3.2L m20 Stroker 11.5:1 CR

[Calvin Tan]

Calvin,

I noticed one thing about your M50 build. The pistons your listed are actually US Spec 3.2L pistons, not euro. There are several differences in the pistons, so if you plan on using a euro crank which I am not sure is even possible, you need to use euro pistons or custom. The pistons you have have the engine code, S52B32 listed on it, as well as the dishing and the compression at 10.5P. The US crank is 89.6mm vs. the Euro at 91mm. Just something I noticed on your pictures reading this thread.

Another point of confusion I see is WHY do people still build M20's? The cost to build one to achieve say 230hp is way outweighed by just building/buying an S50/M50. I would say most of you have 2k easy in you M20's, if not a lot more. You can get an S50 most any day of the week for 2-3k. You would have same, if not more power, and proven reliability. On top of that, the torque from the dual cam, and possibly VANOS engine is by far more than that of the M20. There is a reason why BMW started making the M50!

You must compare price with new parts to new parts. I believe a brand new S50 will cost much more than rebuild a M20...

[whakiewes]

See we definantly disagree here. If you want an S50 for 2-3k that runs fine, with no hiccups, feel free to PM me. I would run a raqueteering business. Also, everyone that has posted on this thread has stated that they did their own work. You can't count labor and other crap to your own work. On top of that, the time consumption to build your M20 would definantly out weigh the time to install an S50. Furthermore, you guys send your head to Metric to do their work, so add another $1500 for headwork, on top of the $2000 dollar bottom end. Then add another $500 for gaskets, and another $2-300 for software to run the engine properly. All this JUST to get to the power of an S50, not surpass, but just to get to. Your 2.8's are no faster than bone stock M50's, as I have seen them run. You can get a bone stock M50 in for WELL under what it would take to build your engines.

Maybe the ignorance doesn't lay with me, but more so with you all. Do you buy your M20 new? Then why are you buying an S50 new? Were talking power, not parts. Add it all up, and you all are on the losing side. I am not trying to say your not smart for trying something on your own, but what I am saying is that for the same cost or less, you can have a cleaner running, more streetable, faster engine. You can't argue with that!

Wes

[ColdAccord]

i'm building my m20 because i have a rather rare car and I want to keep the numers matching

but even before the touring I was just going to do the same motor in my old eta. I spent $500 on pistons, $350 on headwork, a bunch of other misc stuff, but it def doesn't come out to $3k. Much less than that

[DrMcDave]

i just want the original engine in the car, so i say work w/ the m20.

[nando]

CI would say most of you have 2k easy in you M20's, if not a lot more. You can get an S50 most any day of the week for 2-3k. You would have same, if not more power

See, this is where your ignorance shines the brightest.

You aren't going to find a GOOD S50/S52 for 2-3k Anything in that price range is ragged on and high miles. 3-5k for a good engine /w accessories.

The add the tons of assorted parts needed to install in e30 chasis. $1k or so.
Add OBDI conversion for S52 motors. $1k or so.

I've done many of these swaps in the 4 and a half months I've been working at TSA. Most of them come out to right around $12k.

not to mention, the M20 is much simpler to work on and at least as reliable. it also weighs less (and don't even talk about the aluminum block M50, because almost nobody has one). For me though the big killer on an M50/S50 swap is the AWD on my car, it just wouldn't be worth the cost and hassle for a second cam and maybe another 20hp.

I have $2500 into my head (this includes buying a new head, exhaust work, and a shrick cam). I figure it will cost be $2-$3k build the block next summer. If i could get 200-220 hp at the crank I'd be more than happy. And I fail to see how a stock M50 makes more power than a built M20 (whos motor are you talking about?).

[screamingbmwe30]

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick 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tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick 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tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick



^ why i hate the m20. i will probably keep it but eh idk. thing is about the aluminum m52 the majority of the weight is still higher then the m20 (twin cam valvetrain). who knows/cares do what you want. i am still waiting on jordan to show me proof that metric mechanic is full of shit

[nando]

hah, you should hear my motor. it's gotten quieter as the cam breaks in, but DAMN it was loud the first time I started it up. otherwise though I love the way my motor sounds.. and I've driven cars with M50/S50s, it just didn't do anything for me.

[Jarvis]

i am still waiting on jordan to show me proof that metric mechanic is full of shit

I'm still waiting for metric mechanic to prove they're not full of shit.

[screamingbmwe30]

ditto. either way our questions will be answered.

[SA E30]

Calvin,

I noticed one thing about your M50 build. The pistons your listed are actually US Spec 3.2L pistons, not euro. There are several differences in the pistons, so if you plan on using a euro crank which I am not sure is even possible, you need to use euro pistons or custom. The pistons you have have the engine code, S52B32 listed on it, as well as the dishing and the compression at 10.5P. The US crank is 89.6mm vs. the Euro at 91mm. Just something I noticed on your pictures reading this thread.

Another point of confusion I see is WHY do people still build M20's? The cost to build one to achieve say 230hp is way outweighed by just building/buying an S50/M50. I would say most of you have 2k easy in you M20's, if not a lot more. You can get an S50 most any day of the week for 2-3k. You would have same, if not more power, and proven reliability. On top of that, the torque from the dual cam, and possibly VANOS engine is by far more than that of the M20. There is a reason why BMW started making the M50!

For me it is cheaper to build up the M20... cost me about R15 000 (approx $2200), where as a S50B30 conversion would set me back R42 000 (approx $6000)... so for me it's a lot cheaper to do build the M20... plus it's cool when u tak an E46 M3 1st-3rd gear, by one car... with a motor designed in the 80's (ok granted he comes past me like I'm standing still after that, but still cool)

[h0lmes]

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick


^ why i hate the m20. i will probably keep it but eh idk. thing is about the aluminum m52 the majority of the weight is still higher then the m20 (twin cam valvetrain). who knows/cares do what you want. i am still waiting on jordan to show me proof that metric mechanic is full of shit

You can fix that, its called a valve adjustment

[screamingbmwe30]

no shit. they still tick like hell.

[UNHCLL]

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick


^ why i hate the m20. i will probably keep it but eh idk. thing is about the aluminum m52 the majority of the weight is still higher then the m20 (twin cam valvetrain). who knows/cares do what you want. i am still waiting on jordan to show me proof that metric mechanic is full of shit

You can fix that, its called a valve adjustment

Nope, its also called injector tick.
You cannot make an m20 silent.