What is required for E30 S38 swap?

[TwoJ's]

Si

there is a guy on e30tech that put a s38 in an e30 vert... don't remember his name but if you do a search for it, it'll come up he has pics and everything. its pretty clean, white vert. and whoever said adding a liter, etc to a s50=s38 is very, very WRONG. about the only thing those two motors share is the M badge. The s38 is derived from the m88 race motor from the M1. The s50 euro was an all new motor. sure both have individual throttle bodies, a decently high (back then redline). Other than that i can't think of anything they might share.

Six cylinders in a striaght line? Dual, chain driven cams? Cast iron block? Aluminum head? While they're definetly not the same motor, theyare actually quite similar in design.

[e21pilot]

the s38 is a STRONG motor. it is period correct. but it is to bad its only advantage is it weighs 12 pounds less than a 24 valve. makes about the same if not less than a s52.

Do you even know what an S38 is? You think the S38 makes the same power as an S52?

Pop quiz e30 children: How many valves are in an S38 engine?

HAS ANYONE HERE EVER DRIVEN AN S38 ENGINE!?

This forum is so full of misinformation it's unbelievable!

If it's not on R3v it doesn't exit l33t OMgZ two cents.... Retards!

[smonkbmw]

yes i know what a s38 is. i stand corrected (i was looking only at the 3.6) it makes 8 less or 13 more hp depending on which version you look at on this http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/enumber.html
oh and it weighs a pound less than a s52.

[vlad]

Do you even know what an S38 is? You think the S38 makes the same power as an S52?

Pop quiz e30 children: How many valves are in an S38 engine?

HAS ANYONE HERE EVER DRIVEN AN S38 ENGINE!?

This forum is so full of misinformation it's unbelievable!

If it's not on R3v it doesn't exit l33t OMgZ two cents.... Retards!

+99 LOL

[vlad]

p.s. imho to everyone the s38 is a very outdated motor and is just big in displacement. s54 and s62 are what swappers should be lookin at now.

YES AND NO: I agree that s54 is a better motor to swap but if you just happened to have s38, why not? I just bought complete S38B36 motor with tranny for 1/3 of the price of the s54 alone, so go figuire

PS I am not sure yet which car the swap will go into

[JGood]

Wasn't the original question asking what m30 conversion parts could be used while putting an s38 in? I don't see how money could even be part of the answer.

This place annoys me sometimes.


Aren't the two blocks fairly identical as far as mounting?

[JGood]

Six cylinders in a striaght line? Dual, chain driven cams? Cast iron block? Aluminum head? While they're definetly not the same motor, theyare actually quite similar in design.

All motors are similar in design, then. You've just described an m50b25, too.

The head porting, valves, piston design, bore, stroke, crank, rod ratio, etc... make it a very different engine. I believe that's the point he was making.

[SpunkyE30nOk]

All motors are similar in design, then. You've just described an m50b25, too.

The head porting, valves, piston design, bore, stroke, crank, rod ratio, etc... make it a very different engine. I believe that's the point he was making.

you are correct sir, thanks :p

[Sean]

I don't know why so many people talk down about the S38. That's my dream motor...I'd love to have one in my e30! Yes, they are expensive as hell, YES they cost money to put in and maintain, TONS of money. But the s38 is a pure fire-breathing M Engine. As stated, its based off of a race motor, the s38 is a monster and I want one bad!

I tried to convince a friend of mine to trade motors with me, I'd take his 91 M5 motor and he could have my 2.7 stroker, but he declined. Too bad. :D

Do it man! I'd love to see the s38 in an e30...it's totally at home in an e30!

[Ablice]

http://wp1016621.wp027.webpack.hosteurope.de/fotost/f01063/00.htm

Read German?

[george graves]

Crazy - note the pipe used to space the subframe off the body. I really don't feel good about that...

[Jesse30]

Crazy - note the pipe used to space the subframe off the body. I really don't feel good about that...

+1 thats sketchy

[backtrail69]

I would Mill an AL block to sit in there...

[Farbin Kaiber]

fuck it, zip ties and alignment shims FTW!!!!!


On a side note, why the hell cant you cut the cowl Camaro hood or something? Are people that anal about lookin oe with that engine? I'd sacrifice asthetics over safety anyday.


Id bet three bucks thats not a grade 8 bolt either.

[BeirBrennerE30]

Crazy - note the pipe used to space the subframe off the body. I really don't feel good about that...

holy shit dont do that!!! there has be be a better way to mount an s38 than that