My BMW V8 engine build thread

[Garageaholic]

Hey jean, how much did the head resurfacing cost you?

[Jean]

Cleaned/blasted valve covers :)

[Jean]

Pulling the crank sprockets to swap between the two cranks





b40 stuff



b40 and b44 mix





b40 dual timing row sprocket



b44 single row sprocket



side by side



different size for the lower section of the "u-rail" vs. sprocket



test fitting the b40 stuff on b44 bottom end



b40 timing cover on b44 block





b40 head with b44 gasket on it



b40 head sprockets / main chain



b44 sprocket



b44 head combustion chamber



b44 head with b44 gasket on it



b40 head combustion chamber

[Jean]

Tested/clean/decked b40 heads





test fit b44 gasket on the b40 head

[red_e30]

cool will have to check them out

[Jean]

Cascar in sac, they do heads ALL the time and have very good rep.

[red_e30]

hey what machine shop do you use?

[Jean]

M60B40 heads back from the machine shop.

[The Dark Side of Will]

One option could be using M60 cams in M62, but "first bearing point" is different length as seen here (M60 cam on top, M62 head with cam in place), so it'd require some machining work to make them fit..

Maybe you can use the front bearing cap from the M60 on the M62 head. The only reason the cap needs to fill up the width of that gap is to control the end play of the cam. There's no appreciable load on the "thrust" bearing. You'd have to plastigauge the cam, of course, to verify that there's sufficient clearance. The bearing caps are likely honed with their specific bores.

[328ijunkie]

totally bauss

[Jean]

Hi. Yes , I've weighted the m62tu with the stock dual mass 40lb flywheel already when I worked on the 540i e39 but will weight the M60 and tranny as well and m30 with g260/6 as well again.

I should have my heads back in my hands later this week or early next week once I get the smog issue resolved with my car. Thats what currently slowing everything down...but everything should go faster soon.

[Jonsku]

This is a great build thread jean, very informative.
You're going to weigh the engine when your done like you did with your m30 right? I'm anxious to see how much it weighs.

Is there a lot to be gained on the m62 with better flowing headers/exhaust and intake manifold?
There seems to be a shortage of info out there since there are not a lot of aftermarket parts for the m62 and not a lot of people mod them.
I would speculate that the heads don't flow that well at higher rpms since 282hp from 4.4 liters is not very efficient. The comment about how much power VAC got out of the m62 just goes to show how much more it can be improved with improved intake/exhaust ports.

One comment on this, though a bit OT..


I've understood that the M62 heads themselves flow better than M60 heads (friend of mine who works on engines all day long tested them), but as the M62 intake manifold and cams are "much worse" than in M60, the final output is less.

One option could be using M60 cams in M62, but "first bearing point" is different length as seen here (M60 cam on top, M62 head with cam in place), so it'd require some machining work to make them fit..



For sure, doable. But maybe it'd be more feasible to modify M62 cams / buy direct replacement cams? Though then using double-row chain / older engine management would not be possible.. Maybe it's best to modify M60 heads and swap them to M62 block, after all :)

[VinniE30]

This is a great build thread jean, very informative.
You're going to weigh the engine when your done like you did with your m30 right? I'm anxious to see how much it weighs.

Is there a lot to be gained on the m62 with better flowing headers/exhaust and intake manifold?
There seems to be a shortage of info out there since there are not a lot of aftermarket parts for the m62 and not a lot of people mod them.
I would speculate that the heads don't flow that well at higher rpms since 282hp from 4.4 liters is not very efficient. The comment about how much power VAC got out of the m62 just goes to show how much more it can be improved with improved intake/exhaust ports.

[Jean]

Yep, I am trying to basically do AS MUCH as possible while it's all apart w/o going overboard. HA.

It's just it seems there is a lot of "stigma" associated with these engines, and what is okay and not okay to do when it comes to the bottom end since it can't be honed like a normal block. I would imagine if I mark or do one piston/ring set at a time, there wouldn't be a problem with taking them out/measuring/and re-installing in the same way. BUT, removing them and installing new rings MAY create a problem on it's own since the cross-hatching was already broken-in with the original rings.

Right?

I wonder if the dealer would have more on this, I would be curious to know / confirm if there is a TSB on replacing the rings on these blocks..since they do sell rings. But of course if you buy the bottom end it comes with the crank/rod/pistons/rings already installed (not something I am going to do).

I'll stay in touch!

[LJ851]

Measure the piston OD, measure the ring gap, measure the ring "float" in the piston (ring land wear), and measure the bore of the cylinder. If all are in spec, clean and reassemble. This is true for basically all internal combustion engines.


Glad i could help fund this project a little bit. Keep it up!