Super ETA verification

[weedy30]

Car is a 1987 325
I did as much research as I could have before posting and all the signs are pointing to a SETA . I'm just looking for a m20 guru to give me the blessing [emoji119][emoji119]

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[sert57]

I think you have an eta, not a seta

I'm fairly certain Setas were '88 only, not 87

It has an "i" tachometer, not seta
Valve cover is from an eta
wiring / icv plumbing look like an eta

I'd check the head casting number. besides the pistons, that would be the most important part. It could be someone put an I head on an eta bottom end. If it isn't an 885 its definitely a normal eta.

[weedy30]

I think you have an eta, not a seta

I'm fairly certain Setas were '88 only, not 87

It has an "i" tachometer, not seta
Valve cover is from an eta
wiring / icv plumbing look like an eta

I'd check the head casting number. besides the pistons, that would be the most important part. It could be someone put an I head on an eta bottom end. If it isn't an 885 its definitely a normal eta.

Thanks bud I will check casting , from what I read seta actually started production on the later part of 87 .the car was all factory owned by an old Asian guy that was the original owner.

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[ForcedFirebird]

That's an eta. Seta used the 885 head casting, and wouldn't have the cold start injector - seta used Motronic 1.1 or 1.3, that's definitely a 1.0 harness.

[turbski]

Is there any other way to confirm or reject? im going through the same search right now, 885 head casting on a supposed seta. confirmed the head but where the block number is theres only 1 8 digit number (20916455)? Anything else I could look at before pulling the head?

[weedy30]

That's an eta. Seta used the 885 head casting, and wouldn't have the cold start injector - seta used Motronic 1.1 or 1.3, that's definitely a 1.0 harness.

Guess no 2.7i for me :/

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Guess no 2.7i for me , I was looking for the dome pistons

[reelizmpro]

That's an ETA engine. The cluster is a 325i or later 318i cluster.

[jeffnhiscars]

You can make a 2.7i with an eta. You'll just have lower compression and then decide to turbo it

[turbski]

so without any of the electronics or plumbing on the motor how else could one verify a s-eta vs a regular eta. I have already verified the 885 head casting. the block id number makes no sense to me. Also seeing torx head bolts? Anyone have a picture of s-eta pistons I could use to reference as im pulling the head off in a few minutes. can post pictures if that makes it easier

thanks guys!

[sert57]

you might could try taking out a spark plug and looking in or getting one of those borescope cameras - they look pretty cheap? The seta pistons have similar dome design as the i pistons, where the eta pistons are completely different (see below). I have no ideas as far as block casting numbers what to look for.

https://www.e30zone.net/e30wiki/index.php/M20

[turbski]

well now im confused. here ya go m20 gurus. head is off[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH].

The piston closely matches the 2.5 in your above link but the head only has single valve springs, intake manifold is def an "eta" variety

[ForcedFirebird]

Weird.

I have an 89 'vert here, came in for a head gasket - with all "i" electronics and a full eta engine, so anything is possible lol.

Hard to tell exactly from pics between the seta and "i" pistons as the dome on them is very similar, might want to measure the stroke. You might have lucked out and had someone drop a seta engine in there as a replacement in the past.

[turbski]

This is a replacement engine I bought under assumption of 2.7 striker build. I wouldn't be jumping into this but...... Car started smoking a few runs ago. Ruled out turbo.... Figure its time for a rebuild. Want to do this bottom end while my car will still move under its own power.
Ill check smoke tonight. Same as a regular eta?

[turbski]

Check stroke*

[turbski]

success i think

Ok so with the head off I took some quick measurements of the bore and stroke within the accuracy of my digital calipers. Bore is 84mm.
stroke was a bit harder as the piston sits above the top of block, at the lowest point it is 1.19mm above, made a mark on piston and turned it down to BDC. measurement to the mark was 80mm add the 1.19mm above gives a stroke of 81mm+-. from the reading im doing the 2.5 had a stroke of 75mm and the 2.7 has a stroke of 81mm

this leads me to believe this is a seta based on these results and the head set up. please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks!