Tempting!!! (V8 parts content)

[Jean]

The m60 dual timing chain idler bolts onto the m62b44 block and probably even on the m62tu as well, when I did some work on m62tu the center u-guide had the same mounting points as on the m62b44....

But, obviously the m62b44 and m62tu heads/cams are different so you can't just easily swap them over to dual timing chain, hence why Garey done the b40 head swap onto b44 block.

M62TU alt is damn heavy AND expensive as well....

[Jonsku]

Can the M60 chain idler be installed in the M62? If I had it apart for the U-guide, I'd be looking seriously at switching to the idler. The whole point of having a timing chain instead of a belt is that you DON'T have to tear the front end of the engine down every XXX thousand miles.

All M60 timing end stuff bolts right on to M62 block.

I believe, based on what Garey did with his swap, that the idler and corresponding guides bolt right up to the M62 block. I'm not sure if the'll bolt to the M62 heads or not, though. I supposed the single row timing chain might not line up with either of the dual rows of teeth on the idler, but a little machining off one side of the idler and a spacer on the other side should fix that.

My S62 has the U-guide. Based on the photos I've seen of disassembled blocks, it doesn't look like the idler support will bolt to the S62 block, so I'll have to figure out how to machine an intermediate bracket to make that happen.

M62 has different cams + heads than M60 so there might be some problems.. Didn't try those so I don't have any exact figures.
M60 cams do not fit to M62 heads without additional spacers.

If the M62 really does have meaningful improvement in area under the curve, that should be readily apparent from comparing dyno curves. What I've read makes me think that BMW detuned (less duration and lift in the cams) the M62 significantly for emissions reasons and used the VANOS to get it back to the M60's peak numbers. Why else would displacement go up 10%, but peak power and torque stay the same? That means that the M60B44 Frankenmotor should be in the neighborhood of 320-340 HP with a little tuneup on the cam timing and a good tune in the DME.

Did you have a look on the dyno curves I posted earlier? It shows very clearly that M62 is much higher on both the power and torque figures, only on the very top end the curves match.

M60B44 makes, as you stated, 320-340hp..

The water cooled alternator was used to get a higher power density out of the existing alternator package size so it could run all the E38 740i's electrical goodies. It is totally not necessary in an E30. It does nothing to reduce underhood temps, as the heat that the alternator produces just ends up in the radiator--and therefore all over the engine bay--instead of the cooling air flowing through the alternator.

Yes, but the point is that it's better to have the heat in water / radiator than in the alternator (which doesn't really get any "air flow" in E30 'bay :) )

Can't the lower timing cover from the M60 be swapped on to the M62 to eliminate the water cooled alternator?

Yes it can.

[Northern]

^ is the alt swap as simple as buying the alt/bracket and timing cover and bolting it up?

[Jean]

Not exactly. The timing cover(s) dictate what gaskets you use and chains.