Mission to the Cosmos

[Reichart12]

Do you expect a 2.8 to be a problem with smog? It should look identical and even if you go with Megasquirt its only a couple extra sensor wires.

[2mAn]

Mini update from the last week. SoCal vintage happened, and it was awesome (as usual) I made sure to take a pic of my own car, and as usual it’s a bad pic

Fast forward to this weekend and took a mini staycation trip to Ventura and we took PCH.. such a nice drive. The ETA struggled a little up the steeper inclines which combined with the sexy BMWs at the SoCal Vintage show has me motivated to get building.


Basically have the whole 5-speed swap ready. Picked up my lightened flywheel last week too. I was planning on doing a before and after weight like before but it already has 14# after written on it. I think it’s just about time to start building the 2.8 M20. And I’ll leave you with one engine pic from the show. Internet hugs, likes and freedom bucks to those who can name all the badass stuff on it

[2mAn]

Oh its not for now, it is for later when Im trying to get a 2.8 M20 to run right, look stock and pass smog

[ForcedFirebird]

For craps and giggles, are you able to test for smog off the record to check it before a referee?

Real easy to make the m20 run extra lean, just drop an ETA 2.5 bar fuel regulator in it. Works far better in the stock ECU than using an m30 AFM.

When a stock m20 is in good running condition, no reason to fail smog tests. They were extremely efficient for engine of the age bracket. Aside from worn rings and excessive oil burning (a catch can will negate that), they should pass a sniffer, even without a catalyst.

[2mAn]

I hear what you're saying, but my main issue will be the tuning. and someone who tried a lot of different combinations found that to be the best result AND passed smog makes me think the $20 for the M30 AFM is worth it, just to have.

I want something that will pass smog, and the off-the-shelf tunes were a nightmare on the M52 and the suggestion of my local shop was to use the WAR chip combined with them dyno tune it, of course all of R3V suggested otherwise against the Miller stuff. At the end of the day smog is the ruler here and Im thinking I might need it.

[ForcedFirebird]

To add, I have found ZERO power gains from using a 3.5" MAF on a 24v (na, even modified to make 255whp/248wtq). Anytime you put a flow sensor that bigger than the TB, you are just creating a tuning headache, the meter is NOT the restrcition, your throttle is at that point. ;)

Put it this way...an LS1 uses a MAF almost the same size as a 24v. If they can make 300whp, why does a ~200-ish engine need a bigger flow meter than GM used on the LS?

[ForcedFirebird]

I strongly advise against the m30 AFM swap. No reason to use it. The Porsche 944 turbo used the same exact AFM as the m20, but with a lot more power FYI.

[2mAn]

Was on vacation for a few weeks and came back to a car that wouldn’t start. I was a little worried it might happen, got it jumped, drove around and had similar warning lights that the Cirrusly blue car. I knew this was a dead alternator so I took it straight home and into the garage before the battery would be drained. About 30 minutes to remove it and I took one pic of the work dealwithit.gif Got it installed in another 30 minutes and used the just-barely-running Roadster to jump the car and all is well again... Also headed over and picked up a skidplate and might be making a second run to pick up some more parts. M30 AFM is a for sure and maybe a pair of basketweave but those won’t be for me...

[jeenyus]

popping out that dent out gave you at least one more cool point.

[spiDmang]

Solid dude. Glad the PDR guy was able to get it back to 100%

[luckybk]

Thanks, I think the SSRs have complimented pretty much every E30 they have been on, but they go particularly well with this one.

As for the dent, some idiot using his back up camera and not actually looking backed into me in a parking lot. Luckily, a quote requiring paint and body work VS an hour with the PDR guy means that I have some leftover cash for a 3-pedal conversion, amongst other things

That's awful. PDR is definitely the way to go if it can be done.

[2mAn]

There's an artfully placed shadow where the dent should be but you can tell it's miles better than before. What did you hit?

Also, really loving the finish of the SSR's on this car.

Thanks, I think the SSRs have complimented pretty much every E30 they have been on, but they go particularly well with this one.

As for the dent, some idiot using his back up camera and not actually looking backed into me in a parking lot. Luckily, a quote requiring paint and body work VS an hour with the PDR guy means that I have some leftover cash for a 3-pedal conversion, amongst other things

[luckybk]

There's an artfully placed shadow where the dent should be but you can tell it's miles better than before. What did you hit?

Also, really loving the finish of the SSR's on this car.

[2mAn]

Well, headed out to meet with Dent Master and let him have his way with the car. Pretty happy with the results... so now back to the regularly scheduled program

[2mAn]

This system is rigged

New R3V is good ;)