reasonable...I think like $60/hr. His name is Todd, and the shop is called Autobahn Tuning. I've never used him personally, but my father and some people I know have used him and seem to like his work.

Wingking · 04-18-2008, 12:23 PM

Cool thanks for the tips guys, and PM bmdoubleya

Philboski · 04-18-2008, 02:30 PM

Another possible -- Tonik Motorsports -- 819-682-4955. Warren is the guy's name. He's a friend of a friend. Warren predominantly works on VWs but seems to follow the philosophy that no swap is completely impossible. For example: he built an AWD TDI Golf for his wife.

I have used Todd at Autobahn for most of the work on my car -- the keyhere is not to be in a rush. He told me numerous times that he was "bringing it into the shop tomorrow" when no such thing happened. It took 3 weeks to get my car back from some timing chain work. It's run like a top ever since (aside from a noise that came...then went), but I was really PO'd at the time - Adam knows the story.

chromius · 04-18-2008, 02:35 PM

the noise went away on it's own Phil?

Wingking · 04-18-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philboski

Another possible -- Tonik Motorsports -- 819-682-4955. Warren is the guy's name. He's a friend of a friend. Warren predominantly works on VWs but seems to follow the philosophy that no swap is completely impossible. For example: he built an AWD TDI Golf for his wife.

I have used Todd at Autobahn for most of the work on my car -- the keyhere is not to be in a rush. He told me numerous times that he was "bringing it into the shop tomorrow" when no such thing happened. It took 3 weeks to get my car back from some timing chain work. It's run like a top ever since (aside from a noise that came...then went), but I was really PO'd at the time - Adam knows the story.

Spoke to Todd from Autobahn, and he'd be looking @ 20hrs

for a M20 to M20 swap...which seemed a little dear to me, and wasn't booking untill mid-July.

bmdoubleya · 04-18-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingking

Spoke to Todd from Autobahn, and he'd be looking @ 20hrs

for a M20 to M20 swap...which seemed a little dear to me, and wasn't booking untill mid-July.

I work with warren and he is also very busy ..

chromius · 04-18-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingking

Spoke to Todd from Autobahn, and he'd be looking @ 20hrs

for a M20 to M20 swap...which seemed a little dear to me, and wasn't booking untill mid-July.

20hrs might be a little high, but doesn't seem that out of whack considering it's a b27 to b25 swap. So you'd be looking at changing out the whole wire harness/cluster/ecu/trans/engine, Diff most likely.

Wingking · 04-18-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromius

20hrs might be a little high, but doesn't seem that out of whack considering it's a b27 to b25 swap. So you'd be looking at changing out the whole wire harness/cluster/ecu/trans/engine, Diff most likely.

Anyone know whether a 87 m20b5 ecu is compatible with the 85 m20b7?
both are the earlier of the E30's...

I don't see the reason as to why the rear diff would need to be replaced...

oldskool3 · 04-18-2008, 04:50 PM

no the b25 ecu wont work with a b27

The reason you would change your diff would be to get a higher gear ratioed one like a 3.73 also to go LSD

oldskool3 · 04-18-2008, 07:14 PM

Just remembered my brother got his turbo work done at a shop in stittsville called autovation. The guys seemed to be really good plus the owner has a supercharged m3

http://autovation.ca/