Do you have a M20 hot rod or swapped Motor?

[FLG]

Turbo m20 puts down 320whp...got it for a steal so not complaining but I'd love to turbo a m50

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[RGCintha29073]

My current plans are ls1 e30, have some fun, and then sell it to fund a e30 m3/s54 swap. Thats my ultimate goal.

[delatlanta1281]

Nissan quest minivan is about 300hp these days
so is a Honda minivan.

V6 camaros and mustangs are over 300 hp.

M20's built up make ~ 200-220rwhp.
S52 will make 220-240rwhp

24v engine is ~50 lbs and an ugly fit compared to a 12v sohc M20 - the rubber band M20 is pretty compact and light weight; the head and overall dimmensions fit the e30 body perfecty - as is the Original BMW intended design.
no room for mechanical fan = engine weight is moved forwards in comparison to the original SOHC M20 compact belt drive engine



if one wants POWER than a LS7 will bolt right into the e30 chassis with the proper fit kit. its no heavier than an iron block 6.

fit of GM v8 into e30 seems better for track use than a BMW dohc 24v I6 into e30. the GM v8 has the advantage of ridiculous cheap power and alloy block (and tiny heads)

Wha?????
How much do these awesome overpowered cars weigh??????????????
Also, an ls7 will not "bolt right in" to an e30 chassis.

[delatlanta1281]

Forget it. you're a dummy.

http://www.nissanusa.com/quest/specifications.html

[broach328]

20 hp more and a thousand more pounds. and an ls7 swap would bring on a plethora of challenges such as trans fitment and wiring amongst many many more. although if you could swap an ls motor in and use hydroboost for brakes that would be pretty sweet. im not saying he is wrong but 260 isnt 300 and an minivan isnt an e30. my comparison earlier was for a 2012 similar weight "sports car" I mean obviously there are cars on the higher end of the spectrum but those are superior in many ways to the e30.

I will leave this thread on this; the 2012 328i has 230 hp and weighs 3362 lbs. a 240 strapped to 2800 seems like plenty man unless your planning to get serious with power

[Exodus_2pt0]

My current plans are ls1 e30, have some fun, and then sell it to fund a e30 m3/s54 swap. Thats my ultimate goal.

Is that you in your signature? If so, your name isn't Larry is it? Just curious.

[nando]

Wha?????
How much do these awesome overpowered cars weigh??????????????
Also, an ls7 will not "bolt right in" to an e30 chassis.

I don't know if it actually exists for the LS7, but he means with a kit. there are definitely kits available for other LS motors.

wiring isn't exactly a "challenge" with most domestic motors. probably less wiring to do than a basic M50 swap. but for sure, the overall swap is more involved.

[slammin.e28]

wiring isn't exactly a "challenge" with most domestic motors. probably less wiring to do than a basic M50 swap. but for sure, the overall swap is more involved.

Just slap a Holley on it and get your derp on. There you have your basic domestic engine swap.

;)

[Wanganstyle]

Just slap a Holley on it and get your derp on. There you have your basic domestic engine swap.

;)

Yeap. Can even get a brand new gm crate motor with carb already setup: delete the main pump and use the in tank low pressure pump.

Almost No wiring needed lol


The gm t56 6 speed transmission fits in the e30 chassis tunnel easier than the bmw 6 speed transmission: it's lower profile.

Ls7 pops in place with garrettvs kit. It's damn good looking! A local has it setup with t56 and every toy under the sun. 600++ rwhp all motor pump gas with Holley auto tune can-bus

[firemanory]

The only thing that worries me about m30 swaps, s5x swaps, etc is the weight... Has anyone tracked their car with an m20 then swapped the car and tracked it again. (without other major mods.) Is there any noticeable difference in handling. Can you feel the weight distribution offset?

Turbo guys: Who has tracked their car? Pretty much all these highpower turbo e30s cant hold traction at all. I want a turbo set up but want linear power. I want to blast through the corners, not slide around them.

Ditto. Would like to hear from guys with a fair amount of track time before and after the swaps. Lots of power is pointless if it is not useable for its intended purposes. In some cases the weight difference is not significant, but it may be more pronounced depending on the overall balance of the car afterwards.

I have really gotten a lot out of your responses, as many of them helped me understand why you did what you did and how satisfied you are with the results.

I guess many of your answers and responses would be influenced by what the ultimate theme of the project is. While I haven't fully committed to the project yet (and even if I did it would still be a while till completed based on family budgets and free time), suffice it to say that the overall idea would be to create an e30tii model, a la 2002tii and the 1 series concept tii. It would probably be more like the 1 series concept since my car is alpine white and the 2002 version didnt have much done to it besides larger brakes. I will say that I am currently leaning towards an m20 build out to keep it period correct and keep its current handling characteristics.

I will start a thread for everyone to throw their two cents into for ideas for the build as well, but the powerplant is what I would say is the most critical piece to the build and is why I started the thread with the motor question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_2002tii

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3409/BMW-Concept-1-Series-tii.html

Cheers

[Wanganstyle]

Ditto. Would like to hear from guys with a fair amount of track time before and after the swaps. Lots of power is pointless if it is not useable for its intended purposes. In some cases the weight difference is not significant, but it may be more pronounced depending on the overall balance of the car afterwards.

I have really gotten a lot out of your responses, as many of them helped me understand why you did what you did and how satisfied you are with the results.

I guess many of your answers and responses would be influenced by what the ultimate theme of the project is. While I haven't fully committed to the project yet (and even if I did it would still be a while till completed based on family budgets and free time), suffice it to say that the overall idea would be to create an e30tii model, a la 2002tii and the 1 series concept tii. It would probably be more like the 1 series concept since my car is alpine white and the 2002 version didnt have much done to it besides larger brakes. I will say that I am currently leaning towards an m20 build out to keep it period correct and keep its current handling characteristics.

I will start a thread for everyone to throw their two cents into for ideas for the build as well, but the powerplant is what I would say is the most critical piece to the build and is why I started the thread with the motor question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_2002tii

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3409/BMW-Concept-1-Series-tii.html

Cheers

Built vintage Alpina M20 to modern electronics with a nice induction setup would be the ticket
Buy a complete Alpina 2,8L engine: its 210 hp out of the box from Alpina. Will fit/sound/be reliable as good as it can get.

The original engine config. will be the most ideal for handling, balance, track use.

BMW ALPINA B6 2,8 / 1

Based on BMW 323i, 325i (E30) 2-, 4-door
Production 3/1984 - 7/1986

ALPINA Engine B6/2: Cylinder 6
Capacity cm³ 2788
Max output kW/hp 154 / 210
Max torque Nm 270

Performance: Acceleration 0-100km/h s 7.2
Top speed km/h 230

Fuel consumption: at 90km/h l/100km 7.9
at 120km/h l/100km 9.9
Urban l/100km 15.3

[evandael]

If you want original looks and feel, build an m20. old school grunt? m30b35. best all-rounder go s52. have a shit ton of money? well ask yourself if you're a purist or not, then decide between an s54 or ls2.


different strokes for different folks.. it doesn't need to be complicated! .

[firemanory]

Built vintage Alpina M20 to modern electronics with a nice induction setup would be the ticket
Buy a complete Alpina 2,8L engine: its 210 hp out of the box from Alpina. Will fit/sound/be reliable as good as it can get.

The original engine config. will be the most ideal for handling, balance, track use.

Sounds awesome. Good luck finding one!!

[SA E30]

If you like an m30 in an e24/e28 - you'd love it in an e30. An e28m30 feels like it's twice as heavy - the m30 really struggles to move all that mass. In an e30 the m30 behaves as if it's pushing a go-kart.

I don't mean to knock s5x swaps - It's a great motor. But in some ways it doesn't feel right in an e30 - almost too "smooth". But then again - it's a heck of a motor.

With that said. I know if I ever need a to do some head work on my m30 it's not going to cost me much. I pucker-up at the cost of a proper 24 valve rebuild.

And m50...pfff....not worth the effort IMHO. Unless your m20 needs rebuilding/replacing. Then pick one up for cheap. Cost will be about the same.

Also - since I'm on a rant - turbos just don't do it for me. I don't like the "SUSPRISE!!! YOUR ON BOOST" feeling in a corner.

Back to M30's - you won't find one person that has owned or driven a e30m30 that doesn't like all that pure, unadulterated, grunt that a m30 gives you.

An S5x is like the girl you want to marry - an m30 is the girl you don't bring home to mom.

Just saying you just found one. Our South African made 333i (m30b32) isn't all that fast and not much faster than a 2.7lt m20 (talking stroker, not eta). It was also modified with a b35 bottom end, and of course Alpina intake and camshaft.

My 2.9lt m20 stroker would have walked all over the m30 powered car but then it did have serious money put into it but no more than a run of the mill turbo conversion.

For me an S50 powered car sounds great... With a supercharger.

I guess I also love the 4 bangers with my new found love for the m10.

[nando]

I think M10s are underloved. Light, strong, rediculously cheap to build, and respond very well to boost.