What would you do?

[mikey G]

WARNING: Long post!

I recently came into a trade agreement to get myself into another classic BMW. Its an 88' 528 with an m20b27. Now before I post a list of what is already done to the car i'd like to preface by saying I have been completely torn on what I want to do as far as the engine and drive train are concerned. With that being said I thought I was dead set on going forced induction. I had a budget of approximately 5k to turn the semi built m20 into a reliable ~350HP car I wanted it to be. As I get closer to returning home from this deployment I am heavily weighing the pro's and con's of going the f/i route. Which is why I come here with my question. Given the list of mods already performed on the engine and tranny below with a (ballpark) budget of 1800 dollars. What would YOU do and why?

Here is a current mod list.

- M20B27 in-line 6 cylinder
- ‘I’ head with 885 casting & dual valve springs
- ’I’ camshaft
- Larger intake & exhaust valves
- Extrude honed intake manifold & upgraded to a larger throttle body to accommodate airflow
- Upgraded ECU to 173 Motronic with performance chip
- Valve adjustment, manifold gasket replacement, fuel injection cleaning, powder coating & throttle body polishing
- Compression numbers 164, 163, 162, 164, 164, 162
- New cap, rotor, performance ignition wires, Bosch silber plugs

DRIVE LINE
- Clutch set, giubo, u-joints & center support bearing replaced
- Lightweight single mass fly wheel replaced
- LSD 3.73 installed

If you read through that, thank you! I look forward to reading some replies.

-Mike

[MR 325]

You have an 88 which is a Super Eta. The Super Eta bottom end with the i top end parts is a nice engine. With a $1800 budget I wouldn't do anything other than a MAF conversion and a camshaft upgrade. You can't boost it on that budget nor can you do a true stroker build. I'd do the MAF and cam and use the rest for suspension maintenance and upgrades.

[mikey G]

Thanks for the reply man.

Suspension is already sorted. The car is relatively "complete" visually. However the engine is coming out so I can shave and tuck the bay. I realistically have a 5k budget but i'd like to sink some money into bagging my daily driver (VW Tiguan). Im stuck in a crossroad! I already have a Garrett GT28RS bb turbo I bought with some misc turbo parts i've picked up over the past 2 weeks. All I would really need is a new ecu and some ARP studs. But I think I will hold off on the turbo until next summer. I suppose the engine is already strong as is so I can just freshen everything up when I pull it to tuck/ shave the bay.

I also have a rear window louver waiting to go on the car. The biggest project I am waiting on is getting the bay squared away so I wanted to get some input on what people would do since I will already have the engine on a block stand.


Here are a few pictures of the car. Needless to say im excited to get working! Some of you may know this car if you are from Texas.

[mikey G]

I suppose I should just complete my parts list for the turbo build and go that route. Not finding to many other options.

[ak-]

I think you'll hit really high exhaust gas temp levels / det. before you get to 350whp on a gt28rs with the m20.

[mikey G]

Yeah, that's what I was reading. However the few examples I have seen were running high(er) boost then I would even consider. I'm looking at keeping it around 10psi. I have been e-mailing Kameron from Kamotors and may just purchase a smaller setup from him. I'll be happy with 8-10 psi and it should get me around 280 HP. Which is more then enough. I think the only thing I would have to change is some of the charge pipes from his current e30 setup to accamodate the e28. Only time will tell.

[MR 325]

If I were you I'd skip that setup and wait for Good & Tight to release his M20 manifold. Just piece things together from there. Absolutely awesome car you have there sir! If I can help any further with M20 this or M20 that just let me know. Boost is definitely fun! I have a boosted Super Eta based engine myself.

[mikey G]

Whats your email/ facebook? I'd love to chat with you more in depth about this. I need to figure out what im doing. The engine is getting pulled on FEB 20th to shave and tuck the bay so i'd like to have everything ready to go when the its out of the car.

[mikey G]

I hit you up on facebook bud!

[Ether-D]

Welcome. Slick e28 you got there.

[mikey G]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm am humbled and ecstatic to have the chance to own the car. Ill post a build thread when I get started on the engine work.