I reckon it’s time to start documenting the M57 swap project I have going on.
Backstory:
I purchased my 62 from an older couple in north Alabama for $4k. The husband had many other projects and was trying to thin his herd and decided to let the 62 go. Initially, I was just going to restore it as there’s virtually zero rust on the frame or body. I was excited to finally have a clean 62.
After getting it home, I started to dive into the engine. The 3fe was in excellent shape and I was able to drive the truck around with minimal issues and was happy with my purchase. But I felt it was missing something…. More power.
After letting it sit on jackstands in the shop for a few months contemplating what to do with it. I was eager to figure out what power plant to drop in it. Then one night a low mile 2012 BMW X35D popped up on Facebook marketplace and at that point I knew what needed to be done. M57 swap.
I reached out to the seller and within 24 hours I had the X5 in my possession from middle Tennessee. Checked the codes that it was throwing and it was all DPF and SCR emissions related. I knew I struck gold when it fired up with a fresh battery and was able to drive it on the trailer. I got it back home and began stripping it of parts to list on eBay to recoup some of the cost of the donor.
At the time, I couldn’t find any documented M57 swap in the FJ6X series in America. Maybe one or two in Australia or Europe but nothing here in North America. So I started reaching out to various vendors in Europe and Australia trying to find out what needed to be done.
After countless emails and late night phone calls over seas, I came up with the plan.
1. Pull the ECU and TCU from the X5 and ship the units to the UK for immobilizer deletions. Along with that delete, the ECU will be modified to delete emissions and set up with a stage 2 fuel tune.
2. While waiting for computer modifications; pull engine, transmission, and wiring harnesses from X5
3. Acquire 80/100 series transfer case to mount to the ZF6HP26X transmission
4. Acquire or Design engine mounts
5. Acquire HF2A/ZF6HP26X adapter kit
6. Do engine and transmission maintenance while outside of the donor.
7. Begin marrying m57 to the FJ62
8. Plumbing for coolant, power steering, and intercooler
9. TBD
Current Status:
At this point, the original 3fe is out of the 62, the donor engine is out of the X5, and I’m waiting on the engine and transmission control units to get shipped back to me.
At the time of writing this post, I will begin maintenance on the donor powerplant this week and begin designing engine mounts for the 62 using 3D scans and cad.
It’s a long road ahead and I figured it’s time to begin documenting this entire process for anyone who may be interested in this project.
Backstory:
I purchased my 62 from an older couple in north Alabama for $4k. The husband had many other projects and was trying to thin his herd and decided to let the 62 go. Initially, I was just going to restore it as there’s virtually zero rust on the frame or body. I was excited to finally have a clean 62.
After getting it home, I started to dive into the engine. The 3fe was in excellent shape and I was able to drive the truck around with minimal issues and was happy with my purchase. But I felt it was missing something…. More power.
After letting it sit on jackstands in the shop for a few months contemplating what to do with it. I was eager to figure out what power plant to drop in it. Then one night a low mile 2012 BMW X35D popped up on Facebook marketplace and at that point I knew what needed to be done. M57 swap.
I reached out to the seller and within 24 hours I had the X5 in my possession from middle Tennessee. Checked the codes that it was throwing and it was all DPF and SCR emissions related. I knew I struck gold when it fired up with a fresh battery and was able to drive it on the trailer. I got it back home and began stripping it of parts to list on eBay to recoup some of the cost of the donor.
At the time, I couldn’t find any documented M57 swap in the FJ6X series in America. Maybe one or two in Australia or Europe but nothing here in North America. So I started reaching out to various vendors in Europe and Australia trying to find out what needed to be done.
After countless emails and late night phone calls over seas, I came up with the plan.
1. Pull the ECU and TCU from the X5 and ship the units to the UK for immobilizer deletions. Along with that delete, the ECU will be modified to delete emissions and set up with a stage 2 fuel tune.
2. While waiting for computer modifications; pull engine, transmission, and wiring harnesses from X5
3. Acquire 80/100 series transfer case to mount to the ZF6HP26X transmission
4. Acquire or Design engine mounts
5. Acquire HF2A/ZF6HP26X adapter kit
6. Do engine and transmission maintenance while outside of the donor.
7. Begin marrying m57 to the FJ62
8. Plumbing for coolant, power steering, and intercooler
9. TBD
Current Status:
At this point, the original 3fe is out of the 62, the donor engine is out of the X5, and I’m waiting on the engine and transmission control units to get shipped back to me.
At the time of writing this post, I will begin maintenance on the donor powerplant this week and begin designing engine mounts for the 62 using 3D scans and cad.
It’s a long road ahead and I figured it’s time to begin documenting this entire process for anyone who may be interested in this project.
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