M52 aluminium blocks

[pazi88]

Hi! I made short video about two types of m52 aluminium blocks. I don't know if this useful information in US, but other countries should have also these alu blocks. It's in finnish, but I added english subtitles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkHLgCjKUY8

There is also lot of rumors that these alu blocks cant handle boost. I must disagree because I have ran m turbo with alu block for a while now and I have had zero problems caused by that. I have been running up to 20 psi of boost and no problems even with stock head bolts. Only change I have made is Athena cooperring headgasket.

[328ijunkie]

Great video. I was under the impression all the US ones were sleeved.

[Wishno87]

That is pretty neat. Turns out mine has iron sleeves.

[Tippey764]

In the US the only m52 aluminum blocks came in 97-98 Z3 2.8's.

[2mAn]

I approve of this thread

[megatron]

Great vid. All the US M52 alloy blocks I've worked with were sleeved. They are also a pain in the butt to find due to what Tippey764 said.

[pazi88]

Great vid. All the US M52 alloy blocks I've worked with were sleeved. They are also a pain in the butt to find due to what Tippey764 said.

Ok that's good to know. I will add the information to video description. I already know that most of the M52 blocks in US are cast iron, which is basically the the same as in M50.

[Loupoz]

This is awesome information! I was under the impression all M52's were with nikasil lining.

[Hooffenstein HD]

Good information. Thanks for taking the time to make the video and put English subs on it.

[pazi88]

And here is another video about these aluminium m52 blocks. As you may know these are famous from head bolt threads that will strip out easily. I haven't stripped out any threads yet, but I'm aiming for more boost next summer. So just in case I decided to time-sert the new block that I'm going to install. Of course the same procedure works if you have already stripped the threads. The real m52 time-sert kit is crazy expensive (300-500 usd), so here is video how you can do the time-serting with cheaper universal kit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXGm5_Vogy4

I also added English subtitles to this video.

[mr2peak]

Helpful, thanks

[King Mufasa]

In the US the only m52 aluminum blocks came in 97-98 Z3 2.8's.

are you sure?? i was told the e39 single vanos m52 also came in aluminum...

[mr2peak]

Pretty sure the Z3 was the only aluminum block in the USA. E39 single vanos was aluminum in the rest of the world.

Do the aluminum blocks have the same crank as the early iron blocks?

[pazi88]

Do the aluminum blocks have the same crank as the early iron blocks?

No. The late models have the crank sensor at the Back of the engine. These have same crank as in m52tu.

EDIT oh! there was topic about this already.

[mr2peak]

No. The late models have the crank sensor at the Back of the engine. These have same crank as in m52tu.

EDIT oh! there was topic about this already.

So both Aluminum blocks have the later TU style crank?