[Shop-talk] Engine swaps; 350 SBC donor cars.

[Bill Engle Sr]

Ferrari uses GM automaic transmissions or did for many years.

Bill

John Miller wrote:
> M3 engine swaps are pretty common and I think getting more so as E36M3s 
> age and need engine work; typically it's putting an S50US/S52US (240HP 
> US E36M3) S50/S52 (320HP Euro E36M3) or S54 (340HP E46M3) small six into 

Getting way off topic, but I couldn't resist reminiscing on one of the 
the more interesting swaps I was on the sidelines for.

Had a couple friends that were BMW fanatics.  1st guy had an E36 M3; 
bought a Euro-spec 6-speed off ebay and installed it.  So then there's a 
5-speed tranny collecting dust in his kitchen.  His friend gets the 
bright idea that his family car, an E36 325 or something would be a lot 
cooler with a manual transmission in it. (can't argue there!)

So they procure all the parts, and in a hot June day in South Carolina, 
in a little tiny apartment complex single stall garage, set about doing 
it.  I only fetched tools and beer (and drank beer.)  But in something 
like 14 hours they had swapped the transmission, driveshaft, rear end, 
drive axles, ECU. installed a clutch pedal, master cylinder, swapped 
interior trim and spliced wiring harnesses.  Finished at about 2am, and 
we drove it to breakfast the next morning  :)

An interesting lesson -- many BMWs have General Motors automatic 
trannies in them!