Overheated m52-what are the chances of major damage?

[Roysneon]

I know a guy who wants to sell me an m52b28 for $100 complete minus wiring that was in his car. The coolant tank broke and the car overheated then he says coolant was burning off in one cylinder. I'm going to go ahead and say that was the head gasket.

My question is what are the chances this engine is still good? I'm pretty sure I could part it out or use the bottom end parts to make my m50 a stroker, but I really wouldn't mind having a second 24v engine, since I do have 2 e30s. In the worst case I guess I could take the head off and have it resurfaced if it's just the head warped without cracking. What do you think the chances are the coolant damaged the bore of the cylinder(s) it leaked into?

[DREWHALL]

Really depends on how long it was run that way. When I pulled the head on my M20 after being driven a while with a crack at the number 2 cylinder, the walls looked fine. You could tell which cylinder had water in it as soon as I lifted it off because it was spotless, but I didn't notice any damage. You won't know for sure and it's hard to say without pulling the head and looking.

[Roysneon]

Hm...wondering if it's worth it...

[graphikg]

Do a leakdown and find out if you can. For a 100 bucks, it shouldnt be too much of a loss if you know how to do some work. Worst come to worst, keep the block, bore it out, and put an S50 head on it to make it an S50.

[M-technik-3]

Sounds like it is gonna need a head pressure tested and look to see if it's warped plus needs a head gasket. Not going to be a plug and play, you have work ahead of you.

[matt]

It is very likely that the head is cracked.

[Roysneon]

I think I'm going to go for it anyway. Even having to replace the head I could likely part out the valvetrain and make some money back.

[e46s54dr]

It is very likely that the head is cracked.

Just because it was over heated doesn't neccessarily mean the head is cracked. There's a likely chance that it's warped but not cracked. It really depend on how long it was driven while overheating. The proper thing to do is to pull the head and have it pressure tested and maybe decked if neccessary before reassembling it with a new headgasket and hardware. Pressure testing it at a machine shop will ensure that there arent any micro fractures that will cause it to overheat when the engine is hot. Id also get the block resurfaced also to be on the extra safe side.

[M-technik-3]

These engines are very prone to cracking, run across this many times just like other members here that have experience with them.

At a $100 bucks it's worth it for the pistons rods and crank.

[Roysneon]

Ok so I'm going to buy it and eventually have it checked over at an engine shop. My next question is how far can/should I have the head and/or block cut down before I have to worry about piston to valve or piston to head clearance?

[e46s54dr]

If you have to have the head and block resurfaced, the best bet is cut as least as possible to achieve a clean and even mating surface. If it does turn out that a little more than expected is needed, you can always opt for a thicker headgasket to compensate.

[JdmEuroNorth]

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