Hey everyone,
Relatively new to R3V here (lurked for a while), but I've been slowly cooking up an M20 turbo build some people may be interested in.
Eventual 'end-game' here is a fun powerplant for a track going E30. Not interested in racing or formal competition, per say - just having some fun driving (and a lot more building) on a great platform. I am also using this project as an opportunity to learn the in's and outs of building a performance motor (so please, if you have any comments feel free to assume I am ignorant of the finer points and don't hesitate to point out the obvious). So to that end I have decided on building a turbocharged M20 stroker.
I started roughly planning out the build mid-late last year, and actually began collecting bits sometime around March or April. Stoker motor goes together now, with budget and overall complexity dictating that the turbo goes on next winter. So at this point basically everything is together for the first stage of my build, and I have finally begun! (Just in time for a Christmas vacation... got to keep the lady happy though).
A quick breakdown of what is going into the build:
What a beauty. Shortly before I bought it off my friend.
Pulling engines works best when you're dressed for it.
Off to the machine shop.
Really happy with the local Victoria Powdercoaters shop. These look fantastic.
She really is a work of art.
Back from the shop.
30 years of rust.
A few quick coats of engine enamel.
FML... cast iron, wet coast... (Not sure if this super light surface rust is enough to ruin the MLS surface once I have brushed it off... lesson learned).
I paid the machinist to check clearances, but a second set of eyes never hurts.
I feel like I did a shitty job here with the gasket maker (permatex #2). Going to redo this weekend. That and the gasket set I used seems to be sub-par (look how much it sticks out into the oil pan, is that by design?).
Replaced the old style IM shaft gear with the newer sintered version.
Guess who just got a new rear main seal kit in the mail?
The dining room table is a wonderful place for piston assembly... if you are lucky enough to have a wonderful girlfriend.
And finally, some goodie shots:
Should I try my hand at anodising or stick to paint? I am actually liking the black engine enamel... I figure a few passes with that and manually cure with a heat gun?
"While you're in there..." change the steering rack, right? Z3 tight ratio.
Anyway, I have tons of other photos if anyone is interested, and I can always get my lazy ass off the couch and walk down to the shop if I need some more. This weekend I am going to pop the crank back out and remove the front main seal, clean everything again and put on the new front main (less gasket maker this time, and a better gasket) and rear main, which just arrived. Going to get the rings on the pistons this week, and when I get back from holidays the pistons and block are going together, and if head/valve clearance checks look OK it should all be coming back together and going into the car sooner than later.
Once she is running I really need to replace the seats, they're totally trashed. Then it's full steam ahead on saving for and specc'ing the turbo, intercooler and associated fun stuff.
Relatively new to R3V here (lurked for a while), but I've been slowly cooking up an M20 turbo build some people may be interested in.
Eventual 'end-game' here is a fun powerplant for a track going E30. Not interested in racing or formal competition, per say - just having some fun driving (and a lot more building) on a great platform. I am also using this project as an opportunity to learn the in's and outs of building a performance motor (so please, if you have any comments feel free to assume I am ignorant of the finer points and don't hesitate to point out the obvious). So to that end I have decided on building a turbocharged M20 stroker.
I started roughly planning out the build mid-late last year, and actually began collecting bits sometime around March or April. Stoker motor goes together now, with budget and overall complexity dictating that the turbo goes on next winter. So at this point basically everything is together for the first stage of my build, and I have finally begun! (Just in time for a Christmas vacation... got to keep the lady happy though).
A quick breakdown of what is going into the build:
- IE 2.9L stroker kit (turbo), with their forged rods. Decided to leave at their recommended 9.75:1 CR. May bring it down slightly with HG adjustment once I get the blower sorted out.
- Fully tricked out Bimmerheads stage 3 race head (with a nuke gear). It's so beautiful I almost don't want to put it on the car.
- To save you looking it up, the highlights are +1mm supertech valves w/performance springs, HD rockers, welded coolant channels, a 284/280 cam and beautifully done P&P.
- MLS HG.
- MS3-pro Ultimate. I write embedded software for a living, so open source is a major + for me.
- Converting to fully sequential. Yes, I know, I could have swapped an M/S/xxx/50. Individual coil packs for the plugs.
- Adding a knock sensor and oil and fuel PTS sensors as well. On the fence, but may do individual EGTs. Obviously going wideband O2.
- Injector Dynamics ID1050x.
- Fuel system is being setup for flex fuel/e85 (if anyone has any flex fuel sensor suggestions, please let me know). Also running the ID750 filter with PTS, which will be plumbed into the MS3.
- Extensive machining on the bottom end (done locally here on Vancouver Island), including:
- Bore and hone for oversized pistons. Torque plate hone (speaking of which, if anyone nearby needs a torque plate for an M20 let me know).
- Cleaning (not hot tanked... good ol' intermediate bearings).
- Align bore. Decked and finished for MLS HG.
- Piston oil squirter installation. Various other odds and ends as well.
- Coated main and rod bearings.
- ARP everywhere: HG bolts, rod bolts, caps.
- Oil pan baffle and crank scraper.
- IE lightened aluminium flywheel.
- Powdercoated valve cover and intake manifold. My reading indicates the stock IM isn't great... but IMO the look is iconic and I figure the boost will mostly offset serious flow issues.
- Various other goodies like a nuke fuel rail and vacuum station.
- Lots of replacement bits, oil pump, waterpump, hoses, etc.
- Went with an IE stage 2 clutch kit for now... see how that holds up.
What a beauty. Shortly before I bought it off my friend.
Pulling engines works best when you're dressed for it.
Off to the machine shop.
Really happy with the local Victoria Powdercoaters shop. These look fantastic.
She really is a work of art.
Back from the shop.
30 years of rust.
A few quick coats of engine enamel.
FML... cast iron, wet coast... (Not sure if this super light surface rust is enough to ruin the MLS surface once I have brushed it off... lesson learned).
I paid the machinist to check clearances, but a second set of eyes never hurts.
I feel like I did a shitty job here with the gasket maker (permatex #2). Going to redo this weekend. That and the gasket set I used seems to be sub-par (look how much it sticks out into the oil pan, is that by design?).
Replaced the old style IM shaft gear with the newer sintered version.
Guess who just got a new rear main seal kit in the mail?
The dining room table is a wonderful place for piston assembly... if you are lucky enough to have a wonderful girlfriend. And finally, some goodie shots:
Should I try my hand at anodising or stick to paint? I am actually liking the black engine enamel... I figure a few passes with that and manually cure with a heat gun?
"While you're in there..." change the steering rack, right? Z3 tight ratio.
Anyway, I have tons of other photos if anyone is interested, and I can always get my lazy ass off the couch and walk down to the shop if I need some more. This weekend I am going to pop the crank back out and remove the front main seal, clean everything again and put on the new front main (less gasket maker this time, and a better gasket) and rear main, which just arrived. Going to get the rings on the pistons this week, and when I get back from holidays the pistons and block are going together, and if head/valve clearance checks look OK it should all be coming back together and going into the car sooner than later.
Once she is running I really need to replace the seats, they're totally trashed. Then it's full steam ahead on saving for and specc'ing the turbo, intercooler and associated fun stuff.
. sub'd
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