E30 m20 to, S14 swap, worth it?

[pt00323i]

I've been doing some reading at this forum,

most of you suggest doing M50/S50/S52 swap, and have a budget of 7-8K for a nice swap. (without suspension work)

I have an E30/325i track car, gutted interior, AC and trunk tar removed, with rebuild suspension close to specE30 setup.

I'm just thinking doing an S14 with tranny, this will give me approx. 20 more horses and loose 25lbs in stock 2.3 form. If I have a budget of 5K do you all think this is worth my time.

again this is just a track car not an DD or a race car. Just a fun weekend car and 2-3 track event.

[PiercedE30]

5k will get you a good condition S14.

[BeirBrennerE30]

for the same price you can get an s52 and have more power and a lil more reliability.

[grib]

Are you trying to build your car to a specific class? That will dictate what type of engine you can put in if you're trying to race in a certain class.

This is the 24v DOHC forum, so most people here (including myself) will naturally push you toward the M/S 50/52 swap.

As stated above S14s are great engines - but the are coveted, rare and expensive. The added horsepower and reliability of an S5X engine is well-worth the added weight over an S14.

[LINUS]

It's not totally crazy, but if you haven't mapped out a S14 rebuild yet, do so before installing. There's a fairly compelling reason a decent number of us have pulled a 150K+ S14 in favor of a 6 cyl.

Personally, it wasn't the "penis factor" of a 6 over a 4 at all - S14's are an unbelievable motor - I love them entirely. I had one & the only reason mine got pulled was the finances of a rebuild. My lifters were making noise, I had no service records & there was 172K on it when I pulled it. I don't know how much life mine had left, and I was scared.

I could either shell out easily $5K for a rebuild, or I could sell the powertrain & convert that into a LOW mile OBD1 S52 conversion for just under $2K out of pocket.

If I had records or a M3 body that wasn't coated by Maaco 2 times, I might have called mine one worth a rebuild. Realistically, it wasn't.

So I guess you just need to decide what direction you want to go. Initial entry might be less for a S14, but if it ever requires a rebuild you will be in further than doing a 6 cyl initially.

I wish I would have had the coin to do a real 3.2 with ITBs, but either that will happen after driving through the life of a NA market S52, or I'll find another S52 shortblock for nearly nothing, as they are common enough to find a nice low miled one in a wreck quite easily.

I sooner see the $$$ benefits of a 6 over a S14, but that's just me.

[pt00323i]

thanks,

that is true, a nice S14 rebuild will cost lot more than investing in a S50/52 motor.

I'll keep on reading

[vivalegreg]

i hear the s14 motors can cost a lot because they have to be rebuilt more often then any other motor. go s52

[Bill-B]

my friend D is selling his S14 for around $4k http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=98433

[e30 gangsta]

s14 is for the rich. Do a s50.