Highest n/a hp m20?

[ptownTSI]

So who makes the most horsepower with an m20 all out race.

A lot of people say american cars have poor output per liter, and while a stock v8 might have 5.9L and make 250hp/350lb ft, with some tuning, a new cam, it can make 400hp/400lb ft. All the way to a 15:1 compression alcohol powered sprint car motor making 850hp and 9000rpm redlines.

what does a race m20 make? Were they every highly modified for racing or was the s14 the preferred motor for racing?

[Stu]

In the mid-80's some Italian folks got 323 crankshaft HP out of a 2.5L M20. It used a 336-degree camshaft, ~13 to one compression and 6 down-draft carbs (no hood). I don't have any other details on it.

I'm sure there are plenty others close to that range

[Simon S]

grenade

.

[uofom3]

how do you make an m20 powered car fast? Simple - drop it out and put in an m/s50

[Erick]

Or boost.

[ptownTSI]

right and the same can be done with any motor, but with lots of rpm's, lots of compression, high flowing heads, amazing numbers can be pulled from even "prehistoric" american v8's.

[SA E30]

I disagree...

Although u can make a boosted one quicker than a N/A M20 , and there are loads of S50B30/B32 powered e30's here in SA, which are quicker.

but by no means r M20 powered ones slow, especially when worked properly.

I know of a an M20 3.1lt build that is lookin at 300hp. In future I plan on building somethin along those lines to... with the right parts IMO, u can make decent power out the M20.

Not gonna be cheap though... cheaper power would be to boost it, or drop an S50 into it.

[ptownTSI]

there arent any magazines with reviews on how to make lots of horsepower out of the m20? it seems like thats all their is to most muscle car mags.

[Stu]

I disagree...

Although u can make a boosted one quicker than a N/A M20 , and there are loads of S50B30/B32 powered e30's here in SA, which are quicker.

but by no means r M20 powered ones slow, especially when worked properly.

I know of a an M20 3.1lt build that is lookin at 300hp. In future I plan on building somethin along those lines to... with the right parts IMO, u can make decent power out the M20.

Not gonna be cheap though... cheaper power would be to boost it, or drop an S50 into it.

Good for power, but not longevity. Folks go for the 3.0/3.2 M50 because it will put down 230+whp until it dies (not after hours; but 300k+ miles :) )

-Stu
Interested to see HP chart of 300+hp 3.1 M20; just wanna see the curve

[SA E30]

It's not finished yet, but once it's done... I'll post it up.

I must get my car re dynoed... and post up that sheet 2, as I lost my old one.

3.1lt is a Metric Mechanic Bottom end... with incredibly worked top end, ITB's Big Cams... etc etc.

can't remember the whole spec.

[Erick]

^ Must be a fun motor.

[SA E30]

Good for power, but not longevity. Folks go for the 3.0/3.2 M50 because it will put down 230+whp until it dies (not after hours; but 300k+ miles :) )

-Stu
Interested to see HP chart of 300+hp 3.1 M20; just wanna see the curve

No, I agree with u... but I was just stating that it is possible to make power out of the M20

[Stu]

No, I agree with u... but I was just stating that it is possible to make power out of the M20

Same to you; no doubts (regardless of intake/head angles), that with said setup it can make a lot of power!!

[SA E30]

U know... ur the 1st person who has said anything about the head and intake angle.

IMO its one of the biggest flaws in the M20 is the intake, as it creates to sharp a bend, which creates drag, and hence velocity...

[Stu]

U know... ur the 1st person who has said anything about the head and intake angle.

IMO its one of the biggest flaws in the M20 is the intake, as it creates to sharp a bend, which creates drag, and hence velocity...

It is a flaw. The intake comes in straight-on, and you've got intake ports that take a 45degree dive.
After having it preached to me, it caught on. However, M20's can put the power down. As much as I love the sound of a twenty four valve S50 at 7300revs; the M20 has a distinct 'whale' from about 4500-->> that you won't get from many motors (M/S50's included).

This has to do with horsepower; but driving a car around a racetrack has little to do with horsepower. It's about a line and putting power down.