few q's

[z31maniac]

I've never understood why people didn't always go this route.

Don't want OBD-II or switch it over to OBD-I is my guess.

But I agree, I want an OBD-I S52, with all the goodies and sunbelt cams.

[mkiiieustyle1]

problem is, mkiiieustyle1, that you want a lot of power, but don't want a lot of engine. You can't do that.

Not to get you down about it or be a jerk, cuz the sky's the limit and I would LOVE to see you put a s54 (e46 m3 engine) in an e30, but it's an iron-block DOHC six, kinda heavy. I suggested the Aluminum m52b28 due to its lighter block. You can stroke (but not bore!) the m52 to 3.0 using m54b30 (e46 330i, e39 530i) crank/rods/pistons, and use s52 (late e36 m3) cams to get some decient NA power (prob 250whp w a good tune). That is my dream 24v engine, btw, and no I dont have one :( That engine is going to set you back a least $5000 (total guess), tho, due to the limited supply and big demand for Al m52 blocks.

Diffs are total interchangable btw, with anything older than an e36

word thanks dude, i was just wondering about the E46 motor just didn't know if it had been done, i was hoping for a little more from the 4 banger but that's cool, if i can get a lightish DOHC 6 then that would be good i guess, i think i got alot more research to do, thanks for the input guys :D

[SpecM]

problem is, mkiiieustyle1, that you want a lot of power, but don't want a lot of engine. You can't do that.

Not to get you down about it or be a jerk, cuz the sky's the limit and I would LOVE to see you put a s54 (e46 m3 engine) in an e30, but it's an iron-block DOHC six, kinda heavy. I suggested the Aluminum m52b28 due to its lighter block. You can stroke (but not bore!) the m52 to 3.0 using m54b30 (e46 330i, e39 530i) crank/rods/pistons, and use s52 (late e36 m3) cams to get some decient NA power (prob 250whp w a good tune). That is my dream 24v engine, btw, and no I dont have one :( That engine is going to set you back a least $5000 (total guess), tho, due to the limited supply and big demand for Al m52 blocks.

Diffs are total interchangable btw, with anything older than an e36

[einstein57]

I think the only people who made a mid 300hp s14 was BMW for their race cars. It just cost way to much (10k+) to build a high ouput s14 that will be very high strung. If your dead set on light go with the MM m42 wich is in the 200hp range. If your dead set on NA hp then go euro S52 which is in the 300+hp range.

[Nic01101011]

i think of myself as a good driver, i have done a couple of auto crosses

[e30e]

Why not just put in an S52B32? More displacement, more power, and the cam is actually made for the engine.

I've never understood why people didn't always go this route.

[kronus]

Get an aluminum m52. 350lbs. I believe which is as much as an m10 (318i 4cyl engine). Easy to make tons of power b/c of the 2.8L displacement, also with m3 cams... you'll make lots of N/A power. Not 300 though... Also the Al ones are hard to find.

Why not just put in an S52B32? More displacement, more power, and the cam is actually made for the engine.

[yberther]

Get an aluminum m52. 350lbs. I believe which is as much as an m10 (318i 4cyl engine). Easy to make tons of power b/c of the 2.8L displacement, also with m3 cams... you'll make lots of N/A power. Not 300 though... Also the Al ones are hard to find.

but start with an i, do suspension.
...
Then turbo and make 350hp :)

[kronus]

Anything is interchangeable with enough fabrication.

The E36 engines are a common swap into e30's, and one variant (euro S50B30) even comes with ITB's stock :D

S54 (e46 M3 engine) swap has been done before, but it's a lot of electrical work.

[mkiiieustyle1]

Are you... dead set on 4cyl NA? If so, the S14 or a Metric Mechanic M42 is your only choice, really.

With I6 engines, you have a much larger range of choices, which have a lot more headroom for modification. The S14 is already high-strung and not the easiest motor to get more HP out of.

yeah i really wasn't trying to go forced induction for a couple of reasons, 1 i really hate superchargers, the inly time i think they should be used is when your compound charging and need some extra low end power before the larger turbo kicks in, 2 the extreme high heat of a turbo charger system doesn't really appeal to me for long hard driven sessions at the track, i also kinda like my power to smooth and linear and ready to go when i hit the gas, there is also the longevity reasons in forced induction that makes want to stay away, also i have never built a N/A ITB'd track car before and want to give it a go. are all E36 6cyl interchangable? what about the E46 M3 engine(i thik thats the chassis code) ?

[kronus]

Are you... dead set on 4cyl NA? If so, the S14 or a Metric Mechanic M42 is your only choice, really.

With I6 engines, you have a much larger range of choices, which have a lot more headroom for modification. The S14 is already high-strung and not the easiest motor to get more HP out of.

[apexede30]

Sure there is an m10 producing 264 bhp with normal gas, and 310 on racing fuel. Non turbo. Apfelbeck diametrical M10. Placed in the BMW 700RS....Go for that one :)

[mkiiieustyle1]

money really won't be an issue, i'm not loaded or anything but can get money really easily doing home jobs, does anyone know of the specific engine weights? i'm just woried about vehicle balance you know the hole 50/50 weight distribution, i also know about bmw engines being interchangeable but not too sure about other parts like spindles axles diff's etc, now i'm not looking for someone to start spouting out numers and vehicles but a website referall would be appreciated.

[SpecM]

has there been anyone to putout 3-400 at the wheels on a non-M3 4cyl without a turbo?

not really, no. Sorry.

Really tho, the sixes aren't THAT much heavier. You can get an AL-block 24v motor (m52b28 ) out of a late 90's z3 2.8 or 528i, those are light!

What is your budget? I get that you can work on it yourself and have access to a machine shot, but BMW parts (exp motors) aren't free, so...

[mkiiieustyle1]

Well, any e30 would work, but I suggest learning to drive well before investing in big power. It will pay off in the end. I

It really depends on the money you are willing to spend, as far as power goes. If you are dead set on a 4 cyl, Metric Mechanic makes a fully rebuilt and more or less redesigned M42 in either turbo or NA form. These motors came in the '91 318is.

The S14 (the M3 motor) is a great powerplant, but they cost some $$ to keep up and are "true" M engines, meaning they require a good deal of regular maintainence.

The cheap way to go would be to do an s50 swap ('95 M3) as it is well proven, has 6 cylinders, and is cheaper to make big power out of.

i think of myself as a good driver, i have done a couple of auto crosses, which isn't much but a i alot of experience with high output cars, i'm a tech a toyota and will do most of the work myself so really money isn't going to be as much of an issue than if i were to drop it off at performancve shop/machinst and tell them build this, i was trying t keep it light engine wise (as light as i can be wiht an engine) so that's why i was opting for the 4cyl, i though of going and finding a 6cyl m3 motor and dong some bolt ons but i would prefer the 4cyl, has there been anyone to putout 3-400 at the wheels on a non-M3 4cyl without a turbo?