E30 M42 Stroker. (320is)

[TANK]

Any one ever have their E30 M42 1.8 bored and stroked to a 2.0 (1960cc)? Bore 86.4mm, Stroke 83.5mm. Compression 10.5-1.
170 BHP and 90% of the torque at 2500 RPM.
Would it be a waste? Would the cost to have that done compare to a m20 swap(engine, trans, etc...)?
I would like my 318is quicker not by just adding a chip and I like the reliability of a N/A engine. The weight distrubution of the 318is is nice too.
Thoughts...:roll:

[kowalski]

by all means go for it, many here will disagree and say M20. but im working my way to doing up the M42, and i think it doesn't get the respect it deserves.

[jajou318]

there was a post about stroking the m42 in the engine thread let me get the link

[jajou318]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=57472

some good info there.

[2002maniac]

what would you do for a headgasket in this case? Is that stroke you quoted for the m44? I dont think it is recommended for a HO motor because it is cast and has no counterweights.

[Rob]

lots of people talking about it, no one has done it (to my knowledge).

I think it would be great, for the reasons you stated. Just cost prohibitive compared to an M50 swap.

[kowalski]

i would agree, however if i had any room in my garadge i would have an M42 being built right now.... unfortunatly i have to get rid of the Belair in there first... but i really would like to see this done. i have plans to do this at some point in the future, im not sure when tho...

[Hick]

http://www.tdi-plc.com/bmwE30318iS.htm

[ehlpitel]

The whole thing about the M42 is tuning, I think only 1 person has successfully put on something that lets you tune it properly.

[Rob]

I dont know why. SMT6 or megasquirt+spark or others arent any harder to install on an m42 than any other motor. No its not plug and play but still.

[Ray Smoodiver]

Hartge did a 2.1L block. Spaced head to get around the pistons clattering into the valves.

Made something like 180hp, which isn't bad from a 1990's engine of that size (passe with honda's econo cars doing all day every day in the 2000's).

Why bother though? A turbo M42 would cost less (most likely) and have a bucket load more torque (something the M42 lacks anyway).

[Rob]

why? because not everyone wants to try to build a turbo e30. I certainly wouldn't. Save for a miata, I wouldn't turbocharge any NA car. I like factory reliability.

a built m42 would take the good points of a 318is and increase the performance marginally, ideally without sacrificing much. Thats a good thing. If I want 50 more ft lbs in my 318, I'll get an M50.

[AdironRider]

I like the sound of this. Something tells me a BMW should stay N/A

[AdironRider]

How much would a m44 crank and 4 e36 m3 pistons set me back? Would tuning be the true problem with this build? What else other than the pistons and the crank would need to be swapped out? Ive been mulling over how I want to go about things in the future with my 318, and the thought of boost just doesnt really get me going. I stand by my statement that BMW's should stay NA. Any thoughts?

[E30-323ti]

There is a South African Guy on Bimmerforums that has built a 2.2l M4* based engine.

Last time I saw the tread he was getting some ITB's to go with the build, check it out, it is very interesting!!