What would be a good swap to consider?

[e30s52]

supercharge the m42

318isc

332isc?

[freeski27]

go to VACMotorsports.com
and type this in the search box:
VAC-FR-S14

seems like a good option for you in my opinion. expensive... but worth it if you have the money to spend.

[z31maniac]

And S52 is an M52 bored and stroked with some cams in all reality. If I remember the cylinder walls on an m52 are ~6mm and on the S52 they are 3 or 4mm thick.

If you want to boost the M52 is a better motor.

Think about it though. You spend an extra 2K on an S52 and 1500-2000 buys an S/C. So you have a motor and a blower for the price of just a motor.

Aren't there plenty of blown S52s still pushing well past the 600HP mark though? Didn't think it was that much of an issue.

[daniel]

So, since I'm considering the same conversion, how much was your conversion? I imagine you had to stiffen up the chassis with some bracing or a roll cage and buy coilovers to handle the extra power properly. I can see doing the driveline and exhaust for $5k but the suspension, reinforcement, brakes, rims and tires may bring it over a bit. Do you run 225 on the rears and 215s up front to handle the power? An E36 M3 non-staggered runs 235's I believe. With the same amount of power and a lighter car I'd think 225s would be the minimum at the rear. Hell 245's maybe.

dude, 240hp is not that much in an e30. you don't need to cage the car just because you are adding a bit of power. before i had this car i thought the same thing- "there's no way i could drive a swap car every day. certain stuff won't work, way too much power, etc". it just isn't true. S52s are very smooth- it's not like every time you pull away from a stop you are doing a burnout. it is easy to forget the motor is even there until you put your foot down.

anyway, you don't have to have a full race suspension, either, to have an S52. as for tires, i currently have 225's on all 4 corners but there are plenty of people who run 205's for stretch purposes and they aren't sliding straight off the roads due to lack of traction. i'd recommend 225's, but that's just me. it also depends on what wheels you are running. i'd upgrade to a 15 or 16" wheel just so you could get 225's and also get a better tire selection.

you seem really worried about understeer. running a staggered setup like 215's in the front 225's rear, or 225's front 245's rear is just going to create a difference in traction capabilities of the front and rear and you guessed it, create more understeer (relative to a non-staggered setup). but again, it's not like you have a boat anchor sitting on the front of your car and every time you corner you are having to slow down all the way. in fact, my car pretty much never understeers unless i induce it. in auto-x i suppose it would understeer a bit, but much of that could be controlled by driving smoothly.

another thing. e30 brakes are already really good. you don't have to go 5-lug or to a BBK. it is overkill unless you have a set of 5-lug wheels you just absolutely insist on having. even though upgraded brakes will help if you are autocrossing, a good set of pads is all you need.

as for the cost- i paid $6500 for the whole car with the swap and 5-lug.

[herbivor]

^Good info thanx and a helluva price. Did you run a different brake booster?

[dinanm3atl]

Aren't there plenty of blown S52s still pushing well past the 600HP mark though? Didn't think it was that much of an issue.

It isn't a HUGE deal but many of the big daddies are running M52.

[e30s52]

^Good info thanx and a helluva price. Did you run a different brake booster?

You have to or you can notch the intake manifold.

[Simon S]

318isc

332isc?

even better

[freeski27]

no one else seems to think a VAC MS Racing S14 would be sweet?

[PeaveyBassist]

Get a turbo F20. Still a 4cyl that makes a lot of power.

[stegosaurus]

s38b38

[FredK]

no one else seems to think a VAC MS Racing S14 would be sweet?

That would be a sick engine. If the car were built around the engine, it would be insane on-track. A BUILT S14 is truly nuts. It also costs an arm and a leg.

[Simon S]

dude..
with a 10K budget..
SUPERCHARGE THE M42 !!

flat torque curve
minimal weight disturbance
no motor-pulling/transporting/installation hassles
simple
bolt-on fun
car retains original hardware / ‘ease-of -returnability’ to stock.

from research i've done, performing level one suspension upgrades + supercharging = an economic [factory] M3 equivalent. (~195HP e30 with 4 cylinder motor - s14 headaches)

[Stu]

Get a turbo F20. Still a 4cyl that makes a lot of power.

Always liked the idea of an F20 swap, it makes a lot of power and weighs a LOT less than an M42. Would be dynomite in a non-sunroof 318is IMO.

[Alpina]

s38b38

Cool,,,,, but not wise