Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:09 am
The car with the v8 was a car of the month back in 2008. Here is a link to that: http://www.firstfives.org/carmonth/aug2008.html
I think it would be easier to fit a BMW engine in as well. If you are looking for a newer engine, you should be able to fit a newer m50 or m42 without too much of a headache. You'd just have to make motor mounts, work out the electrics (i.e. make an adapter), get the exhaust to fit, and maybe deal with the driveshaft length if there isn't one that fits properly. I'm sure there would be a couple other nagging things like getting the shifter in the right spot and possibly welding new tabs if the radiator doesn't fit right (I can't remember if that's an issue for the e12), but it wouldn't be a terrible ordeal.
Also, FWIW, I'd do a GM LS series conversion if I were doing an e12 engine swap. They weigh around the same as a m30 (they are all aluminum vs the BMW's aluminum head/iron block), have a better aftermarket, and have tons of power potential for relatively little money.
I think it would be easier to fit a BMW engine in as well. If you are looking for a newer engine, you should be able to fit a newer m50 or m42 without too much of a headache. You'd just have to make motor mounts, work out the electrics (i.e. make an adapter), get the exhaust to fit, and maybe deal with the driveshaft length if there isn't one that fits properly. I'm sure there would be a couple other nagging things like getting the shifter in the right spot and possibly welding new tabs if the radiator doesn't fit right (I can't remember if that's an issue for the e12), but it wouldn't be a terrible ordeal.
Also, FWIW, I'd do a GM LS series conversion if I were doing an e12 engine swap. They weigh around the same as a m30 (they are all aluminum vs the BMW's aluminum head/iron block), have a better aftermarket, and have tons of power potential for relatively little money.
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. Just make sure to post your progress here. Guess I'm not a real purist.