Should I swap my S14 for an S50b32

[junkyard_sal]

FWIW the local race shop is pushing the S54 over the S50 due to an easier swap.

I am looking at 6-8K in rebuild costs for the 2.5L versus 12-15K in swap costs. but I can sell S14, tranny, ecu, radiator, 4.10 diff, ....................... Get some cash back to put against the swap. If I get crazy, I could but the plenum on my s14 powered 2002 and sell the alpha-n and carbon airbox and wideband innovate for more cash against the swap.

[BingM3]

FWIW the local race shop is pushing the S54 over the S50 due to an easier swap.

I am looking at 6-8K in rebuild costs for the 2.5L versus 12-15K in swap costs. but I can sell S14, tranny, ecu, radiator, 4.10 diff, ....................... Get some cash back to put against the swap. If I get crazy, I could but the plenum on my s14 powered 2002 and sell the alpha-n and carbon airbox and wideband innovate for more cash against the swap.

As an FYI, most ppl that do a 2.5 either end up being not happy with the performance, considering the costs and possible complications, unreliability issues that go with it...have seen more ppl end up selling the car rather than enjoy it. Been in a 2.5 rebuild engine, can't tell the difference...recently at S14, remember the guy who did a rebuild and less than 100miles later he had problems???

S54 is an easier swap than an S50??
Maybe they meant the other way around?

How I define a purist, everything bone stock from wheels to gear knob, even stock radio:)

[gobuffs]

FWIW the local race shop is pushing the S54 over the S50 due to an easier swap.

I am looking at 6-8K in rebuild costs for the 2.5L versus 12-15K in swap costs. but I can sell S14, tranny, ecu, radiator, 4.10 diff, ....................... Get some cash back to put against the swap. If I get crazy, I could but the plenum on my s14 powered 2002 and sell the alpha-n and carbon airbox and wideband innovate for more cash against the swap.

Sounds like you are unable or unwilling to do any of the work yourself...fair enough.

If it were me, I would take it apart and see if the bottom end just needs to be reringed or needs new pistons and if the block is OK. New rings come with pistons so buying some aftermarket pistons isn't that much more (FYI I was thinking I needed to rebuild my S50 B32 and new rings were about $700, new CP pistonts were about $1k). Sounds like you will need a head job with valves as well. You are looking at a few thousand in parts...most of your costs are in labor. I would find some local that has torn down an S14 and can help you and throw some cash at him or find some people that are willing to learn and get a Koala and go after it. This is how a few of me and my friends learned. It took us 2 days to get the head off....now I can get a head off an S14 in 2.5 hours or less.

I'll give you $2k for your broken S14. I don't need the tranny or diff...just the engine, ancillaries, wiring harness, and ECU.

S54 isn't easier or less expensive than an S50 B32, just parts are easier to get (marginally). You need to get an aftermarket ECU or get the kit the Bimmerworld sells to use the stock ECU (cost for that is about $3500 obviously that doesn't include the motor).

[junkyard_sal]

Sounds like you are unable or unwilling to do any of the work yourself...fair enough.

I'll give you $2k for your broken S14. I don't need the tranny or diff...just the engine, ancillaries, wiring harness, and ECU.

I am willing to do some of the work myself, but logistically it is a problem. the car is in FL, I live in MD, and I do not have garage space for two cars at the moment.

I can source a drop in replacement s14.

The PO who offered to help with the expenses is now not answering email, go figure. LOL

Thanks for the offer, I will consider it. One reason to drop in the replacement s14 is to rebuild the current motor myself.

[M-technik-3]

I thought he had basically said pound sand in the thread on s14? Sad, but guess maybe a ppi would have helped? Did you get a neutral party's? I don't remember reading that.

How about just doing a S50 swap as a temp and converting back to a s14 2.5L a later date. S50 have come down drastically in prices over the last three years. You can get a whole combo at 100K mileage for about 2.5K to 3.7K to include wiring and dme and transmission and accessories. Have the S14 sit in the shed and then rebuild when you recouped some cash or buy FredK refreshed S14 he just put up for sale on s14.net .

[gobuffs]

I am willing to do some of the work myself, but logistically it is a problem. the car is in FL, I live in MD, and I do not have garage space for two cars at the moment.

I can source a drop in replacement s14.

The PO who offered to help with the expenses is now not answering email, go figure. LOL

Thanks for the offer, I will consider it. One reason to drop in the replacement s14 is to rebuild the current motor myself.

A lot of people have done that recently to minimize down time during the rebuild. It is a good strategy.

[Schneller 3er]

I vote for the S50B32 swap. I say that because I'm in the process of swapping one in ;) after I spun a bearing on the S14 at the track. The rebuild was going to cost about the same price I paid for the euro motor.
I was browsing ebay and found this: Item# 150346107500 (Not affiliated with the seller) Looks like it's ready to droped into an E30. Also cheaper then an S14 rebuilt.
Good luck!

[etxxz]

whoever says that the added weight to the nose of the car will "mess up" your handling doesnt know how to drive. you can also tune your weight distribution with coilovers... that's what they were made for, not just to drop your car.

i'd run a 24v any day of the week over the s14. if you go s50b32 its a good investment, but also an expensive one, specially in the long run. moddeds50/s52 is where its at for a reliable cheaper solution IMO. but if you can get fancy and do an s54 then by all means go ahead... i think you should ask yourself what the purpose and use of the motor is, if it sees a lot of track, dd/track hybrid, street only. i'm surprised as to how much my s52 can take.

I was browsing ebay and found this: Item# 150346107500 (Not affiliated with the seller) Looks like it's ready to droped into an E30. Also cheaper then an S14 rebuilt.

Good luck!

and crap what a deal that is. 6 speed and everything.. that's an euro 6sp swap that can be done under 8k!! less than what some people here spend on s50 swaps...

[Jason89i]

whoever says that the added weight to the nose of the car will "mess up" your handling doesnt know how to drive. you can also tune your weight distribution with coilovers... that's what they were made for, not just to drop your car...

have you ever driven an s14 m3 on the track?

I was on your side of the topic up until last year. Until i actually owned an s14m3 and had it on the track.

a 50/50 weight dist. car WILL handle and brake better than a 54/46 car. I dont care what springs you put in the car, its basic physics. coil overs only allow for differing height, spring rates and corner balancing. It will NOT "tune your weight distribution" BACK to 50/50.

just my opinion though.

cheers, jason

[lennon]

you could always add 100 pounds of ballast to the trunk. thatll keep your 50/50.

[etxxz]

You can definitely tune quite a bit your weight distribution and crossweights when you corner balace…I see what you are saying though, but it has its limit and its far from basic physics. Your weight distribution is always dynamically changing while braking and accelerating. Using your example a 54/46 car probably has advantages over the same 50/50 car in most tracks, but the 50/50 will have an advantage in tighter tracks/auto-x. Either is still within the tuning capability of basic coilovers… but it just won’t make a difference if the driver isn’t there yet.

All things equal; a 54/46 s50b32 + 150lbs (~<100) will rape a 50/50 rebuilt, even modestly modded s14 anywhere… I think that was the point of discussion in this thread $$ apples to $$ apples. s50/s52? Idk.. I’m just talking out of my lower intestinal track

[Jason89i]

All things equal; a 54/46 s50b32 + 150lbs (~<100) will rape a 50/50 rebuilt, even modestly modded s14 anywhere… I think that was the point of discussion in this thread $$ apples to $$ apples. s50/s52? Idk.. I’m just talking out of my lower intestinal track

I am assuming youve never driven an s14m3 at the track? they are different than a swapped car.

I can say that a nice 2.5l s14m3 WILL hold its own on the track. Ive owned both, my s14 was quicker at the track.....but its not apples to apples. the s14 car weighed about 180lbs less. the henna car had a full oe interior / seats. an s14m3 will pull in the carousels and dive farther into brake zones than a similarly prepared swap car.....however, if i dropped below 5500 the swapped car would KILL any s14.

$$$ apples to $$$ apples...... a fresh 2.5l w/ a/n and exhaust will run you 20k. you can build a really nice euro 3.2 for 20k!!!

In all honesty, each car has its benifits. One is not GLOBALLY better than the other. They are apples and oranges, plain and simple. Just trying to share my personal ownership experience with the two cars.

cheers, jason

[7pilot]

As an s14 user, I would agree with Jason.
You'd have to have driven an s14 powered car on the track, before you dismiss it.
It's not about speed, it is about the Complete dynamicism of the whole machine, the way it responds to steering input.
A few swapped cars fall victim to a well driven s14 on tighter road courses.

The swapped car will be faster, but if you have driven the s14, you'll feel that something is missing.

The rarity and costs of using an s14 on track only become apparent when the cylinder head has to come off. Then you have to preserve the jewel.

m

[M-technik-3]

Not about sheer power, it's the combination of high rpm and a momentum car that makes it fun. Surprising the big dogs when you can brake later into a corner and come out smoother.

Sal have you found the engine you gonna use? I think you should honestly pickup FredK's and sell the 2.5L or part out the 2.5 as you will more likely make your money back that way.

I'm interested in the head. Need one for my project 2.5L

[FredK]

Er, I gotta call him back with some leakdown numbers. I think my leakdown tester's going to get here in a few days.