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    m20 or m42?

    ok so i have a 91 318is with the 1.8l 4cyl m42 motor in it, i also have a m20b25 motor and trans that i bought. my goals for the car are around 300hp when its all said and done. this said i have read both m20's and m42's can achieve this hp range (if i was turboing a m20 i would do a Frankenstein with build with 2.7 lower and 'i' head). so with that in mind that I have both engine options, its really just which one should i invest the money into?

    considering:
    -money needed to achieve desired result
    -power to weight ratio
    -reliability (as it will be on the street with occasional canyon running and track days)
    -etc.

    any opinions would greatly help!

    apexgoblin - versteht nicht jeder. Ist auch besser so!

    #2
    The 318is is already a bit lighter and has better weight distribution due to the smaller motor. It would also be better do not do the 2.7i thing, it really doesn't make that much of a difference I don't think. Just boost the engine you already have rather than have the headache of swapping motors
    -Alex

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      #3
      sr20det swap?

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        #4
        Originally posted by Dozyproductions View Post
        sr20det swap?
        lol nahh im too much of a bmw lover to do that... maybe if i had multiple e30's :P but i was thinking more rb26det though

        apexgoblin - versteht nicht jeder. Ist auch besser so!

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          #5
          m20 will take less boost to reach that goal, less boost usually equals better reliability.
          Drive it hard. Maintain it well.


          Convertible Technical & Discussion
          A Topless Memorandum

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            #6
            m42 is also more expensive to boost.

            Turbo M42 Build Thread :Here
            Ig:ryno_pzk
            I like the tuna here.
            Originally posted by lambo
            Buttchug. The official poster child of r3v.

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              #7
              Originally posted by acolella76 View Post
              The 318is is already a bit lighter and has better weight distribution due to the smaller motor. It would also be better do not do the 2.7i thing, it really doesn't make that much of a difference I don't think. Just boost the engine you already have rather than have the headache of swapping motors

              you dont know what your talking about. clearly you have not ridden in a stroked m20

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                #8
                Originally posted by acolella76 View Post
                The 318is is already a bit lighter and has better weight distribution due to the smaller motor. It would also be better do not do the 2.7i thing, it really doesn't make that much of a difference I don't think. Just boost the engine you already have rather than have the headache of swapping motors
                there is a 50hp difference right from the beginning before you would even turbo the motor. of course you will get more power out of a 2.7l displacement. the sound of the M20 alone is reason enough to swap to it!

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                  #9
                  More displacement will almost always be easier to make more power from. You'd have to seriously build the M42 to get in that range. That said, I'm a proponent of the M42 and have a turbo one myself.

                  Project M42 Turbo

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by ApexGoblin View Post
                    ok so i have a 91 318is with the 1.8l 4cyl m42 motor in it, i also have a m20b25 motor and trans that i bought. my goals for the car are around 300hp when its all said and done. this said i have read both m20's and m42's can achieve this hp range (if i was turboing a m20 i would do a Frankenstein with build with 2.7 lower and 'i' head). so with that in mind that I have both engine options, its really just which one should i invest the money into?

                    considering:
                    -money needed to achieve desired result
                    -power to weight ratio
                    -reliability (as it will be on the street with occasional canyon running and track days)
                    -etc.

                    any opinions would greatly help!
                    dude, do you know camacho? I'm the one that got him in his e30 that he drives :D

                    Comment


                      #11
                      DO the m42. More HP per PSI (in essence, i understand PSI =/= HP in many cases) if you know what you are doing. DOHC flows better than SOHC.

                      I love the simplicity of turbo m20s, but m42 are fantastic alternatives if you know how to build/tune your engine for boost.

                      All-Red/MHW style Professional Tinted Tail lights
                      PnP EMS, fuel injectors, wideband o2 systems

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                        #12
                        I'd say the M20 purely on the fact that you can build it while still driving the car. Spread the spending out so it isn't such a big dent to the checkbook, then just drop it in on a weekend when it is ready.

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by jaye30 View Post
                          you dont know what your talking about. clearly you have not ridden in a stroked m20
                          Oh, not only have I ridden in a car with a stroked m20, i own one!

                          Originally posted by mikeedler View Post
                          there is a 50hp difference right from the beginning before you would even turbo the motor. of course you will get more power out of a 2.7l displacement. the sound of the M20 alone is reason enough to swap to it!
                          What I meant was the difference in hp between boosted 2.7i and boosted m20b25 is not going to be that much to justify spending the extra money on a new bottom end.
                          -Alex

                          Comment


                            #14
                            M42 is gay, go M20 because parts are much cheaper.
                            They call me the frog



                            - E30 Alpina C2 2.7
                            - E30 Alpina C2 2.5
                            - E28 M 528I 3.5 (300HP)
                            - E36 M3 S50 3.2 (Euro)

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                              #15
                              just get a boosted m42 or an m20.

                              anddddd sr engines< rb engines :)

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