M20 Turbo

[619E30]

what? the non vanos is the turbo friendly motor.

That's exactly what someone told me

[xwill112x]

If it's a vanos m50, then I say go with that. More bolt on mods and tuning options. If it's a nonvanos, then I'd say stick with the m20. When you blow the m20, you can go 24v. That's what the cool kids do :p

what? the non vanos is the turbo friendly motor.

[dashboardmonkey]

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59124

This guy is running 20psi on stock internals with head studs and metal gasket. Had this set-up for a year now

then why the fuck are you asking???

[619E30]

Well it's a single vanos, and I've heard bad things about turboing those

[lifeiskaos]

Well it's either I turbo the m20 sitting in my garage or the m50 sitting in a salvaged e36.

Which would be more beneficial to turbo?

If it's a vanos m50, then I say go with that. More bolt on mods and tuning options. If it's a nonvanos, then I'd say stick with the m20. When you blow the m20, you can go 24v. That's what the cool kids do :p

[lifeiskaos]

I see. So where could I find those?

In the thread I posted, there is a link to rent a DIY oring cutter. I think you can also buy wire from them. It's $60 to rent IIRC

[619E30]

Well it's either I turbo the m20 sitting in my garage or the m50 sitting in a salvaged e36.

Which would be more beneficial to turbo?

[lifeiskaos]

Fuck, haha. So if you could turbo the stock m20, how come most people build a low-compression stroker?

Because people are stuck on thinking that .2L more displacement will do wonders, and that "low compression" will allow you to run moar bewst and make tons of powarr

As you now know, you can make tons of power on a stock m20b25. 8.8:1 compression is already relatively low.

My turbo m20 was a "2.7i" stroker. I wanted some buffer room for DIY tuning and crappy california 91 octane gas, and thought more displacement would do wonders. I wish I would have boosted my stock engine.

Now I'm building an m52 turbo at 9.5:1 CR

edit: oh, and lots of people who build "strokers" start out with ETA's. It's easy to swap out the head and electronics to get some more RPM's for the turbo.

[xwill112x]

Fuck, haha. So if you could turbo the stock m20, how come most people build a low-compression stroker?

tuning is a bitch, and you have to mount a intercooler, all the plumbing for that, have to make oil lines, have to have a turbo and a mani for it...

the stroker is easier than turboing. if it was me, id do a low comp 2.7i, then a huge turbo.

[619E30]

Fuck, haha. So if you could turbo the stock m20, how come most people build a low-compression stroker?

[xwill112x]

you have to get the block and head machined for them, probly have to have them custom made

[619E30]

I see. So where could I find those?

[lifeiskaos]

Grooves are cut into the head or the block and wire is inserted into the grooves, so it protrudes past the surface of the head or block. That wire compresses the headgasket so it seals better. Stock engines don't have any orings.

more info: http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22030

[619E30]

What's the difference between orings and stock rings (sorry, sorta new to turbo scene)

[lifeiskaos]

I'm confused. Wouldn't the MLS gasket be stronger than stock?

Sure, but it'll probably leak, and you'll probably end up melting a piston or bending a rod.

OEM headgaskets are like fuses. If you fuck up the tuning, get detonation, overheat a bit, you made a $50 mistake. But if you don't make any mistakes, OEM headgaksets can hold plenty of boost (power), especially with orings.