Intro to Becky and swap debate

[E's-30]

What's up guys, I've been lurking and researching for over a year now and finally decided to introduce this old gal and myself.

As a long time owner of 80’s SAAB’s and Volvo’s, e30’s have always caught my eye. About a year ago I decided I missed the raw drivers car feeling of my old SAAB SPG’s, but I wanted something different as a project. The natural choice was an e30, after searching for a few months I had the opportunity to pick up this 1988 325IC, Becky. She needed lots of odds and ends and had been cared for relatively well over the years but in the last couple of years some things slipped and needed attention, but she ran great. I spent most of last spring chasing down various trim and dash pieces, getting everything back in good working order for the summer, fixing the great stuff headlight bracket(WTF) and I fitted an IE exhaust, re-dyed the leather, installed a new shift boot, figured out how to open the broken glove box and replace the hinge. Added a conforti chip to see how much of a difference it actually made, which was definitely a seat of the pants improvement and .8 seconds 0-60. All of this to get her on the road for summer and just to enjoy it, the way it was and determine my long term goals for the car. I ended up driving her a lot this summer as my e90 335i needed a clutch and some other maintenance items I was procrastinating doing now that I had a second car.

This thing is just as much fun as I thought it would be, sure it could use some suspension updates and some more power, but what a fun car. Even my naysaying, non car person wife grew to like Becky.

So that brings us up to now, I have decided I want to do a swap, nothing crazy, but something to get me to the 250-300hp range and liven it up a little bit. Herein lies the dilemma.

The s50/52 swap is something I always had in mind and still havenÂ’t ruled out. Turbo M50/52 is ruled out as I have had a pretty long list of turbo cars and I am fairly certain thatÂ’s not what I want to do with this car, possibly supercharg but turbo is ruled out for the moment. I have stumbled upon the s2000 f20C swap which seems extremely intriguing, but after some more research it seems like a K20/24 would be a better swap option as they take future mods better and are much easier to come by. I can bolt it to a ZF transmission with the kmiata adapter and pop it in the car. Sure there is plenty to figure out as far as mounts, wiring and the oilpan/pickup piece but lots of other platforms have swapped K series motors into them and figured that out.

The goal for the car is not a race car, although it will see a few auto-x events, just a fun car that I can daily drive when the weathers nice and that is reliable enough for a weekend cruise with the family.

So what do you guys think, s50/52 or K20/24?

Another factor on my mind is that I know I will get my money back out of a S5x swap, but have no idea what a K24 would do for resell. Certainly not the reason I am building the car, I just don't want to lose my lunch on it if I decide to move on to something in 3-4 years.

Other plans this winter are a full suspension refresh, bushings, control arms, garagistic x-brace, H&R Sports with Koni yellows and probably some brake work later in the spring.

Current daily is a 2009 E90 335i xdrive. Full bolt onÂ’s and putting out 400+ hp on E85. Lots of fun and fast enough to get my go-fast cravings out of my system.

Any other Pittsburgh members on here?



Before:




The e90




And the TRD

[E's-30]

Fixed the picture size, not used to Imgur, but with the whole photobucket debacle I figured I would try something else.

[rturbo 930]

K24. I've been considering that exact swap lately. I think it would be a very good fit for an E30 with regards to power output (220whp easy) and balance, and the K24 will have a decent amount of torque too. I think you'll need to mess with the oil pan though. An S52 would make a bit more power and torque, but it's heavier and longer, instead of shorter and lighter like the K. K24 sounds better than an S52 IMO.

[E's-30]

K24. I've been considering that exact swap lately. I think it would be a very good fit for an E30 with regards to power output (220whp easy) and balance, and the K24 will have a decent amount of torque too. I think you'll need to mess with the oil pan though. An S52 would make a bit more power and torque, but it's heavier and longer, instead of shorter and lighter like the K. K24 sounds better than an S52 IMO.

So I am not completely crazy for thinking this is a good idea. Seems like the oil pan issue can be figured out, but I haven't actually seen what the issue is going to be since Photobucket won't let me see any of SlowGTI's pictures from his attempt and custom cross member.

[rturbo 930]

One guy who did an F20C modified the oil pan. He never did post the pictures of his modifications, but I'm wondering if a custom crossmember like you'd use for an S54 would take care of the problem without touching the oil pan. As far as I know that's the only hurdle, and you don't need to mess with the brake booster, or anything like that like you do with a 24V swap.

[alistairolsen]

Its a convertible from the 80s and thus more cruiser than race car.

Apart from making approximately the right power, in my mind the honda engine is just totally the wrong character for the car.

If it were mine, I'd either want some derivative of the traditional I6, or a V6/V8 with a nice exhaust note, not a raspy high revving 4 pot - and that goes for whether I was building it or buying it.

[econti]

Centrifugal supercharged M42

[E's-30]

Its a convertible from the 80s and thus more cruiser than race car.

Apart from making approximately the right power, in my mind the honda engine is just totally the wrong character for the car.

If it were mine, I'd either want some derivative of the traditional I6, or a V6/V8 with a nice exhaust note, not a raspy high revving 4 pot - and that goes for whether I was building it or buying it.

I agree with most of that, but a high revving 4pot is very comparable to a modern s14 which was part of my thinking.

[E's-30]

Centrifugal supercharged M42

Was really looking at doing a centrifugal SC on the m20, I guess that’s still not out of the picture but am leaning towards a swap.

[rturbo 930]

I agree with most of that, but a high revving 4pot is very comparable to a modern s14 which was part of my thinking.

This was my thinking as well. Somewhat comparable performance, more HP, and obviously much, much cheaper. Sort of a poor man's M3, although likely with a different character.

Keep in mind, that unlike the F20c, the K24 makes a decent amount of torque, and it isn't really a high revving 4 banger like the F20c either. I've never driven a car with a K, but I would imagine it to be pretty easy. At least on paper, it should be just fine for standard around town, typical traffic driving.

SC adds complexity, weight, and cost. How much power would it make? M42 makes something like 140hp stock, K24 will do 220hp to the wheels with minor mods and a tune. Bear in mind, you can add a SC to a K24 as well, and make some good numbers. M42 isn't worth the effort IMO unless you already have one.

[alistairolsen]

I agree with most of that, but a high revving 4pot is very comparable to a modern s14 which was part of my thinking.

Absolutely agree and if you were building a slicktop coupe for canyon driving and trackdays I'd be all for it, but a convertible is never a real performance car, so play to it's strengths

[econti]

Nah boosted M42s are fucking sick

Honestly I have been considering K24 for a future swap down the road, the n/a power is just too difficult to go past

[2mAn]

zero lag turbo

[AWDBOB]

If you've got a ton of money, patience and fab skills, go K24 because it's different. You can make 300hp on a K24 without a TON of work to the motor. But, the amount of small things you'll need to get it clean and 100% will nickel and dime you to death. And it'll still sound like a honda.

For that reason, I would personally recommend a aluminum single vanos M52 (with M54b30 internals if you want to be cool). I think it'll give the car the character it needs to be the weekend cruiser you want it to be, while still being nimble and agile (benefit of K24). Sure, the K24 would be unique, but I'd argue the character of the car wouldn't be there when it's all said and done. I know that's elusive, but I don't know how else to say it.