M20 Tuning books?

[mr2peak]

Are there any other good books on tuning the E30? I'm specifically looking for something focusing on the M20 engine. I have Tuning the A-Series by David Vizard that is wonderfully in-depth, with pictures on how to identify certain parts, tons of flow graphs and dyno runs, etc. It's over 500 pages and it's an awesome reference.

Does anything like this exist for the M20? Granted, the A-Series came is way more cars, but the M20 is way up there when it comes to production volume.

Anyway, I bought this BMW 3-Series (E30) Performance Guide 1982-1994, ( https://wordery.com/bmw-3-series-e30...-9781934709863 ) but it doesn't look nearly as in-depth.

[SkiFree]

That guide is more of an introduction for someone not familiar with e30 ins and outs as you guessed.

I don't know of any such book existing for the M20, might be interesting but it would have to cover lots of different systems (k-jet, motronic, stand-along, etc.)

[4x4_e30]

The only thing that is M20 specific imo is the head. Everything else is pretty standard, but getting the head to flow should be #1 priority.

[mr2peak]

Getting the head to flow, sure. The A-Seris book has photographs, sectional drawings and other guides to porting the popular heads (there were many variations) as well as info on which were the best starting points, when to go to a multi-angle vs stock, flow comparisons, etc. I've spent plenty of years digging through R3v and there's a lot of info out there, but it's not presented in the best manner.

A comparison of different stock parts, comparison of Hartge, Alpina and other parts would be helpful. Maybe the E30 is too young still, but I think a book with all this information would be very helpful. Bummer that it doesn't seem to exist yet.

[cdeason]

Coming from a E30 M3, the amount of tuning information widely available for the M20 is very low. You can find any data for tuning the S14 from minor to 400 hp na 2.7 liter versions. I am in the process of researching data for a 2.8L M20 and having a hard time finding relevant data.

[Cabriolet]

You all need to look harder. Any and all the info for the m20 is listed online and easy access.
there are bench flows, sectioned m20s, images and diagrams.
to list a few:

http://strictlyeta.net/

http://racehead.com.au/

http://www.bmw2002.com/tech.html

http://www.bimmerheads.com/

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52085

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=261381

http://youtu.be/phHrMG7-2yo

M20s with cheap mods hit about 200bhp. everything over 200bhp gets very expensive and not worth. max N/A hp is about 300whp

[mr2peak]

Thanks for the links, I've been through most of them at one time or another.

I specifically want a book. A reference book that I can sit down and read with everything in front of me. It's a shame nothing like that exists yet.

[kickinindian]

^write it man! id buy it.

[mr2peak]

Bump, for another year gone by with no good M20 book

[TobyB]

...ok, I'll bite this time- the M20 was the economy motor, never designed to be raced.
Thus, not too may fools raced it 'in the day', and there wasn't any real racing support for it.

For God's sake, it has a timing BELT! who would race THAT???

heh

That said, a LOT of the other rocker- arm engines share traits, so you can take
what the M10/M30 engines like and apply it to an M20.

Write the book. Find a publisher. Profit!

t

[modernist]

this might help