So I someone gave me an S50 block, now what....

[91 318is]

I was picking something up local this guy had on craigslist and we got to talking some. Found out he was somewhat of a BMW fan, had 2 e30's and a E36 ti. Anywho he asked me if he knew anyone that wanted an S50 block, I asked him what was wrong with it. He said he was planning on building it for his E36 ti but ended up selling the car before he could swap it. The block came out of a 95 M3, the engine was over stressed though, the guy over-revved it, so one cylinder had to be re sleeved, but he said that it's all stock specs. He had the head, but it the #1 CC was DESTROYED.

My question is, what's the next step? My M42's running great now, so I don't have any reason to swap it out now, and don't plan on swapping it out anytime soon. I would like to keep the block and possibly build it in the future. The guy was talking about running a M50 bottom end in it to make it a stroker M50. What does everyone think?

Opinions?

[FredK]

Usually if you build an M50 stroker to S50US specs, you will end up with a fresh engine for a little more than the cost of an S50US longblock. However, starting off with a BARE block will likely cost more than that. If you have to get a crank ($300 used), rods ($150 used), pistons ($200 used), a head, the timing components, and all the miscellaneous hardware and gasketing, you're going to spend a lot of money piecing together an S50. Personally I'd rather start with a fresh block, not one that has been sleeved due to material being taken out of the cylinder walls by a flying piston.

I bought an S50US bottom end off a local guy for $500 and was planning on building it up a couple years ago. I then found a complete engine in good condition, so I just decided to forget about my engine building dreams and just cut to the chase and drop in an engine.

Even though your M42 is running tip top, an S50 swapped car is a completely different car. If you get a ride in one or drive one, you'll never want to drive an M42 powered car again.

[e30s52]

You could give me the block. Fred you hit the nail on the head I wouldnt ever want to go back to my m20 after I finnished my swap. If you do build your motor any other e30 besides swaped e30 or an m3 wont do anything for you.

[91 318is]

yea I figured buying an assembled engine would be better anyways. I could pass up free though.

[einstein57]

sell the crank to fund a long block

[91 318is]

well i just got the bare block, nothing else. So buying a assembled S50 would be just as much as buying as building the S50 block with M50 components? I thought S50's were pretty pricey (3k)?

[e34john]

make it into a coffee table

[BimmerScreamer]

make it into a coffee table

+1:d

[einstein57]

Its not pretty enough to be a coffee table. Now that porsche v8 is another story.