stroking a m42?

[Bavarian3]

[Victell]

must it be NA?

[Bavarian3]

"if the s42 was made by motorsport, does anyone have any factual information about it. That link isn't very believeable. Also, this is the first ive heard of such a thing. Where can one of these things be located? or seen."

Very little information is known online... there are people who should know about it though... call up Chuck Stickley or Tom M at PTG....

S42 is real... it replaced the S14 motor during the 92/93 Super Touring series ... the numbers are real too...

http://www.thegaffer.com/motorsport/cars/bmw/autos/740.php

[Febi Guibo]

um, yeah, the race engine has been ruled out... as if..

[screamingbmwe30]

no

[Febi Guibo]

I am still considering doing it + working out details re: a nice M42 build. It's a tough proposition and I have to admit my mental reasoning to do it is slipping a little.

I guess it comes down to "how much do I like the 318is?" ...

doing a swap makes more sense hp/$ effectively but it turns the car into, well, another car.

I really like lightweight, high revving 4-cyl cars... eg: if the Mk1 GTi came as a RWD model, I'd be all over it. I got the 318is because I *love* how it drives.

So, that's the issue. The cost to build an M42 to say, 175-180 hp is going to be really high and it *might* net 140-145 hp at the wheels at around 7000 rp (this is still all theoretical)... still the hp/lb ratio puts it (fairly) close to stock E30 M3 power and the car still balanced exactly the same, w/the same dynamics, etc.

anyway, the expense is like, high, and the expertise to do the M42 at this level is waaay out of my league. It's going to take a lot of time and money. For example... these dudes set up n/a M42 engines for SCCA GT2/3 racing: http://www.gttechnic.com/gt2_gt3.html. I think the race engine program retails for like, $20k.

Still percolating...

[38927]

if the s42 was made by motorsport, does anyone have any factual information about it. That link isn't very believeable. Also, this is the first ive heard of such a thing. Where can one of these things be located? or seen.

[nickmp0wer]

that kempower.be actaully has the s42 listed on their site.

http://www.kempower.be/racedif/raceengines.htm

[38927]

I wonder if anyone will ever go through with a m42 build.

[cunninglinguist]

The M42 is the most advanced engine that was installed in the E30. it's a shame about the hydraulic tappets though.

kempower.be has some stuff for the M42/S42

[e9nine]

I'd love to see it too, but I really feel bad for people (like Dave Adams) that spend a fortune on motors and are disappointed with the results.

There is a reason his numbers were low. No one is always lucky to get their desired results first time around when it comes to building "motor-kits." It's in the hands that do the work, not the wallet that funds the project or the tally of the bill. No offense to Dave of course as he obviously had options and chose certain paths.
There are people out there who build potent motors with either a check book and the right hands or with the right brains/know-how and nominal $$ by comparison.


The m42 is the least appealing motor in the e30 chassis. M10s can be built to surpass them in power, we all know the story with eta's and m20b25s. The m42 has been tweaked by few but not many.

Dbilas does make an m42 version of their ITBs with software :)

[Jon325i]

I'd love to see it too, but I really feel bad for people (like Dave Adams) that spend a fortune on motors and are disappointed with the results.

This is true. I had talked to Dave on several occassions while he was building up that 3.0L M20....its a shame it didn't pan out as he hoped. I still give him kudos for putting in the time, money, and effort not to mention thoroughly documenting everything. It provided a ton of valuable info for future M20 stroker engine projects as far as what works and what doesn't.

The whole M42 stroker idea seems to ring a similar tone to what Dave attempted. If someone is dead-set on doing this project, they would be venturing into relatively unchartered territory. Documenting the entire process and outcome would serve to substantiate this mod as well as write another chapter into the book of performance BMW engine building.

I applaud the courageous soul who takes on this challenge :-D

Jon

[Bavarian3]

...getting an S14 engine with 100k of spirited driving gives me maybe 50k more miles before another build?
-------------------------------------------

Eh... not always fact.....

It would be interesting on doing a M42 build, I agree... but I think you might need a stronger cam...

I am sure with some ITBs, cams, and a piggy back system you can get some HP....

The thing is: is it worth it? Well I am sure if you are pouring money into a M42 motor, when you can get more power for less, then to some it may not be worth it.......

[Rob]

agreed, but that's entirely dependant on the expect (realistic or not) results. If he wants to make a 200hp street M42, well he'll more than likely fail. If he wants to satisfaction of having a warm/hot m42 that not many folks have seen, then I'm all for it. Maybe there's a few tips in the build other folks could use?

[Digitalwave]

Dont detur this dude. Go for th em42 build. I have yet to see a properly setup m42.

I'd love to see it too, but I really feel bad for people (like Dave Adams) that spend a fortune on motors and are disappointed with the results.