VGS + Hartge Engine on an E12??

[TernandoFoledo]

Hi everyone!

So I put my hands on quite a strange example and would love the inputs and knowledge of this forum that I follow for quite a long time, and saved my a** more than once.

The car in question is a 1978 520 E12, but under the hood things get a little special (wierd would be best).

It's been said by the previous owner that the car has a 2.7L engine, with full old school tuning. The intake was the part that took all of my attention, until today, but I will get there. Stay with me please.

The intake is a VGS 3 Weber setup, with airbox and all. All stamped VGS as well. In the pictures the airbox is out, but i've seen it.

The engine is an M20, with "2.7" stamped on the block, but looking further, I think I might be into a Hartge engine. The cylinder head has a very faded Hartge logo and some numbers that end in "H 26" (please, check the attached photos :) )
it also has a 84 stamped, which seems to be the year of the engine.

So, looking a little more on the internet, I found out that in 84 there was the H26 E30, and it used a 2.7L block. My mind blew the fu**ing away.

I've forgot to mention that I'm brazilian, and here this kind of stuff is almost impossible to come across, since at that time, the country was even shittier. A Hartge is like, really really hard, a VGS is marginally impossible, and a combo of both is really unbeliavable.

But I want to be sure and see if I'm overthinking, or this is true.

Thank you so much for readingreading until here.

Have a good one!

Cheers,
Fernando

[roguetoaster]

The Hartge stamp looks legitimate. In a swap situation it's not safe to assume that the entire engine is an H26, and if the paint on the block is anything to go by the engine has been disassembled at some point. In any case, you should look at the top of the piston for more info, but judging by the rest of the bolt ons I'd bet that it's not an ETA rotating assembly.

Any exhaust manifolds with the engine?

[TernandoFoledo]

Yes! The exhaust looks very similar to the hartge, but it didnt had any stamp that I could see. To be fair, i looked at it for 5 seconds and closed the deal due to the full VGS setup that i know that are very very very hard to come by, even more with the box (on the E9 forum, it's said that only less than 15 engines were built with this kit).

VGS was known for tweeking bmws at its time and maybe the first owner came by an H26 unit? The engine cover is not from hartge, which bugs me with this whole thing, but again, it was a semi-negleted car with almost 50 years. Some owners might had all this passing under their noses without knowing.

On the pistons, what should I look for?

Thanks for your attention!

[roguetoaster]

Not having a valve cover was not unusual for Hartge engines. A Hartge header would probably have a little Hartge name tag welded on, so you can look for where it might have been. On the piston front, nothing with a concave piston top, which would indicate a stock ETA bottom end.

[e30sh]

You can look through the spark plug hole and get a good idea of piston top shape....i vs. e. #'s stamped on the block above starter tell you when the engine was made.

[e30m3s54turbo]

The early H26 m20 in e30 with Hartge exhaust mad 193hp. Your head is legit.

[TernandoFoledo]

You can look through the spark plug hole and get a good idea of piston top shape....i vs. e. #'s stamped on the block above starter tell you when the engine was made.

Oh, nice! I will get it checked for sure. The previous owner checked for me and said they definately arent concave, so it makes me even more happy and believing i got something special on my hands hahaha

[TernandoFoledo]

The early H26 m20 in e30 with Hartge exhaust mad 193hp. Your head is legit.

Beign 84 and the block a 2.7 also from 84, its fair to assume its a match as well?

What cams should I be looking at when opening the header?

The exhaust is really close to the hartge as well but i dont remember it having the tag on the pipes - i will double check as soon as i get the car.

Thanks for the info!!!

[82eye]

things are lining up fantastic.
sweet catch.

i'm betting it all checks out. hoping the best for you.

[TernandoFoledo]

So, i'm recieving the car today and got a video of it, so I took a few shots to show here.

The exhaust really seems the Hartge one. And the top cover from the webers.is impecable.

Cant wait to get my hands on it to start digging!