Cracked Head (What are my options)

[chocolame]

I have a 1987 325e manual. The head is cracked and I need to get this old girl back up and running. Space and tools aren't the biggest issues at the moment. I do want a decent little turbo setup (nothing insane) within the next year or so. Knowing all of this, here are my questions:


-Should I swap an M20b25 into the car?

-Should I just put a new head on the M20b27 and replace some other parts while the motor is pulled?

-Should I swap an M50 into it?



My budge range is at 1500 max right now. The car needs to be running above all else. I will be doing the work myself and with some buddies. I'm not new to cars and I am fairly new to the E30 world. Any input at all would be appreciated because I just don't know which direction to run.

Assuming I get this running and save some more money up I'd like to be sitting at 250-300hp by next summer.

Thanks ahead of time,
Tyler

[barbierij]

you can probably get the top end of a M20B25 and the wiring/ecu for way less than a swap or rebuild

[chocolame]

you can probably get the top end of a M20B25 and the wiring/ecu for way less than a swap or rebuild

The original motor (the one with the cracked head) had 240k miles before the odometer stopped working.

Would the bottom end hold up to 7k rpms with a m20b25 head swap? Also would it hold up to 250hp reliably?

If not, is there anything I could do to circumvent those issues?

[uturn]

Imo, another eta head would be the cheapest route. You can do the m20b25 head with a chip but a rebuild of the bottom end and mls head gasket for reliability if you're going FI in the future.

[chocolame]

Imo, another eta head would be the cheapest route. You can do the m20b25 head with a chip but a rebuild of the bottom end and mls head gasket for reliability if you're going FI in the future.

So you think an ETA head would be solid enough with some attention and a rebuild of the bottom end? If so, what would you do to the bottom end?

You mentioned the m20b25 head with a chip? Just chip the ecu to rev to 7k? Is the head the biggest difference in the m20b25 and m20b27? What else would I be losing to compared to a whole engine swap if I put a b25 head on it?

[uturn]

The ETA head to get back on the road without any hassles. Plenty of info on head swaps, just extensive because it's not just the head but intake manifold and computer also.