built m20, or m50 swap.

[87m50]

In a debate right now. I currently have a 87 with a m50 non vanos. but the chassis is pretty shitty and wiring on it is even worse. but im buying a 90 with a m20 in it Friday and I am debating on swapping my m50 and tranny over with a plug-to-plug wiring harness or buying a fully built m20... don't know which to do.

[Killacortes]

Healthy m20>non vanos m50

[SmokeE30]

Well how built is the m20 your buying? a good running m50 will be quicker than a stock rebuild m20. Now if the m20 has cam and head work and other supporting mods it can be quicker but do any of those mods I the m50 and it will walk the m20 again. You have the m50 swap already how much are you going to spend for a m20 that will make m50 power?

[Wh33lhop]

Do you want power, or character? A built M20 will be cooler, likely more expensive (if you actually build it as opposed to a run of the mill 2.7i which isn't very quick), and have more character than an M50. If you want cheap power, go for an M50 and slap a tune and M3 cams in it later on down the line.

[87m50]

the m20 is for sale on here actually, this is the mod list:Block has been bored to 84.48 and decked and hot tanked
Head was fully rebuilt with new seals, decked, and refinished valves
Micro polished crankshaft and camshaft
MaxSil pistons and rings fitted to block
Forged CX Racing H-Beam rods
Reinz HG, VC gasket, oil pan gasket
New bearings
WoodGrain Valve Cover (:
Metric Blue head bolts
Long Tube headers with new gaskets
NEW cps, dizz/rotor, thermostat/housing, coolant sensors, all new cooling hoses, rear main seal, aux seal, cam seal, crank seal, freeze plugs
Rebuilt PS pump and new hoses
All new belts
NEW solid condor mounts for tranny and block
NEW flame thrower ign coil
NEW water pump
NEW slave
NEW flywheel bolts
NEW (Upgrade/updated to metal) rear seal
Cleaned and painted intake manifold with new gaskets
NEW Sach's throwout and pilot
Allllll mated to a 5spd Getrag 260 shifting in all gears smooth with a stage 2 eGay clutch!!!!!

the m50 has shrick cam and tuned ecu. and yea I have the entire car that its in now and would just need to swap everything over and get a new brake booster. and if I don't do this im working a deal to trade my 87 with m50 for the motor so just some time meeting up in reality to do the trade.
but ive never done a motor swap and don't know how much it would cost for someone to do the swap for me with m help.

[bonobo]

After doing a full rebuild on my s50 before swapping it in, I can tell you that m20s are much easier to work on and cheaper to repair. The m20 is also a bit less weight over the front axle than the m50 will be. Obviously, if you want to haul as much ass as possible with the least amount of money possible, then m50 is the way to go, but I think you already knew that.

[ak-]

Can you just build the m20 to show what those CXr h-beam rods can do lol.

[NeedaE30]

m20 yes built m20

[MR 325]

Healthy m20>non vanos m50

:up:

[slammin.e28]

Given the options above, and what you have to work with, I'm going to throw my vote in with M...............60 swap.


But really, M50NV is a turdburgaler.

As much as I hate to say it......ugh, this hurts.....just go with the M20.

[lowsodium]

Another vote for the M20. It fits better in the engine bay too, and will look stock.

[dannyyisntt]

M30 swap it

[mrmckie]

all that and they used metric blues??.....:shock:

[gtdragon980]

M30 swap it

This or m20 built & boosted. You will own the streets.

[N2MYE30]

Id say M20. I have both right now. My cabrio is an M20 and my coupe is an M50NV. The M50 gives me plenty of smiles per gallon but the M20 has grown on me these last few years. A clean M20 any day > M50. The only real power I have said "yes, now thats power" has been boosted. Let me just say that both cars run flawlessly so not electrical/mechanical demons to taint my choice.