IE Stroker Kit vs S50

[SpecM]

a seta bottom end with an i head has the seta CR because they both use the same head, the difference is the cam and valve springs.

which is 8.5:1, just to be clear

[bimma360]

a seta bottom end with an i head has the seta CR because they both use the same head, the difference is the cam and valve springs.

Thanks for clearing that up... learn something new everyday i guess. Its crazy... i've been reading this info for almost the last 10 years and i still got it mixed up.

Dave

[dr.gonzo]

Well it sounds like the consensus is the s50/2 hands down. I'm still in the midst of a lot of research for both engines. plus I'll still have to acquire an s52 engine and all the extra parts needed just for the basic swap (e21 booster etc etc). One of the main reasons I was interested in the stroker is because I was going to do a 2.7 and happened upon the IE kit, I've also been witness to a few m50 swaps in my area lately and they have had nothing but problems, I don't do anything half assed but I would be doing the swap myself.



I would be building the ITB system using motorcycle throttles as I've seen some people do here.



it was late, I should clarify, I'm 24, my dad bought the car off the lot in 1987 (still have the original contract) and I've been working on this car since I was able to hold a wrench. 280k on the original engine!





Well according to what I've been told by IE (I emailed them), the kit is a direct replacement and is supposed to make 240hp without any other modifications other than machining the block for the over sized pistons. They recommend a better cam but larger valves aren't necessary.

Both setups would leave me with the option of boosting, but I'm not that interested since this is my daily.



If I decided on the S50 I would end up doing a major rebuild on the engine. I don't trust just throwing it into the car. So that means new gaskets, machining, pumps, injectors, etc, etc. there's another 2k at least added to the parts budget.



You're the person I need to talk to then, what were the factors that made your decision to go with the S52?



5k is just my parts budget, tuning and everything else if already accounted for and on top of the 5k. My original post already addresses many of the other aspects (fuel injectors, cooling etc) within my budget. I have seen a couple s50 swaps in person and along with the m50 swaps all I've heard is people have problems. this may be because of the quality of the swap or for whatever reason, but all I've heard for the past months with friends doing these swaps are people have been having way to many troubles with the engines themselves.



2.7 and 3.1L strokers are miles apart. I have the ability to build a 2.7 seta stroker for far less than 8k. I would absolutely expect the S52 to leave the 2.7 in the dust. There's no comparison.

If you are looking to do a bike ITB set up i suggest you look over on miatas.net or clubroadster.net tons of guys do them with great success.

[TexasTerp]

First I need to find a new shell to start building on. I'm pretty close to figuring out what I'll be running. I want to build a 2.7l stroker (seta pistons) and I'm considering putting together a DASC style system running an Eaton M62 at 7psi, 24# injectors, BavAuto or Ebay Headers, M42 Radiator, Volvo E-Fan with 10" electric puller fan in front of the ac condenser. Overall that setup should give me about 240whp which is the range I'm aiming for. The biggest issue is that I'll need to custom fabricate a manifold for the DASC setup on an m20 but I think I have a line on that. I'll be running a Haltech stand alone system, there's a shop down the street and the guy's a certified Haltech instructor so I'm going to him. I'll have an eco tune, street tune and a race tune to switch between. I'm still considering a turbo setup since it'll be easier to put together and control boost output but I like the supercharger setup better imo. overall I wont need more than 250whp because I still want the engine to last. I figure if I can make my current m20 last 22yrs and 300k miles then I'll find a way to make my boosted m20 last 150k miles.

[nando]

a seta bottom end with an i head has the seta CR because they both use the same head, the difference is the cam and valve springs.

[bimma360]

It would retain stock SETA CR. 2.5i CR is 8.8:1.

My mistake you are right, the 2.5i CR is 8.8:1. However, i'm pretty certain that the CR of a SETA bottom end in an "i" car does not change and stays at 8.8:1. Where it changes is using an ETA bottom end. Although i dont want to spread misinformation, so i'm all ears here. Perhaps several of you guys can chime in on this.

Dave

[Wh33lhop]

Correct me if i'm wrong.. but i'm pretty sure a SETA bottom end on an "i" car retains stock 2.5i cr of 8.5:1.

Dave

It would retain stock SETA CR. 2.5i CR is 8.8:1.

[bimmer_E30]

M52 is fuckiiiinnnn sweeet.

[bimma360]

Personally, I built a 2.7 stroker with SETA pistons, so it comes out to around 9.0-9.2 to 1.

Correct me if i'm wrong.. but i'm pretty sure a SETA bottom end on an "i" car retains stock 2.5i cr of 8.5:1.

As far as this topic goes though... I really dont think there is a right or wrong here. It all comes down to your budget, what you want to achieve, and at the end of the day what will put a smile on your face driving.

IF i were in your shoes though i would keep the m20 and use the 8K to build it and turbo it. I would build a SETA bottom end to stock specs, only using heavy duty rods and pistons. I would build the head to stock specs. And put a dederic motorsport stage 3 turbo kit on it and run it @20psi. My 2.5i (all stock internals) motor put down 260whp and 297wft/lbs @12psi with a SMIC. Now combine that with a SETA bottom end, and i'm sure those numbers would be quite a bit different. Add another 8lbs of boost and that will be one hell of a monster no matter how outdated it is. Now of course i'm saying all of this b/c its what i'd like to ultimately do with my car. But like i said... at the end of day it really comes down to what will put a smile on your face.

Dave

[Brandon12V]

the 3.1l stroker kit is not drop in. the block has to be notched for the crank to fit. To be honest, I'm in the same boat as you and I am going the stroker route except a 2.9l b/c the block doesn't have to be notched for clearance. Why? b/c it is more original and m20 blocks are cheap to replace... s50 swaps are so common now and since I'll be paying practically the same amount, I'd rather keep the m20 built. there will always be a guy with more power on the road but it's MY car and I want the extra throttle response I'll get with a race built motor. I also find these 20 year old motors less complicated when something breaks. Plus, I work at an auto shop so labor is free and any spare parts I need is less than 15 minutes away.... I live close to Zionsville Autosports and Reggie's Motorwerks. That being said, I may be in a more convinient spot than you. I'm also going through VAC motorsports as their customer care and quality is worth the extra money I'm paying in parts as oppose to IE. My build is quoted thus far at about 4k in parts for just the long block. i still have to buy a better radiator, oil cooler, injectors, tuning, and replacement parts such the water pump/belt and oil pump. My budget for the motor alone is 7k. This includes a $500 cushion for any mistakes. Add about $3-4k to your list of parts if you want your car's chassis to be able to handle the power.

[e30esque]

Personally, I built a 2.7 stroker with SETA pistons, so it comes out to around 9.0-9.2 to 1. I really do love the car. With stock exhaust manifolds, stock chip, and just some larger injectors, I eat newer civic type Rs for breakfast. I have even beat a stock mazdaspeed 3. It really is plenty of power for the car and it feels great knowing that I built it with all M20 parts. This Thanksgiving break I'll be installing a set of shorty headers and a alpina replica chip that is meant to work with the 2.7 stroker. I think that is all I will end up doing to the motor. If I really want to go fast, I'm going with an M30 turbo. Dirt cheap, easy to swap, and I already have megasquirt and a turbo to go on it.

[MIKe30]

Oh and Metrix Motorsports will build you a 300+whp S52 for around 8k.

I probably should have went this route...

...

However, I daily drove my dad's e36 95 M3 for a month when building my motor. It's fast, but I got bored (maybe cause it didn't handle like my e30 though?). I never get bored in my car...ok, maybe not true. Sometimes when I'm in a straight line, I get real antsy "come on car, get up there, come on, faster!" - but I love my torque, LOVE IT TO DEATH! It's soo awesome! heheh

FYI, that e36 would run circles around your e30, unless your e30 set-up is heavily modified.

If all you are searching for is power and DD functionality, its probably easiest to drop a LS1 in there.

those two words don't belong in the same sentence on any e30 board.


OP, if you're not building a track car or even a little cafe racer... go with the stroker build. You'll be way more satisfied having built it yourself (if you've rebuilt m20's yourself before, you can probably stroke it yourself too. Yes, that sounded funny! haha). Only difference is I would do it with the original engine that's in the car... just to keep the og one in there. Swap in a spare m20 for a few weeks/months while you're doing the build. That would be cool and satisfying to know... "Yea, I've been working on this very motor since I could remember... It is a little different now though..."

good luck.

[ck_taft325is]

From any and all sources, they'll tell you the s5x is by and far a faster engine when it comes down to raw numbers. And the swap, from most accounts, isn't really "that hard". But it's as someone previously said, where are your priorities? I've decided on a 2.7l stroker simply because it's where the engine started out at. I def. understand the power limitations for the motor when I'm done. I wont be pulling 200+ whp, but it'll be my little handling get-up with a decent bit of torque. At long last, that Dodge Caravan better watch out.

Now in the long run, I know the power bug will nip. I figure an s5x swap of sorts will occur, but that's where I can take my time. After this projects done and I can daily drive my 327i around with it's cool badges and story behind it, I'll buy a shell. Then an engine. Build it up and drop it in over the course of several years. Keep me nice and occupied. I don't want just one car. I want several that I've built. Call it pride or just flat out joy, but I think there's more to building it THEN driving it than just having gobs of power on demand.

My two cents.

[ColdAccord]

I have all the parts to build a 2.7 Racing dynamics stroker

are you the one that bought my pistons?

[nando]

nando, find diggers thread, I remember he had to use some special "shoot out" mode correction figure on the dyno to get that number.

But I do like the idea of an M20 striker from the idea you aren't adding the weight up front.

it wasn't special, it was the standard correction factor.. he still dynoed higher than a couple M3s with the same machine.