So I think I bought an 885 with eta valve springs...

[Steve o 77]

Like the title says, I picked up the engine out of a 1988 325i this weekend to steal the head from for my eta.

Well I pulled the valve cover and found single valve springs... Wtf?

As I dug deeper I found dents in all of the Pistons from valve contact (morons installing play doh eta valve springs in a car with a 6500rpm rev limit is never good) but the valves look ok. Also there's some pretty bad scoring in one of the cam journals. Finally it looks like the hulk was trying to remove the rocker arm shafts with channel locks at some point. That was fun filing down the marks before driving them out.

My question is do you guys think this head is useable? I'd just get some HD valve springs and rockers but the cam journal worries me, plus I'd be forced into buying an upgraded cam if I used this head... Oh darn.

It was cheap enough that I'm ok with it being a dud.

And the pics.

[Ether-D]

Check the inside of your rockers for damage from the marred rocker shaft. I'd grab a better head and use that one for spare parts.

[AndrewBird]

Might check out BimmerHeads.com. If you are looking to upgrade, they are a good option.

[Steve o 77]

Yeah the rockers are done, all marred up inside.

The bimmerheads option is looking pretty good about now.
I was hoping to get this done on the cheap but I need to throw that out the window at this point lol.

I really don't understand why it has the single valve springs though, seriously wtf?

[dsphil]

It is a seta head from 88 325.

[Steve o 77]

It is a seta head from 88 325.

Ahhh yeah that makes sense.

Strange that it was in a 325i car with the 7k tach. I wonder if the bottom end is SETA? Wouldn't that be awesome?

[jeffnhiscars]

FYI ETA springs are the same as outer 885 springs. Just add inners.

[Steve o 77]

Well I just ran out to the garage and measured the stroke and came up with right around 81mm, looks like this is a SETA! Pistons are definitely dome style and the cylinders still have cross hatching. Awesome!

[modernist]

Woot! Time for 2.7i goodness!

[Steve o 77]

Quick question, and I might need to start a new thread for this but would you guys re-use that piston in a boosted motor?

I was going to smooth out the dent with a dremel and just run it unless anyone has any reason not to?

[Ether-D]

Quick question, and I might need to start a new thread for this but would you guys re-use that piston in a boosted motor?

I was going to smooth out the dent with a dremel and just run it unless anyone has any reason not to?

I bet you'll be fine. Smooth it real nice and run it.

[digger]

As long as top ring gap isn't pinched smooth it and run it

[Steve o 77]

Thanks guys. I'll be pulling the Bottom end apart this week so I'll check the ring gap for deformation.

[TobyB]

If you want to reuse/regrind that cam,
the bearing cam be polished. The head's probably OK-
they can get pretty ugly and still work fine.

I was thinking aftermarket valve springs- might be worth measuring
them.

fwiw


t

[Steve o 77]

If you want to reuse/regrind that cam,
the bearing cam be polished. The head's probably OK-
they can get pretty ugly and still work fine.

I was thinking aftermarket valve springs- might be worth measuring
them.

fwiw


t

Thanks, the gouges in the cam are pretty deep though, like easily catch a finger nail, same with the head. I was planning on just buying another regrind anyway..

I think I've pretty much settled on the bimmerheads route, once I replace all the rockers, rocker shafts, valve springs, cam, and pay for the machine work I'd be in it close to the same amount. Anyway I'm not in a huge rush so I'll just keep an eye out for one in better shape for cheap.