Build up the m42? or go 24 Valve?

[Rob]

The harmonic balancer is only good for 7200. That's straight from the late Pete Mchenry, who has forgotten more about BMW engines than we'll ever know...

[Haraise]

Is it common to remove the harmonic balancer in the M42? I know that's a common modification for other four cylinders.

[2002maniac]

The harmonic balancer is only good for 7200. That's straight from the late Pete Mchenry, who has forgotten more about BMW engines than we'll ever know...

The motor I'm referring to was internally balanced without the clutch/flywheel or harmonic balancer installed. balancing the balancer separately seemed to make the difference.

I bet pete is now building motors for God's chariot. :)

[Rob]

OK cool, he and I discussed it at length when working on MarkD's m42 back in the day. For an internally stock motor, 7200 is the realistic limit, when you start getting fancy, all bets are off...

man, a built m42 would be sick, but its hard to justify how much it would cost...

[wolfgangstbd]

just f20c swap haha. i like my m42 i would love to build it up someday but it doesnt seem like the most cost effective way to go. then again ive never driven a 24v car just a m20. wasnt the same as the 318 at all imo

[fiftytakedowns]

I wonder how much of a difference there would be in gas mileage between an m50 swap and a built m42, (the m42 weighs less, yet, the torque in the m50 means it could haul at low rpms?

Pretty much all this circles around if I should do my timing chain or not, and just wait for it to die. or soup it up a bit, and wait for it to die. etc. etc.

[wolfgangstbd]

why dont you just do your timing chain. its not that hard get a manual spend a day with your car. timing chain and tensioner and probably the rail to ~ $200 built m42 ~$3000 if your lucky