I know this has probably been covered a dozen times but M20 stroker clarification

[SeriousBusiness]

I am looking at buying a complete 2.7 short block from a guy on the forums here and also a set of "i" rods from him. Someone told me to use the ETA crank, i rods, and custom 86mm pistons for 2.8L of displacement with the head thats in my 325is right now. I would be building the short block on the side so I don't have my car down so long and then swapping the head on when I'm ready to pull the motor from my car.

Am I going about it right? Or do I use the ETA crank/rods with 86mm pistons and forget about the i rods? I know there is probably a faq that I missed but I'm on the cell phone right now and this is the best I can do.

Thanks guys.

[nando]

if you are getting 86mm pistons, definitely use the 135mm rods. 130mm would only be used on a ghetto/frankenstein 2.7l.

[SeriousBusiness]

Yeah I plan on getting 86mm pistons to match the 885 head and to get the compression closer to 10:1 (if possible).

Any opinions on that? My main motivator here is price. I'm getting a good deal on the bottom end parts, and aside from the pistons, the whole build will be pretty budget-minded since I can do the work (aside from machine) myself.

EDIT

It will be budget-minded but I will not be cutting corners. I like to do things right. My b25 is just clapped out and tired.

[SpecM]

His point is: if you're going to buying custom pistons anyway, get some with a shorter pin-to-crown height so you can use 135mm rods. Really, you want the longer rods with the higher compression (and cam if you do so).

maybe pick up some second-hand s50/52 rods (lighter, stronger 135mm)