M42 Cracked head - M44 Head swap

[brainspo0n]

It seems like a lot of people swap the M42 head onto the M44 block for performance purposes. In my case, I have a cracked M42 head and access to two donor M44's.

Is swapping an M44 head onto an M42 block a dumb idea?

I have all the tools I could possibly need and the car is on a lift. At this point I can't see that anything would prevent this swap, but I have been wrong before...

Thanks in advance, R3V!

[brainspo0n]

UPDATE:

I just realized that the two prospective E36 donor cars might indeed have M42's in them, so...

[Wishno87]

Just buy my M42 head ;)

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=374283

[brainspo0n]

oh snap

[brainspo0n]

add 2 cart

[b*saint]

I've always seen it the other way around. The m42 is a better block. M44 is a better head. 318ti guys do it all the time

[brainspo0n]

I've always seen it the other way around. The m42 is a better block. M44 is a better head. 318ti guys do it all the time

That's what I was thinking, but the internet seems to think otherwise.

[bmwman91]

I was not aware that you could swap heads between the M42 and M44. They have vastly different cam and valvetrain setups, so I would think that the ECU's fuel and ignition tunes would not work well after the head is swapped.

[Hooffenstein HD]

I've always seen it the other way around. The m42 is a better block. M44 is a better head. 318ti guys do it all the time

M44 valve train set up is junk. Unless it's possible to swap the entire M42 valve train into the M44 head I'm going to say that's wrong.

[brainspo0n]

It just seems like the M42 is the better motor all around. I guess I'm used to seeing people do silly things in the name of more HP. If I want more HP I'll buy a 325i

I'm gonna try and get that head off Wishno87. My cams are in good shape, even the timing chain looks good (although the tensioner needs replaced). This thing deserves a gasket set, a new thermostat and another 200k miles on the odometer.

[E30 Wagen]

M44 valve train set up is junk. Unless it's possible to swap the entire M42 valve train into the M44 head I'm going to say that's wrong.

What's junk about it?

I've always figured the m44 is the better engine (or at least has the better block) because it's smoother. The cast vs forged crank is a non issue for a street car making 140hp, the rods and pistons are lighter and it has oil squirters. The head might not handle the high rpms as well as the m42, but who cares unless you want a racing engine.