wtf is up with m42swaps?

[JinormusJ]

i love v12s

Screw v engines
It's all bout dat i16 breh

[e30austin]

So since when did the 318is become the sacred purist mobile anyway? Don't tell those S14 guys or they might be pissed they bought the wrong car.

Sigged. Holy shit. Why did it take 6 pages for someone to say it?

[decay]

I'm gonna amend that statement and say that 4cyl e30s are the "holy grail" you refer to; whatever the power output.

[Berkut]

Adding to that, an S14 is quite similar to an M42, if you compare the closest versions (2.0L S14) and feels pretty damned torqueless compared to an M20.

If you don't like the M42, the S14 won't be that much better, same driving style.

With the same displacement, in ultimate spec S14 and M42 get the same power, 290'ish, and way better than any M20 I've ever seen, so can you say M42>M20?

No, it's down to preferance.

[///M42 sport]

I'm gonna amend that statement and say that 4cyl e30s are the "holy grail" you refer to; whatever the power output.

truth

[nando]

Adding to that, an S14 is quite similar to an M42, if you compare the closest versions (2.0L S14) and feels pretty damned torqueless compared to an M20.

If you don't like the M42, the S14 won't be that much better, same driving style.

With the same displacement, in ultimate spec S14 and M42 get the same power, 290'ish, and way better than any M20 I've ever seen, so can you say M42>M20?

No, it's down to preferance.

290 hp M42? for how much, $150,000?

pretty sure you can't get 2.5l out of an M42 block. The S14 really has *nothing* to do with the M42 - they don't even share the same geometry or lineage.

So since when did the 318is become the sacred purist mobile anyway? Don't tell those S14 guys or they might be pissed they bought the wrong car.

who knows. Next it'll be 325e purists.

[deansweet]

I love both my M42 powered E30s; 1991 318is and 318i.
Guess I am not too worried about power? The 318is has 366k on original motor and the 318i has 150k. Other than the normal wear and tear (and my kids driving them) both have been very reliable.

[Berkut]

290 hp M42? for how much, $150,000?

pretty sure you can't get 2.5l out of an M42 block. The S14 really has *nothing* to do with the M42 - they don't even share the same geometry or lineage.

Just stirring the pot :), same displacement would be 2.0 as it was the displacement they both raced in, the M42 with the STW head was better known as S42.
A friend of mine once offered to sell me one and he reckoned the car would reliably make more than 200 bhp with it and little work elsewhere, but the price was stupid.

A 290hp one would cost you about the same in M42 and S14 2.0L guise, some french guys were doing some of these kits for hillclimb, IIRC about 20k for internals and engine work, so go from there.

Regarding the S14 though, I've been on cars with amazing tuned engines. In standard guise though, especially the 320is's were disappointing for me, a bit gutless compared to what I was expecting. Maybe too high expectations.

[Solarian]

I don't think there's anything special about the M42, but I do think a 4 cyl is better suited to the car. My dream swap would be a K/F series Honda motor paired to the S2000 6 speed.

[iamsam]

I'm with the OP on this one.

Instead of spending the money, time, and effort on swapping an m5x, I'd rather rebuild a tired m42 with some of the upgrades that have been mentioned. I'm not sure what kind of power output is possible, but it can't be that far off from an m20 or m50? Plus, you get to keep the original engine and handling characteristics, and the engine would be like new again, only better, and not used.

How much power do you really need to have fun?

Not sure if serious...

without forced induction, you would not be able to get more than around 150 hp from an M42 without getting into significant (and costly) upgrades. That doesn't come very close to an M20 or an M50. Putting that same amount of money into an M20 or M50 would get you much more power. Also, putting that same amount of money into a carb'd small block chevy would get you MUCH more power...

[HarukoE30]

Just how practical is an m42 over an m20 in terms of gas mileage? Maybe 2 mpg better if that?

Just about none. I get around 20 city (daily) and 24 combined. I've never tried all highway but my mileage blows.

Between driving style, and diff, that would explain poor gas mileage.

Having owned both cars/engines. The m42 is light and nimble while the m20 is beefy and has a sense of grunt to it. Having said that, it really comes down to preference, but speed wise m20 wins in an numbers game.


I really want to know the story behind the rubber timing belt on the m20 engine though.

[unevolved]

The 318is has 366k on original motor

366k

366k

Jesus Christ.

[E30 Wagen]

Not sure if serious...

without forced induction, you would not be able to get more than around 150 hp from an M42 without getting into significant (and costly) upgrades. That doesn't come very close to an M20 or an M50. Putting that same amount of money into an M20 or M50 would get you much more power. Also, putting that same amount of money into a carb'd small block chevy would get you MUCH more power...

Hey, I honestly just don't know how the power output of a moderately built m42 would compare with a stock m20 or m50 series engine, as well as how the costs would compare. If the m42 really could never achieve more than 150hp without significant investment, then it is what it is I guess... That being said, I don't know why the hell you'd swap in a m20, at the ver least go m50 series.

Even so, it seems like a lot less work and time to swap out an entire driveline, not forgetting transmission, wire harness, exhaust, driveshaft, diff, and other bits, when you could just take out the m42 engine, throw some upgrades and machine work at it, and reinstall a practically brand new, higher output engine without any headache. I think there's more than HP figures to consider in all this.

[redsubdivisions]

I am still in awe of how long this thread is over such stupid bickering about outdated engines.

[iamsam]

Hey, I honestly just don't know how the power output of a moderately built m42 would compare with a stock m20 or m50 series engine, as well as how the costs would compare. If the m42 really could never achieve more than 150hp without significant investment, then it is what it is I guess... That being said, I don't know why the hell you'd swap in a m20, at the ver least go m50 series.

Even so, it seems like a lot less work and time to swap out an entire driveline, not forgetting transmission, wire harness, exhaust, driveshaft, diff, and other bits, when you could just take out the m42 engine, throw some upgrades and machine work at it, and reinstall a practically brand new, higher output engine without any headache. I think there's more than HP figures to consider in all this.

Have you swapped engines? It is actually easier to swap in a complete drivetrain than it is to pull out a motor and open it up and do work to it.

The only reason I replaced my M42 with an M20 was convenience. The M42 was toast, and I obtained a complete M20 drivetrain for free. There was no question.

I am still in awe of how long this thread is over such stupid bickering about outdated engines.

You and me both...