I'm torn between 2 engines *poll*

[Jesse30]

I have a really strong and great condition m20 in the car right now that has great compression. But i also have an m30 on my mind.

so im asking for an opinion, should i stick with the m20 and build a nice non intercooled turbo motor that makes decent power, or build a NA m20 with ITB's and high compression pistons.

OR do the m30 with ITB's and a close ratio trans (264 i think?) and MS?

im looking for opinions from people who have driven heavily modified m20's and m30's

[uofom3]

is there a none of the above option?

[Jesse30]

nope, because those are within my price range and dont require tons of modification to cooperate with the chassis.

[euroshark]

IF you go through with the ITBs on an M30, you will be one of very few. Did you happen to see the S38 throttle body adapters on ebay.de?

I've driven M30s of literally every type (except for the super old 2.5 liter variants or any carbed variant) and they are all great, especially the higher compression versions. My current 6 series' Euro B34 feels awesome and I know headers and a 284 cam are going to wake it right up. I'd go M30, cam it, chip it, get some headers on it, and see if the ITBs are even worth the trouble. My bet is that they won't be necessary in an E30.

[Raxe]

Just curious, what kind of power does the M30 even make? Can't say I know.

[euroshark]

There are so many variants, but the common ones make between 180 and 220hp depending on size and US vs Euro spec.

[Erick]

why non-intercooled?

[der affe]

i am gathering parts for a m30b3.5 swap (have doner 535). i already have a 2.7 stroker, 304 deg cam, ported and polished head, msds shorty headers, cat delete, cat back, split second piggy back (ARC-2A) and MAF conversion, & Dbilas ITB's, in the car now, and i want more!!!

i am going to transfer the Dbilas to the m-30 (Dbilas makes a manifold) and have to custom fab an airlog and fuel rail, prob ditch the MAF in favor or a Wolf standalone so i can also go to speed/density and simplify stuff, i am prob also going to go with a Dbilas 290 deg cam (they seem to be the only ones with a cam in the duration &specs i am looking for, looking a different headers (prob go with the IE'S), port/polish/chamber work/unshroud valves myself, then once it is installed fab an exhaust, etc.....

looking to get around 270hp in the end(hope, hope, hope, hope,hope) we'll see what ends up. there is always nos if it comes down to it.

the m-30 is a tank!! and not a very hard swap on a late model car with a late motor, and there is no replacement for displacement. you will never be able to get the same size motor/power out of an m-20 N/A. if you stick with the m-20 your other alternative is turbo and small stroker, if you live in a hot climate, this may not be a good way to go if you want to keep as a daily driver

[LEANE30]

why non-intercooled?

that's what i was wondering.... intercooler could be easily fitted in the future to almost any setup

...


i vote turbo m30b35

hemi combustion chambers, non-interference valve train, still IRON, timing chain instead of the m20's belt (IIRC?), if you think m20's are a dime a dozen, lolz, the m30 is a nickle a dozen

only draw-back is weight gain... but if your turbo'ing it is lap-clock-tracking it really a priority? would be fun for drifting & drags, that's for sure!

[Jesse30]

IF you go through with the ITBs on an M30, you will be one of very few. Did you happen to see the S38 throttle body adapters on ebay.de?

I've driven M30s of literally every type (except for the super old 2.5 liter variants or any carbed variant) and they are all great, especially the higher compression versions. My current 6 series' Euro B34 feels awesome and I know headers and a 284 cam are going to wake it right up. I'd go M30, cam it, chip it, get some headers on it, and see if the ITBs are even worth the trouble. My bet is that they won't be necessary in an E30.

I didnt see the adapters on .de but im gonna go check those out right now haha, if i can cop a set for a decent price i can just fab some up after hours at work.

i've always wanted ITB's on an m20 or m30

Just curious, what kind of power does the M30 even make? Can't say I know.

the one im hunting down was rated 211 at the crank new. but with some little odds and end i dont see 200+ whp being very out of sight at all.

why non-intercooled?

I just want to keep this car really balanced over all. Capable suspension set up with a well performing engine is what im aiming for with this one.

+ less boost = less of a chance of me having a catastrophic engine failure

[E30Driv3R]

less boost = less fun tho lol

[aaron.j]

OPTION 5 never going to happen

:edit: pipe dream

[aaron.j]

besides an s52 converted to obd1 cost about the same as a low boost m20, makes similar power and is more reliable

[SamE30e]

why non-intercooled?

Exactly what I thought when I saw it.

[Erick]

An intercooler is a reliability item. You start running hotter air in your engine and what do you think will happen? :p