New guy

[91Saleen#15]

You should consider stroking the M20, it is a very durable engine and can prob. make all the power you want for auto crossing.

1) Who makes a stroker kit?

2) How high (rpms) can you turn an M20?

3) Can you turbo it?

[91Saleen#15]

Let me amend that last question.... of course, you can turbo it... but does anyone do it, or is it a waste of time and money?

[german g]

I have friends with m20s stroked to 2.7 , I know there are some peeps on here with other displ. 2.7 is done with internals from the ETA engine. You can also buy stroker kits (someone help him out, ive seen alot of kits)

There are quite a few boosted m20s on here. 2.7 stroker with a bimmer Turbo Diesel manifold seems to be the cheapest way and seems to make pretty good power. I'm all stock at them moment though

[HST]

I know that zion has a stroker kit if you want to buy one, like others said it is cheeper the use ETA parts.

[nando]

we have a whole forum dedicated to M20 strokers etc:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=134

read the 3.0l thread and others that you can find

turbo M20s are also a good way to go, and can make quite a bit of power. if you want a bolt on kit and ~300hp, TCD sells a nice setup.

[Mastrcruse]

we have a whole forum dedicated to M20 strokers etc:
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=134

read the 3.0l thread and others that you can find

turbo M20s are also a good way to go, and can make quite a bit of power. if you want a bolt on kit and ~300hp, TCD sells a nice setup.

Would a car with a Intercooled M20 make more power than a stock M50 swap? I see the price is 5125 for the kit, wouldn't that be as much as an M50 swap? Not being an ass just asking to clearify.

Thanks

[Charlie]

S5x swap and run it in SM. Simple, easy, reliable power. Any engine work is going to bump you out of the typical e30 classes such as SP or STX/S. You'll get a much more tractable motor than a stroker M20 with the twin cam swap, and you won't have to worry about the reliability (or lack thereof) with all these godawful junkyard turbo builds you see on sites like e30tech.

-Charlie

[Jarvis]

Would a car with a Intercooled M20 make more power than a stock M50 swap? I see the price is 5125 for the kit, wouldn't that be as much as an M50 swap? Not being an ass just asking to clearify.

Thanks

With TCD's $5K Stage 2 kit, you'd be making ~350bhp vs. ~190bhp of a stock M50 (don't forget you'd need a new clutch and other maintainence parts most likely). An M50 swap can be pulled off for about $1k, but costs most people closer to $2-3K. It's all about preference and how much you're willing to spend. Horsepower costs money.

[nando]

Would a car with a Intercooled M20 make more power than a stock M50 swap? I see the price is 5125 for the kit, wouldn't that be as much as an M50 swap? Not being an ass just asking to clearify.

Thanks

it would definitely make more power than an M50, those are only around 192hp, you can do that with a basic stroker M20 easily.

[Erick]

S5x swap and run it in SM. Simple, easy, reliable power. Any engine work is going to bump you out of the typical e30 classes such as SP or STX/S. You'll get a much more tractable motor than a stroker M20 with the twin cam swap, and you won't have to worry about the reliability (or lack thereof) with all these godawful junkyard turbo builds you see on sites like e30tech.

-Charlie

True that on the turbo deal. M20s are great engines to turbocharge, but you have to realize a greater deal of maintenance will come along with it. If my '89 was my daily driver, I would've considered an M50/S50 swap instead.

- Erick

[Mastrcruse]

it would definitely make more power than an M50, those are only around 192hp, you can do that with a basic stroker M20 easily.

Which motor can reach the most horsepower, money aside, with bolt ons?

[Charlie]

Which motor can reach the most horsepower, money aside, with bolt ons?

Bolt ons don't really do shit on BMW motors in general. The M5x based engines are going to get you more power to start with, and give you a nicer torque curve to play with.

-Charlie

[nando]

M50 of course

[bmwmike]

e30.de will give you some info and pics on the M30 swap but its in german

you'll want http://www.jaredsquires.com/ndp/335i/m30/
that guy did a full write up and he's local (USA that is).

Just how handy are you? If you have some good fabrication skills, or you dont mind paying some good money for a swap, you can swap the 4.4 V8 and 6 speed trans from a 540i (97+). Itll cost you around 4 grand for the motor/tranny but if i had the skills id do it no doubt. Those engines are underrated, and they're surprisingly light (all aluminum).

[Mastrcruse]

Just how handy are you? If you have some good fabrication skills, or you dont mind paying some good money for a swap, you can swap the 4.4 V8 and 6 speed trans from a 540i (97+). Itll cost you around 4 grand for the motor/tranny but if i had the skills id do it no doubt. Those engines are underrated, and they're surprisingly light (all aluminum).

That might be a good idea. What about the guy that put the Vette or GTO (can't remember which) in his E30? Couldn't that be done?