I put this in the Track section, then realized it probably belongs here.
I think I am going to rebuild the S52 in my E30 track car over the winter.
More power, while I wouldn't say no to it, is not the primary goal here; what I am trying to do is add reliability. I want to know that I can hammer on the car now and forever, and she'll keep coming back for more. She is an HPDE toy, not an all-out racecar, although she has a welded in half cage, gutted interior, etc. She's pretty hardcore, but as I am not racing her, I don't need every last bit of power.
I understand that using the car in this manner will cause more wear and tear on the motor, and I know that lack of maintenance, 'money-shifting' and time will still cause damage to motor, no matter how you build it. But, what I want to do is build the strongest S52 'endurance' engine that I can.
So, what areas should I be considering? Eagle rods? Solid lifters? Dual Valve Springs? Forged Pistons? Coated bearings? ARP head studs & crank studs?
Some history that may be relevant:
This is a normally aspirated S52, converted to OBD1. Stock cams. M50 intake manifold, OBD2 exhaust manifolds with the secondary O2 injection ports welded up. 413 red label DME running a TRM chip for 91 octane, M50 manifold, standard weight flywheel 21.5# injectors - all the things my car has.
Metric Mechanic did some minor work on the head a couple of years ago (skimmed it very slightly, added stronger valve retainers, new valve guides & seals, and replaced a couple of valves, as the motor had been left sitting and there was some corrosion/pitting on 2 of them).
The motor has standard pistons with oversize rings. A hone was done at a machine shop to clean up some minor pitting & corrosion on the cylinder walls.
I'm handy with a wrench, and know how to time VANOS, etc. I will not necessarily be building this motor myself. I figure at least getting the rotating assembly balanced is a good start.
Please give me your thoughts on this build! Thanks guys!
Kingston
I think I am going to rebuild the S52 in my E30 track car over the winter.
More power, while I wouldn't say no to it, is not the primary goal here; what I am trying to do is add reliability. I want to know that I can hammer on the car now and forever, and she'll keep coming back for more. She is an HPDE toy, not an all-out racecar, although she has a welded in half cage, gutted interior, etc. She's pretty hardcore, but as I am not racing her, I don't need every last bit of power.
I understand that using the car in this manner will cause more wear and tear on the motor, and I know that lack of maintenance, 'money-shifting' and time will still cause damage to motor, no matter how you build it. But, what I want to do is build the strongest S52 'endurance' engine that I can.
So, what areas should I be considering? Eagle rods? Solid lifters? Dual Valve Springs? Forged Pistons? Coated bearings? ARP head studs & crank studs?
Some history that may be relevant:
This is a normally aspirated S52, converted to OBD1. Stock cams. M50 intake manifold, OBD2 exhaust manifolds with the secondary O2 injection ports welded up. 413 red label DME running a TRM chip for 91 octane, M50 manifold, standard weight flywheel 21.5# injectors - all the things my car has.
Metric Mechanic did some minor work on the head a couple of years ago (skimmed it very slightly, added stronger valve retainers, new valve guides & seals, and replaced a couple of valves, as the motor had been left sitting and there was some corrosion/pitting on 2 of them).
The motor has standard pistons with oversize rings. A hone was done at a machine shop to clean up some minor pitting & corrosion on the cylinder walls.
I'm handy with a wrench, and know how to time VANOS, etc. I will not necessarily be building this motor myself. I figure at least getting the rotating assembly balanced is a good start.
Please give me your thoughts on this build! Thanks guys!
Kingston
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