m20 removel?

[timninja]

Now im going to do more research,but i plan to do my 1st engine swap;my plans are to pull out my 86`s ETA m20 and install an 88 low compression block with an I head,so i have a few conserns,
-should i remove trans. and motor together?
-what all will an i head require?
-will my low compression block run fine with stock ecu until i find my turbo setup?
Im somewhat of a new mechanic being 19,this bmw is my 1st real vehicle and so far has tought me everything i know so far.
thanks for your time r3v comunite
tim.

[devon.818]

you mean the 88 2.7? that already should have an i head on it, and it wouldn't be low comp, it has domed pistons.

yes remove trans with motor; you can either pull it out from engine bay, or drop subframe. depends how high your cieling is, sometimes dropping subframe can be easier.
you need 173 or 083 ecu, i intake, i tbody, i afm, i fpr, i fuel rail, i icv
if you have a 2.7 eta block, you wont notice the compression difference, if you have an 88 super eta, there will be no comp difference since that already had the i head.

[timninja]

see this is the advice i was looking for,im buying a 88 but i didnt realize they came with i heads ,but it makes sense now when i think 88+ theyre ussally 325i`s..
-so what if i want low compression out of the 88 super eta, ill need eta pistons?
-subframe removel just sounds like a fucking nightmare of issues i couldnt predict because of my lack of bmw and mechanical knowlage.
-also,would i need the i engine harness?

[devon.818]

wiring harness is the same. you can leave the head on the motor and just change the cam and internals of the head, but if you dont know how or know someone who does, then swapping a i head would take a few hrs at most.

dropping the subframe is simple, disconnect everything, all electircal, drain motor and cooling system, disconnect trans and driveshaft shift linkage. unbolt control arms. unbolt struts from top of shock towers, theres i 4 bolts that hold subframe on, boom, drop it down with a jack under it.

you dont need to lower the compression, stock is fine, BUT if you are dead set on lower comp. then a thicker HG will do.

whats your power goal man? stock comp, a set of ARP head studs, and a cometic or mls headgasket would hold well at 10psi and be good for 240whp-give or take a bit

[jlevie]

you mean the 88 2.7? that already should have an i head on it, and it wouldn't be low comp, it has domed pistons.

A SuperETA engine will have the M20B25 (I) head, but not the cam and valve springs of an M20B25. You can swap in the cam & valve springs from an M20B25 head. As stated elsewhere you will also need the M20B25 intake, injectors, throttle body, ICV, AFM, engine harness, and DME.

[acolella76]

wiring harness is the same. you can leave the head on the motor and just change the cam and internals of the head,

A SuperETA engine will have the M20B25 (I) head, but not the cam and valve springs of an M20B25. You can swap in the cam & valve springs from an M20B25 head. As stated elsewhere you will also need the M20B25 intake, injectors, throttle body, ICV, AFM, engine harness, and DME.

Negative, ghost rider! SETA heads only had 4 cam bearings much like regular ETA heads, so to swap a different cam in you either have to use an M20B25 head or drill for extra oil passages.

[devon.818]

Negative, ghost rider! SETA heads only had 4 cam bearings much like regular ETA heads, so to swap a different cam in you either have to use an M20B25 head or drill for extra oil passages.

i've had three people give me the same advice jlevie just gave. my super eta is going to the machine shop next week, so i'll post pics. i have an i head for the internals along with a 323i cam, it will work out somehow lol

[acolella76]

Then those 3 people are either very lucky, or very wrong. Finding a SETA head with 7 bearings is pretty rare.

[AlphaE]

I got one:) pull the valve cover and take a looksy

[timninja]

Im confused;so 88 etas have an i head without the 7 bearing i head?
is that what keeps it "ETA"or the displacement being 2.7??
-i was also told m50 s50-s/m 54 cams are compadable?true faulse?

[SpecM]

The heads are the same castings, and both have journals for all 7 cam bearings. Most early s-etas have fewer journals in the CAM, so therefore the head has oil holes for fewer bearings. But the casting is still in place. It is very simple to drill for the oil holes.

m50/s50/s52 cams are compatible with EACH OTHER, but are 110% different with any m20 cam

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk

[acolella76]

Im confused;so 88 etas have an i head without the 7 bearing i head?
is that what keeps it "ETA"or the displacement being 2.7??
-i was also told m50 s50-s/m 54 cams are compadable?true faulse?

The head doesn't affect displacement at all.

The heads are the same castings, and both have journals for all 7 cam bearings. Most early s-etas have fewer journals in the CAM, so therefore the head has oil holes for fewer bearings. But the casting is still in place. It is very simple to drill for the oil holes.

m50/s50/s52 cams are compatible with EACH OTHER, but are 110% different with any m20 cam

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk

Hm, so I guess OP should pop his valve cover and check how many journals his cam has. I think that if he has a 4 bearing head, it would be easier to buy a new I head and rebuild that opposed to buying the cam, springs, and drilling holes.

[timninja]

So I should just buy a real I head then use my super eta 88 bottom end to really benefit it?