3.0L, 84mm bore, 89.6mm crank?

[gath]

I was thinking of building with the m54b30 crank, rods, and use the m54 pistons which seem to be about 1mm high at TDC in a m20 block. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...43&postcount=3
What is the insight about not machining them or what combo do you use. I have a whole m54b30 bottom at my disposal.

[gath]

^^^ How is the progress on the build and did you get the #s to machine down the m54b30 pistons?

[supernaughtIX]

well that's it, i did light searching, found those threads. I don't believe everything I see on the internet, but I'm encouraged to hear from people that do have experience directly.
I'm getting a price I'm happy with, the job is going to progress. I should have measurements for how much to cut the pistons by the weekend

[RobertK]

Thanks for the link, lots of good prices there. I did some light searching on Grant rings and found some threads saying they were not the best. Either way I think I will be ok.

Protoblock is stripped, getting it cleaned up

The only threads I can find about Grant rings are people dissing them that have never actually used them based on the assumption that they are made in China. The build quality is as good as the Goetze rings I've used but can't really go wrong with Goetze German made rings especially when the price is $65 less.

Mahle OEM rings are ~$500 shipped for a set which is ridiculous since there is absolutely nothing special about them compared to the other 2 available brands.

[supernaughtIX]

Thanks for the link, lots of good prices there. I did some light searching on Grant rings and found some threads saying they were not the best. Either way I think I will be ok.

Protoblock is stripped, getting it cleaned up

[RobertK]

I finally found some reasonably priced rings for the M54 pistons! This project is back online.
BimmerBoys in London, ON are awesome. Anyone in canada need parts, they can do awesome pricing and can get almost anything(replacement) you can find at other online shops. Their website isn't very populated yet, but shoot them an email and they will quote you. Shipping is free for my parts so far, and they communicate very well.

I picked up a spare block on the weekend, so I will tear it down tonight and start fitting the M54 stuff.

Rings for M54 pistons are easy to find.

https://www.rockauto.com

We just got a set of German Goetze branded M54 piston rings for $13.27 per set plus $32 for international shipping from the UK.

Ended up being roughly $115 shipped for a complete set of Goetze brand M54 piston rings.

Also, Grant sells a nice set of rings for the M54 that costs $180 shipped. Made in the USA.

I've used both brand of rings without complaints though the oil rings from Grant are easier to install.

[supernaughtIX]

I finally found some reasonably priced rings for the M54 pistons! This project is back online.
BimmerBoys in London, ON are awesome. Anyone in canada need parts, they can do awesome pricing and can get almost anything(replacement) you can find at other online shops. Their website isn't very populated yet, but shoot them an email and they will quote you. Shipping is free for my parts so far, and they communicate very well.

I picked up a spare block on the weekend, so I will tear it down tonight and start fitting the M54 stuff.

[downforce22]

Are there any documents that describe the different pistons in detail? Something with dimensions maybe?
I read an old bfc thread that mentioned a bmw training manual that might have this kind of info.

I'd like to compare pistons before I start making chips and find out I went too deep.

I believe you are looking for this?

http://web.archive.org/web/200505261...Mahle_m20.html

[SpecM]

the 302ci/5.0 mustangs were 4.94L

the 281ci/4.6L OHC motors were always called 4.6

Sent from my Vortex

[nando]

well, even by rounding up standards, it's not a 2.9 liter.

they stopped calling them mustang 5.0s when they went to the 4.6, too.

[bimmernut333]

yes.. with a larger crank ;)

and it's not 2.9l either. I have the same pistons. it's 2823cc, you need 2850cc minimum for "2.9l"

they call it a 2900 in their marketing (because a 2.8 is usually just under 2800cc), but it's not really a 2.9. same with the 3200, it's not 3.2 liters, but 31XXcc (3.2 requires an 86.4mm bore).

Yea I do know that.. it's like a mustang being a 5.0 when it's really 4.6xx. It's mainly just a marketing thing I believe.

[nando]

After reading your post it got me thinking. Unfortunately I lost all of my notes from the build.SO I called MM and looked into it a lil more. The set of pistons I bought we're for a 2.9 m20 with 10.5:1 compresion and not the 3.0 I had orig thought. So you were correct about that. However they DO sell pistons for a 3.0 and even a 3.2 M20 so it CAN be done.

yes.. with a larger crank ;)

and it's not 2.9l either. I have the same pistons. it's 2823cc, you need 2850cc minimum for "2.9l"

they call it a 2900 in their marketing (because a 2.8 is usually just under 2800cc), but it's not really a 2.9. same with the 3200, it's not 3.2 liters, but 31XXcc (3.2 requires an 86.4mm bore).

[bimmernut333]

Has this been dynoed? It looks pretty decent!

I WISH! I'd LOVE to know what it's putting out. I did talk to one guy on cape cod that could do it but I'd have to hack up a transmission and take the bell housing part of it to weld it on a plate and mount the plate to his dyno. I haven't found ANYONE that has the right mount for an M20 otherwise esp someone fairly local. MM could prob do it but their definitely NOT close.

[bimmernut333]

yes but the pistons do not make the displacement alone. stroke and bore combined. an 84mm bore with an 89.6mm crank and any of the different piston combinations will still give you 3.0L of displacement.
MM sells pistons that give you compression and clearance based on your bore, stroke and rods.
the pistons for the 3.2 are for an oversized bore(86.5mm?) with an 89.6mm crank, can't remember if they use the same 135mm rods or not...

It can be done, but I'm trying to do it(~3.0L) without buying a $2000 kit, since so much of my $ is going into other parts, including headwork.

Ooh ok I gotcha now... as for the rods he was saying you CAN use standard "I" rods. But their not the ideal choice. He suggested using rods from an E36 328, an M3 or buying aftermarket H beam rods due to higher strength and less reciprocating mass.

[supernaughtIX]

Wether or not this helps you idunno? But what I did for my 3.0 was bore out a 2.7eta. I used MM custom pistons, a 524td crank, 325i rods, an 885 head ported and polished, schrick 304 cam and schrick springs, euro 323i distributor, distributor delete timing belt covers from the 323i as well, and three weber 40 IDF down draft carbs on a magaletsi manifold and it all works very well together... :)

Has this been dynoed? It looks pretty decent!