S5X e30 or turbo m20

[craiggroves91]

I'm really poor at making decisions, so I'll try to get some advice from r3v (maybe not the best idea haha)

Anyways, I'm 20 money and money is tight.

I already bought a built 2.8l m20, wont go into too many details, but it was a pretty penny and its built to handle 400+hp.
Lately I have been considering bailing on the turbo project and going s5x swap instead. Here are the pros and cons of both.

Turbo m20
Pros:
1. More power. Different type of power that is.
2. Will be a crazy bitch
3. A little more unique

Cons:
1. Very very very illegal in CA
2. Can get impounded, because of above and I will never be able to pay to get it back
3. More expensive
4. Most likely less reliable
5. No experience with turbo, but I have the confidence I could make it work eventually
6. Take longer to complete (not positive). I'm taking up my dads precious driveway, get to hear about it all the time

S5x swap
Pros:
1. Can be BAR approved and completely legal
2. Still makes a very fun and quick e30
3. Cheaper to complete
4. Lots and lots of info about it
5. Can possibly go Supercharged later on if money permits and make good power.
6. Finish the project sooner

Cons:
1. Less power than M20 turbo
2. Could be a pain to BAR certify
....can't really think of many more haha


On top of being low on money my Daily driver is taking a shit on me and that needs money thrown at it now, further delaying the turbo build if I commence.
Put yourself in my shoes and really vote accordingly. Don't just pick the turbo m20 because it will be bat shit crazy. I have to be smart about what I do.

I should be able to go s5x and have money in the bank. If I continue with the turbo I will probably be broke in the end.

I may have answered my own question haha

thanks
-Craig

[evandael]

inb4 'put it in the bank, invest it, education, blah blah blah'


fix your DD and S52 swap it. sell the 2.8 M20 and maybe, then maybe, put the leftovers in the bank, invest them, education, blah blah blah.

[lambo]

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113533

[Cliche Guevara]

If it were me I would go with the swap. I prefer the immediacy of NA power to the lag you get with boost, even if it is a bit less. And remind me to never move to California.

[freeride53]

Excuse my complete ignorance, but why can't you get a Turbo M20, M42, etc.. BAR'd in CA?
EVERY single person in the Volvo community turbocharges their old Volvos and gets away with it, completely legally...I'm doing the same this summer...just wondering.

[craiggroves91]

Excuse my complete ignorance, but why can't you get a Turbo M20, M42, etc.. BAR'd in CA?
EVERY single person in the Volvo community turbocharges their old Volvos and gets away with it, completely legally...I'm doing the same this summer...just wondering.

Because the engines don't come turbocharged from factory. It is illegal to add a turbo to an engine that didn't come with one. As far as I know.

Volvo guys can get away with it because they come turbo'd most likely

[CrusherCurtis]

NA FTW, turbos are for kids

[Vivek]

Do an s5x. It'll probably be crazy fast and fun, and you won't have to look for cops every time you shift.

[freeride53]

Because the engines don't come turbocharged from factory. It is illegal to add a turbo to an engine that didn't come with one. As far as I know.

Volvo guys can get away with it because they come turbo'd most likely

Neither did much of the Volvos. This is bullox!

[craiggroves91]

Neither did much of the Volvos. This is bullox!

Aren't almost all volvos turbo haha

[ak-]

Cops don't look twice at Volvo's, lol. Can't BAR because of the reasons above and basically any modification to an engine is illegal in CA.
Cone air filter? = Illegal.
My buddy with a bottom mount turbo e36 M3 got a REF ticket because he removed his alternator air scoop and had a cone filter at the end of his intake-pipe before the turbo. Cop didn't even see the turbo, let alone know why the cone filter was on the exhaust side of the engine. Go figure.

No motor swap gives you the giggles like boost does. Just a whole different type of fun-power. I've heard it more than once in friends and people saying they get bored of the S5x swap.

How does your car look? Is it cholo-bangin' looking?
A cop isn't going to pull you over and ask to open your hood unless you're doing something stupid, especially in an e30.

Another thing, what's making you think the car will get impounded? Like I said, unless you're doing something dumb it's not going to get impounded for having a turbo. Just a ref ticket. "Illegal smog device" ticket.

It's around $700 to leave you alone or put the car back to stock and get it inspected.

[craiggroves91]

Cops don't look twice at Volvo's, lol. Can't BAR because of the reasons above and basically any modification to an engine is illegal in CA.
Cone air filter? = Illegal.
My buddy with a bottom mount turbo e36 M3 got a REF ticket because he removed his alternator air scoop and had a cone filter at the end of his intake-pipe before the turbo. Cop didn't even see the turbo, let alone know why the cone filter was on the exhaust side of the engine. Go figure.

No motor swap gives you the giggles like boost does. Just a whole different type of fun-power. I've heard it more than once in friends and people saying they get bored of the S5x swap.

How does your car look? Is it cholo-bangin' looking?
A cop isn't going to pull you over and ask to open your hood unless you're doing something stupid, especially in an e30.

Another thing, what's making you think the car will get impounded? Like I said, unless you're doing something dumb it's not going to get impounded for having a turbo. Just a ref ticket. "Illegal smog device" ticket.

Like I'm going to have 350whp and tame myself haha
And If I did tame myself there would be no fun. I'd have to wait for a track day/auto x.

A ref ticket is just one more thing I wouldn't want to deal with. They can impound a car for it being turbo'd illegally. It all depends on the cop.

[MasukBMW]

You havent really mentioned if you know how to do the turbo. Done correctly, it is incredibly more involved than the swap. To me, this is the most overlooked aspect when these threads pop up.

The swap is really just a drop in with a few other tweaks to the existing car, and wiring can be a breeze if you just spend a hundred bucks for an adapter.

EDIT: Woops, just saw you have a turbo car project on going, my comment can probably be ignored.

[ak-]

lol, You'll have fun for a week and get over it and be more careful/observant.

But this argument goes in circles. Boosted m20 is more fun than an s5x swap when done reliable/proper.
Just weigh out your options.

[craiggroves91]

You havent really mentioned if you know how to do the turbo. Done correctly, it is incredibly more involved than the swap. To me, this is the most overlooked aspect when these threads pop up.

The swap is really just a drop in with a few other tweaks to the existing car, and wiring can be a breeze if you just spend a hundred bucks for an adapter.

added to the cons of turbo. I don't have experience with turbo, but I could make it work.

True a swap is more straightforward!